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“Not surprised,” I said hastily. “Simply shocked. This is... entirely unexpected. When you mentioned visitors from Lyonesse and then when Kaye told me of a visit to Liria, I thought perhaps you were thinking... well, to wed.”
Arthur cocked his head. “It is a possibility.”
“To a noble daughter of Liria?” It would be a desirable match. Strengthening the bonds between Lyonesse and Pendrath. If Pendrath was invaded, Lyonesse had the bounty to help soften the blows of war. If Rheged tried to attack Lyonesse instead of us, Pendrath had the might and the fighting force to come to its aid.
Arthur shrugged as if the topic of his future wife bored him. “I must wed eventually. Sooner would be better. Lyonesse would make the most advantageous alliance.” His gaze sharpened. “You have your own marriage prospects, Sister.”
I nearly choked. “Me?”
“Yes. Father promising you to the Temple of the Three years ago...” Arthur scowled. “It is not what I would have done with you.”
“Oh?” My tone was cold but I couldn’t help myself. “And what would you have used me for?”
“A political marriage, of course.” Arthur seemed surprised that I had to ask. “Is that not what is done with most daughters of noble blood?”
Not when the daughter was the eldest in a monarchy that had traditionally permitted sons or daughters to inherit the throne.
But in my case...
“Yes, I suppose that is true.” I struggled to keep my voice light. “But Iampromised to the temple. Everyone knows that.”
“And everyone knows that I am king, Morgan. And that promises can be altered.”
“Broken, you mean?”
Arthur gave me a look of displeasure. “Not broken. A king does not break a promise. Especially when it has been made by another king. But the agreement was not made with my approval or consent.”
“Our father did not require it at the time,” I reminded him.
“No, but it is too bad he did not consult me. Or even you. Would you not have liked a say in your own fate?”
I bit my tongue. “I have become used to not having one.”
“Well, speak now,” Arthur said, his tone deceptively playful. Our entire meeting had struck a different tone from the last one. He seemed to be striving to put me at ease. Yet I did not trust it. “Surely you know you would be the most desirable woman in the kingdom were you not promised to the temple.”
I could not help it. I let out a snort of laughter. “Oh, Arthur. High praise indeed! I thank you. Though that is extremely exaggerated.”
Arthur did not smile back. “I speak only the truth. You represent a powerful opportunity to many noble families who are hungry for power. Hungry to be closer to the king.”
I shuddered. “How appealing. I am some rich man’s opportunity to be closer to my brother.”
“Of course, there are some who desire you solely for yourself,” Arthur said slowly. “Take Lord Agravaine’s son, Florian. I’ve been told he is quite taken with you.”
I stared at my brother. Of course. I should have known this was where our conversation was heading.
“To say he is ‘taken with me’ is putting it in very polite terms,” I managed.
Arthur raised his eyebrows. “Oh? Florian has begged his father to request that I free you from your compulsion to the temple.”
My blood ran cold. “And how did you respond?”
“Agravaine is my closest advisor. I might even call him something of a friend. I care for young Florian for his father’s sake.”
If those words had come out of another young man’s mouth, it might have been laughable. Florian was at least twenty-two, four years older than Arthur. But there was nothing funny to me about any of this.
Arthur was gazing at me coolly. “Agravaine tells me that if I were to inform the temple that you will not be joining them upon your twenty-first birthday, there would be very little they could do. The agreement was an informal one between our father and Merlin.”
“But all the people of Pendrath are aware of the promise.” I was starting to feel desperate. “I have been preparing for this eventuality for years.”
