Page 13 of The Forgotten Queen
“I’d hoped that we could finish our conversation about the marriage alliance between your daughter Seran and my younger son, Palmer. Perhaps we should sign a formal agreement before you leave.”
His weight shifted, and he glanced away. “I don’t think a marriage match between my daughter and Prince Palmer is a good idea.”
McKane raised his eyebrows. Was that why Bryant had been avoiding him? He didn’t think Palmer was good enough for his daughter? “Palmer would make an excellent husband. I believe he and the princess are about the same age. And Palmer will become the next king of Cristole.”
Bryant shot his brown eyes back to him. “None of that concerns me. It’s the alliance with your kingdom that I’m not interested in.”
McKane reared back. They’d already discussed what the alliance would entail. They would become allies. Vote the same way. Trade with each other. Their militaries would support each other. What more could Bryant possibly want?
“The details of the alliance are solid,” McKane said.
“It’s not the details.” Byrant looked away. “It’s the kingdom.”
“What’s wrong with an alliance with Cristole?”
Bryant pursed his lips. “Did you really think I would consider an alliance with Cristole instead of aligning with a more powerful kingdom? I’ve been talking with King Carver, and I’ve decided to match Seran with his son, Ezra. It’s more advantageous.”
McKane’s jaw stiffened. “You went behind my back and made an alliance with the kingdom of Albion?”
“You’re the one acting like we had an agreement. I never planned on aligning with you.” Bryant ran a hand through his brown hair, giving McKane the sense that this entire conversation set him on edge.
“What could a marriage to Ezra Trevenna and Albion possibly offer you besides a war with Tolsten?” he scoffed.
“It’s better than being tied to you. You and your family bring nothing to the table. You’re insignificant to me.” Bryant stepped around him, heading for his waiting carriage. “But I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
McKane followed him. “How dare you!”
Bryant didn’t stop.
McKane’s anger flared, and he pointed his finger at Bryant’s back. “I won’t forget this. I’ll find a way to make you pay for the fact that you passed over my son and insulted the kingdom of Cristole.”
Bryant turned and rolled his eyes. “You wouldn’t dare mess with New Hope and now Albion.” He shook his head once then entered his carriage.
McKane watched the horses trot away, pulling the New Hope carriage behind them.
Bryant was wrong. McKane would dare mess with them.
“Well?” Stoddard asked, bringing McKane back to the cave and their conversation.
“What if someone recognizes her?” he asked, still thinking through the possibilities.
“You know as well as I do, that only military and royalty travel to different kingdoms. The chances of someone recognizing her are slim. Besides the Council of Essentials, how often do you go between kingdoms?”
“Never,” McKane said.
Stoddard tilted his head. “And if I lined up every other royal, do you think you would recognize all of them?”
McKane shook his head.
“See? You have nothing to worry about. So do you want to make a deal?”
King Bryant’s dismissal of Cristole eleven years ago had made aligning with other kingdoms difficult for the past decade. McKane had lost his footing within the Council of Essentials. For years now, he’d had to fight for respect for himself and his kingdom. His people had suffered because trade deals hadn’t been made. New Hope and Albion had become the power players, and McKane was sick of it. Every member of the Council knew that Bryant had overlooked him—that Cristole wasn’t good enough for New Hope. Not to mention the fact that Palmer wasn’t good enough for Bryant’s daughter. There had been no one better than Palmer.
No one.
“Yes. We have a deal.” McKane straightened. “I do have a few ideas of how I could use Seran to benefit me and show King Bryant that he didn’t get the last word after all.”
“Excellent.” Stoddard held his hand out in front of him.
