General Rydon came to the same conclusion. "They're children and that means they won't have minds of their own. Place them on the throne and we'll be ruling through them," he said. The men perked up at this, but General Rydon shook his head. "Before you get too excited about such a prospect, just remember that if we can whisper in their ear then so can others. They've formed attachments to people we barely know, and should those people fall on the side of Revours or his supporters, the young ones would not be hard to convince to help them."

"They finish the line that is blood connected to the late Queen," one of the men said.

"Blood connected, yes, but we still have a Glenfarrow that can take his brother's place," General Rydon said.

Wary eyes turned to Robbin, who straightened under their gaze. He kept his features neutral, but Brenna knew his heart must race because hers was pounding against her ribs.

"He's illegitimate," General Cooke said, his voice too level to be opposing, but certainly not agreeing either.

"I will honor whatever the council of generals decides is best," Robbin said, coming around the desk and folding his hands together. "However, I would give the reasons in favor of me, since I do not think they will come from anyone else."

The generals sheepishly ducked their heads, but none would be so bold as to outright suggest a son of a commoner and a barmaid for king. General Rydon had already done more than any sane man would.

"My father accepted me as his son, and thus I bear the name of Glenfarrow. It is legally and morally mine, and there has never been any that have contested it. To the people, I am the brother of their heir. Though I do not share the same blood as the late queen, I do share Afton's blood.

To the soldiers, and to you, generals, I am well versed in my father's plans and where we are strategically. Should I be placed in charge, there will be no learning or training phase. It will be seamless and smooth-- the role I played before, only with a different title."

General Rydon hid a smile. General Cooke nodded and stroked his beard.

Brenna could see them deciding, just by the way they clumped unconsciously together and cast their glances to each other. They really had no choice but to accept Robbin as their new heir. True, one of them could set themselves up as Afton's successor, and one of the younger brothers could be brought in as well, but if they truly wanted to win the war, they only had Robbin to choose. He knew what he was doing, and he knew how to fight. His would be a faster battle, a swifter victory. They knew with Robbin, they would win.

General Cooke spoke for all the men, stepping forward and gently placing a hand on Robbin's shoulder. "All right, Robbin, we will give you the chance to keep Anjeluund with its rightful family. We are entrusting everything to you, and should the whole thing go eschew, it is you who will bear the consequences."

Robbin nodded, and General Cooke stepped back. Slowly, one by one, the men saluted their new leader and paid tribute to the draped form of their former heir. They filed from the room, headed back to their rooms to spread the news to their troops and the other generals who were not at Glenfarrow House. General Rydon and Cooke were the last to leave, huddled for a moment with Robbin. Brenna could not pick up what they were saying, but Robbin looked grave. He shook General Rydon's hand, and General Cooke patted him on the back. Then the two generals left, and only Afton's family was left.

"He's dead," Robbin said, voice strained and so impossibly soft.

Brenna tightened her arm around Morna's cold shoulders, but she kept her eyes on her husband. His face paled at the sight. He stared for a moment, his breathing pronounced and slow.

Suddenly a lump formed in Brenna's throat and for the first time she felt sadness at Afton's death. Never in all the time she'd been married to Robbin had she seen him show this much affection for someone he cared for. His eyes glistened and his throat bobbed. She nearly got up to comfort him, but she knew Morna needed it more.

The room sat in silence for five very long minutes, and then Robbin stepped away.

"Brenna," he said, his voice calm and natural, as if he were about to head down to dinner. "I am going out."

Brenna nodded at him mutely, and he took his leave. The guard in the other room snapped to attention and Robbin gave orders while quietly shutting the door to the study behind him.

Brenna tried to process what had just happened. Somehow, through some fluke, Robbin was on the road to becoming king. With that realization came the breathtaking knowledge that after all the pain and struggle, she was going to be queen in the end. A bubble of laughter rose in her throat, but she forced it down for her sister's sake. Though this was possibly one of the happiest moments in Brenna's life, she knew that for Morna it was the one that was ending the life she thought she'd have.

In fact, Morna still hadn't stirred even a fraction since Brenna had found her huddled over in this spot on the floor. Brenna pulled back from her embrace and tried and rub some warmth into her wet arms. Morna didn't feel it, or at least didn't acknowledge that she did. She only stared at some unfocused point, barely even blinking.

"Morna," Brenna said, hesitantly. She wasn't sure if she should pull her sister from whatever void she'd banished herself to. Obviously, Morna hadn't been able to handle Afton's death, but somehow Brenna couldn't stand the thought of her sister being present but not really there. A hollow shell, staring into the heavens. It was perhaps selfish, but Brenna couldn't stand the thought of being left alone in this place. Morna was her only family left from the time before. Morna was her sister. She shivered to think of being alone in Anjeluund without her, especially that now she was going to be the queen soon. It was her one dream, but it also felt like jumping from a high cliff.

"Morna, please," Brenna said, a bit firmer this time. She shook her sister's shoulder, trying to jar her from the blank space she occupied. "Wake up!"

Nothing happened. Brenna took Morna's face between her hands and forced her sister's gaze to connect with hers. Something shivered deep in the empty pools of Morna's eyes, and Brenna pushed her advantage.

"Morna!"

With a shuddering effort, Morna took a deep breath and blinked rapidly. Her eyes slowly focused onto Brenna, and then they filled with tears immediately. Her lower lip quivered and her hands tightened on Brenna's leg, squeezing enough to hurt.

"I was... there was blood... Afton," Morna rasped, her voice raw and barely above a whisper.

"I know, darling," Brenna said, stroking Morna's cheek with her thumb. "There's nothing we can say to make it better, but... Robbin and I are here for you, okay?"

Morna shook her head, a dazed look on her face. She readjusted her grip on Brenna's skirt. "I don't know what to do. What happened?"

Before Brenna could answer, Morna shook and leaned over. She clutched at her stomach as if she was trying to stop her insides from spilling out, and she burst into racking sobs. Brenna's heart sped up, her face going numb at the sound. Morna's weeping went full down to her bones, such a keening sound for something lost forever. Brenna desperately tried to hold her sister together, but as she shook with Morna's sobbing, she had the sinking feeling that everything was already beginning to crumble around her.