Water and Wind

She's new to this princess gig... Learning to run a kingdom wasn't part of Susan Cole's-now Susan Fulquir's-career plan. Muddling through foreign languages, frustrating her tutors, and squaring off against tightly laced dresses would be complicated enough without throwing in the slight issue of Susan's frosty relationship with her mother. Not only has Susan exposed Erianthe's lies, but she's also supplanted her favored half brother in the line to the throne of Daril.

Susan's greatest ally is a surprise: Terj, who, though having regained his freedom, remains close to her. While she wants him to be happy, she dreads the day he finally takes his leave, as her feelings toward the elemental have shifted far from mere camaraderie.

But Susan's existence has political ramifications beyond Daril. When Erianthe signed her own marriage treaty, it was expected that one of her Cirivanti husband's children would rule after her. Now unable to uphold the terms, and desperate to keep Cirivant happy, Erianthe proposes another marriage-Susan's.

If Susan refuses...well, Erianthe has other options.

And when it comes to the child the queen has twice failed to kill, nothing is off the table.