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grin, then sobered again, “she has shown remarkable courage and intelligence. If I can persuade her to agree, I am of the opinion that it will help convince the Catanians they will be treated fairly. And so they will be less likely to plot rebellion.”
    All three looked ready to speak at once. Gaelen forestalled them, raising his hands. “My friends, let me anticipate your concerns. The woman is beautiful and intelligent. Some will claim I have been bespelled, that she holds me in thrall.”
    Sinnath nodded.
    Gaelen forged on. “Only time will allay those superstitions. Some will say I am merely swayed by the wiles of a beautiful woman, and these, too, will choose to see her hand in my decisions. The doubters will need to wait and see. The challenge lies in keeping her safe long enough to convince them. Objections will be most prevalent among our own people. The Catanians will be slower to see ill in this.”
    Gaelen grew even more solemn. “I charge all of you with convincing the superstitious that there is no spell at work. While I do not deny that I find her desirable, you know me well enough to understand I will not be swayed from what is best for Bargia.”
    “ Consider the alternatives.” Gaelen gave them no time to interrupt. “We could keep her as a political hostage. That may have some small impact on the response of Catanians to my authority. Some of our own will also see it as a means to bend the Catanians to our will. Yet she is a woman, and so cannot inherit power. There is no male child for whom she could act as regent. That makes her value as a hostage unconvincing. As well, we need to consider the costs and efforts required to keep her comfortable and under constant guard.”
    Gaelen searched the three silent faces, each intent with concentration. Klast knew this development would challenge each one. Gaelen turned, as Argost leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table, hands loosely linked ahead of him, his expression thoughtful but unreadable. Janest, too, had leaned forward, eyes wide and eager, like a child about to be handed a fascinating new toy. Sinnath, in contrast, leaned back against his chair, his arms crossed, his expression masked.
    “ We could execute her.” Gaelen tossed his hand in the air dismissively, indicating this would not be considered seriously.
    Klast watched Sinnath’s expression become even grimmer, and he leaned further away from the table, as if to distance himself from this discussion, as Gaelen continued.
    “ That would satisfy the traditional thinkers, unable to adapt to change. It will also antagonize her people and make them less inclined to comply with my authority. Besides,” now Gaelen grinned a little sheepishly, “I have given her my word she will come to no harm.”
    As Gaelen paused to gauge their reactions, Klast saw Sinnath grimace. Janest still seemed to be waiting for more, and Argost looked even more thoughtful, if such a thing were possible.
    Gaelen took a deep breath. “On the other hand, what do we gain if she becomes my wife? First, it courts the good will of her people. They may take a wait-and-see attitude to Bargia’s rule. We gain time to establish order and dominion. We earn a reputation for sound leadership that can be trusted, and for myself as a man of honour. Secondly, it gives her people hope of an heir with Catanian blood. That will appease some.”
    All three faces had become unreadable. No one seemed ready to interrupt now. They listened intently.
    “ Since we do not have a male member of my family to take up governance in Catania, it is important to avoid plots against Bargia for as long as possible. I have considered that the lady may use her position to plot against the House of Bargest for vengeance or power. We will need to be vigilant. Yet it is a risk we must take. I am convinced she is astute enough to see that her agreement will be in her people’s interests as well as her own. It will rest with me to convince her to