All right. Well—the bottom line is that there are two very large and very old families who both believe their heirs should rule Nevarra. The Pentaghasts have ruled it for a long time, but the Van Markhams did once, as well, for a little while. Now that the king is on his death bed without a clear heir, both families have someone they would like to take the throne when he dies.
[Laura listens closely, determined to understand it entirely--not just the little weedy bits and pieces she's picked up--and jumps in when she can contribute.]
The Van Markham’s favored son, yes. And the Pentaghasts had both the king’s brother and Aurelia Pentaghast to offer—that is where all of the trouble has come from, I think. If they had rallied behind a single person they would not have had so much trouble repelling the Van Markhams’ ambition.
I could not say. Whichever one can keep the country from collapsing to Corypheus for now, ideally, and if after the war they are a tyrant, someone can kill them then. But determining which of them would best prevent collapse is above me.
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Please explain it.
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Gaelan is one.
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Which one should be king?
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How do we find out which is best?
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[ Careful, Bastien, that sounds reasonable to her. ]
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