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afraid. Ran Borune has 'adopted' Varana and has declared
the general to be his official and legal heir. The other
great houses are shrieking in protest, but the Emperor
holds firm. I personally feel that Varana would be an
excellent choice for the throne, but I fear that his elevation
will cause such tremendous turmoil in Tolnedra that
the advantages of having so able an Emperor will be offset
by the strife which now seems inevitable. Were times
less troubled, I might take pleasure in watching the
Tolnedrans go up in flames. The Empire has had too much
sway in the affairs of other nations to suit me. But with
'Zakath loose in southern Cthol Murgos, this is not the
time for any of us in the west to be distracted by
internecine bickering.
MY ISLENA IS PREGNANT! What an amazing thing!
Either she has overcome her fear of childbirth or one of
the nostrums she routinely takes to prevent pregnancy
failed her. She refuses to discuss the matter. Merel, Barak's
wife, is constantly at her side to shore her up in moments
of weakness. There is a woman that is made of steel.
Sometimes she even intimidates me. She purrs like a
kitten when Barak is around, however. I will never
understand women. After all these years, I'm going to be a
father. Barak and I are now going to go out and get
disgustingly drunk.
The commercial empire of Prince Kheldar and his
Nadrak accomplice has swelled beyond the bounds of
good taste. They totally dominate trade along the North
Caravan Route, and they have hired the shipyards at Yar
Marak to build them a fleet of merchant vessels so that
they might plunder Mallorea. The rascally Kheldar came
to Cherek like a thief in the night and hired away every
ship-builder he could find. So total was their defection
that I couldn't even get a row-boat built in the yards at Val
Alorn if I needed one. It's a sad reflection on the times
when money commands more respect than patriotism or
loyalty to one's nation and one's King. Islena swells like a
big-bellied sail, and she has developed an insatiable
craving for strawberries. Where am I going to find
strawberries at this time of year?
I have sent this day a remonstrance to Prince Kheldar.
I should have realized that the boats he was building
were only a prelude. He has now begun recruiting
sailors. I don't have enough good men left in Cherek to
man the fleet. The wages he offers are absolutely
outrageous. I'd have to strip my treasury to match them. He
goes too far. He goes too far. I never really liked him
anyway.
Polgara has graciously sent Islena whole baskets of
strawberries from her own garden. How she made the
bushes bear in the fall is quite beyond me. After eating
only two, however, Islena lost interest in them. What am I
going to do with all those strawberries?
Ariana, wife of Lelldorin of Wildantor, has given birth
to their first son. I hope that's a good sign.
I HAVE A SON! - a great squalling boy with black hair
and lungs like a set of bellows! May Belar be blessed! As