Free Inheritance by Simon Brown

member states. The last thing Berayma should do was defer a decision about what was to be done with his half-brother Lynan. A new king could not afford to offend the most powerful families in his kingdom for the sake of a wastrel.
    Galen shook his head. This was a problem with many solutions but no prince ready to implement them.
    From a balcony above the arena, Areava also had been watching Lynan at practice. She did not know it, but her thoughts, mixed with the feeling of shame she felt about her half-brother, mirrored those of Galen. The fact that the queen had imperiled her life for Lynan’s injured acquaintance had only confirmed for her Lynan’s ignorant selfishness, proof of the tainted blood that ran in his veins. She, Berayma, and Olio, true and pure scions of the Twenty Houses, understood it was selflessness, not selfishness, that marked the nobility. They were born to rule for their people, not to take advantage of their position. Anger boiled within her. What could be done about him?
    She left the balcony for her own quarters. She was so absorbed in her thoughts she did not hear or see the greetings and salutations offered her by passersby. Most of them shrugged and continued on, used to her fierce concentration. One, however, turned on his heel and pursued her, tugging playfully on her elbow as he caught up.
    “Who in God’s name… !” she started, but swallowed her anger as soon as she saw Olio striding beside her, a grin on his face that stretched from one ear to the other.
    “Hello, sister! You’re looking p-p-particularly formidable this m-m-morning.”
    Areava frowned. “I am?”
    “Oh, yes. You’re m-m-moving north through the p-p-palace like a storm front. Black clouds p-p-precede you, lightning illuminates the roof.
Very
formidable.”
    Areava snorted, then smiled. “I don’t mean to come across so threatening.”
    “Everyone knows that, which is why they p-p-put up with it. What p-p-particular ache is souring you this m-m-morning?”
    “The usual.”
    Olio sighed. “Let m-m-me guess. Lynan.”
    “As always. There was no guessing involved on your part.”
    Olio stopped Areava with a hand on her sleeve. “Slow down, sister. It is impossible to talk with you at this speed.” Areava faced her brother, her hands on her hips. “And don’t come high and m-m-mighty with me. You m-m-may be m-m-my senior, but not b-b-by enough to warrant your anger.”
    Areava drew in a deep breath. “Say your piece, then.”
    “What happens after our m-m-mother dies is B-B-Berayma’s affair, not yours. He will be king, we will remain p—p-princess and p—p—prince. If he needs us to do any worrying for him, he’ll let us know. Do not take on responsibilities that are not yours.”
    “We are members of the royal family, Olio, the first of the Twenty Houses. We are responsible for the good administration and safety of this kingdom, whether we like it or not. It is our duty to worry.”
    “Not without the m-m-monarch’s leave. And remember, Lynan shares our inheritance.”
    Areava’s face pinched. “He knows nothing about being a prince of the blood. He has spent his whole life as a wagging tail. His father’s blood and his natural laziness makes him unsuitable to rule his own life, let alone any part of Kendra.”
    “You do not know him as well as you think.”
    “I see people for who they really are.”
    “Do you hate him so m-m-much?”
    Areava seemed shocked. “I don’t hate Lynan! I don’t even dislike him.”
    “Are you sure? Have you ever forgiven Lynan for b-b-being the son of the m—m—man who replaced our father as the queen’s consort?”
    Areava shook off her brother’s hand and walked away from him. “You go too far, brother!” she cried, her voice filling the hallway. “You go too far!”
    Lynan wiped the sweat from his forehead and adjusted the quilt padding around his body. Under the heavy, lead-lined roof of the fencing stalls, part of the palace armory, he felt twice