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“A word of advice before you go, cousin — don’t marry Lady Alanna.”
“No? Even though my parents ordered me to propose?”
“Think, Jon. What should a King’s marriage — or a Crown Prince’s marriage — bring for the kingdom?”
Jon knew some answers to this one, at least in theory. “As many as possible of, or the most needed of, several things. One, a large dowry. Sir Alanna can bring this, and given my father’s propensity for feasting, that matters. Two, to bind potential allies. Oh. Trebond is already a direct vassal, and Alanna probably will be in her own right soon enough. I see the issue.”
Roger nodded. “Keep going.”
Jon said, “Three. Trade benefits. Trebond won’t bring those, and even if they would — Alanna and I are already close, and she manages the fief more than her Lord brother does. Four, either give Tortall claims to new territories or shore up claims near our borders — Trebond technically shores up claims on our borders, but on old borders. We have newer ones that need it more. Five and perhaps most importantly in our current situation, heirs. I’m sure she could give us strong heirs… but I’m not sure she wants to. At least, not on the timeframe Tortall would need her to.” Jon sighed. “And I don’t think she wants the responsibilities of being Queen, in any case. She said it sounded terrible.”
Roger said, “Exactly. Don’t marry her, and don’t lead her on. And by the way — while I am personally unbothered by my continuing unmarried state, Tortall would benefit from you considering matches for me with similar criteria. Your father should have done long ago.”