‘LIKE ME? WHATEVER CAN YOU MEAN?’ ‘That’s why you’re going to court,’ she said. ‘To ask for Princess Rozalina’s hand.’ ‘Me? You must be joking. I don’t want to marry anyone,’ Zed said. ‘We think that is why you have been summoned to court,’ Pedrin said. ‘So the king can inspect you as a potential suitor for his granddaughter.’ ‘There are so few of the Ziv left,’ Lady Lisandre said sadly. ‘So few had children who survived. I think of Princess Druzilla, who lost nine babies, and Princess Adora who has lost six, and then poor Ziggy. All his children died before they reached the age of ten, and then his wife died too. He says he cannot bear to marry again.’ ‘Which is why Zed is his heir,’ Priscilla said happily. ‘So this new law, it means Zed is now in line for the throne?’ Merry said, grinning at his friend who was looking dismayed. ‘Yes, after Prince Zander, Ziggy is the next in line, and then Zed, and then, unfortunately, Zakary.
