"What's special about the third?" Ghia asked, wrinkling her nose. "I thought the second was your..."
"My birthday, yes," Yarrow said, finishing Ghia's sentence. "We have to wait until Zardria is fully in power to stage a coup or the legality of my new sovereignty may be called into question by her supporters. There'd be no end of trouble."
"There wasn't for Zanny," Ghia pointed out.
"That was different. It was perfectly legal for Zanny to rule as regent, which she has done, technically. Zardria is the next in line to the throne and I'm not an heir at all; so I must call challenge on my sister once she's sworn in and not before."
"But if she were dead, then you would be the next in line..." Ghia said, trailing off as she saw the look on Yarrow's face.
"Your point?" Yarrow asked, too qu
