A Counter Offer

"Speak it," Camilla said, her thoughtful frown growing deeper.

"Tell me, Mother," Briana said, idly reaching up to play with a lock of her own hair, "How much does it pain you to command one of your poor, sweet, innocent daughters to accept this arrangement?"

"I do not like it," Camilla admitted, "but such arrangements are a part of life for nobility and had this event occurred in the time when I was a viable candidate, I would... at least consider the possibility it would be for the best."

"But who says you are no longer a viable candidate?"

Camilla blinked, looking at her daughter as if the girl had grown a second head right there and then.

Briana's smile grew even more mysterious as she explained, "You are still quite beautiful and not past your prime in the least. What dragon filled with lust could refuse you?"

"B-but," Camilla sputtered, "I am still... older. And the Queen! For me to leave so suddenly now would change everything..."

Yet she could not help but think on such a possibility. Would it be more noble to offer herself? Or would the dragons take it as an insult when she had so many younger daughters with more years of child bearing potential available to them? Why had she never even considered this possibility?

"Well," Briana purred, "As far as anyone besides the two of us know, the topic of succession may be what we are actually speaking of."

"So far," Camilla said, her voice growing flat, "There is very little of you tempting fate involved in what you are proposing."

"Ah, but there is," Briana replied, "for my intention is not to propose that you take my place while I take yours... at least initially."

"Explain," Camilla all but snapped, never having enjoyed this kind of verbal dancing around.

"What I propose, Mother," Briana said, "Is that when the Prince arrives, we BOTH offer ourselves as candidates to be his mate. And both of us must make honest and earnest attempts convince him we are the best choice over the other. Should he choose me, then things will continue as they always have and I suppose a dragon's breeding stock is all I was ever meant to be."

Camilla's frown changed from one of frustration to one of bitter reflection. All of her children seemed to have a streak of looking at the worst possible potential outcome as a punishment of fate. They obviously got that from her.

"And should he choose me," Camilla said, "I will abdicate the throne to you, as you are obviously clever enough to think of this plan to save a generation from this arrangement. Do I understand your proposal correctly?"

"Well, if you desire for me to risk my womb," Briana shot back, "the reward should be something of great value as well, shouldn't it?"

Camilla could not say her daughter's point was unreasonable on that count. Still, was this something even worth risking? Or should Camilla see if any of her other daughters might be more willing to accept instead?