I won’t reveal who Marianne is talking to here. That’s much too big a spoiler. 

“What in the world is going on in
Parania?” Marianne asked. “The Sural wouldn’t talk about it, then right after
breakfast he took off for Monralar, after muttering something unintelligible
about the Paran.”

“You don’t know?” she asked.

“Know what?!” Marianne cried in
exasperation. 

“The Monral assassinated the Paran’s
daughter. Her son was too young to live without her and followed her into the
dark.” 

“Oh. My. God. I am so, so sorry.” 

She swallowed hard. “The Paran is
devastated. The Monral made it look like an accident because it’s against their
law to assassinate a parent with a child that young. It’s equivalent to
assassinating the child, as far as the Tolari are concerned, and that’s
punishable by death.” 

“Oh my God.” 

“The Paran lodged a formal complaint
with the Sural. Do you think he’s gone off to investigate it?” 

“I wouldn’t know. He didn’t say. But I
can tell you that the world is probably better off without the Monral in it.” 

“Marianne!” 

“It’s true. He’s a nasty piece of work.
The Sural doesn’t let himself hate anyone, but he comes as close to it with the
Monral as he’ll get.” 

She chewed on her lower lip. “I can’t
say I appreciate what he did,” she allowed. “The Paran has no family now.
Unless you count me.” She winced. “Anyway, he’s devastated. Got stupid drunk
over it.” 

“Really? I didn’t know Tolari did
that.” 

“Apparently they do. His daughter and
grandson died five days ago. He finally came out of his quarters yesterday
after a three-day bender. Now he’s down in the arena beating up training
dummies. He looks like hell, but you didn’t hear that from me.” 

“Who am I going to tell?” 

“The Sural.”  

“Um, well, point,” Marianne admitted.
“But the Sural isn’t home. He’s gone off to Monralar.”