"It is the only way we can ever hope to rule Ebia, Helena." Ethan Balliol retorted to his wife, raising his voice slightly.

Helena looked down at her fingers, resting on her pregnant belly. Ethan took her hands in his.

"It's the only way we can overthrow the Decretas. They'll destroy Ebia and all the people in it. No one house could ever overthrow them and alliances only ever end up in civil war." His lip curled at the thought of civil war. "It would give them the best chance in life."

Helena looked up at him. "But they're only children. Isn't it wrong?"

Ethan shrugged. "They won't ever know anything different. Look, I've already devised the plans." The cupbearer for the chamber they sat together in came forward and passed a scroll to Ethan.

"The eldest, our heir," He looked fondly down at his wife's pregnant stomach, "we'll teach him the art of war, how to command our armies. The gods will give us a girl next, that's what priestess Nerwon said. We'll raise her to be the proper lady, she'll unite our family with the Gadshills when she is of age. The rest will be boys, the priestess told me. We'll raise the third in knowledge, he'll study in the library at all times, the history of the world, he will have unlimited knowledge in what has passed to help him understand what will happen in the future. The fourth will learn medicine, we'll get Healer John to teach him himself. The fifth one, your last charge, he will learn with every weapon. He will be our assassin, victory does not come with complete honesty. And central to this concept, darling, is family. They must stay true to our family, so every meal we eat, we eat it together, the boys will sleep all in the same chamber. When we are gone, they will save Ebia, it is difficult to see, my dear, but this is our sacrifice, our legacy. And it will start as soon as you bring us our first son."

Helena looked down at her belly once more, then to the detailed scroll in her husband's hand.

"What is the name of our heir." She said, then cried out as she went into labour. Her handmaiden came over with Healer John. Ethan realised what was happening and lifted Helena up, carrying her in the direction of her chamber.

"Our son's name is James. He will take over." Ethan smiled, stroking his wife's black hair.