The Star Scroll (Dragon Prince, #2)

by Melanie Rawn

“It sounds awfully difficult—and grim.” “Grim? Not at all. My son, we have to put up with some very tedious people because that’s part of the way a prince does business. But it’s worth enduring all the fuss because a prince can do so much to serve.” “You mean serve the Goddess?” “If you want to think of it that way. Personally, I let Aunt Andrade take care of that aspect of things. I meant to serve the people who trust us to look after the peace they need in order to live out their lives.” Pol nodded slowly. “Grandfather did it with his sword. You do it—” “—by outsmarting everyone I possibly can.” Rohan laughed again. “Which I sometimes think is infinitely harder!” A derisive snort greeted this remark. “You love it and you know it.” “I have to admit it can be fun. It’s a great responsibility, but a joyful one. To conclude a treaty that gets a better price for sheep, to give a dowry to a boy or girl whose parents haven’t anything for them—just knowing that armies won’t trample the grain while it ripens—there’s goodness in those things, Pol. And if the joy ever goes out of being a prince, then ask yourself who it is you’re serving: the people who trust you, or yourself.”