The Wolf Queen , Book II Series . This book is part of The Wolf Queen series , as follows : Contents . From the pen of the first century Third Era sage Montocai : 3E 82 A year after the wedding of his 14 - year - old granddaughter the Princess Potema to King Mantiarco of the Nord ic Kingdom of Solitude , the Emperor Uriel Septim II passed on . His son Pelagius Septim II was made the Emperor , and he faced a greatly depleted treasury , thanks to his father ' s poor management . As the new Queen of Solitude , Potema faced opposition from the old Nord ic houses , who viewed her as an outsider . Mantiarco had been widowed , and his former queen was loved . She had left him a son , Prince Bathorgh , who was two years older than his stepmother , and loved her not . But the king loved his queen , and suffered with her through miscarriage after miscarriage , until her 29th year , when she bore him a son . 3E 97 " You must do something to help the pain ! " Potema cried , baring her teeth . The healer Kelmeth immediately thought of a she - wolf in labor , but he put the image from his mind . Her enemies called her the Wolf Queen for certes , but not because of any physical resemblance . " Your Majesty , there is no injury for me to heal . The pain you feel is natural and helpful for the birth , " he was going to add more words of consolation , but he had to break off to duck the mirror she flung at him . " I ' m not a pig - nosed peasant girl ! " She snarled , " I am the Queen of Solitude , daughter of the Emperor ! Summon the Daedra ! I ' ll trade the soul of every last subject of mine for a little comfort ! " " My Lady , " said the healer nervously , drawing the curtains and blotting out the cold morning sun . " It is not wise to make such offers even in jest . The eyes of Oblivion are forever watching for just such a rash interjection . " " What would you know of Oblivion , healer ? " she growled , but her voice was calmer , quieter . The pain had relaxed . " Would you fetch me that mirror I hurled at you ? " " Are you going to throw it again , your Majesty ? " said the healer with a taut smile , obeying her . " Very likely , " she said , looking at her reflection . " And next time I won ' t miss . But I do look a fright . Is Lord Vhokken still waiting for me in the hall ? " " Yes , your Majesty . " " Well , tell him I just need to fix my hair and I ' ll be with him . And leave us . I ' ll howl for you when the pain returns . " " Yes , your Majesty . " A few minutes later , Lord Vhokken was shown into the chamber . He was an enormous bald man whose friends and enemies called Mount Vhokken , and when he spoke it was with the low grumble of thunder . The Queen was one of the very few people Vhokken knew who was not the least bit intimidated by him , and he offered her a smile . " My queen , how are you feeling ? " he asked . " Damned . But you ' re looking like Springtide has come to Mount Vhokken . I take it from your merry disposition that you ' ve been made warchief . " " Only temporarily , while your husband the King investigates whether there is evidence behind the rumors of treason on the part of my predecessor Lord Thone . " " If you ' ve planted it as I ' ve instructed , he ' ll find it , " Potema smiled , propping herself up in the bed . " Tell me , is Prince Bathorgh still in the city ? " " What a question , your highness , " laughed the mountain . " It ' s the Tournament of Stamina today , you know the Prince would never miss that . The fellow invents new strategies of self - defense every year to show off during the games . Don ' t you recall last year , where he entered the ring unarmored and after twenty minutes of fending off six bladesmen , left the games without a scratch ? He dedicated that bout to his late mother , Queen Amodetha . " " Yes , I recall . " " He ' s no friend to me or you , your highness , but you must give the man his due respect . He moves like lightning . You wouldn ' t think it of him , but he always seems to use his awkwardness to his advantage , to throw his opponents off . Some say he learned the style from the Orcs to the south . They say he learned from them how to anticipate a foe ' s attack by some sort of supernatural power . " " There ' s nothing supernatural about it , " said the Queen , quietly . " He gets it from his father . " " Mantiarco never moved like that , " Vhokken chuckled . " I never said he did , " said Potema . Her eyes closed and her teeth gritted together . " The pain ' s returning . You must fetch the healer , but first , I must ask you one other thing - - has the new summer palace construction begun ? " " I think so , your Highness . " " Do not think ! " she cried , gripping the sheets , biting her lips so a stream of blood dripped down her chin . " Do ! Make certain that the construction begins at once , today ! Your future , my future , and the future of this child depend on it ! Go ! " Four hours later , King Mantiarco entered the room to see his son . His queen smiled weakly as he gave her a kiss on the forehead . When she handed him the child , a tear ran down his face . Another one quickly followed , and then another . " My Lord , " she said fondly . " I know you ' re sentimental , but really ! " " It ' s not only the child , though he is beautiful , with all the fair features of his mother , " Mantiarco turned to his wife , sadly , his aged features twisted in agony . " My dear wife , there is trouble at the palace . In truth , this birth is the only thing that keeps this day from being the darkest in my reign . " " What is it ? Something at the tournament ? " Potema pulled herself up in bed . " Something with Bathorgh ? " " No , it ' s isn ' t the tournament , but it does relate to Bathorgh . I shouldn ' t worry you at a time like this . You need your rest . " " My husband , tell me ! " " I wanted to surprise you with a gift after the birth of our child , so I had the old summer palace completely renovated . It ' s a beautiful place , or at least it was . I thought you might like it . Truth to tell , it was Lord Vhokken idea . It used to be Amodetha ' s favorite place . " Bitterness crept into the king ' s voice . " Now I ' ve learned why . " " What have you learned ? " asked Potema quietly . " Amodetha deceived me there , with my trusted warchief , Lord Thone . There were letters between them , the most perverse things you ' ve ever read . And that ' s not the worst of it . " " No ? " " The dates on the letters correspond with the time of Bathorgh ' s birth . The boy I raised and loved as a son , " Mantiarco ' s voice choked up with emotion . " He was Thone ' s child , not mine . " " My darling , " said Potema , almost feeling sorry for the old man . She wrapped her arms around his neck , as he heaved his sobs down on her and their child . " Henceforth , " he said quietly . " Bathorgh is no longer my heir . He will be banished from the kingdom . This child you have borne me today will grow to rule Solitude . " " And perhaps more , " said Potema . " He is the Emperor ' s grandson as well . " " We will name him Mantiarco the Second . " " My darling , I would love that , " said Potema , kissing the king ' s tear - streaked face . " But may I suggest Uriel , after my grandfather the Emperor , who brought us together in marriage ? " King Mantiarco smiled at his wife and nodded his head . There was a knock at the door . " My liege , " said Mount Vhokken . " His highness Prince Bathorgh has finished the tournament and awaits you to present his award . He has successfully withstood attacks by nine archers and the giant scorpion we brought in from Hammerfell . The crowd is roaring his name . They are calling him The Man Who Cannot Be Hit . " " I will see him , " said King Mantiarco sadly , and left the chamber . " Oh he can be hit , all right , " said Potema wearily . " But it does take some doing . "