A useful reminder, given Melderyn's proximity to Kaldor and longevity, compared to the upstart Tharda. Of course, Ewen has never claimed Melderyn awareness of his existence, as he himself doesn't know. Rahel's injunction to not let Lady Brisyn Rissai read him might have more to do with the security of Thardan plots, given Morgan's tampering with Ewen around the parentage issue. Anyway, King Darebor is Ewen's uncle, whether he knows it or not.
Caldeth at least feigns disdain for Tharda, as seen in his snub of Bevan when he said of Coranan, "that's some sort of capital, isn't it?". Or words to that effect. Not sure whether that bodes ill for his feelings about Sir Ewen as a son-in-law.
The Arren connection certainly played poorly with Thilisa, in spite of Rahel's concurrence that revealing it might be the best way to go. She referred to it as a "taint" and called Ewen all sorts of names at first. But the sense wasn't that the political connection repelled her, but the personal implications of what it meant about Ewen. Or at least that was my sense in rereading the session notes. The Deryni angle seemed to be where her misgivings still lie, as well as the loss of the initial impression of Ewen as (to use Stimos' term) clay.
So, one question is, how to take the edge off that? And how hard to push the Tharda and/or Melderyn connection with Caldeth?