When Jude went to Roiben's tent to propose an alliance in TCP, Roiben fooled Jude! [With The Lament of Lutie-Loo spoilers]
Before Cardan coronation, Roiben had already deceived Balekin and they shared resentment against each other.
In The Lament of Lutie-Loo, Balekin kidnaps Lutie-Loo, a subject of Robien, to force a dialogue. Balekin wishes to impress Eldred by making Court of Termites Elfhame's vassal.
But Robien went to the rescue of his subject with the help of Dain and so it was expected that Robien gave his oath when Dain becomes High King. In TCP it is said that this supposition that convinced Eldred to pass the crown to Dain. A great diplomatic move.
Balekin hates Robien for long time! It was in Robien's interest that Balekin never made it to the throne. But when Jude goes to Robien's tent, he acts as if the possible coronation of Balekin was not a big problem for him and manages to negotiate a favor. Jude owes him a favor because she does not know how bad the relationship between Roiben and Balekin is.
And the worst part? Before Jude left the clearing and tried the negotiations, Cardan tried to say something to her, but she interrupted him. Maybe he was about to tell exactly about this grudge.
And in TWK, Balekin chose to attack Court of Termite with a resentment older than Cardan's coronation. Because twice Robien got between him and Mab's crown.
@faerytalesfromtheabyss, I readed The Lament of Lutie-Loo so long ago, How did I not realize it before?
Maybe I got too fangirl for a little detail, but I was totally crazy over that.
