“What has brought you here today, Ferguson?”
Adius grabbed the thief’s arm as he attempted to move.
“He stole my new bread. The thief.” He pointed at the carefree man. “Cost us a pretty coin, he did. Refuses to pay for it, and it’s already in his belly.”
“He’s been charged with petty theft,” Adius stated.
The baker nodded, white-knuckling his hat. “We caught him red-handed,” the baker explained, his cheeks flushing red. “It’s been hard to make a living nowadays, ain’t it? And the likes of him thinks he can come and take what he wants.”
I turned my attention to the thief, who looked far too pleased with himself. “Why did you steal the bread?”
“Hunger,” he replied, implying obviousness.
The heat from the freshly lit fires warmed the throne room, fogging the stained-glass windows across from me. The walls glistened with thousands of gray-and-white crystals glimmering light onto the marble floor. Guards stood on either side of the three steps.
“You should watch your tongue.” I glared at him, then clicked my tongue.
He took a step closer, arching his heel back as he rocked toward the bottom step. He was either brave or stupid. I couldn’t yet tell.
Lowering his voice to a whisper, he uttered, “A queen as beautiful as you, I’ll do what you wish, accept any punishment you dish out.” His eyes glinted, and I’d had enough. Stupid. Definitely stupid.
Adius nodded and slapped him on the back of his head. “Talk to Her Majesty like that again and you’ll be sent to Ironwall, then beheaded.”
My face paled. I hadn’t realized he could inflict such punishment. Was flirting with a queen truly treason? It wasn’t acceptable by any stretch but not punishable by death.
I cleared my throat, gripping my fingers into the arms of the throne. “I should have you locked away in Ironwall.”
The color left his cheeks. His grin faltered. “I fought for you!” His tone sharpened. “I came to fight, but I’m just one of the faceless—”
“You were in the battle?”
Adius shook his head. “Please, Your Majesty, don’t listen to him. He wasn’t. He was probably passed out drunk somewhere or playing the flute on someone’s farm. He’s known for this.”
“Then Ironwall it should be.”
“Come on. It’s just bread.” He shot an aggravated look at Adius.
At least the baker looked pleased with the verdict.
I gathered a deep breath and let it sit at the back of my throat, calming my rage. It was a hefty punishment for bread, but he was treating me like a fool. “Three weeks service to the Crown,” I snapped, turning away from him. “I don’t care what service he does, whether it be cleaning the stables or attending the homeless,” I told Adius, who was looking from me to the young man. “Just get him out of my sight. If you catch him stealing again, send him to Ironwall.” I turned toward the thief. “That’s not just for the bread but for your manners too.”
Adius nodded, then grabbed the thief by the scruff of his shirt and dragged him while the boy complained. Accusing eyes watched me from my small audience at the back of the room. I hated these court trials. I despised them when my father held them, and I didn’t like them now.
“Thanks, Majesty. Greatly appreciated,” Ferguson said.
“The Crown will compensate you for your bread.”
Vahaga scowled. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to do that. I had never heard my father doing it, but I hadn’t attended many.
“That was a little much,” Cedric said, leaning in closer. “Three weeks service?”
“He undermined me. No one keeps power by being friends with everyone. I have to show strength.”
“He was hungry.”
I rolled my eyes. “Didn’t you see his silk shirt, or are you so used to not noticing these things? He’s from a wealthy family. Probably refuses to work and steals for thrills.”
Cedric fell silent.
Vahaga spoke as the thief was pulled out of the double doors. “Young man.”
Adius turned his head, and the thief followed.
Vahaga approached them, unsteady in his gait. “You will not steal again. The ancestors will know if you have.” He lowered his gaze. “I will know.”
“I won’t!” he promised, staring behind at me.
You have our forgiveness.” Vahaga shook his hands. “Your family will compensate the baker man for the bread you took.”
He nodded, and a plump woman—the thief’s mother, I presumed—clasped her hands together and thanked Vahaga for his understanding. I’d been right. He was from a wealthy family. The woman was dressed in beautiful fabrics of red and silver. She stood out from the dreariness surrounding her.
“Don’t.” Cedric clasped my wrist as anger almost forced me out of my throne.
“He undermined me in front of everyone.” Tears struck my eyes.
“Don’t cry. Not in front of him. Don’t give him the satisfaction. He’s waiting for you to break., testing you.”
I exhaled slowly, and Vahaga turned to look at me as the young thief was let go. “Is there a problem, Your Majesty?” he inquired.
I forced a smile. “None at all. It is not a weakness to be forgiving, Vahaga. I wouldn’t hold it against you.”
“Good,” Cedric whispered. ‘Dignified.”
The people in the room looked from Vahaga to me. Vahaga stared me down. Uncertainty lingered on him.
I cleared my throat. “If you’re going to change my convictions, however, I see little point in me continuing for the day. My advisor will confer with you after.”
Cedric smirked. “I will.”
Vahaga looked as if he might murder someone.
“Cedric.” I took a deep breath when I stood. “Let’s go find some lunch. Vahaga can handle things from here.” I smirked when I caught him grimace in my direction.
“Good,” Cedric remarked. “I’m starving.”
“Perhaps some cake?” I asked when we walked past Vahaga. “After, you should show off your wings. I bet so many here would love to see them.”
Cedric leaned in and whispered once we were out of earshot. “Perhaps you should stop.” He looked from me to Vahaga, who was about as red as blood. “I’m afraid if you don’t, he might explode.”
We both chuckled, then turned away. We walked to the adjoining room. I could feel eyes watching me as we left through the arch. Tables had been filled with food and beautiful glass domes encasing delicious treats. I was pleased to see some things hadn’t changed.
“I couldn’t help it.” I shook my head. “He’s such an asshole.”
His eyebrows raised. “Winter Rose Mortis, cursing…”
Everything Vahaga had said had been an attempt to make me look weak. I balled my fists, no longer feeling playful or sarcastic. I was mad. “I hate him. I wish he wasn’t high priest.” I groaned, glad we weren’t around anyone who could hear my blasphemy. The darkness inside of me relished it and pushed me to feel more, to give in to the anger. “I wish he was—”
“Don’t.” Cedric placed his hand on my shoulder, his eyebrows knitting together. “I know you don’t mean it, not even about him.”
I swallowed thickly. Was it the darkness making me feel that way, or was it me? I didn’t want to find out. Suppressing my feelings, I sat at the top table, and my stomach rumbled.
“What friends have you made?” I asked, wanting a change of topic.
“A man called Tommy. Has a good sense of humor.”
“Is he a lord’s son? A noble?”
“A servant.”
“Oh.” I didn’t mask my surprise. “That’s nice.”
“Servants, maids, the workers… They’re the best friends you can make.”
“Yes, and they know all the gossip.”
He gave me a look that made my stomach dip. I hated when he looked at me with disappointment. “Friendship isn’t how you can use that person.”
“I know.” I snappe
d.
Something in his gaze changed. I’d seen the look before. I could have sworn it was guilt hiding behind those golden eyes.
He sighed. “You’ve been stressed.” He rubbed my shoulder, rolling it back. I closed my eyes, enjoying the relief from the tension. “You’ve had a lot happen in the short time since we arrived.”
He stopped, and I saw why. People were piling into the room. “You should eat.”
I reached for one of the small triangular sandwiches. “Cucumber.” I scrunched my nose and placed the sandwich back on the platter. I found one with chicken liver and smiled. “Mmm.”
“Liver.” Cedric gave me a look. “You all desperately need a good cook.” He winked, then packed his plate with a variety of fruits—dates, plums, and chopped apple.
“We’re hiring, if you’re looking,” I joked.
“I’m a royal advisor, remember?”
“Ah, yes. I think if we keep going, I may kill the lords from shock by week’s end.”
“You should be careful though, Winter.” His expression darkened. “It’s fun, being back here and showing the lords and Vahaga up, but you can’t make an enemy of everyone.”
I cast my eyes downward at the thick oak table. “I know. I’m not going to push them too far. Not until I find leverage over them.”
The smell of mulled wine and ale wafted to us as the nobles began lunch. I looked down at them from our tall seats at the top table.
Cedric finished a slice of apple. “Speaking of leverage, have you thought any more about the Objects so the mer king doesn’t harm your people?”
“I have a year,” I explained. “I’m nervous about it, but I will find a way to get them together. One of them you can help me with.”
“Ah, yes. The Amulet of Viribus.”
“Perhaps you can bring it to me.”
He tilted his head. “I could after I go home after your coronation.”
“Don’t remind me of you leaving.”
“For now, keep the one you have safe. The Sword.”
I gave him a look. “It is safe.” Did he think I was going to lose one of the only two objects that could kill an immortal?
I think he could sense my aggravation because he looked away. “Do you know yet who will be attending your coronation?”
“Apart from the expected, no.”
“Have you considered the unexpected?”
“I doubt Blaise will want to attend.”
He clenched his jaw. “Let’s hope not.”
I raised my eyebrows. Why was he suddenly so hell-bent on keeping Blaise away from me? Apart from obvious reasons… but he didn’t know about them.
“For now, let’s focus on getting you situated here.” He interrupted my thoughts. “You have the council meeting this afternoon, right?”
My stomach flipped. I lost my appetite. “Yes. It’s my first one.”
“Are you prepared?”
“Far from it.”
“Do you want me to go with you?”
I shook my head. “I think there’s only so much I can flaunt you before they try something. I don’t trust them.”
“Me either.”
“I forgot how packed this hall can get during lunch.” My gaze drifted along the people. I spotted her before she did me. Wandering through the double doors, she swept between tables with such grace, it almost looked like she was floating. Her eyes found mine, and she smiled.
“She’s Amara,” I told Cedric before she reached the table. “One of the court ambassadors from Niferum. I imagine she and Daric arrived today.”
Cedric stood, but anxiety guided his tone. He extended his hand. “I’m Cedric. It’s good to meet you, Amara.”
She looked him up and down. Confusion flitted her gaze. “The pleasure is mine.” Turning her attention to me, she dropped to her knee. She tucked her black strands with white highlights behind her pointed ears before she looked up and said, “Majesty, it is a pleasure. My condolences on the death of King Amos.”
“Thank you,” I muttered. I hadn’t gotten used to people speaking of my father’s death with sadness or pretending to be heartbroken when they mentioned his passing. I was to play the part of grieving daughter, not murderer, I reminded myself.
“Please, excuse my confusion. I didn’t expect to see another faery here.”
I licked my lips. “He’s a good friend.”
“I’m pleased to see more of us here.” She smiled. She had the grace not to mention him being a light fae, regarding them as both being just fae, which was what it should be. “If you don’t mind, Winter. May I discuss a matter with you?”
“Please, speak freely.” I smiled and took her hands as she rose. We hadn’t spent much time together, but she had been Jasper’s friend before he was killed. Because of me. Guilt dipped my stomach when I looked into her bright eyes. It was strange how a woman I knew so little had become one of the few constants at court. She reminded me of a time when André was alive. He had always flirted with her, even when it drove Florence insane.
“It’s better we speak alone.”
Cedric’s eyes narrowed. “Is everything okay?"
“It’s about King Blaise.”
My heart pounded. My muscles tightened, and I hoped Cedric wouldn’t notice. “Yes, uh, let’s take a walk. Cedric, do you mind?”
He grabbed one of the blackberry tarts. “Go ahead. Find me after.”
I stood, brushing the crumbs from the bodice of my dress as I did. I stepped down, and Amara took my hand. I noticed Cedric watching us carefully as we left.
We walked into the passageway, which was relatively empty, as everyone was enjoying their lunch or the court trials that continued despite my absence. We swept past the open windows, then turned left down a wide, marble corridor with large portraits of monarchs who had come before me. The occasional four-legged sofa sat dusty against the stone walls.
“When did you arrive?” I asked.
“One hour ago. Daric wanted to join us, but your high priest wanted to meet him beforehand.”
That couldn’t be good. “It’s okay. So what’s happened?”
“The king will be arriving in two days.”
My eyebrows pulled down. “Why?”
“For the coronation. He said you’d already been informed.”
I closed my eyes. I’d all but forgotten his promise to attend. For some reason, I thought he wouldn’t want to come. We’d left things on a good note, but he had as much going on in his kingdom—with the feral fae—as I did. I didn’t think a promise to me would be held in any importance.
I flexed my fingers. “I know it hasn’t been long since my departure, but how is he?”
“He is well.”
I worried about him. The Crown of Discieti’s curse continued to harden his heart, and when I was there, he’d been different, acting as if he was in pain. “He doesn’t seem… miserable?”
She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth, hesitating on each word. “May I speak plainly?”
“Please do.”
“There was talk before that he was in anguish. Since you left, however, he seems better.”
“Oh,” I said, trying to smile my way through feeling like I’d been punched in the stomach. “He’s doing better without me there?”
She held her breath, her silence deafening.
“Understood,” I said before she could say anything else. I shouldn’t have cared. I was with Cedric. I was happy.
We continued to stroll through the castle. I walked with her through the long hallway with tall windows looking out at a gray sky. Dark buildings were silhouetted against the distant sea.
“He has requested to bring several of his guards, and—”
“Anyone is welcome here,” I said, interrupting before she gave me a long list of whom he wanted to accompany him to the castle. “The west wing will be made up for any guests from Niferum. You all fought beside me at the battle. Any faery is welcome in the castle.”
“He wi
ll be glad to hear it.”
I inhaled deeply and slowly. “Tell him to begin his journey.”
I wasn’t sure why the thought of him coming frightened me. Perhaps because the truth was too upsetting to admit. Ever since leaving, I had this horrible feeling in my chest—regret. He let me be my own person. He made me see things about myself and embrace parts of myself I never would have without him.
Cedric. His name flashed across my mind before I could delve too deep into thought.
Amara’s sharpened tone snapped me back to our reality. She cleared her throat. “We are concerned about King Kiros.”
“I am too.” I blew out a tense breath. Every time anyone brought up his coronation, my stomach felt as if it had been cut into ribbons. “But I assure you, those matters are being discussed with importance.”
Well, a vote was being held to antagonize him further, but I wasn’t going to tell her that. Kiros was dangerous, hurt, angry, and humiliated. I’d stolen his heart, and even though it was deserved and I’d done what I had to, to survive, I knew he would never see it that way.
“You are certain you can keep the threat contained?”
“Not certain, but we are handling it.”
“I’ve been told to give you a message. If you do go to war with Berovia, then Niferum will not be an ally.” She gave me an apologetic look. They weren’t her words. “We don’t have the resources. We lost a few men to the Sword of Impervius during the battle. With it still being in your court’s possession, we could not risk…” Her words trailed off.
“I understand, Amara.” I placed my hand on her shoulder. “Truly, I do. Niferum has done enough for Magaelor.”
Blaise couldn’t sacrifice for me forever, especially when I had so little to give him back. “I must prepare for the council meeting shortly, but please enjoy yourself. Drink, eat, and if you need anything, ask Ada.”
Amara nodded. She knew the head housekeeper and Ash Court well. She’d probably spent more time here than I had in the past four years.
“Is there anything else?”
“That’s all, Your Majesty.” She turned on her heel and hurried away, leaving me feeling uneasy as the first frost of winter began to show. The clouds outside the windows whirled into a sheet of gray. I straightened my spine, ignoring the anxiety balling my guts. It was time to be a queen and hold my first council, even if it meant discussing sending troops to Berovia to hurt Kiros. Even if it meant potentially being voted against and his threat looming ever bigger over my reign.
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