by Jodi Meadows
The doors thudded closed behind me, muting the noise of my name. The Gray brothers were sitting on a nearby bench, with Paige standing over them. She wore a simple, smart dress with nothing to indicate rank; she should have been a duchess.
“Ronald,” said Melanie, “get that arrow out of your arm.”
“Cordelia is coming. She’s our physician.” Paige looked up at me, hopeful, but greeting her would have to wait a moment longer.
I faced the wraith boy. “How many people did you kill?”
“I didn’t hurt anyone.” Chrysalis tilted his head. “I was very careful, because that’s what you wanted.”
Relief poured through me. “Very good.”
“Tonight’s demonstration won’t be the last.” Patrick stood at the back of his cell, hands clasped behind him. His shoulders were straight, and his feet a hip’s width apart. His eyes stayed level on me. “They will riot again, until you do something about Colin.”
The riot was Patrick’s doing. Of course. As punishment for us not returning in the way he’d wanted: with him as my general and future king.
James stepped forward as though to silence Patrick, but I held up a hand.
“Perhaps.” I lowered my voice and glared through the bars. “But you won’t be there to see it.”
He was a statue; the flickering light of the oil lamp danced across his face, making his scar flash. “Even if you do send Colin back to the Indigo Kingdom, the people won’t be happy. Not until you’ve sent away every one of the Indigo Kingdom’s soldiers. Until you’ve exiled or executed every one of the loyalists.”
“My friends from the Indigo Kingdom are here to help maintain order. They’re here to help me assert myself as queen.” A lie, maybe. The only one I might call a friend was James, and he’d do whatever Tobiah ordered.
“The people will see through your deception.” Patrick took a measured step forward, putting his face in a banner of shadow created by the bars. “You might think you have power. Control. But soon you will learn that it’s an illusion. Real power comes with willingness to obey necessity. You don’t have that. Not now. Not ever. But when you need it, before the anniversary of the One-Night War, you will unlock those bars and together we will take Aecor.”
“Not now,” I said. “Not ever.” I turned and strode down the hall, shoulders thrown back and chin high. Haughty. Like a queen.
James stayed at my side. “Prison is too good for him, after all he’s done.”
“I know.” The cells we passed were crammed with blue-jacketed soldiers and loyalists; most didn’t look up as we passed, but a few muttered insults.
“He acts like he’s exactly where he wants to be,” James said.
“Typical Patrick.” I tightened my hand around the key to his cell. “He always acts like that. Everything is part of his plan. Maybe it is. Maybe he can plan for anything we’ll do.”
We stepped into the guard room and paused at a desk where an Aecorian sergeant flipped through a stack of papers. Keys rested at his elbow.
“Sergeant.” James’s voice came like steel. “You should rise when your queen enters the room.”
The young man scrambled up so quickly his chair fell backward with a loud clack. He bowed. “Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”
“What is your name?” I asked.
“Theodore Wallace, Your Majesty.”
Wallace. That name was familiar. Merchants, perhaps, or— “Your family had a clothing shop. Your parents made suits and gowns.”
His eyes widened. “Yes. My mother still does, though business has been limited during the occupation and revolution.”
“And your father?”
“Died during the One-Night War.” He lowered his eyes. “It’s been hard without him. I was drafted and sent to the wraithland, but recalled a few months ago. When Patrick arrived, he said your group freed us. That’s why I joined the Red Militia. To show my gratitude and help my mother.”
James waved that away. “Queen Wilhelmina wrote the letter that freed you. Lady Melanie had it delivered. If you want to show your gratitude, serve your queen. You’re out of the Red Militia.”
“I will.” Theodore stared at me. “I will serve you.”
“Good. Until I’ve had time to meet and assess Aecorian officers, Captain Rayner is acting as head of castle security. You will answer directly to him. Understood?”
He nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Keys jangled as I plucked them from the desk and handed them to the young sergeant. “We’re no longer at war, Theodore. I want you to release the Indigo Kingdom soldiers, as well as the loyalists. A transport will be arranged so the soldiers can return to the Indigo Kingdom. Tomorrow.”
His eyes widened. “And the loyalists?”
“Keep records of their names, but we’re not holding them anymore.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” He bowed again and headed for the cells. “With your permission. . . .”
I waved him on, and when James and I were alone in the guard room, I faced him and kept my voice low. “I want an Indigo Kingdom soldier watching Patrick at all times. Someone who will treat him with dignity, but feels no loyalty to him.”
James nodded. “I’ll choose someone myself.”
“Thank you.” I started out of the prison, James on my heels.
“At least he won’t be a problem anymore.”
“Just because he’s in prison doesn’t mean he’s not a threat.” I looked at James askance. “He has plans within plans. He might be in prison, but he’s still one of the most dangerous people I know.”
Whatever his intentions, I’d know by the anniversary. That much was clear.
TWENTY-NINE
I WASN’T TWO steps out of the dungeons before Paige found me, a sheet of paper clutched in her hands.
“What’s that?” I dreaded the answer. I wanted to collapse into the nearest bed.
“People who want to meet with you, disputes that need your judgment, and documents that must be signed.” Paige’s eyes were wide as she walked backward so we could keep moving. “There are other things, too.”
“I’ve been here less than an hour.” I checked over my shoulder; Melanie and Oscar trailed behind James, all with hands on their weapons.
“Wait until it’s been two hours,” Paige said. “You’ll have twice as many demands for your time.”
“I can’t wait.” I slowed my walk as we returned to the main part of the keep, half strange and half familiar. The rugs and tapestries were the same, but faded now. Or maybe they always had been, but as a child I’d never noticed. Rather than oil lamps, gas lights filled the tarnished sconces. It was a steadier glow, but I could see the pipe running the length of the hall, and climbing up at every light. Skyvale Palace must have had pipes, too, but they’d been built inside the walls.
Paige was still on her list. “I think we could put off the meetings until tomorrow afternoon and the day following. I’ll prioritize them, if you like.”
“Very good. I’m not meeting anyone now.”
She nodded, moving on to the next item. “I’ll have these documents delivered to the queen’s chambers—”
“My mother’s rooms?” I stopped walking. “I’m not staying there.”
Paige’s mouth snapped shut and she glanced behind me, looking for help.
“Wil.” Melanie hooked her arm with mine. “Where else would you sleep?”
“My old rooms.” Obviously. “I’m not sleeping in my dead mother’s chambers.”
A pause fluttered over our group. Down the hall, someone else was approaching; a physician, by her robes.
“Wil,” Melanie said again. “Are you the queen, or are you the same little girl you were ten years ago? What signal do you want to send?”
I twitched my little finger at her. “I’m the queen.”
“Say it again.” She released me and moved ahead to speak to the physician.
“All right.” Paige jabbed a finger at the list, and we were mov
ing again, now in the direction of the royal apartments. She kept up a stream of updates on the castle, the people working here, and a number of decisions I’d have to make about the staff.
I half listened, but the reality of walking these halls was too powerful. The last time I’d been here, I’d been a child. My kingdom had been minutes from annihilation.
There was my father’s study, the last place I’d heard my parents’ voices; they’d been fighting about Tobiah.
And there was General Lien’s study, where I’d found the prince bound and beaten. We’d hidden on the ledge and watched my city burn until we were discovered. He was rescued. I was captured. Then my parents had been murdered and the rest was a nightmarish blur.
“Your chambers, Your Majesty.” Paige handed me a key as I shook away the memories. “It’s a little stuffy, but the previous steward did his best. I assigned Danie to be your maid, but if you don’t like her I’ll find someone else.”
“I’m sure Danie is fine. What happened to the previous steward?” I stepped through the open door, into another tangle of memories. The parlor was just as I recalled, with wood panels along the bottom of the wall and ocean green paper on the upper half; it was bubbled in a few places, dirty and needing replacing. A portrait of my grandparents hung over the lit fireplace, and bookcases lined the walls. Only half the shelves were filled with books; the others held framed artwork, both in ink and paint.
I’d forgotten that she liked to draw.
“Prince Colin’s steward was executed several days ago.” Paige’s tone was empty. “He instructed me as best he could in the time we had, but Patrick— You know Patrick. He didn’t even trust an old man. He put me in charge of running the castle.”
Yes, I knew Patrick. “Do you like it? Doing this?”
She nodded quickly. “I don’t mind the assignment. It’s better than what we had to do before we took the city.”
Melanie and Oscar nodded, too.
“Very well. You’ll keep this job until we hire someone who won’t one day have to run her own estate.” I glanced at Melanie and Oscar. “That goes for you two as well. We’ll continue like this for now, but eventually you’ll need to deal with your family inheritances, such as they are.”
“I’ll add that to the list for after your coronation,” Paige said.
James muttered agreement, politely not reminding me to wait for a coronation if I wanted to keep peace with the Indigo Kingdom. “Best to keep people you trust close by for now. Take the rest as it comes.” He placed his blue notebook on the writing desk. “There’s a letter here for you.”
My heart gave a painful lurch. I gave Paige a few more instructions regarding interviews and the upcoming days, and finally everyone began to make their exits. Paige pointed out my belongings, already delivered from the convoy, and Oscar announced he’d check to see who was guarding the wraith boy’s new storage room before returning to take his post at my door.
“You don’t have to stay there all night,” I said.
He waved that away. “Someone does. You just released dozens of soldiers and people loyal to Prince Colin, and not to mention welcomed a thousand of his men into Aecor City. The Red Militia will keep an eye on them, but remember they’re not happy with you, either. You’ve imprisoned Patrick and you’re working with Prince Colin. That’s why they instigated that riot when you arrived.”
“Plus the people who aren’t on either side, but are terrified you’ll use the wraith boy against them,” added Melanie.
“Fine.” I dropped my shoulders as James, Oscar, and Paige headed out. “Everyone wants me dead. One day that will be out of fashion, I hope.”
“You have me. I don’t want you dead.” Melanie started to hug me, but paused halfway there. “You also have a smell. I’ll start your bath. We’ll catch up after you’ve washed off the last week.”
If only it were that easy.
When she disappeared to the washroom, I sat down at the writing desk and opened James’s notebook to find the letter from Tobiah.
Wilhelmina,
I must have read your account of the Snowhaven Bridge events a hundred times by now. I can’t say I’m happy about what happened, but I think I understand. The decision to save my uncle, of all people, must have been a difficult one.
Well, now that you have declared yourself queen, will you make it official with a coronation? You must be eager, but I am hoping you will wait, at least for now, while I try to sort this out with Uncle Colin. I expect to receive an angry letter from him any day now.
Sincerely,
Tobiah Pierce
I let his note sit as I poked through the inks on my mother’s desk. They were probably bad by now.
But when I opened a jar of sepia, there was no mold or anything else untoward. Paige—or her predecessor—must have replaced them. The nibs, too, looked shiny and new, not a speck of rust in sight.
Tobiah,
I will wait for a coronation. There’s enough to keep me busy even without making it official. My arrival—with your uncle at my side—triggered a Red Militia riot tonight. I’m still waiting for a report on how many were injured.
Before, I wanted nothing more than to return to Aecor and become queen. But after spending time with you in Skyvale Palace, I’ve realized how unprepared I really am. I don’t know what made me think I would be a good queen because I was born to it. Or because I ran off to the wraithland. Or because I was willing to do questionably moral things for my people.
I’d even just told James I wasn’t certain anymore . . . and then it was give in to Patrick’s demands, or watch him kill your uncle.
Immediately after, James warned me about new guards wanting favors, needing to write to the families of the dead—all things I would have gotten to . . . eventually. But as a queen, they should have been my first thoughts. My responsibility to my people.
I’m not ready for this. Not like you are.
(And now the words are on paper and I can’t take them back. Sometimes I hate ink. It’s so permanent.)
Wil
I blew on the page, half thinking I should leave puddles of ink in a few strategic places, but Melanie returned just as I was ready to accidentally tip a jar of ink onto the entire notebook.
“Ready?” she asked.
For a bath? Yes. For whatever came next? Absolutely not.
I pushed myself up and started after her, but paused when I spotted a door. “That leads to the king’s chambers?”
My father’s chambers.
Melanie nodded. “There are two doors. Both are locked.”
“Has anyone”—I couldn’t bring myself to say his name—“been staying there?”
She tilted her head, studying me. “No. No one has used those chambers since the One-Night War. We can unlock the doors if you want the entire suite to yourself. I know this isn’t what we had in Skyvale Palace.”
It wasn’t. And in spite of attempts to update, the royal chambers in Sandcliff Castle were simple by comparison: a parlor, a washroom, and a bedroom. The castle was old, built during a different time.
“Leave it locked. I don’t want anyone in there. It already feels wrong enough taking my mother’s chambers. But I might go in there sometime. To look.”
Melanie smiled warmly. “I hope you do.”
I spent the next day moving through Paige’s lists, but by dinnertime I’d made barely a dent.
“Everything will still be there tomorrow,” Melanie said as we headed up the spiral staircase to Radiants’ Walk, the castle’s main overlook. “If you try to do all of it at once, you’ll just end up neglecting everything.”
“And I’ll make myself sick and be useless. I know. You told me.” I cast her a quick smile as we passed through the arched door and emerged onto the wide, flat expanse of the overlook. “This looks just as I remember.”
My parents had brought me here often. At night, my father and I looked at the stars, pointing out the bright one in the north that never strayed from its
position, following with the others that wheeled through the sky. I’d learned all the constellations, though I couldn’t recall half of them now. I’d kept the memories buried for so long.
Cold wind tugged at my clothes as I lifted my face to the sky, breathing in the sharp salt air and bite of winter. Birds called overhead, seagulls and ospreys and eagles, and waves crashed against the cliffs far below. When I was young, standing up here made me feel like I was walking on the sky.
“This way.” Melanie motioned to the southern edge of the overlook where people—including Prince Colin and James—had gathered to watch the transport bearing former Indigo Kingdom prisoners move out. While I’d offered to let them stay another night, they were eager to leave.
Wagons and horses clattered, the sounds faint from up here.
“They don’t know how lucky they are,” muttered one of Prince Colin’s guards.
“Oh, I think they know.” Melanie’s tone was dark. “They saw enough.”
Not all the former prisoners of war were leaving. Some decided to stay and serve Prince Colin, protect him from this country of wild, rebellious people. But at least a hundred rode down Castle Street now.
James stood at my side. “Your first acts as queen are to stop the fighting and free prisoners. That’s a good start.”
Prince Colin glanced over, his eyes narrowed. “Remember that you’re not truly the queen until you’ve been crowned.”
“With you here to remind me constantly, Prince Colin, there’s no chance I will ever forget.”
He hmphed and moved away. Melanie, James, and a few others who’d been within earshot smirked.
“Tell me about your city,” James said, probably to distract me.
But I went along with it. “It’s smaller than Skyvale. It’s limited to the solid foundation of cliffs that radiants built almost a thousand years ago.”
“There’s no room for growth?” he asked.
“That way.” I pointed east, where the land sloped downhill into flat earth prone to floods. Several of the poorest neighborhoods stood on marshes, invisible in this darkness. “Nowhere you’d want to live.”