“Thatcher doesn’t have many reasons to distrust his sister. She could be valuable to us when it comes to getting information.”
I was at the end of my wits with the men in this room. A hanging suddenly didn’t seem like such a bad idea anymore.
“I will not use Lady Gwen as a pawn and put her life in danger. She grew up in Mistwood and she’s very familiar with the layout of the palace as well as the territory of the kingdom. Combined with the knowledge of her brother, this makes her valuable to us.” Gwen and I had known each other for some time now, and while we’d yet to have deep and very meaningful discussions, I liked her company very much. I could see some relief in her expression at my words.
“I would never suggest such a thing, Your Majesty,” Brett responded, unable to tell his opinion was unwanted. “I understand her value as an ally. But we do need to take all our options into consideration.”
“Aries has not given us a reason to believe he is coming after Everness yet. But once he has conquered Norrandale, there is nothing stopping him from coming here. I would like to increase our defences by stationing more men at the border.”
“That can be arranged, Your Majesty,” Brimsey said.
“Since Norrandale wasn’t taken by war, Aries will use the towns and farms to keep his army sustained. I want to be ready should he decide to invade.”
“If Aries should decide to come to Everness, before his men could make it to the towns and villages, they would have to cross the Evernean Forest and this would slow them down drastically.” Wells made a good point. We could find a way to use the forest to our advantage.
“If the Argonians should make it through the forest, the small towns and villages would be hit first. The people need to gather provisions and start making their own weapons. We mustalso ready the palace in the event that a siege takes place.” I didn’t want to be taken by surprise again.
“We all have plenty to think about,” I continued. “Our soldiers need to be readied, and we must prepare for any possibility.” I stood up from the table, indicating that this meeting had come to its end.
“If we were to send an army, we might have to raise a tax, Your Majesty.” Dalloway, though appearing to be on my side thus far, raised a valid concern. “Wars and armies are expensive to fund.”
“In this season? The people will revolt.” Levington was also right. He’d kept rather quiet during most of the meeting, indulging in the complimentary sandwiches and biscuits while he listened to us bicker back and forth. Little did they all know that should Aries’ “mining” expedition be successful, we would have much bigger problems than taxes and revolts.
Chapter 2
Gwen
I tightened the girth around the horse’s stomach, making sure the saddle wouldn’t slide around. The grey mare chewed on some hay while I tacked her up. Apart from a few small spots on her legs, her coat was pristine. Combined with her sweet temperament, you had yourself a very fine horse. I’d only been riding her the past week or two but one could easily tell that every other horse in the royal stables had been selected with just as much care. Whoever was in charge clearly took their duty seriously.
I adjusted the stirrups while the stable boy pretended to be busy in a far-off corner. I hoped I hadn’t insulted him by insisting that I tack up the horse myself. It was not that I thought him incapable. The truth was I enjoyed the grooming and tacking part just as much as I enjoyed the riding part. There was something about being in the presence of these animals that soothed me.
I took the reins and led the mare away from the hay and towards a nearby mounting block. She was momentarily hesitant to leave her food but quickly obeyed. “Good girl, Bessie.” It seemed like an odd name for a horse but somehow it suited her sweet personality.
I mounted and pulled the reins between my fingers, nudging the horse into a walk. The morning air was crisp, and I wondered how long the weather would allow me these early-morning rides. Every day the sun rose later and later. These rides had become my solace and comfort in a time where I felt as though I was at my wits’ end. It was a chance to be alone with my thoughts. And while I often found myself without company in the palace, there was something about the fresh air and the movement of thehorse’s steps that brought a sense of calm over me. I found the sounds of nature to be soothing in comparison to the daily hustle and bustle of Levernia’s palace.
The two of us crossed the path from the stables to the palace gardens. I pushed the mare into a brisk walk on the path between the lawns. Soon, some of the guards would come out to start training, but for now, I was alone.
I preferred it this way. The quiet, lonesome palace grounds with nothing but the sound of horse hooves relaxed me a little. The grey mare twitched under me, and I realised how my body had tensed up in the saddle. I forced myself to let out a long breath.
Finally, I made it out of the gardens, through a gate. The flowers and hedges turned to trees and tall uncut grass.
Tightening my grip on the reins, I nudged the horse into a slow trot, and she lowered her head.
“Good girl.” I wasn’t the most experienced of riders, but this was clearly a very well-trained horse. “I wonder why no one rides you more often?” The mare continued to trot through the grass. “Were you perhaps the late king’s horse?” I had a hard time imagining a man as hardened as him could have had an animal so sweet. The mare would require a kind owner with a gentle spirit. Someone just as calm as she was.
Grey clouds darkened the sky but there was no breeze in the air. Still, I pulled the mare back into a walk while trying to cover more of my body with my cloak.
My nerves were shaken by the council meeting a few days earlier. And I wasn’t really the type of girl to have her nerves shaken about anything. I was thankful that Queen Elara hadn’t asked me to join them because she was suspicious of me in any way, but because she wanted a better understanding of my brother.
The thought brought a sting to my chest. The very idea that someone who’d been so close to me could do such a thing... But when I truly thought on it, if there was anyone, I knew capable of doing something so abhorrent, it would be Thatcher. We were the kind of siblings to mess with each other a lot, despite both of us being young adults, and for the most part, it was all in good fun. But I knew my brother better than anyone and he had a dark side lurking underneath that cool exterior. And maybe, as his sister, I’d always suspected as much. But perhaps I’d just wanted to ignore it. Didn’t want to believe that the person I was closest to in the world would partake in such cruelty. Thatcher could be cunning, even sometimes selfish and despicable, but this... this was unforgiveable. He’d hurt everyone I cared about. He betrayed me too. My mind drifted to the day he left Everness. It was after Cai and Elara had gone to Argon for Eloisa and to see if it would be possible to negotiate peace between Norrandale and Argon once again. Thatcher and I had stayed at the Palace of Levernia, awaiting their return...
“Where are you going?” I walked into the foyer of the palace, surprised to have stumbled upon all of Thatcher’s belongings being carried out by the servants. I noticed a carriage waiting through the open doors.
Thatcher spun around. “You’re up early.” He looked surprised to see me, which was odd.
“I’m going for a walk.” As was evident by my outdoor attire. The weather wasn’t bound to stay decent for much longer, so I wanted to make the most of the palace grounds while I could.
“I was going to leave you this.” There was a folded piece of paper in his hand with my name scribbled in his handwriting. He quickly tucked it away. “But I suppose it doesn’t matter now.”
