“Yes, Marchioness,” he replied. “Am I free to begin my journey home?” he asked.
“Go,” Selene replied tiredly, and he turned hurriedly, running up the steps.
“I should make my leave too, Marchioness,” Fotis said. “It’s a long journey for me. “Do you know when you’ll be in Cliffwind?” he asked.
Selene smiled. “Within two weeks,” she answered. “I am beginning the tour early. Please keep this knowledge to yourself.”
“Certainly, of course, my lips are sealed,” he said, nodding. “Within two weeks… and are you going to be spending the night?” he asked.
“I should think so,” Selene replied.
“I’ll get the guest rooms ready for you then. We only have one inn and it’s not fit for royalty. Not that my house is either, mind, but it’s better than the inn—if you don’t mind. There’s the barn too—not for you of course—I mean if your people are too many for the inn. I’m sure those with space to spare would also offer up a bed,” he said.
“Your hospitality will be welcomed, Fotis of Cliffwind, I assure you. I do not require much,” Selene replied. “You should be on your way,” she continued. “It is a long journey.”
“Yes! And I need to get back and start preparing. The children have already begun making welcoming banners. Will you have time to visit the local school? Some are very excited to meet you,” he asked.
I smiled. I liked the thought that there were people who didn’t fear Selene—those who expected goodness from her and were excited to meet her.
“Of course,” Selene replied.
“Amazing! Okay, I’ll head back and prepare to leave. Thank you for your hospitality, Marchioness, and it was a pleasure meeting you and Percy,” he bowed his head to me.
“Bye, Fotis. I can’t wait to see Cliffwind. And I’ll help as much as I can when I’m there,” I promised.
He smiled and bowed once again to Selene before heading up the steps following the Gravewick councillor.
“What have you done?” Sasha asked, once Fotis was long out of sight and Rylan and the others had begun to depart.
“Taken care of a threat to my authority and sent a message that any such challenges will be met with the penalty of death,” Selene replied.
Sasha stepped towards her, her eyes narrowed and her cheeks flushed.
“The maze has not been used as a means of execution for a century! For a reason! It’s not safe!” she said angrily.
Selene didn’t reply.
“What if it grows and threatens the foundations of the mansion?” Sasha asked.
“Grows?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“The maze is like a living thing. When fed it occasionally grows. It’s said that it was once half the size and the walls merely a few feet tall,” Selene explained.
I looked at the walls of the maze—at least a house in height—and from above it looked like it took up at least as much space as the mansion did.
“What you did was beyond foolish—all because you were challenged,” Sasha continued angrily.
“I was not simply challenged,” Selene countered. “My ability to rule was questioned. It’s one thing to challenge my claim to my titles—it’s another entirely to challenge my ability. One can be overlooked. I am not naive enough to think that there are not those displeased with my taking of Ardens and Vouna. I expect as much. But to question my ability to lead, to hold the officeand titles that I do—that is dangerous. Such thinking can spread quickly, and if the common man begins to think the same, soon a rebellion is afoot.”
“I don’t like what you did here today, Selene,” Sasha said.
“You do not have to like what I do, dear aunt. You simply have to accept it,” Selene replied.
Clapping interrupted their conversation, and we turned to see Adamantia making her way down the steps towards us.
“Well, you’ve been here but two nights and already you’ve fed the maze,” she said. “I trust this was a one-off?” she asked.
“I hope so,” Selene replied. “It served its purpose.”
