“I don’t need you to say anything. My mother’s death was not your doing.” Auraelia let the silence linger for a few moments before steering the conversation in a new direction. She’d specifically asked thatboth ladiesfrom Topaz come to court, and the fact that only one had shown was slightly concerning. “How is Lady Orna? My emissary says that the two of you have sequestered yourselves in your manor? I hope everything is well.”
A small, tentative smile pulled at Blyana’s lips. “She is well, but…”
“But, what?” Auraelia asked when her hesitation lasted longer than a breath.
“We’re expecting, Your Majesty. That’s why she didn’t join me on the journey here.”
A pang of guilt shot through Auraelia’s chest, the anger she once held ebbing away as excitement took its place. “Ababy?” she exclaimed, reaching over to grasp Blyana’s hands in her own.
Lady Blyana nodded, her excitement palpable. “It’s still early; she’s only a few months along. But pregnancy sickness has been taking its toll. She can barely keep food down. It’s why…why we haven’t responded to your missives, Your Majesty. I’ve been so focused on keeping her comfortable that nearly everything else has fallen to the wayside.”
Auraelia understood to an extent. She knew how hard pregnancies could be on a woman’s body and could only imagine how the excitement would overshadow everything else, but there was a war coming, and she still needed answers. Clearing her throat, Auraelia squeezed Blyana’s hands before releasing them. “I’m happy for you both; truly, I am. And I wish that I didn’t have to push this on you when you have so much to be excited about. But war is coming, and I need to know where you and your court stand.”
“I…I can’t put Orna in harm’s way, Your Majesty.”
“I’m not asking you to. I wouldneverask you to put your wife’s or your unborn child’s life on the line. But that doesn’t mean that your court isn’t a part of what’s coming.”
Lady Blyana nodded, but there was a sadness in her eyes as they met Auraelia’s. “My court is yours to command if that is what you choose to do.” There was a ‘but’ that hung between them, and Auraelia waited as Lady Blyana gathered herthoughts. “But maybe we can be a safe haven for those seeking refuge?”
“A safe haven?”
A small smile tugged at her lips as she nodded. “We could open our borders to those who want to escape the brutalness of the war. Women, children, the elderly. Whomever you decide. I would see to their care personally. And we have the resources to feed them since Lord Harland stopped ship—ments.” The word was broken into two, Blyana’s expression twisting into a mix of confusion and concern when Auraelia’s eyes shot wide, her fists clenching in her lap. “Are you alright, Your Majesty?”
Thunder boomed overhead as storm clouds rolled before the sun, blacking it out again. “What do youmeanLord Harland stopped shipments?”
“He sent a missive—”
“How long ago?” Auraelia demanded.
“About a week. Is everything alright?” Lady Blyana’s brows drew together as she searched Auraelia’s face.
Lightning crackled between the clouds, lighting up the sky with white light tinged in blue. “No, Lady Blyana. Everything isnot all right.”
Auraelia took a deep breath in through her nose and held it until her lungs screamed. There was nothing she could do—not yet anyway—and if he’d sent a missive to the Court of Topaz under the guise that the order had come from her? She blew out the air in her lungs and drew in a ragged breath. The crimes Lord Harland committed were mounting by the day, and she wasn’t sure how long she could let this continue before her anger took over.
“Your Majesty?” Lady Blyana hedged. There was a slight tremor in her hand as she grasped Auraelia’s.
Auraelia closed her eyes and released a shaky breath. “Lady Blyana, I appreciate and accept your offer of refuge. Please,make yourself at home. We’ve set up a suite for you in the castle's east wing. Once you’re settled, please see my emissary to finalize the necessary details to set this plan into motion, and I will meet with you both later. If you’d please excuse me, I have another matter that I need to attend to.” Auraelia rose, and Blyana followed suit, dipping into a curtsey before Auraelia turned and stalked up the path back to the castle.
Beneath the tightly coiled anger was a question that niggled at the back of her mind. If Lord Harland stopped the shipment of supplies, where were the money and resources designated for the exchange going?
Stopping as she reached the doors, Auraelia turned toward the same guard who had escorted Lady Blyana to the gardens. “Find Lady Ophelia and bring her to the council chambers.Now.”
His eyes widened a fraction before controlling his expression and bending at the waist. Not bothering to wait and see if he did as he was told, Auraelia continued on her way, her boots clicking on the stone floor as she hastened her steps.
“Your Majesty, I had no idea,” Lady Ophelia repeated for what, Auraelia was sure, was the hundredth time since she’d entered the council chambers.
“Then where is it?!” she seethed, throwing her arms out wide before slamming them on the table as she stared down her Mistress of Coin. Auraelia’s temples throbbed, her headache escalating into a migraine as her magic burned beneath her skin, begging to be released. Taking a ragged breath, she tightened her hold on her power. Internally, she grabbed the threads in both hands and shoved them deep down until it was just a steady thrum in her veins.
Lady Ophelia’s face paled, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water as she seemed to search for a plausible answer. “I gave the money to Lord Harland; he’s responsible for the shipments, Your Majesty. Always has been. I’m not sure what happened.”
Her jaw ached from how tightly she was clenching her teeth. Everything always came back tohim. He’d wormed his way into every facet of her court. Tried to take her down from within, and she’d just beenletting him.
Let him continue to wreak havoc.
Allowed him to spin lies in her name to hide the atrocities that he had been committing.
Enough was enough.
