“Whatnew circumstances?” she asked, her voice sharpening.
Captain Soren’s gaze shifted to Ser Aeron, who nodded once. “Tell her, Alaric.”
The captain expelled a reluctant breath. “We’re running low on supplies, ma’am. Food, fresh water. We’re getting to the last of it.”
Lightning struck just outside of the camp, causing some of the men to yelp in surprise.
“Your Majesty,” her commander warned.
Lord fucking Harland.
Reining in the anger that burned in her stomach, Auraelia spoke through clenched teeth. “Lord Harland hasn’t said anything about supplies running low. Quite the opposite, actually. He informed me that all was well. When was the last time he insured a drop-off? Did you know?” The latter was directed to Ser Aeron, who shook his head in response.
“General Koa had no knowledge of it, ma’am. I’d been communicating directly with Lord Harland. Though I realize now that I should have informed him sooner.”
She almost forgot that out there, immersed among the men who had dedicated their lives to protecting the crown and the people the crown served, Ser Aeron wasn’tjustSer Aeron. He was Commander General Koa.
Auraelia’s fists clenched at her sides, her breath ragged as her anger began to build. “Captain Soren, I willpersonallyhandle ensuring that our troops get the necessary supplies. If there is anything else, do not hesitate to let me know. Whether directly or through the General.”
Captain Soren nodded as he bowed at the waist. Directing her attention back to Ser Aeron, she said, “General Koa, if you would please escort me to the training ring. I’d like to…observe.”
The smirk he gave her said he knew she didn’t want to merely observe—he knew her too well. He knew all of her tells and could probably read her mood about as well as Aiden could—and that waswithoutbeing an empath.
“As you wish, Your Majesty.” He bowed, bending at the waist before sweeping his arm toward the opening in the tent. “If you’d follow me.”
Aiden followed a few feet behind as they wove their way through tents and around circles of men that had gathered around a fire while they ate their lunch—their conversations stopping, food forgotten, as soon as Auraelia came into view.
There was a flurry of bows and a cacophony of mumbledYour Majesty’s before Ser Aeron barked out, “As you were!”
Auraelia met their wide-eye gazes with a smile and a small wave as they slowly returned to whatever they had been doing prior to her showing up. That was one thing she despised about being queen. She hated the formality that followed her everywhere. The bowing, the wide-eyed stares, and the palpable nervousness that came with them. She was a normal woman. She had hopes and dreams like everyone else…there just happened to be a heavy crown resting on her head and an entire kingdom that relied on her.
When they’d reached an empty stretch of path, Auraelia took a quick glance around before whispering, “I knew he was helping her come after me, but coming after his own people? I never thought he’d sink that low.”
“It’s all strategy, Auraelia. He can’t come after you directly, so he’s going to try and cut you off below the knees,” Aiden cut in, hastening his steps to close the small gap between them.
Ser Aeron nodded, adding, “Depleting the men’s resources could have gone in one of two ways. They could have either deserted—which none of my men would ever do, just so we’re clear. Or, they would have turned on the crown—which, again, they would never do again.”
Auraelia heaved a heavy sigh and pressed her fingers into her temples. “I want him gone. I want him out of my court and dealt with.”
“I know. But you know we can’t do that yet. You’re smarter than he is, Auraelia. Let him think he’s taking you apart from the inside while you work around him from the outside. He may be a rat, but you, my dear, are a fox.”
“A fox?” Aiden chuffed. “I’d say more like one of Narissa’s creatures from the deep. Lurking beneath the surface, lying in wait.”
“Fox, sea creature, whatever analogy you want to use,Ineed to blow off some steam before a certainratgets incinerated before it’sconvenient,” she fired back, lifting the hood of her cloak over her head.
Scowling toward the fenced-in training ring where two men grappled shirtless in its center, she asked, “Is that absolutely necessary?”
“No, but it beats having to launder your clothes on a daily basis.” Ser Aeron winked, then shouted a call to attention at his men—all of whom promptly stopped what they were doing, their bodies going ramrod straight, arms motionless at their sides, as they waited for orders.
“Men,” he began, “we have a special guest with us today. Impress her, and I may save you from having to face her in the ring.”
“Is this really such a good idea?” Aiden asked in a hushed whisper.
“Her,General?” one man questioned, his bushy brows drawing together at the center.
“Indeed, gentlemen. Unless you’re too afraid to take on your Queen.” The smile on Ser Aeron’s face was one of pure amusement as Auraelia stepped forward and tossed back her hood.
Smiling at the shocked faces before her, she let a kernel of her magic loose. Lightning flickered at her fingertips as she drew her sword from its sheath down her back and spun it over the back of her hand. “So, who’s up first?”
