“Nonsense,” Bryn said. “That’s strictly against the rules. Besides, the parlay is almost at its conclusion—I’ll have ample rest once a decision has been made.”
Phillipa still looked concerned as she squeezed Bryn’s hand.
Declan frowned as he looked over the crowd. “Where is Queen Bryn?”
Bryn tried not to let panic show on her face. She glanced across the room to where Rangar was closely watching them from near the fireplace, ready to step in if needed.
He raised an eyebrow, but she shook her head a tiny amount. “Not feeling well, I’m afraid,” Bryn said. “Oysters, they think.”
Declan’s frown deepened. “I ate a dozen of them and felt fine—”
Bryn cut him off. “I’m sure she’ll recover soon.”
A servant rang a chime to signal the end of the recess. Bryn glanced out the window to find the sun just kissing the distant ocean horizon, and her heartbeat sped.
The time for the final vote had come.
Declan and Phillipa stood, taking Bryn’s empty china plate. Phillipa patted her aunt’s shoulder. “Don’t let them bully you, aunt.”
“I never do.”
Phillipa smiled. “I know you don’t.”
As the servants cleared out to leave only the delegates, the tone was very different as they took their seats once more around the table. The morning had been all formal speeches, the afternoon a wild debate, and now, as the sun fell beyond the windows, a delicate hush filled the room. Tensions had gone from simmering to coalescing into a sharp point like a knife’s blade.
Seated behind King Cedric and Queen Yves, Baron Marmose stroked one of his dog’s heads while his dark eyes fixed on Bryn.
“Well,” King Marthin announced. “We’ve come to the vote. Our scholars have prepared two versions of the decree. The one here, on the left, lays out the steps that shall be taken should we decide that magic will be forbidden throughout all eight kingdoms of the Eyrie. On the right, it details how magic shall be allowed without infringement. Everything discussed in the afternoon’s debates has been added to these two versions. All that remains is for each of us to cast our vote. May I remind you that while a simple majority shall determine the law, monarchs from all eight kingdoms must sign their names to the winning decree whether they voted for it or not.”
Baron Marmose’s dog jumped out of his lap. The baron crossed his leg casually over his knee, sipping deeply from his wine as though already celebrating his victory.
“We shall vote in the order of this morning’s die roll,” King Marthin stated. “You’ve each been given a token. Please place your token in the chalice in front of the decree you wish to vote for and state your decision aloud.”
Beginning with King Otto of Vil-Kevi, the delegates stood individually and placed their token into the corresponding chalice.
“For the free use of magic,” King Otto declared.
“Against all magic,” King Salvator said next.
“For the free use of magic.” Rangar dropped his token into the chalice and glared at the delegates from Zaradona and Ruma.
There was a brief moment of hesitancy when King Angus of Dresel went to cast his lot. As he stood, young Queen Hanna snagged him with a sudden grasp and whispered fiercely in his ear, but in the end, King Angus shook his grizzled head forcefully and dropped his token in the lefthand chalice.
“Againstall magic,” he said, looking sternly at his wife.
Bryn’s heart went out to the young Dresel queen, who had given one last-ditch attempt to influence her husband. Queen Hanna hadn’t yet learned that in realms such as Dresel, powerful men chose women for their looks and their ability to bear children, not for their advice.
It made her all the more grateful for Rangar. For as stubborn as he could be, he had never seen her as anything less than an equal. Even before her months of study to acquaint herself with history and politics, he had valued her instincts. True, at the beginning of their relationship, he’d forbade her from engaging in any action that might bring her harm, but he’d evolved from that strict attitude, and that was yet another reason why she loved him. Rangar wasn’t set in his ways like old King Salvator or King Angus. He could admit when he was wrong.
And he would fight like hell for what he knew was right.
“Forthe free use of magic,” King Hans said proudly as he cast his token.
“Strongly agreed. For the use of magic,” Mars said as Illiana tossed in their token.
Finally, after King Cedric of Ruma added his token to the left chalice with a gruff, “Against all magic,” it was time for the final vote.
The Wollin’s.
