The women might not all be the heads of their houses, but they speak into the ears of the men who are. If done right, those whispered encouragements can become the subconscious thoughts of ignorant men.
“You have my thanks, Lady Helayna. The crown is ever grateful for your support.”
“We women have to stick together,” she says, a coy smile barely visible behind her veil. “Have a pleasant day, Your Majesty.”
“And you,” I reply with a conspiratorial tilt of my head.
The moment Lady Helayna is gone, my advisors come in, like birds of prey dropping in a swoop. “Your Majesty.”
“I’ve got Lady Helayna’s backing,” I say smugly, looking at the three of them. Barthal, Wilcox, and Uwen—advisors to my husband who were left behind to run Highbell. Now, they answer to me.
“You do?” Wilcox asks, clear disbelief on his aged face.
I nod. “As I told you before, gentleman, there is nothing wrong with me ruling in my husband’s absence.”
“Of course, my queen,” Uwen says, hand holding the belt at his hip to keep his stomach from overflowing over the top of it. “Our concern was simply that King Midas gave usveryclear instructions. We were to continue business as usual and send a hawk for any concerns as well as regular updates. He was to make the decisions, and—”
“Iwill be making the decisions.”
I’ve been working nonstop to tighten my tentative hold on the kingdom, and the three of them are my most vocal doubters. Which is why I’ve been doing everything in my power to prove them wrong, to put them in their place.
“As I told you before, we have no need for hawks. Any updates and concerns will come to me,” I tell them.
I turn and begin to walk up the stairs, though I get immense pleasure from the fact that they start hurrying after me, like trained dogs come to heel.
“But the nobles...” Barthal begins.
“The nobles, as I have shown you all week, are loyal to the Colier family,” I say firmly, my steps silent on the golden carpet.
“You have met with many nobles this week, that is true,” Barthal admits.
“Yes, and not one of them has any doubt that Sixth Kingdom is in good hands,” I point out.
“Yet, I fear that the shift in power you are enacting in the kingdom will worry some of these noble families, and we can’t afford any dissent,” Uwen puts in.
I stop, whirling on the three of them at the second floor landing, my guards halting a pace behind. “Look around you. Highbell canaffordanything.” My tone is harsh, my eyes cold. “If there is any dissent in the future, I will handle it, but for now, continue setting up meetings. I want to see a member ofevery singlestrong-standing noble family in Highbell.”
They look amongst themselves, burning with the question that they don’t dare ask. They know better than to directly inquire about what my intentions are with gaining personal support from the nobles.
But they know. They at leastsuspectthat I plan to make these changes permanent. To make the people answer to me instead of him.
My husband might have the golden touch and the silver tongue, but I have the blood and the history. It was my ancestors who ruled this kingdom.
As a Colier, I know everything there is to know about this land and the families of Highbell, and I know how to manipulate their loyalty.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Uwen replies with a bow.
I look down at them coolly. “Now, unless you plan on following me to my personal chambers, I think we’re finished today. I’m tired, and you still have to answer those inquiries I drew up. I’m waiting for those findings.”
Wilcox scratches the whiskers on his chin. “About that, Your Majesty. The questions about our forces...”
“I want them all answered, Wilcox.”
“Yes, but...” He hesitates, sharing another look with the other two, but they leave him high and dry. Uwen suddenly finds the floor fascinating, while Barthal is busy fixing his lapel.
Wilcox sighs and looks back at me. “Forgive me if I’m speaking out of turn, but those inquiries...it sounds as if you plan to prepare for war.”
I flash him a benign smile and take a decisive step down. One stair, then two, until I’m directly in front of him. He freezes, blue eyes wide as I reach up to straighten the Sixth Kingdom insignia on his tunic, the metal brooch pinned through the middle of his collar. I close my fingers around it tight enough that he flinches.
