“How can you? I saw the statue. I know your brother and father died, but this is different. You couldn’t have saved them. But I could have saved Tommy—should have. I made a promise!” Tommy was gone. Milena’s heart, crushed. Gramma helpless.Failed. I failed.
With renewed fire, her stare bore into Queen Frost. “Youmade a promise. You tricked me into romping through a radiated forest to get all this for you when you could have just given me the medicine first. Tommy’s death is onyou! How many others?”
“Shall I remove her?” the guard asked warily. Based on their previous encounter, he must know he was a bug Lark could squash.
“That isn’t necessary,” the queen said. “Ms. Sutter has a right to her grief. Lark.” Her gaze shifted to Lark.
“You don’t get to call me that,” she blasted, eyes stinging with hot tears. “I hate you! You’re no better than Irons or Calder or LeCun or any of the others. Liars, all—heartless, cruel despots!”
Frost stiffened. “Fine. Think what you like. So, you couldn’t save one friend’s life. Look at this.”
The queen strode forward and flung open the trunk Lark had just brought in. “Morphine, penicillin, epinephrine, methyldopa, vaccines for tetanus, influenza, and cancer. Antiseptics, soothing ointments, pain relievers, syringes, anesthetics, and surgical packs. What you and the team recovered will save hundredsof lives throughout the kingdom. Tell me what you need, and I’ll ensure it gets to Saltmarsh Reach, New Charleston, and the other coastal towns.”
“Yeah, right,” Lark muttered, brows narrowed. She knuckled away a tear. “I don’t trust you as far as I could throw you.”
“Fine. Take what you want and go.” Lark locked onto the queen’s gaze, probing it for sincerity. It was too late for Tommy, but others could benefit from the medicines and supplies. Wound treatments, vaccines, malaria drugs, and antivenom were always in demand. She glanced at the open trunk stuffed with pre-war medical wonders.
“Or you could stay on with VERT, the Verdancian Elite Recon Team. Lieutenant Navarro’s note praised your performance, and Captain Moreau asked for you himself.”
The audacity of this woman! Fury surged through Lark, her scowl deepening. She couldn’t possibly think she’d want to serve such a snake of a queen. Before she could object, Frost continued.
“You can go home angry and bitter, cursing me for the rest of your life, or you could make a real difference. VERT can execute recon missions, accomplish surgical strikes on enemies, conduct sabotage, gather intelligence, explore unknown areas, perform escort missions, and, most importantly, carry out salvage operations too risky for civilians. Look around you. This isn’t just a pile of boxes—it represents countless lives saved, and not just for the military. Because of what you and the team accomplished, the government can once again offer medical supplies to the public. Suppose one of our research scientists is kidnapped by the Core Cult? You’d be called in to rescue them. The Iron Realm starts building a bridge to carry troops across the Mother River? You blow it up. Your skills are wasted living an ordinary life in the swamp, Ms. Sutter. You might hate me, but I suspect you love Verdancia. I think deep down you’ve always longed to do something of significance, something that truly matters on a grand scale. Serve. Protect. Save lives.”
Queen Frost paused a beat, giving Lark a moment to consider.How does she know? Am I that transparent?But Gramma and Leif. Bryn. My friends and neighbors. Milena.Lark’s muscles unclenched as a deep breath shudderedthrough her, easing the torrent of emotions. She knew Milena would never look at her with the same desire she felt for her friend. Gramma had warned her about falling for a straight woman.It never works out the way you hope.She was right.
But if Lark stayed, who would hunt, watch out for Gramma and Bryn?Leif is a young man now,she thought.It’s time he starts taking responsibility.
The guard released her arm, slowly stepping back. Lark leveled a searing gaze on Queen Frost. “I don’t like you, and I don’t trust you. But Luke and the team? They’re all right. I can save lives, you say, protect the kingdom?”
She nodded. “Just like your father, only in a different way. You wouldn’t be a soldier on the wall, Ms. Sutter—you’d be part of an elite team, breaching the unknown, collecting valuable artifacts, and rescuing citizens in trouble. You have your free will,” she stated. “Take your spoils and go home or stay with your team—make a difference.”
If I have free will, why do I feel like a pawn on a chessboard with someone else’s fingers moving the pieces?It could be a colossal mistake, but it was better than facing Milena’s anguish and her failure to uphold her vow.
“OK. I’ll stay.”
Chapter nineteen
Seams of Memory
Azaleen dragged herself through the front door. No sooner than it closed, she slumped, her body heavy as lead. It had been a grueling day. She had assigned Dr. Hall, the kingdom’s chief physician, to catalogue the medicines and supplies, organizing them by type in the order of usability. Some drugs with short shelf lives had long ago expired. Still, they lucked out with wound care and malaria pills. They’d disposed of premixed antibiotics, but had acquired several boxes of the powder forms, along with vials for mixing with water. It made her think of Lark and her friend.
After lengthy debates over wording, Camille dispatched a pigeon with the proposal letter to Aurora, the AlgonCree high chief’s town. She had tried to explain to Azaleen how their system worked, that they didn’t have a set central city as a seat of power, but she’d been too tired and distracted to listen.
Azaleen sank into the nearest cushioned chair with a sigh. Sabine had left the Capitol before her, busy with the Kingdom Day Festival. “Calder,” she muttered. “As if I didn’t have enough problems.”
“Oh, Your Excellency, you’re home.” Magnolia Dawes rounded the corner, an apron tied around her cotton skirt. “I thought I heard someone in here. The boys are at the ballgame. They had their dinner first, but I’m sure they’ll be ready for a sandwich slathered in gravy when they get home.”
A bright smile bloomed on her bronze face, her brunette hair secured in a single braid. Azaleen marveled at how cheerful her housekeeper always was—rain or shine, freezing or sweltering, she approached each chore with good humor.
“Can I get you something? You must be exhausted.” Maggie’s observation hit the mark. “What would you like?”
“Whatever you have prepared is fine. And a glass of wine if it’s convenient.”
Maggie’s tawny eyes sparkled, as if she lived just to make Azaleen happy. “I’ll grab a chilled bottle from the root cellar.”
“Lady Orielle? Has she eaten?”
“Sarah is taking care of her. I haven’t seen her today—busy with laundry. Shall I set your food and drink on the dining table?”
