Harlan drew a breath and gestured for Eda to start walking. ‘Come on. Let’s go.’
Eda did not move. ‘It’s done now. There’s no point staying angry at me. Iamsorry you got caught up in it. That was never the plan.’
Before Roul could reply, a servant appeared at the top of the steps. ‘Commander Thornton. Queen Fayre would like to speak with you on the terrace.’
Eda’s face fell. ‘She knows it was my terrible idea and you have nothing to do with it.’
A glare was Roul’s only response before stepping past her and heading back into the castle.
‘Come to the house tonight,’ she called to his back. ‘We’ll talk.’
Roul did not reply. He did not even look back when he reached the top of the steps. He marched along the gloomy corridors of Eldon castle, mind racing with possibilities, until he reached the terrace where Queen Fayre sat alone. Her two guards stood out of hearing range. He stopped in front of her and bowed his head. ‘You wanted to see me, Your Majesty?’
She looked up at him, a thoughtful expression on her face. ‘Firstly, congratulations, Commander. The title is much deserved. I knew when I met you, half starved, all those years ago, that you would make something of yourself.’
In reality, he would likely still be stealing livestock from the houses along the Toryn border if their paths had not crossed that day. ‘Thank you.’
She offered him a small smile. ‘I do hope you wrote your family to tell them of the news.’
He could not gauge if her sentiments were genuine or if she was simply reminding him that she was the reason he still had a family to write to. Her compassion had saved their lives a few years back, but her ever-changing agenda had ruined his. They never spoke about that part. They had agreed to never say those things aloud to anyone. It was safer for everyone to keep them buried. Roul considered Harlan his closest friend, but even he only knew the bare minimum. Eda knew even less—despite her constant probing.
‘Not yet, but I will.’
‘Good.’ She regarded him a moment. ‘Eda Suttone. You are well acquainted with her, are you not?’
He already did not like the direction of the conversation. ‘Yes.’
‘Did she share with you her plans to travel to Harlech Castle?’
‘She did.’
Queen Fayre was silent a moment. ‘Did she really climb the wall without aid of a rope to get inside the borough?’
Roul had not known that part. ‘If she said she did, then yes.’
‘What about weaponry? Can she handle a sword?’
It felt a lot like the queen was actually considering her insane suggestion. ‘Yes, she can handle most weapons.’
‘Really?’ She tapped her finger on the arm of her chair. ‘Didyouteach her?’
‘I spar with her on occasion. Her father taught her before his death, then Commander Wright.’
She watched him closely. ‘Are you and Ms Suttone friends?’
‘Yes, Your Majesty.’
‘Nothing more?’
He hesitated. Were they lovers? No. Were they kindred spirits? It certainly felt like it. But the queen was not asking that. ‘Nothing more.’
‘Good.’ A slow nod as she thought. ‘Good.’ She looked around before continuing. ‘She seems quite sure that she can find a way to reach my son. I had not considered sending a woman. Now I am forced to admit that it is an interesting idea given where we find ourselves. Of course, we would need to think smart about how we proceed. We only get one chance.’
Roul grew increasingly uneasy at her words. ‘Just because she can handle a sword, climb a wall, and wears dresses, that doesn’t make her the right person to pull this off.’
Fayre’s eyes returned to him. ‘Oh I know. The girl is fractious. Unruly. She lacks the discipline needed.’
Roul released the breath he had been holding.
