“Should I stay?” I say.
She shakes her head— but a tear falls down her cheek anyway.
Then she says, “Am I making a mistake, Tycho?”
I draw a breath, then hesitate— but I suppose that’s answer enough.
The queen presses a hand to her eyes. Her shoulders shake, but she doesn’t make a sound.
After a moment, I cross the room to sit beside her. She immediately grabs hold of my hand.
Her own is trembling, so I grip tight. Then we sit, and we breathe, and we both try not to think of what’s at stake.
If we were in the palace, I would never be this close to her. We’ve been friends for years, but she’s been the queen for so long that there’s always been a bit of distance between us, just by virtue of her position— and mine.
When I was fifteen, when Grey and I so desperately needed to escape Ironrose Castle, it was Lia Mara who offered sanctuary. She risked everything to do it.
She’s risking everythingnow—because she loves him so very much.
If we don’t try to summon the scravers here with our magic, Karyl and Xovaar will go after Grey. I know they will. I canfeelit. He’s the most vulnerable right now, and they know it— especially since they know I’mnot there. And if they can take out Grey, it’s only a matter of time before they can eliminate the rest of us, one by one. It’s the only reason they didn’t come after me when we fled the tourney.
But if we summon Xovaar and the other scravers here, we won’t survive. I can feel that, too. We’re too badly outnumbered. If we’re lucky, we’ll take some of them out, but we won’t win.
Months ago, when they first came after the king and queen, I thought we were lost. I was right here in this very forge, and Grey shouted to me,Tycho. If they’ve taken the royal family, they’ve taken Syhl Shallow.
Grey left to protect his family, and instead it seems he’s put both kingdoms at risk.
If we bring the battle here, we’ll be giving Grey time to prepare.
While possibly sacrificing ourselves.
And maybe that’s the best we can do.
“It’s not a mistake,” I say to her. My voice is low and quiet. “There is no easy choice here.”
“I’m going to give Sinna to Nora,” she whispers. “I’m going to send them away.” Her breath hitches. “I can’t . . . I can’t let them use my daughter against me again. I can’t watch them do that to Nora. Does that sound weak, Tycho?”
She’s talking about the first attack, the way they put a blade to Sinna’s neck— and the way a Truthbringer thrust a sword right through Nora’s body. “No,” I say. “It sounds like you’re protecting the children.”
The queen looks into my eyes. “Do you trust him, Tycho? Will he help us protect my husband?”
She means Nakiis. As always, when it comes totrust, I have no idea where I stand with the scraver.
But that would be the wrong thing to say in the face of all her emotion. I give her hand a squeeze. “He’s just as desperate as we are,” I say roughly.
It’s not really an answer to her question, but it seems to settle her, even if only a little.
“Jax was right,” I say softly. “You reallyshouldsleep.”
“Fine,” she says, and she must be exhausted, because she does lie down. “But only for an hour or so. We can’t let them gain too much ground.”
I nod. “I’ll see to it.”
When I’m by the door, she calls me back. “Tycho.”
I stop and turn, remembering how I found her on the night they lost the baby. Her skirts were stained with blood, and her eyes were red- rimmed, just like this.
“Your Majesty,” I say.
