A shadow falls over his expression, but only for an instant before the emotion vanishes. “The king has ordered his army to return to Emberfall, along with any remaining officials who are sworn to him.” The general pauses. “They departed at midnight.”
Midnight.When the king left, it was also in the middle of the night— and I didn’t even know until the following day. I don’t thinkanyonein the palace knew aside from the queen. I realized later that it must have been intentional, giving King Grey a long lead time before anyone even realized he was gone. I’m sure Lord Jacob was doing the same.
But it was one thing when the kingaloneleft the palace. His magic has been the source of so much conflict here, and that was no secret. I witnessed the battle with the scravers that left so many people injured or dead, and I see the queen’s daily pain over the fact that she placed the desires of her citizens ahead of her love for her husband. But even with the king gone, there were still Emberish citizens in the palace.There were still Emberish soldiers barracked among the Syhl Shallow army. Many people expected them to remain— including me. A symbol of the ongoing peace between our countries.
If the king has withdrawn his people and his soldiers, that feels much more final.
That feels like a statement of somethingelse.
Maybe that’s what those soldiers were gossiping about. The queen is very much alone now.
I swallow thickly, then nod. “Thank you, General.”
“If you intend to continue with the recruits, I will speak with Captain Narrah,” he says.
“I . . .” My voice trails off. I’m not sure what to say to that. I don’t know what the queen wants me to do. She’s so lost to her own sorrow that she probably doesn’t even know I’m down here.
But during my months in the palace, I’ve discovered the perfect statement for when I don’t have a good answer for something and I don’t want to guess wrong. I give General Solt a definitive nod. “I will speak with the queen to determine what she thinks is best.”
It works with him as well as it’s worked with anyone else, because he gives me a nod in return. This time, when he turns away, I turn in the opposite direction and sprint after the recruits.
By the time I complete my run, I’ve sweated through my tunic and breeches, and I’m envisioning a long soak in the washroom at the back of my chambers. Back in Briarlock, a warm bath was a luxury requiring buckets hauled from the well down the lane near the forge, and our only soap was made from tallow and ash. But here in the palace, the warm water seems endless, the buckets carried by well- paid servants, and the soap smells good enough to eat.
Unfortunately, when I reach the royal suites, my sister, Nora, has atense expression on her face, and the nursery looks like a tornado rolled through it. Little Princess Sinna is nowhere to be found, but her morning tutor likely already claimed her.
“What happened?” I say to Nora.
She sighs, crouching to scoop stone tiles into her hands. They’re scattered all over the floor, among broken pieces of balsam wood and a pot of spilled paint. “Sinna,” she says, as if it explains everything.
It doesn’t. Princess Sinna is better behaved than most four-year- olds, and I’m convinced it’s because she’s had courtly manners drilled into her since birth.
“I’m sorry I left you alone.” I drop to a crouch to help. “Did she have a tantrum?”
“Yes.”
“About what?”
“About nothing.” Nora pauses, and her voice drops. “She misses her parents.”
My mouth forms a line. I shouldn’t be surprised.
Nora sighs again, scooping another handful of tiles into her palm. “She declared that she wants to take her pony and go find her father. She’s mad that the queen won’t let her.”
I snort. “She’s going to ride all the way to Ironrose Castle? Of course the queen won’t let her.”
“Well, she demanded an audience with the queen.” Nora hesitates. “She’s never given me a decree like a princess before. I didn’t know what to do.”
That’s equally startling. Princess Sinna usually looks at Nora like an adopted big sister. My hands go still on the broken toys I’m picking up. “Whatdidyou do?”
“I told her that no one is allowed to demand an audience with the queen, but if she wants to see her when she awakens, I would make sure of it.”
I glance at the closed door that leads to the queen’s chambers . . . the chambers she used to share with the king. “Did that get her to calm down?”
Nora nods. “For a little while.” She pauses. “But the queen did not wake. Or if she did, she hasn’t come out.”
I glance at the window. It took me over an hour to run five miles, and now it’s reaching midmorning. The sun is blazing, the room full of light. “Not at all?”
Nora bites her lip and shakes her head.
