“Should I take that to mean you did not succeed?”
“Correct. We were confronted by a scraver.”
The queen nearly chokes on her tea, though she’s well practiced in maintaining decorum, so she dabs at her mouth with a napkin and simply sets the delicate cup on the table. “Alek.I cannot believe you’ve been here for nearly an hour and this is the first you’ve spoken of it.”
I lift one shoulder in a casual shrug. “I was unsure how candid to be in front of Callyn’s sister.”
Her eyes quickly skip over my form, as if I might’ve been shredded by claws and she somehow didn’t notice. “Tell me what happened.”
I hesitate, thinking of everything I bickered about with Callyn. Lia Mara has only just begun to find her footing again. I don’t want to distress her more than necessary.
In my silence, her eyes narrow. “Justtell me, Alek.”
I obey. The queen is patient, listening carefully, and she never interrupts.
When I’m done, she says, “When Sinna and I were captured by the Truthbringers, Nakiis saved Grey’s life— and later assisted us in battle.” She hesitates, her gaze returning to the fields. “He tried to protect little Sinna before we even knew there was a threat.” A moment of sorrow flashes across her expression, gone almost as quickly as it appeared. Her voice goes a bit husky, however. “If Nakiis requires Lord Tycho’s assistance,” she says, “I must do what I can to obtain it.”
My eyebrows go up. “But he wants Tycho’s magic.”
“I assumed.”
I study her for a long moment, as if we’re talking about two different things. “Your Majesty— you have already sent word to the king. If you bringmagicback to Syhl Shallow, it will lure the scravers back.”
“I don’t believe the scravers are gone, Alek.” She takes another tiny sip of her tea. “Just like I don’t believe the Truthbringers are gone. When the king returns, nothing will change.”
I frown, because she’s not wrong. “How did you select your new envoy?” I say, wondering if she selected a soldier, or if she pulled someone from the nobility. Considering what I know about the Truthbringers, I can’t decide which would be the better option.
“I walked among the soldiers and gave a dozen of them different missives to deliver to various recipients,” she says. “None of them would know their destination until they opened their orders in private. Only one was sent to Ironrose Castle.”
My eyebrows go up. “And who received that one?” I say, wondering if she’ll tell me.
“Lady Elisa Ruhl,” she says. “Do you know her?”
“No.”
“She was an officer in the army,” she says. “Nolla Verin spoke for her.”
Nolla Verin again.Every time I hear her name, I genuinely wonder if she’s working to protect the queen, or if she’s determined to put her at risk for her own desires.
But maybe my doubts are obvious, because Lia Mara’s eyebrows go up. “You disapprove of my choice?”
I hesitate.
“Alek! Just tell me!”
“I . . . am unsure of your sister’s motives.”
The queen cocks her head and looks at me. “Fascinating. Nolla Verin feels the same way about you.”
I scoff. No surprise there.
But I consider this new courier, and I wonder what kind of reception she’ll find when she reaches Ironrose Castle.
The instant I have the thought, I realize what the queen just said.
When the king returns.
I study her. “Did you ask him to return?” I say softly.
