“Well, I suppose I could have a cargo ship stocked with at least two weeks’ supply of food for now, and we can reevaluate as needed,” Temvaren responded, his large red mustache bobbing as he scribbled notes on his paper.
A scoff came from my right, and I bit the inside of my cheek to hold back a snarl. Everen Stryker’s voice rang out in the chamber. “Why should we send them foodourpeople have toiled over? Don’t they have fisheries? Animals? Surely, they can hunt enough to provide. You’re coddling a lazy province, Aris, and they’re going to grow dependent on our aid. Gayl would never have agreed to this.”
Emperor’s tits, if I heard thatonemore time…
I rested an elbow on the table and brushed a finger across my lower lip, suppressing the anger boiling inside me. I was used to dealing with conflict. Used to dealing withpeople. And I knewthe difference between those who sparked conflict out of genuine concern and those who liked to hear themselves talk.
“You know, I bet theyarelazy. I wonder, Lord Temvaren,” I said without breaking eye contact with Stryker, “do you think the Celestrians are just sitting at home, watching their children wither away from starvation?”
Temvaren cleared his throat. “Err…no, Your Majesty.”
“Then wherearethey?” I asked in mock concern. “I thought they were a lazy province.”
Temvaren’s lip twitched as he picked up on what I was playing at. “Reports say they’ve been working overtime at the docks and ranges, trying to make up for the loss. There aren’t enough weapons for everyone who’s come out to help.”
“Interesting. What I’m hearing is that in the middle of an unprecedented drought, they’re doing everything they can to feed an entire province without their main source of food. I believe we can spare two weeks of supplies, don’t you?” I smiled at Stryker. “And, Lord Temvaren,” I added, “send some more weapons and fishing gear. Ifourpeople want to work, they should have the resources to do so.”
“It will be done.”
“Good. Anything else?” I asked the table, ignoring Stryker’s bloated, purple face as he glared at me. I didn’t miss the shadows that leaked from his feet and hands beneath the table, slowly making their way to me. Lord Stryker’s family hailed from Tenebra, the southern province of Shadow Wielders. His shadows always appeared when he was particularly perturbed.
Nodding to Lord Griffen, the horse Shifter who sat directly across from me in his purple suit, I asked, “Any news from Drakorum?”
His eyes slid around the table, then landed at his hands. His wild mane of hair wavered as he shook his head. “No, Your Majesty. Scarven still refuses to speak with me.”
I expected as much. The Shifters and their governor, Kane Scarven, refused to have anything to do with me and my new way ofrunning things. They preferred Gayl’s way. Hands off the provinces, letting them do whatever they wanted, and keeping strong divisions between the weak and the powerful.
I wondered if Stryker and Kane Scarven traded notes on how to be the bigger pain in my neck.
“I appreciate you continuing to try,” I encouraged Lord Griffen, giving him a soft smile. “They’ll come around.”
“Speaking of coming around,” Lord Cabot interjected. “We wanted to discuss the idea of you traveling to Mysthelm.” He exchanged a glance with Lord Leighton next to him, and for some reason, that look made my stomach twist into knots. “Mysthelm’s correspondence team sent word on their recent trip here. There has been a…slight change of plans.”
I took in the faces of the council, my heart sinking when I saw the smirk on Stryker’s face. “What, exactly, has changed?”
“The new king has made an additional offer.”
My eyebrows were so high up on my forehead, I feared I wouldn’t be able to find them again. “Oh?”
“Of…marriage,” Cabot said.
I blinked, and my mouth fell open. “What?”
On the other side of me, Stryker’s smile widened. “King Galen Grimaldi has requested your hand in marriage upon arrival in Mysthelm in one week’s time, and we have agreed.”
White noise blanketed me. A wave of shock and anger slowly built in my core, then moved up my chest and neck, knocking any rational thought from my carefully curated mind.
“I’m sorry, you didwhat?” I spluttered, my eyes frantically searching their faces. “You want me to—to marry him? Shutup.”
“E-Excuse me, Your Majesty?” Lord Cabot stammered.
Closing my eyes, I brought my trembling hands below the table and straightened my spine.Firm but gentle. Strong but controlled. Pull it together, Rissa.
When I opened my eyes again, I gave the men a tight smile and stood, the wooden legs of my chair screeching against the hard floor. “Give me just a moment.”
I spun and headed to the door, catching my mother’s eye in the back of the room. The unsurprised look on her face told me she knew about this. That was what she’d been trying to warn me of before.
She followed close on my heels as I exited the meeting room.
