And I thought I’d be able to draw his attention long enough to sway him. It was laughable.
I had been shocked that she had said she really loved him. I had thought it was a matter of convenience and desire, but, for the queen at least, it was more.
Which meant I was nearly back to square one. She wasn’t the problem. He was. Queen Elthra was looking to bring him to heel just as much as I needed to. Whatever the reasons verbalized in her monologue at the end of the series, she must have been driven there by Ironclaw’s behavior rather than any specific concerns on her part.
Perhaps a change in atmosphere would inspire him to do more, see what he could lose.
“There is one thing, Your Grace.”
Elthra’s blue eyes flashed back at me and Draw stiffened. Perhaps that was too forward. For her humor and understanding in private, Queen Elthra had to be a blistering blue flame in public. I would do well to remember that.
I spoke on, everyone at the long table watching me. Amelia licked her lips of more wine. Jerrald’s brow was furrowed as it always was. “The Witch of Mayfair had told me that as we get closer to the final battle, relationships must be at their strongest.”
I saw a click of understanding in Queen Elthra’s eyes. I was trying to help her out. She glanced at Ironclaw to make sure he was listening.
“Relationships?” she said lightly.
“Romantic pairs,” I said. “The fight ahead will test us and if our relationships aren’t strong, the Dark Mage will fracture them, weakening our cause.”
Everyone at the table paused midbite to assess me. The Master of Horse looked like he was going to snicker while Lord Parable’s eyes had bugged. Ariana though, remained composed.
She patted her dark lips with a napkin. “Tell us more of the witch you serve, Lady Dottie. Is she a great strategist?”
“Oh yes. She’s already seen the ending of this war.”
“Does it not end well?”
“In every possibility, the Dark Mage is defeated. That is how strong our queen’s cause is.”
There was clinking of cups, but Ariana’s eyes were on me, and the queen’s on her.
“Why send you, then, Lady Dottie?”
I didn’t like this line of questioning.
“To help. Make sure we don’t pay too much for the victory. What the Witch of Mayfair meant though, is that, erm, romantic harmony will only strengthen the cause. After all, Your Grace, you are the champion of all things good. The Dark Mage is not.”
The queen seemed to like that. She patted absent-mindedly at Ironclaw who was now scraping the second course of soup into his mouth.
“I see,” the queen said. “It’s no wonder, with my own engagement setting an example for the court.”
Queen Elthra wasn’t looking at any of us, just Ironclaw, waiting for him to give an affirmative.
I’m not sure I’d ever seen Ironclaw smile, but he looked at the queen with a level of affection unique to her. Or at least his brow wasn’t creased by military strain. “There are none like you, my queen.”
Ariana had taken her eyes off me (finally!) and looked covertly at Ironclaw. Her gaze narrowed and I saw for the first time that she didn’t like him. She was completely loyal to the queen, but there was something in her expression that told me that it didn’t extend to the queen’s consort.
I was coming to know more about him than I wished to, but I needed him and the queen to be collegial. I lifted my cup. “With the two of you as our shining stars, it’s only right that members of the court act upon any hidden feelings before it’s too late.”
There, let Ariana chew on that. I settled back into my seat and let those words take effect on each member of the table. The queen’s attention was on Ironclaw. Sir Aaron Key straightened his spine. I watched to see where Ariana’s gaze would go—the handsome Master of Horse perhaps?—but she only spooned her soup.
––––––––
OUTSIDE THE QUEEN’Stent, Draw pulled his arm out from mine and wound it around my middle. I was surprised. It was dark, yes, but I noticed he’d been very careful of how he touched me in front of others. When he touched my waist at dinner, it was almost a ghost.
“Dottie dear, I would hate to not follow through on your magical commandments—would you like to come to my tent tonight?”
His fingers on my hips now buzzed with electricity. It never got old, being wanted.
