“Long live Queen Georgetta Kastrumanos of Domos, first of her name,” Hildy proclaimed, voice thick with emotion.
“Longmay she reign,” Wynnie added.
“To Queen George!” Burke summed things up nicely.
“To Queen George.” They all spoke in unison.
A hum of pure magic radiated about the space. The queen shivered, and Isahn squeezed her hand, lending support.
Hourspassedinthetriclinium. The battle was won, but bureaucracy waited for no man. Ean cleaned up while they worked. Hildy left briefly, as the queen’s advisor, to speak with the deputy commander of the legionaries, offering a warning that he now reported to Georgetta. Mass announcements would be sent around the realm and into the other countries, detailing the king’s passing and announcing the new Domossan ruler.
“Years of poor decision-making finally caught up to King Gasparo,” the missives would say.
Additional correspondence was going out to call in the viceroys who needed to be dealt with. Let them wonder at Georgetta’s motivations. They were welcome to believe she wanted them close for some positive reason. They’d be suitably surprised to learn they were wrong.
For those who had the wherewithal to read between the lines, let them be petrified when they came to meet their queen.
“What if they try to run?” Burke asked.
“They can try. They won’t get far. And if they do, it won’t be for long,” Hildy replied, tone firm.
“I give them three years, maximum, to stay on the run from Georgie.” Isahn couldn’t resist making the stupid joke, a reference to their conversation when she’d freed him two months back.
The queen snorted and squeezed his hand.
“My father is being informed as we speak, and he’ll bring the allies into Hepikoru,” Wynnie confirmed.
“So, that’s really everything?” Burked checked.
“For tonight,” George replied with a yawn.
“We’ll get the rest of these finished up.” Hildy gestured to the remaining parchments on the table.
George had already written the most critical letters and signed two dozen more, leaving her team—their friends—with several blank pages bearing her signature. They would write the remaining summons and send them out across the realm.
“Are you ready for bed?” Isahn slung his arm around a tired Georgie.
“Please,” she murmured, stepping into him and resting her head on his shoulder.
Pride surged in him, raising the hairs on his arms as he comforted George. She could handle the realm, and he’d handle her. It just worked.
Together, with soft smiles on their lips, they departed for bed to a chorus of well-wishes and “goodnights.”
“You really trust them. You’re family,” Isahn commented as they walked through the quiet halls.
“Of course. I trust them with my life, just like you.” She bumped his hip. “I’m making them all viceroys.”
“Even Ean?”
“Later, when he’s a little older. But yes, even Ean.”
Isahn laughed.
“You know,” George began as they climbed the stairs. “You’re nowofficiallymy future king.”
“Consort,” he clarified. “I don’t want to rule. I’ll happily give my opinion. It’s up to you and your team whether you take it or not.”
His queen laughed huskily as they reached theirinsulaeand slipped inside.
