“An accident?” Hadrin’s voice boomed as he stepped forward, his face ruddy. “My fences down? I do all I can to keep my property secured.”
She leaned back, allowing a delicate frown to cross her face. So careful. So cunning. Her hand lifted to the hilt of her sword before dropping again to her lap.
Silence ticked through the room. Devron looked from her to me, his eyes filled with confusion. Lord Hadrin barely held in his squirm, though his jawline twitched.
Finally, Reyla spoke again, keeping her voice polite, though her gaze commanded the same steel as her blade. “Have you checked? It’s not uncommon for animals to wander, especially if fencing is down.”
“I . . . suppose this could be true.” The high lord’s swallow took a long time to pass, and when he looked my way, he pleaded with his eyes for me to take over.
I kept my breathing even, and my face neutral, making it clear that I'd handed this over to my wildfire—who was shaping a trail all her own.
“Surely you would notice if your fence needs repairs,” she prompted, her voice a touch firmer and with one eyebrow lifted.
I could taste the shift in the room as a few caught on to how savvy my queen was.
Hadrin opened his mouth to bluster, but something on Reyla's face made him pause. This woman had survived multiple raids on dragonback from a border fortress. She'd served as the High Lady of Lydel's enforcer. She possessed the cunning of her fiend of a father but none of his malice.
Weldsbane may have produced more than one beast, and my court was only now beginning to see it.
“I . . .” Hadrin finally said. “This is possible.”
“You, Devron Bullipart.” Reyla turned her attention to the farmer. “What do you think of what the lord and I have discussed?”
Devron took a breath and pushed it out with his words. “I don’t know.” He removed his hat and twisted it in his hands in front of his belly. “I suppose the fence could be down in places. Lord Hadrin is . . .” His shoulders curled forward but only for a moment before he straightened them again. “Often busy. Perhaps too busy to walk the lines like I do. If that were true, some of my cows could've wandered into his pasture.” Doubt clouded his face, but Reyla wasn't the only clever person in the room. His gaze flicked to me, and I found approval there. His quick nod only reinforced it. “But I will point out that I sent a message telling the lord that two of my cows were among his and that I wanted them back.”
Only a fool would stomp past Lord Hadrin's wards to retrieve cows even if they were truly his own, and Devron was no fool.
A low rumble echoed from the crowd and Lord Hadrin noted it, his face blanching. He puffed out his chest, but the twitch of his hands revealed he was aware of how close this was to slipping from his grasp. “I don’t have time to read every message I receive.” Defensiveness crept into his voice.
“Perhaps you should make time.” Reyla leaned forward, a predator striking when it was least expected. “You could've spoken to Devron directly rather than bother the court with such a thing. Strange for a high lord not to handle something this simple on his own.”
I savored how she subtly chastised him.
“I have a manor to run,” Hadrin grumbled. “It’s beneath me to worry about cows.”
The high lords and ladies watched, their heads bobbing back and forth as the drama unfolded. Something duly noted by Lord Hadrin. If he was wise, and I suspected he was, he'd do all he could to get out of this sticky situation.
Reyla’s confidence radiated, and a swell of pride surged inside me as I watched her.
“Pass judgment, my queen,” I said softly.
Her gaze sharpened as she studied Lord Hadrin. The way she sat, strong and unwavering, spoke volumes about the queen she was becoming. This was going to work out, no matter what happened, and I was grateful for the gift the fates had handed me in Reyla.
“Lord Hadrin,” she said, her tone steady and firm. “You’ll allow Devron to walk through your pastures and collect his cows within the week. And you will make repairs to your fences as needed. Strong fences ensure good neighbors.”
I leaned back in my throne, holding back the smile that ached to stretch across my face. This woman . . .
Her words hung in the air, but the lord nodded, his shoulders curling forward and a hint of a grimace crossing his face. He knew he'd get away with his attempted theft, but this would serve as a good lesson. My wife knew how to build her own fences, and I suspected hers would remain secure at all times.
“In two weeks, I’ll expect acknowledgment of your efforts at the court,” she added. “Devron, please collect your cows promptly.”
“Yes, yes, my . . .queen.” Relief flooded Devron's face.
“This case is closed,” I announced. “Both of you report back to this court in two weeks with the results.”
They agreed, and while Devron hurried to join the merchant and whisper, both shooting a stunned look Reyla's way, Lord Hadrin turned and stiffly walked down the aisle and out of the throne room. Murmurs swelled through the crowd, fading as the doors boomed closed behind him.
I lifted my hand. “Court is finished for the day.”
