“Your people cannot remain in Kreah.” Natia’s sharp interruption pierced the trees. “They must leave. Immediately.”
Mariah frowned. “Unfortunately, I can’t do that.” She glanced at Odelle. “And thanks for your concern, but I think we’re quite comfortable out here.”
The Elder flushed, glancing away.
Natia’s eyes flashed. “We have been gracious enough to welcome you and your court to our country when you fled and had nowhere else to go. But this, Queen, is a blatant abuse of that hospitality.”
Her words stung Mariah, pierced her down to her core. Because she knew there was truth to it. Mariahhadrun. She’d let herself be driven from her country, giving it up to the monsters who wanted to take it from her. But she refused to let it show.
“What sort of queen would I be,” Mariah said, “if I were to seek safety and comfort while leaving my people to whatever fate awaits them?”
Natia’s lip curled back from her teeth. “A wise one. Adiplomaticone.”
Mariah tsked. “Diplomacy isn’t a strong suit, I’m afraid. And as you said—I’m young. Achild. How could anyone possibly expect me to be wise?”
Gods, she was only making this all so much worse.
The aching numbness in her chest made her not care.
“Your Majesty,” Odelle said, her expression now more than a little wary. “We understand your plight and sympathize with you. But Kreah cannot support refugees of this volume. This will place a strain on us that we cannot bear.”
Mariah’s fingers twitched, wishing for magic she could no longer reach or feel. “Just so I understand,” she said, her voice deadly soft, “Kreah takes no issue with sending its children abroad to other nations, expecting those countries and kingdoms to welcome them gladly. But you will not welcome refugees fleeing darkness and evil into your own?”
“We do accept refugees. You yourself are one of them, Your Majesty.” Odelle’s kindness was slipping away, replaced by something firm. The face of the Elder, not the diplomat. “But we cannot accept thousands at once.”
Mariah scoffed. “Amasis thinks otherwise. Arrangements for my people have already been made.”
The Elders stilled, confusion flickering across their faces.
“What do you mean,” Imri said slowly, “that Amasis thinks otherwise?”
A deep growl tore through the grove. The Elders whirled. Kiira and Rylla pushed past Mariah, shock flaring across their similar faces.
A tiger and a lioness, massive and snarling, stalked down the winding path through the acacias. Blue light flashed, bright against the shadows of the trees. In their place stood a familiar man and woman, their faces set in furious scowls.
“Ambassador Enoch!” Mariah couldn’t hold back her surprised welcome. The man glanced at her, some of his fury falling away, and he bowed his head with dignified reverence.
“It is an honor to see you again, Your Majesty,” said the Kreah Ambassador to Onita—and Kiira and Rylla’s father—in his low rumble. “Though, I regret that it must be under such circumstances.”
“It’s great to see you too, Ambassador.” Mariah shared a grim smile with his wife, Satya.
“What are you doing here, Enoch?” Natia stared down the bridge of her nose at the newest arrivals, coldness lining every inch of her angular features.
All hints of Enoch and Satya’s good humor fell away. “We are here to speak in defense of Queen Mariah and the Onitan refugees. To urge this Council to allow them to stay.”
“You have no voice on this Council, Enoch. Not anymore. I represent ourksetranow, not you.”
Natia’s tone was bristled. A sheen of sweat that had nothing to do with the beating sun glistened on her brow. There was a history between her and Enoch—something political and bitter.
“I am Kreah,” Enoch snarled. “I will always have a voice, whether this Council deigns to hear it or not.”
“This Council hears you, Enoch.”
Mariah willed her face to remain still as relief swept through her. Amasis appeared on the path, brushing past Enoch and Satya. Their posture was regal, their vivid eyes bright as they swept over the gathered Elders.
“I must say, colleagues—the grove is an odd place for a Council meeting.” They glanced at Mariah, noting her and her Armature’s bare skin. “Perhaps we would be more comfortable if we continued this conversation inside and allowed the queen a moment to get dressed?—”
“You mean a moment for her to prepare some scripted answer that will do little to address our actual concerns?” Natia spat. “No. We deal with this here. I, for one, am glad I got the chance to meet the queen in such a”—something vile glimmered in her eye as she glanced again at Mariah— “state.”
