He sighed. “In a darker, less civilized age, I would have been able to lock her up or execute her for her actions. Sadly, we at least pretend to be more civilized now. There is very little actual evidence linking her to the Pontiff’s actions.”
“But Patrick and I saw her …”
“Oh, I know. But she is expert at negotiating our courts … and garnering support.”
“So it made very little difference after all.”
“I wouldn’t say that. You prevented another Plague and forced our enemies into the open, where we can keep a bettereye on them. They have to remain cautious—at least somewhat, while I still rule.” He said this rather ruefully.
“What about Ban Morin’s uprising? His soldiers?”
“Ban Morin will be caught and executed for his attack on the Followers and on the throne. His men are scattered, for now. They will re-form, perhaps. But not immediately.”
His smile was gentle, but his eyes were sharp as he watched my face. “I suppose I couldn’t persuade you to stay in Mirthwater for a while?” he said. “You don’thaveto marry me, you know.”
This surprised a laugh out of me. “It was nothing personal, Your Majesty.”
“Oh, I know.” He grinned boyishly. He was handsome when he smiled, despite the shadows under his eyes and his unhealthy pallor. “I still think Patrick’s idea was a good one.”
Behind him, I saw Patrick shift his weight a little.
“Your Majesty, I …” I began.
“Take some time to think about it,” he offered. “Even if you do not wish to be queen, I would offer you a position in my court. I am well aware I cannot compel you to do anything, and please believe me when I say I do not desire to try—I merely make the request. Please consider it. When you are ready.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” I said.
I knew without turning that Patrick had followed me out. I walked a little way down the corridor to a pair of large doors that led to a stone balcony, then waited for him to approach. He walked with his usual confident stride, face smiling and unreadable, but I saw the way he fiddled with his rings as he approached.
“All better?” I said lightly.
“Merely a scratch,” he said airily, waving a dismissive hand, then dropped the act and grinned. “Rather worse than a scratch, actually. But I have been stitched up and force-fed all sorts of disgusting elixirs, and I am assured that I will live to flee from danger in a cowardly manner another day.”
“You weren’t cowardly.”
“Well.” He shrugged, still smiling, but there was a tinge of bitterness in it. “I wasn’t terribly useful. Thank you, by the way. You know, for the minor matter of saving the kingdom. And me. And for creating that horrible, cursed bonethingfor us to fly out on. Where is it, by the way? Back in the grave, I hope.”
“No, I’m afraid I’m going to keep her around for a while.”
“Her?”
I shrugged. “Bone Bird doesn’t have a gender, but I’m coming to think of her asher. Perhaps because Baldbeak likes her so much.”
He feigned a shudder. “Dreadful creature.”
“I wanted to say goodbye,” I said.
A flicker of something in his eyes. “You’re leaving? When?”
“Immediately.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Why so soon?”
“I need to find out … what to do with all this.” I gestured vaguely at myself. “What it means.”
“If you stayed, I could …”
“No.” I had spoken more sternly than I intended to, and he flinched a little. “No, thank you, I mean.”
