“But Daleina will never agree,” Naelin said.
And that was it. With that one simple statement, Naelin doomed Merecot’s plan. Merecot tried not to let the depth of her disappointment show on her face. She’d known intellectually that it had been a long shot, but in her heart, she’d been hoping that Naelin would say yes, of course, she’d convince Daleina and all would be well.
But if Naelin wouldn’t eventryto convince her...
“Are you certain?” Merecot pressed. “If you went back to her, knowing the scope and urgency of the situation, knowing that your childrenandthe children of Semo need this to happen, and you tried to convince her... Surely she would listen to her co-queen?”
“Unlikely,” Ven said. “Daleina considers ruling Aratay to be her duty, her purpose.”
Merecot knew that. Still, she’d allowed herself to hope. “Ambassador Hanna...”
“I must agree with them,” Hanna said. “Abdication is not an option.”
Merecot glanced at Jastra, who gave her a small nod. At least the old queen avoided saying, “I told you so.” It had been worth a try.I suppose I’ll need Jastra’s plan after all. Pity.
It would have been nice to avoid murdering anyone.
Chapter18
Ambassador Hanna drank the tea, which despite Queen Merecot’s assurances that food in Semo wasn’t made with rocks still tasted like rocks. She wished she were in her roost at the academy, where students were in awe and a bit afraid of her. Instead she was playing mediator to two very different and equally headstrong queens.
I should be retired,she thought,soaking in my golden years in a quiet midforest village, far from politics, responsibility, and risk of violent death.Queen Merecot always seemed a few seconds away from a toddler’s tantrum, and Queen Naelin had already destroyed part of Aratay with her emotional needs.I’m too old for this.
She leaned forward as Naelin and Merecot launched into another argument about abdication and said, “Perhaps we should break here for the day. Now that the topic has been broached, the prudent choice is to retire, rest, and consider the matter before continuing. Queen Naelin has had a long journey, and I admit that my stamina is not what it used to be.” She gave a rueful chuckle, entirely faked—she wasn’t tired, but she was getting a headache from the tension in the room.
Both queens scowled at her for the interruption.
“Rest, reconsider, and meet again tonight, perhaps over dinner,withthe children,” Hanna pressed. “Queen Naelin can use the time to familiarize herself with Semo, and Queen Merecot... I’m sure you have much that needs your attention.”
Slowly, Merecot nodded. Her shoulders sagged—only minutely, but Hanna saw it.She’s tired. Worried, perhaps. Even afraid.Hanna couldn’t imagine Merecot ever admitting fear, but she must feel it. Even from what little Hanna could sense with her limited power, she could tell the spirits in Semo were a breath away from disaster. The land felt like a pot about to boil over and scald anyone close enough to be burned, which was just about everyone in its borders, and possibly some beyond.
Ven pushed back from the table. “The ambassador is right. If you keep at it now, you’ll just piss each other off.”
“That too,” Hanna agreed, wincing slightly at the champion’s lack of tact.
“Very well.” In a swirl of jewel-laden skirts, Merecot rose and swept across the throne room. “You’ll be escorted to your rooms,” she said over her shoulder. “Anything you need, simply ask the guards—I’ll be assigning them for your own protection, of course, as well as to make sure you don’t run around murdering people or stealing from the royal treasury or whatever.”
“Your hospitality is extraordinary,” Naelin said dryly.
“It is,” Merecot said, “as is the trust I’m demonstrating by allowing you here. Don’t abuse that trust.”
Ven was fingering his sword hilt.He just can’t help himself, Hanna thought with a sigh. Champions always thought every problem could be solved with a blade. “So we’re to be treated like prisoners,” Ven said.
“Nonsense,” Merecot said. “Go where you want. Do what you want. Just remember you’ll be watched, and don’t do anything stupid. If you’re tempted, simply remember your children are under myprotection.” She exited with that threat hanging there, and her guards swooped in to drag open the massive door in front of her before just as swiftly shutting it behind her.
Naelin let out a small, humorless laugh. “If she’d left any faster, I’d think she didn’t like me.” She stood beside Ven as a man in red and gold hurried through the doorway and across the vast room to them.
The man bowed twice. “Your Majesty, I’d be honored to escort you to your rooms. We’ve prepared the baths for you and your companions, and we are at your service.”
“You can escort us to my children,” Naelin ordered.
More bows. “Our deepest apologies, but we are not permitted—”
Hanna wheeled forward. “Actually, I’d like to show Queen Naelin the gardens. I think she’d find them soothing after her journey. Could you please escort us there instead? Feel free to send word to Queen Merecot as to where we are, but I don’t think she’ll have any objections. And if she does... she is welcome to come join us for a stroll.”
Naelin opened her mouth to object, but Hanna quelled her with a frown.
The servant looked troubled for a moment but smoothed his expression quickly enough. Bowing, he led them—with guards, of course, both Hanna’s own and Merecot’s castle guards—out of the West Room and down the sloping, spiraled hall.
