Page 58 of Blood of the Fairest

"Ah, hello," he greets with a kind smile. "So, Queen Reinhilde sent you."

Verena could pass for any simple shoemaker as she dips her head.

"Yes, sir."

"My niece tells me you are also quite brave. It seems some unsavory fellows caused some trouble earlier—I'm sorry to hear it, because this tavern is usually very respectable. Were you hurt?"

"No, sir."

"I'm glad of it. What's your name, boy?" Merrick asks, scooting aside what's left of his dinner stew.

Verena pauses for only a moment before smiling slightly.

"Ishmael."

I don't understand why that makes the former chamberlain freeze. After a moment, he leans back in his chair, re-assessing the face of the shoemaker across from him.

I realize at once that Verena just gave herself away, somehow.

"What are you doing?" I ask, concerned. "What if he tries to harm you now?"

She doesn't respond to me, appearing confident in her choice.

Finally, Merrick nods slowly.

"I see that some of the rumors regarding you did not come from nothing, after all. Are you one of the witchfolk, my queen?"

"Maybe? Like I told you, I don't remember anything. But I do know that up until now, the queen has been a self-absorbed deadweight," she adds, turning serious. "Between her fucking around being useless, and no one but Schultz and the council running things…the castle and the rest of the kingdom are probably a mess, don't you think?"

"I did hear you dismissed Schultz." Merrick dabs at his lips with a napkin before folding it neatly. "It's not my place to call your kingdom a mess."

"But it would be your place if you came back as the chamberlain. If you're interested, the position is all yours. Or just tell me I'm bothering you and send me packing. I'll understand, after what it sounds like the queen put you through."

He hesitates. "You speak about the queen as if she is someone else."

"I don't have her memories, so to me, she is."

I relax slightly. As much as Verena appears to read people quickly and make snap decisions about whom she trusts, it's good that she's still being cautious in some ways.

Perhaps she doesn't want to try explaining her otherworldly conundrum to another person who may not believe it, after what she went through with the faerie and the Huntsman.

Merrick is thoughtful as he examines the shoemaker's face. "Your Majesty—or do you still wish for me to call you Verena?"

"Verena works. Unless you think of a fun nickname. I still wish my parents picked something I didn't have to spell out for every teacher I had growing up," she grumbles to herself.

"Verena…being the chamberlain of Isenmere was the honor of a lifetime. The late king, Leland, and I grew up together, with his royal parents and my noble family all quite set on my future position in Isenmere Castle. It is what I prepared all my life to do, and I miss it dearly. I would like to accept this honor."

"Please tell me there's no but on the way."

"No, I truly would very much like to see the castle and my beloved homeland regain the vigor it has lost over these last ten years." He hesitates. "I only wonder why, without your memories, you selected me for the position."

"Well, for one thing, you seem qualified. But it also helps that you're one of the few people I've talked to in this world who hasn't tried to kill me yet."

Merrick is alarmed, sitting up straighter.

"Attempts have been made on your life? Who would dare try to harm the queen of Isenmere? Whatever fool has insulted our kingdom's royal family should pay the highest price for it!"

I see now why Verena is so sure he's a safe choice.