Page 68 of A Courage of the Chosen

My voice comes out firmer than I intended, but it gets the point across and there’s no further challenge.

“I’ll make sure she’s given a room in the royal wing, and has everything she needs,” Reyne offers tenderly. We told her about Erin this morning, and she was just as horrified as us.

I thank her, and Lord Garside clears his throat. He tends to do this as we’re preparing to move from one topic to the next. “Since you will be proclaiming yourself as queen this evening, we should discuss the manner of your coronation.”

My mouth dries out, and Reyne fights another grin as her gaze bounces between me and Lord Garside sat next to her father.

I gulp, trying to get enough moisture circulating to speak. “My coronation?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Lord Garside replies, something lightening in his teak eyes for the first time. “It is tradition.”

Hector mentioned something similar as he showed me to my newest rooms, and it didn’t feel right then, even less so now.

“I understand the tradition, but our focus needs to be on winning the war. Then we can discuss a coronation.”

Lady Navin begins to object. “But—”

“Our queen has decided,” Reyne cuts her off. “It’s her coronation, and if she feels it appropriate to wait until the war is over, then that is her choice.”

I couldn’t love her more. Since she accepted the role of advisor, she’s done nothing but advocate for me, and has been able to run rings around the rest of the council in a way that I’m not sure I’ll ever accomplish.

The rest agree, and as we’re finishing up the meeting, I bring up the thing I promised myself would be a topic of discussion for today.

“My granny left a letter that told me answers are held in Ruival. We attempted to go there once, but we never made it.”

My eyes find Brodie’s, and for a split second, his bloodied, dying body flashes in front of me. He still bears those scars, and they peek out of the collar of his shirt as a harrowing reminder of how close he diced with death. There’s a rueful curl to his mouth, like he’s fully aware of what I’m recalling.

“What will traipsing across the realm do to help us right now?” Lord Fettis’s question is coated in condescension.

“Màiri spent many visits risking her life, searching for a way to end the Dorche,” Callahan replies icily. “She was able to determine that Ruival has vital information that will help us win this war.”

That shuts him up.

“I intend to carry out her instructions,” I say firmly, brooking no room for argument.

“With respect, Your Majesty,” Hector begins kindly, but with a firmness. “I must agree with Fettis on this. Now is not the time to leave for Ruival. There is much to be done, and it isn’t the best use of anyone’s time when you’re about to become known as our queen.”

Impatience flares hotly and spreads to my palms, where my magic calls to be used. “So finding a way to end this war doesn’t make for a good use of time?” I let the incredulity hang in my question.

“My queen,” Reyne says, and the title curdles in my stomach the same way it had when Callahan called me that. “He’s not saying it’s not worthwhile. It is. Just not right now. We don’t know where Tavish and Raghnall are, and dividing our force, even a little, is a risk we can’t take. Especially with how their patterns of attack have shifted.” Reyne touches my forearm, urging me to look at her. “I know you want to go. And we will. When the time is right.”

I don’t like the answer, but this is why I asked her to be my advisor. To give me the options, so I can make a decision based on what’s best for everyone, not just me.

It’s only my trust in her that has me reluctantly tucking away the selfish desire to go, with a nod, and the acceptance that we’ll revisit the conversation when we know how the court has received the news that we’re about to share.

In spite of how the council began, with news of Erin’s arrival, it ends on a lighter note. There’s a buzz amongst most of them now Hume isn’t causing so much tension, and everyone except Lady Navin and Lord Fettis bid me a proper goodbye as they leave.

I wish I had the same levity, but truthfully, I’m still stewing over the objections regarding Ruival.

“My granny wouldn’t have told us to go if it wasn’t important, Reyne,” I say. She falls into step beside me with Callahan as we make our way through the halls to visit Erin.

“I know, lass. But you need to be sensible. I agree we need to go. Let’s explore the options of how we can make it work. Maybe sending someone else in your stead?”

I ponder the idea. It’s not a terrible one. It would need to be one of us, though, and I also don’t want to put any of my friends in danger by the council leaking their travel plans when we don’t fully know who we can trust.

When we enter the healers’ wing, in one of the golden-tipped turrets nearest the training yard, Reyne stops, eyes wide at the girl swallowed by the bed that’s too big for her.

“She’s so small,” Reyne whispers, her eyes pinching with equal parts concern and horror. “How could they be that cruel?”