She was elegance and venom, grace and ire.
“It is one thing to take an enemy for your wife and make herqueen.” The air between the councillor and the king seemed to spark. “It’s another to sabotage this city’s safety to appease her.”
Appease me?thought Roa. Clearly she misunderstood.
When Councillor Silva was mere steps away, Safire rose, stepping in front of her. The look in her eye said,Take one more step. I dare you.
“I can assure you,” Safire said instead, “the safety of this city is my only concern.”
Councillor Silva raised an eyebrow. “If that were true, Safire, you’d have refused the position of commandant when it was first offered to you.”
It was strange, how familiar this girl seemed to be with both the king and his cousin. She challenged them so easily and rallied others against them, with no fear of any consequences.
Who was she?
“Keeping the gates open for seven days? Allowing ourenemiesto come and go as they please? Forgive me if I don’t have the same faith in the abilities of a commandant who, upon being appointed, lost half her army to defection.”
“Councillor, I don’t care who you do or don’t have faith in,” Dax said, rising and stepping down from the dais. “The invitations have been sent and the orders have been given.” His shoulder brushed the councillor’s as he paused beside her, and Roa saw the poison in both their eyes—just for a heartbeat—as Dax leaned in. “The gateswillremain open. Firgaardwillcelebrate the Relinquishing. I look forward to your compliance,Bekah.”
Dax stepped past her, collected his guards, then moved toward the archway doors.
Roa stared after him, defeat settling like a heavy stone in her heart.
Despite all her efforts—the revolt, the marriage, the treaty—the scrublands were still at the mercy of Firgaard. The skral were still considered second-class citizens. And all the while, draksors prospered.
Dax had just proven—beyond a doubt—that he didn’t care. About any of it.
This was an unacceptable trait in a king, not to mention a dangerous one.
Nothing will change,she realized now.Nothingcanchange with Dax as king.
It was up to Roa.
But what could she do? She was an outlander queen without allies. She had no sway with her husband or his council. She was mistrusted and powerless and alone here.
She needed help.
Roa thought of her last conversation with Theo.
Think of how much good you could do for our people.His words rang through her mind.Without him.
If the gates of the city remained open, if scrublanders were traveling to Firgaard for the Relinquishing... how easy would it be for Theo’s men to assemble here in the capital?
Easy as breathing.
Without knowing it, Dax had just given her the opportunity to set true change in motion.
A plan began to form in Roa’s mind. It was reckless and dangerous. But the alternative was to sit by and watch Dax and his council drive her people to the brink of starvation. Dax had proven today that he wasn’t the king this kingdom needed. That under his rule, Roa’s people would continue to suffer.
A group of councillors approached the king on his way tothe doors. They stepped directly in Dax’s path, halting his and Roa’s departure from the Assembly.
Roa looked to the archway, whose doors were still shut tight. She needed to get a message to Theo and tell him her plan. But the councillors were obstructing the exit.
“My queen.”
Roa straightened at that honeyed voice.
“It’s nice to finally meet you in the flesh.”
