Guards scrambled up behind her. Majnu gripped her shoulder, panting.
“Your Majesty, I-I’m sorry, she just barged in.”
The king looked up. Headlines detailing the civilian attack in Rani floated around him. Images of the aftermath—the pulse-ridden bodies, the red-stained sand—revolved in a carousel of holos.
“So are you,” he said mildly to Elena.
The comment stung, more than it should have, and for a moment, Elena wavered. How could he say that? How could he say that after everythinghisgold caps had done? And just like that, the anger was back, thick and vicious. “Your gold caps opened fire in a public place. On innocent protestors.”
“They were armed rebels,” her father said curtly. “Preliminary investigations say their guns came from the Arohassin.”
“You know that’s not true. They were civilians! Protestors yes, but civilians.”And one was my friend.She had seen the reports, the faces of the dead. And she had recognized one: a merchant slumped by his makhana cart.
“That… That’s Eshaant, isn’t it?” Ferma had said when they saw the holo.
Elena nodded, her hands trembling. In the holo, Eshaant lay on his side, chest ripped open by pulse fire, his head resting on a pitcher of spilled chaas. She had almost cried at that.
But then she had stilled when she saw the pulse gun in his hand. Eshaant was no killer. No Arohassin rebel. At worst, he was a fool, trying to make quick money. But there was a more obvious explanation.
“They did not have weapons on them,” Elena said, voice tight with fury. “They were planted. By Jangir and his gold caps, so they had cause for their senseless killing.”
“Senseless?” Leo’s stone eyes fixed on her. “They were anarchists wishing for the fall of our government, our kingdom. Think, for just a moment. If you were in a room with a gold cap, a rebel, and a gun, who do you think would grab that gun and shoot you?” His voice grew even colder. “The rebels have no love for us, Elena. And we cannot afford them fracturing our kingdom, not now. Jangir said that he visited the rally, but it grew tense, dangerous, and then the rebels opened fire first.”
Elena shook her head. “Jangir is lying to you.”
“You called him and the gold caps your countrymen.”
“This was not what I meant. I called for unity. This—this is destruction.”
“You can’t call for fire and then blame others when you fail to wield it,” he said.
“Are you even listening?” she cried. “We will have a bloodbath on our hands. On all sides.”
“And soon it will be over,” he said. “Once you’re crowned queen, the dust will settle.”
Elena let out a slow breath, fists curling in her skirts. With a quiet voice, she dismissed the guards. They looked to Leo, who gave a slow nod. Once they were gone, she met her father’s eyes.
“I can’t become queen,” she said, trying her best to keep the frustration out of her voice, but her hands trembled. “You won’t teach me to hold fire. If I can’t pass the Agneepath, if I can’t hold fire in front of the public, they willneveraccept me as queen.”
“They will,” Leo said. “I will make sure that they do.”
She shook her head. “Stop, stop! This is what you do every time. You crush any utterance of protest, but that doesn’t stop our people from distrusting us. You can’t make them believe in a lie when they can see it with their own eyes! They will know I can’t hold fire. You can’t hide that.”
“What have I always told you?” Leo said.
“Father—”
“‘Control the people, Elena. Tell them how they should think.’” Leo pointed at the holos. “This is what they’re going to believe in. Rebels in their city, armed by terrorists, ready to destroy everything we hold dear. Let them focus on that, not you.Youwill be reassurance. You will be their strength.”
“I. Can’t,” Elena said through gritted teeth.
“Trust in me,” Leo said. “I have already set the plans in motion. The high priestesswilldeclare you queen. The people will believe in you. And you will have the throne.”
“Will I?” Her voice was oddly soft. “Will I really control the throne, or will you?”
“What are you implying?”
“Your generals control the military; your gold caps, the city. They owe me loyalty in name, but really, they all answer to you.”
