They made their way to the royal wing, and Cormal was pleased when they were directed to the Queen’s study rather than her receiving room or throne room. He took it as a good sign.
The Queen was busy when they entered, but she presently finished what she was writing and tucked it away. She raised an eyebrow at Cormal but didn’t object to his presence.
Her expression for Kinan was stern but thankfully not angry. “Sit down.”
They sat.
“This wasn’t a particularly wise thing to do,” she said.
Kinan was sitting with his back ramrod straight. He didn’t look cowed by her in the slightest, although… yes, his hands were splayed a little too wide to be natural, so Cormal was pretty sure he was very carefully not clenching his hands into fists—though whether he was angry or nervous or both, Cormal wasn’t quite sure.
Smoothly, Kinan said, “It rather depends on the outcome I desired, Mother.”
“And if demons had attacked?” she challenged.
“It would have been terrible,” he agreed readily. “I didn’t realize that was a risk before I left; none of us did. But it’s why everyone agreed to escort me back, to ensure I was safe, even though it was my own fault.”
“You didn’t know!” Cormal couldn’t help but interject.
The Queen shot him a look, and Cormal subsided reluctantly.
“And you believe that you’re out of danger now?” the Queen asked.
“I believe the castle is safe from demons, yes.”
“Even the ones you brought with you?”
Cormal stiffened, but Kinan couldn’t have gotten any straighter.
“You’re being deliberately antagonistic, Mother,” he chided gently. “At great risk to themselves, they agreed to come here to ensure that I arrived safely and because they still want to help me, despite the fact that I can’t think of a single reason why they should.”
“Can you not?” she asked mildly. “Have you not proposed a number of benefits to them in exchange for this help?”
Kinan’s jaw tightened, but he kept his voice even. “I’ve proposed what I consider to be the bare minimum of adequate recompense for the assistance they have and will continue toattempt to render. I’m also attempting to right a wrong that has been perpetrated for centuries.” His expression softened a little. “And you know you’re going to make me explain it all tomorrow. Do you really want to go over it all tonight? Some of us have been riding all day, you know.”
She continued to stare intently at him for a long moment, and Cormal had no idea what she saw there.
She sighed slightly. “You never do things the easy way, do you?”
“I sometimes think,” Kinan answered carefully, “that things were too easy before. And maybe that’s why they became so very hard.”
“Kinan,” Cormal was startled into immediate and vehement protest. “You donotdeserve what happened to you. Absolutely not. It was a tragedy. You have shown incredible resilience to have flourished as you have, but it was never in any waydeserved.”
“Cormal speaks the truth,” the Queen agreed. “You were a victim. I wish to ensure you do not become one again.”
Kinan didn’t address what they’d said about him, saying instead, “And I’ve brought people who might be able to mitigate more of the effects of that tragedy, despite the fact that we’ve given them no reason to do so. The hatred and the violence has to stop somewhere.”
“You’re as stubborn as your father,” the Queen said, and Cormal thought she sounded a little despairing and a little proud.
Before Cormal could think better of it, he said, “I don’t think he got it solely from the King.”
Thankfully, she smirked faintly at him, and then turned to her son.
“I’m glad you’re all right, you foolish boy.”
Kinan smiled at him. “Thank you, Mother.”
“Go get some sleep. I’ll see you at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning.”
