I stared at Halla, who clasped her hands together and gave a little smile to the group. “As we are aware, Mother does not know we are coming.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Agatha stiffen.
Halla went on, almost sheepish. “She will, of course, welcome us eagerly. She had lamented not being able to celebrate my marriage at home, with friends and loved ones.”
I kept my reaction from my face. Such sentimentality was at complete odds with what I knew of the imposing and gelid empress.
“It will take some days for the feast to be organized. Mother will want to prepare a procession as well, I’m sure.” Halla’s flowery voice darkened. “During that time, we will need to present the newcontracts to her. I find myself terribly fearful over how she might react. ”
Everyone at the table tensed. The empress had been meticulous with her original contracts, and Theodore had agreed to them.
“If I may, Your Majesty,” Aleka said to Theodore. “If you are feeling a change of heart, I still have the original contracts. One must be pragmatic when it comes to such weighty things. A proper marriage would smooth many a wrinkle. It is not too late—”
“No.” Theodore said into his wineglass, as if bored.
Aleka sipped her own wine before shouldering on. “With all due respect, Your Majesty, it is my duty to remind you of Varya’s maxim. Of the words carved into your crown.Power sundered is power lost.Bonds are what make us strong—”
“Therightbonds strengthen us, Aleka,” he said harshly. “We’ll speak no more on it.”
“The right bonds.” Aleka nodded. “Indeed. Forgive me, Your Majesty. You have my support, but we must do all we can to sweeten the news that Halla’s station has changed.”
I marveled at the calm Aleka possessed. It spoke to her experience, and yet I saw her concern in the seriousness of her tone, in the grim downturn of her mouth.
Halla kept her regal gaze on the table before her. “Despite all that has transpired, I will do my utmost to defend Varya and its people, please believe that.” She paused for long enough that my attention heightened. “But it is true that my mother is more likely to be assuaged—and less violent—if our marriage is consummated before we arrive.”
My breath hitched. Dread pooled in me as I realized how ruthlessly dogged Halla was. She wanted a child with insatiable determination, and for the first time, I feared that someway, somehow, she would have what she craved.
As the tension built in the stateroom, I tried for cool reason. My chest felt tight enough to split, my stomach hollow enough for my meal to sit in a painful lump.
I gripped the stem of my wineglass.
Markis drained his wine, his gaze catching on me and lingering. “Consummation is certainly advisable.”
Aleka gave an agreeing nod.
Lachlan and Agatha eyed me like I was a beast masquerading in human skin, a single prod away from tearing free and destroying them all. But I didn’t feel like fighting, not with my hope of unbinding from Eusia gone. Not with the threat of the empress looming.
I gave a diplomatic nod and kept my gaze on my wine when I said, “A contract must be honored.”
The quiet brittle. Theodore stared at me across the table with an austere, inexorable look that only a true king could muster. His tired eyes fluttered shut for one beat of my heart. Then he glanced in Halla’s direction and gave a nod.
Good.I tried to reassure myself with a gulp of wine.That’s settled.This was duty. If I was set to fail at keeping Leucosia safe, at least Theo would. A lurch of sickness filled my stomach, but I managed to keep down my drink. “I have questions for your wife, Your Majesty, if I may.”
Gods, the look Theodore fixed me with made my skin stipple and my stomach drop. Black and fierce. “Of course.”
“Where on the continent is your mother’s palace located?” I asked Halla. “Is it near the port?”
Halla nodded while she chewed a piece of her bread. “It is.” She brimmed with quiet accomplishment. “Mustkiva, Mother’s castle keep, is right on the bay.”
I drummed agitated fingers against my wineglass but felt a smallmeasure of relief knowing I’d at least be close enough to the sea to still use my power. “I do not expect that I will be welcome in your mother’s palace, therefore—”
Halla raised a hand. “My mother still believes you are King Theodore’s cousin. She has no reason not to welcome you.”
I slammed my glass down, spraying my plate. “That is a blatant lie,” I shouted. “Your mother intended to abductmeinstead of Agatha. She knew who and what I was the moment she laid eyes on me.” My attention cut to Theodore. “I will require protection when I’m in the empress’s palace. As will Agatha.”
Before Theodore could address the request, Markis cleared his throat. “Do we think it wise that Agatha enter the empress’s palace at all?”
Lachlan swiped a hand down his face. “Shut up, Markis.” He addressed the whole table. “Agatha is a witness, and without her present, Queen Imogen might struggle to defend her claims against the empress. I offer my sword to protect Agatha, but I suggest a retinue of at least six guards to protect Queen Imogen.”
