“The positive atmosphere, the lack of attention we’ll draw… It makes sense. We won’t have to formally approach the castle in order to gain an audience with the royal family.” Kost took a sip of his water. “We’ll just ensure we’re the last ones in line in case our appearance requires a more private discussion after.”
“You mean ‘when,’” Calem said. He leaned back into his chair and gazed at the ceiling. “I’m still not sure about this.”
“The guard will be light.” Oz braced his forearms on the table and rubbed his hands together. “That much we’ve gathered from our reconnaissance this morning. Of course, the queen and her family will be attended by the Queen’s Guard, but overall they’re well loved. They’re not concerned about threats, and many of the soldiers will be participating in the festivities.”
I popped the last of the potato wedge in my mouth and chewed slowly, mulling over their words. “Seems like a good plan. What’s the etiquette on gift giving? Do we have something appropriate?”
Kost stiffened ever so slightly. “There’s no etiquette per se.”
Noc grimaced. “People give what they can and, if they can’t, offer warm wishes. All are received with grace and thanks.” He paused for a moment when the bartender returned to drop off my creamed soup served in a bread bowl. The aroma of thyme and parsley flirted with the scent of portobello shrooms, and my mouth watered. I dove in the moment he set my meal down, but kept my eyes glued on Noc.
“Then what’s the problem?”
“We were thinking that the gift should be reflective of what we’re asking for in return.” Kost nudged his empty plate forward, not meeting my gaze. “Something of great value to help sway the queen in case she still harbors ill will toward Noc for Amira’s fate.”
“For gods’ sake,” Calem said, rolling his eyes and draining his glass of its contents. “They want a beast.”
I paused midspoonful. “A beast?”
“That was just an idea.” Noc shot him a hard look. “We’re not committing to anything.”
“Plus, gifting a beast could set the wrong precedence,” Kost said. “Assuming we make it through our current…predicament, we don’t want other allies of Lendria to expect beasts in the future.”
Slowly, I brought the spoon back to my lips. Swallowed the savory soup and dropped my gaze to the table. “What other options do we have? I agree with Kost, we have to consider what gifting a beast would mean in the long run.”
Oz frowned and propped his elbows on the table. “Bits aren’t really feasible. Rhyne is pretty well off. They’ve had a good harvest this year, from what we’ve heard.”
Noc nodded. “If the queen didn’t hold a grudge against me, we’d be in less of a bind.”
“So here we are,” Kost said, finally meeting our stares. “What gift is worthy enough to inspire trustandforgiveness?”
A beast would work, but was it the right thing to do? I’d sworn to never sell one again, but gifting was different. The problem was, I didn’tknowQueen Elianna or her daughter. Promising to gift them a beast without understanding who they were or what their intentions were… Not to mention, there wasn’t a single creature I’d tamed who wasn’t already bonded to me.
I ate another bite. “What’s the princess like? If I were to agree to gift a beast—and if we think that’s the smartest move—I’m assuming she’d be the recipient.”
Kost nodded. “Correct. I imagine Princess Jayla’s exactly the type of person you’d be comfortable gifting a beast to, and I’m not saying that to try and sway you.”
“Some call her the Dove,” Oz said. “All the decorations going up today have that symbol on them.”
“She’s a peace bringer.” Noc watched me closely. “She cares deeply for her people, working hand in hand with a number of groups to reduce poverty and provide housing for the homeless. She has virtually no enemies, but perhaps she’s too trusting.”
“We think that’s why Elianna hasn’t handed off the crown yet,” Kost added. “She worries other countries will perceive her daughter as weak and move against Rhyne.” He removed his spectacles and began polishing them. “A strong beast to protect her might make the territory-hungry countries bordering Rhyne think twice about attacking.”
“In addition to an alliance with Lendria,” Noc said. He dipped his chin my direction, not an ounce of pressure in his ice-blue eyes. “There have been skirmishes in the south. Countries testing the new leadership to see what they can get away with. Offering our soldiers in support might be enough to entice Elianna.” He ran a soft thumb along my cheek before letting his hand fall away. “You don’t have to trade a beast if you’re not comfortable with it. I promise you we will find another way.”
Setting my spoon to the side, I tore off a bit of the bread bowl and rolled it between my fingers as I considered our options. There weren’t many, really. These were the best circumstances we could’ve asked for, and yet there was still the glaring truth that it could all go horribly wrong. Elianna had lost her older sister, Amira, to Noc, intentionally or not. That kind of pain didn’t just disappear. But she also had a family, a daughter to consider. If we could show her how much we were dedicated to the future of Rhyne, to Princess Jayla, then maybe she could set aside the decades-old heartache she likely felt for her deceased sister.
“First, I want to be very clear about something: this will not be a standard negotiating tactic moving forward.”
Noc nodded. “Of course.”
“Second, if such a situation arises again, I get full discretion on whether or not a beast trade is acceptable.” My first decree as queen, and it wasn’t something I would ever bend on. No one knew beasts like me. No one could make this decision but me. I rounded my gaze on Noc, on my king, and was met with nothing but understanding and love.
He placed his hand on my knee and gave it a squeeze. “Agreed.”
“Good. That said, I don’t have a beast to gift Jayla,” I said, dropping the remnants of bread and folding my hands together. Kost nearly deflated, but recovered quickly, adjusting his spectacles and giving a firm nod. Noc must have sensed there was more, though, because he waited without moving. “But, I can promise to tame one for her. If, and only if, I feel she’s fit to own a beast. That’s the best I can offer.”
Noc smiled. “That’s more than enough.”
