“Aha, so you haven’t forgiven me yet! You don’t really trust me. If I said, ‘Yes, let’s be buddies right now,’ you’d have me spied on. You’d wait until I lowered my guard, and then you’d... do whatever you plan to do. What do you plan to do, Daleina?” She hadn’t intended to ask her right out, but this conversation wasn’t going the way she’d expected it to anyway. Besides, she preferred being direct.
She just didn’t expect Daleina to be so... she couldn’t even come up with a word to describe how Aratay’s queen was acting.
“I plan to protect my people,” Daleina said, “until the day I die, at what will hopefully be a very old age. And I plan to live in peace with my neighbors, from this day forward. We share a common enemy, Merecot. We don’t have to be enemies with each other.”
Merecot felt a twinge of something.Hope, she thought.Or indigestion.
“That common enemy is exactly why I did all I did,” Merecot said. “I want a better life forallRenthians.” She studied Daleina’s hand once more. Over and over in her head, she could hear Jastra’s voice saying,It’s a trick!Except Daleina had never been tricky. Stubborn, yes. Naïve, yes. Weak, yes. But not sneaky. Despite being the bottom of the class with spirits, Daleina never cheated. She just worked harder.That could be what she’s doing now. Working harder, to become my friend again, for the sake of her people.It was kind of admirable.She must hate me, deep inside. I’d hate me.“What exactly does a friendship between two queens entail? I suppose you’ll want me to swear to never attempt to murder you again.”
“I want you to swear to talk first,beforeyou try to kill me,” Daleina said.
“So you’re not ruling out the killing part if it’s necessary?” Not that Merecotwantedto kill Daleina. In fact, standing with her now, she couldn’t quite believe what she’d almost done and what she’d come here to do. Daleina seemed soalive. So...Oh, spirits, do I actually admire her? Weak, untalented, overtrusting, naïve, idealistic Daleina?
She heard a muffled snort from inside the chambers, almost a laugh.
“You have someone spying on us? Right now, when you’re asking me for a leap of faith? Bit cynical of you, isn’t it?”So much for trust and friendship.Merecot plunged her mind into the palace, searching for a spirit in order to look through its eyes, but there were no spirits within.
“Of course,” Daleina said. “I’m hopeful, not stupid.” Her hand still was held out.
“Then youhavechanged.” Merecot paused. “I didn’t actually mean that. It was just such a good setup for the insult, I couldn’t resist.”
“I understand,” Daleina said gravely, but Merecot thought she saw a flicker of an almost-smile. She wished she could see what Daleina was thinking.
If I could penetrate the minds of the spirits who were linked to her...Quickly, in the pause in the conversation, Merecot slammed her mind into the thoughts of the spirits that hovered around the palace. She’d never tried to “read” anyone’s mind this way, but the theory was sound. She could see the memories of spirits, so if they held the memory of Daleina’s thoughts and plans... Sifting through the spirits’ minds, she found...
Nothing.
They knew nothing.
Daleina didn’t share her thoughts with them. She was linked to them, yes, but it was a softer link than either Merecot or Naelin had.Clever, Merecot thought. Daleina must keep herself shielded from them. Or else she isn’t strong enough to forge a more in-depth connection. Either way, it meant Merecot couldn’t access any memories the spirits had of her thoughts. Once more, she was at a disadvantage... and that bothered her a great deal.
“Say I say yes, I want to be friends again. What happens next?”
“You’ll be offered the hospitality of the palace, shown to a room, led to the baths, and invited to dine with me here in my rooms. Then we talk.”
Merecot held up one finger. “I already stated no giggling.”
“There will be no giggling,” Daleina agreed.
I came all this way. May as well see where this goes. I can always kill her later, Merecot thought. She was closer to the grove than she’d ever been. She could kill Daleina, race to the Aratayian grove, and seize the crown. Right now, with whatever army of spies was listening, Merecot knew she’d be foolish to try. Queen Jastra would have told her to do it anyway—use her strength and control of the spirits, use Daleina’s hopefulness against her to surprise her.But I’m not Jastra, and I have other cards to play.“You haven’t asked me about Ambassador Hanna or Champion Havtru. I gathered you’ve noticed I returned without them.”
“You won’t harm them,” Daleina said, certainty in her voice.
“Oh? You’re sure of that?”
“You won’t need to,” Daleina said. “I’ve invited you here in peace.”
Again, the naïveté amused her, but at the same time, it irked her. Because there was no way Daleina didn’t know its effect on her.She’s...toyingwith me. Yet it still wasn’t quite clear how.I should be the one controlling the conversation. I’m supposed to be outsmartingher!
Merecot tried hard to keep her expression as bland as possible.I underestimated her. She knows I left them behind as hostages.Daleina kept surprising her.This may be a more interesting visit than I thought. I wonder... if she’d listen.She’d come here planning to take the crown by force, but if she could convince Daleina to abdicate willingly instead...?
Was it possible? Was Daleina smart enough, wise enough,queenenough, to understandwhyMerecot had to be queen of both Semo and Aratay? She’d never planned to explain herself, but if there was a chance that Daleina would listen and believe...
I could try.
For a moment, she felt breathless, nearly light-headed. She couldn’t put a name on the feeling that rushed through her, but she thought maybe it was hope.
“In that case, I’d be delighted to accept the hospitality of your palace.” Merecot held out her hand, and Daleina clasped it.
