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I didn’t say anything. Lainule was right, and so was Kaylin. I knew it, and by the look on her face, so did Rhiannon. That didn’t mean it was going to be easy or comfortable, but sometimes, life just is what it is and there is nothing you can do about it.
The hallways reminded me of the hallways at the Marburry Barrow, except the lights were cooler here. “I wonder if they use Fire Elementals here for the lanterns, too? Or are they something different?”
Grieve smiled softly. “No, they’re young Ice Elementals—they have their own glow. That’s why the light here is of a bluish tint instead of the warm orange of the Summer realm. The Court of Rivers and Rushes is much cozier, in case you haven’t noticed.” He let out a soft chuckle and pulled me close to him. “But we’ll make this place home, and we’ll make it comfortable.”
I leaned against him. “I think we have to. There’s not much choice, is there? Can you tell me something?” I paused as we entered the section of the Barrow that held the bedrooms. The royal bedchamber was to our right, and as we entered, I stopped, gasping softly. The Eldburry Barrow might be cold and austere, but our bedroom-to-be was absolutely amazing.
It stretched out, almost as big as the throne room, and a thick, soft carpet covered the cobblestones. The tapestry was intricate, woven in swirls of blue and purple and silver, and the weave was thick and plush. I leaned down and brushed my hand against it—soft, it was soft as a kitten’s back.
Dark, polished wardrobes lined the walls, along with a vanity table and love seat. The wood gleamed, looking so smooth it almost might be glass.
The bed was a huge four-poster affair, the yew intricately carved with a labyrinthine design. Piled high with pillows, the thick comforters matched the pattern on the carpet, and overhead, the ceiling swirled with sparkling gems—iolite and sapphire, amethyst and clear quartz against a jet-black background. The jewels glowed from within, some inner luminescence that flickered through the dim light of the lanterns.
I turned to Grieve. “I…this is beautiful.”
“You like it, then?” He leaned in, his feral teeth glistening in the light of the Ice Elementals.
I nodded. “I think…I think I will come to love it here. I think it will be hard at first, but this is a safe haven. I can live here. I can adjust.” And right then, I knew I was telling the truth, not trying to bolster my courage. When I closed my eyes, I could see myself in a long fur-trimmed gown, wandering through the corridors, feeling the darkness of the long winter in the core of my bones and learning to embrace the shadow rather than fear it.
And at that moment, I opened my eyes again, and Grieve was kissing me deeply, his arms around me. “I can hardly wait to claim our marriage bed,” he whispered. “Anywhere, loving you is a joy, but when we are married…when you are my Queen and I your King, all will be right with the world.”
I didn’t know about that—we still had Myst to deal with, and Geoffrey and Leo, but I decided to bite my tongue and leave the future to the future. I kissed him back, his arms strong around my waist, his heart beating against my own, and for one brief moment, I believed it was all possible.
“If you are done exploring, I have someone to introduce.” My father’s voice echoed through the chamber from the door.
The others had politely been ignoring Grieve and me, peeking into cupboards and testing out the thickness of the mattresses, but now we turned to see Wrath standing there. By his side was a short, dark-haired Fae whose gaze seemed to dart about, constantly observing everything going on. He was dressed in royal blue and purple, with silver epaulettes on his shoulder.
“Meet your Chief Advisor, Strict. He’s trustworthy and will not lead you astray by either flattery or deception. Strict was Tabera’s advisor, and he escaped the carnage when Myst invaded the Winter Court.”
I watched him, closely, cocking my head as I tried to read his energy.
Is he truly safe?
But Ulean wasn’t speaking.
He bowed, and when I held out my hand, he stared at it for a moment.
“Your Majesty should not shake hands with those beneath her,” was his abrupt reply.
Taken aback and mildly annoyed, I frowned. Before I could help myself, I snapped, “That’s how they do things where I come from.”
The words didn’t even faze him. Strict shrugged. “Your Majesty is no longer in the world outside. I’m here to advise you, and that is what I will do. You must act like a queen to inspire the respect for a queen. Incline your head gracefully if you wish to show favor upon meeting someone. Do not, or look away, if you wish to show disfavor.”
Struck by how rude he was, I let out a little huff, but my father stepped in before I could say anything more.
“He speaks the truth, Cicely. You must learn to compromise, and in this case, it does not mean you win more than fifty percent of the argument. You have chosen to take the queenship on your shoulders. You must act the part.”
Part of me wanted to rail—to say I chose by default, without realizing—but we were long past that point. Maybe I hadn’t known, when I went to rescue Lainule’s heartstone, what the result would be. But I knew that it would be life-changing and I’d agreed to follow through, without finding out what the consequences were. I had no one but myself to blame, and when thinking about the option—seeing Lainule fade and die or go out like a light when Myst found her heartstone—there was no question about it. I’d make the same choice again, if given a do-over.
Strict was waiting for my response. He wasn’t afraid of me, and though he’d no doubt treat me with the respect accorded to the Queen, I had the feeling that he’d been matched to the job with a perfect fit. The advisor had to be someone who could point out the hard truths.
Slowly, I withdrew my hand and gave him a soft nod. “Pleasure to meet you. What do I call you? What’s your title? I should know these things before we ever appear in public together.”
“Call me Lord Strict. And for the Queen of Summer, my sister will be your advisor. We were born to a pair, much like you and your cousin, only we truly are twins. I came to the Winter Court to be fostered when I was barely off my mother’s breast. The nature of this land suits me, and so I stayed.”
Rhiannon, having watched the dressing down I’d gotten, inclined her head. “And your sister’s name?”
“My sister’s name is Lady Edge. She will be waiting for you back in the Marburry Barrow.” And with that, Strict turned and left, not waiting for a dismissal.
