Page 54 of Crown of the Dunes

“A moment, Queen Keera, Aderyn?” Dravis, the Archon of Agriculture asked, clasping his hands before him tightly.

The attendant carrying my chest hesitated on the step above, and I waved him on. I would catch up later.

“Yes?” I said, trying my best not to sound harried. A funeral, a relocation, and a battle with a creature of legend seemed quite enough to be getting on with for one day, but the seriousness of his expression gave me pause.

“It’s about the grain situation,” he started.

I ground my teeth so hard they creaked to avoid growling at him. The impending famine was not his fault, but watching helplessly as it bore down on Kelvadan made me feel like a caracal caught in a snare. Too much longer and I would be ready to chew my own leg off. People would be going hungry soon, and I grappled for a solution to no avail.

The only solution in my mind for calming the desert’s fury was the Heart, locked in the top of the tower. As soon as the idea entered my mind though, the sight of the queen’s lifeless gray eyes staring up at the ceiling filled my vision, and guilt would almost bring me to my knees.

Erix had mentioned wanting to retrieve the Heart as well, but bile burned my throat at the thought of trying to break the blood glass again—of how I would react if he was the one to end up broken and lifeless on the floor of the tower. The stone room might not be enough to stop me from tearing the palace from the mountainside.

Dravis cleared his throat, and I blinked myself back to the present.

“What is it?” I asked, failing to keep all my frustration out of my tone.

“I have been presented with a potential solution,” he said, his tone halting.

My spine straightened, and I leaned forward in excitement, wondering why he of all people did not seem ecstatic over a way out of our situation.

“Yes?” I prodded.

“Prince Calix informed me that he sent an eagle to his father, the King of Viltov, with a missive asking for permission to trade us grain. He indicated that Viltov might be more amenable to trading supplies than troops, given they are already entangled in their own war with Doran. And frankly, we may need the food more than we need an army at this point,” Dravis explained.

The doubt in his tone was heavy and began to worm its way into my own chest.

“What does Viltov want in return?” Aderyn chimed in beside me.

The archon grimaced. “He didn’t say. But given that we have yet to come to an agreement with them so far, I doubt their price will be cheap.”

My stomach turned leaden. Viltov and Doran both coveted the horses of the Ballan Desert, hoping to mount a cavalry force that would finally give them an edge in their endless war. Trading them felt like sacrilege. The desert was already angry, and something told me selling her sacred creatures would not assuage her rage.

I wanted to say so, but Aderyn responded first.

“Let us know what Viltov’s terms are when Prince Calix gets a response from his father,” she instructed. “For now, Keera and I need to discuss the city’s protection after the day’s events.”

Dravis tapped his brow in respect before heading off down the staircase. I resumed our climb, making sure he was out of earshot before speaking.

“The thought of trading our horses to Viltov sets my teeth on edge,” I said.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea either.”

I glanced sidelong at her in surprise. Ever practical, I thought Aderyn would jump at the idea of the much-needed grain—even though the idea of trading horses away from the desert made nausea churn in my stomach.

“It would be wildly unpopular,” Aderyn continued. “There is a reason we have never traded our horses before, as even the people of Kelvadan see it as a crime against the desert herself. Those who don’t want you to be queen would jump at the opportunity to turn more people against you.”

“More?” I asked, grimacing.

The exile beneath my skin clutched the scraps of belonging and acceptance even more tightly to her chest.

Aderyn laid a hand on my shoulder as we reached the landing leading to my new rooms. “Many believe in you. They see you as a Champion, sent by the desert to save them after you wandered out of the wilderness to challenge the Viper. You saved them from the avalanche and the tricrith. If you continue to protect them and fight for them, they will follow you.”

I laid my hand over hers in thanks. Still, I couldn’t stop myself from pointing out, “Erix protected them from the tricrith too.”

“Even more reason for you to work to inspire faith in the people. Those who disapprove of your rule might turn to him,” Aderyn pointed out.

I folded my arms. “Are you agreeing with the archons, that he should be executed?”