Page 86 of Of Shadows and Blood

“Baron? Who is Baron?” I ask, thinking of the list of people who have been referenced in my time here.

“King Baron Leyer of Gruyere, our northern friends. Baron ascended the throne at a young age and was pulled from formal schooling so we did not get to see him as much as Rolan, for example. But—”

“Baron is a lot and—” Garreth chimes in.

“No, he isn’t, he just favors—”

“The man, Ced, he’s—”

“Gods, man, would you let your king speak for a moment?”

“My king? Do you hear that Liv? And this man says he isn’t classist.”

Cedric drags his hand down his face. “Anyways –” he glares at Garreth – “Baron would like us to make a trip out to celebrate the changing of seasons. We generally don’t travel this much but duty calls, I’m afraid.”

“And duty being bottles of wine and Baron’s fancy for—”

Cedric whacks Garreth’s head with a glare. “Be nice.”

Avonde, completely tuning out their bickering, considers the trip. “Unfortunately, I need to stay back this time. With our new acolytes and the research, my time is tied.”

“We’ll miss you,” I say, sipping on my blood. It has been easier in Lux to feed.

Garreth crosses and uncrosses his legs before nodding in understanding.

“It’s to the north, you say?” I shiver at the thought of a colder climate. In the last week Lux’s temperatures have dropped noticeably and each morning I bundle up more and more when I practice with the cess.

“Indeed. Gruyere to the north, Duresden to the south to south-west, Hollisland to the east and Kilare to the south-east. We’re set right in the middle.”

My mind thinks of a chessboard when imagining the continent. Five kingdoms, all of which operate around one another and sometimes against each other, from the way I understand those to the south. While the High Council surely provides much peace, I wonder the just how much power allyship holds here.

In a game of chess, which piece is Duresden? And which is Lux?

Chapter 22

Rose-colored chalices are a favorite of his courts.

Standing outside of Cedric’s office, eavesdropping finds me.

“You might be king but I also have a title,” Sawyer seethes, the door muffling most of his voice but my hearing grows stronger with every feed.

“Yes, and that title also includes Emissary to Krue.”

A chair cracks and I can hear wood pieces hit the stone walls. “As you wish, Your Majesty.”

“Enough. Krue is yours. I gave you this task because I trust your leadership, Sawyer. You’re to set up a stable economic situation so they can self-govern in peace. Did you forget the plan?”

“I haven’t forgotten the plan. I simply do not think my presence is necessary permanently.”

My brain recalls the position of Krue on the map. Right between Duresden’s narrow western strip and Lux. The land is contested, but Cedric is working on a plan to give them independence. This must be where Sawyer has sequestered off to in the past few weeks.

Cedric sighs. “You will return to Krue, your station, and continue our work. Further, you will not – under any circumstances – return back to Lux until I withdraw you.”

“So, no thanks for my saving Liv? I was on my way to Krue then, mind you.”

My throat catches and I strain my neck to avoid coughing and giving myself away. Cedric and I are set to depart to Gruyere tomorrow, but I wanted to speak with him about expectations before leaving. If I was caught…

I am to be queen. Is this truly that odd?