Page 164 of The Infernal Battalion

“Of course. One moment.”

Barely opened the big door enough to slip inside. A few moments later she pulled it wide and beckoned. Winter looked for the servant, but she’d slipped away, all in silence. With Alex by her side and Abraham and Ennika behind her, Winter went into the royal suite.

It looked more or less as she expected the queen’s residence to look, with polished, gilded furniture and paintings of frowning nobility. Raesinia stood in front of her writing desk, grinning broadly. Winter resisted the urge to give her a nonchalant wave, and bowed instead. Alex and Abraham followed suit.

“Winter.” Raesinia shook her head. “God Almighty. We hoped... but I didn’t think...”

There were, Winter was astonished to see, tears in the queen’s eyes. She coughed uncomfortably.

“I’m. Um. Sorry it took me so long.” Stepping sideways, she waved a hand at her companions. “I think you’ve met Alex. This is Abraham, a healer from the Mountain, and Ennika, a... refugee. I wouldn’t have made it without them.”

“They all have demons? I knew I felt something in the palace.”

Winter nodded.

“Welcome, all of you,” Raesinia said. “Winter—”

“I know. We should talk, alone.” Winter turned to the others. “If you don’t mind waiting for a moment.”

Alex was looking around with obviously avaricious eyes, as though she were totaling up the cost of the furnishings. Abraham nodded kindly and directed Ennika to a seat at a nearby table. Raesinia reached out and rang a small silver bell that hung from the wall.

“Eric will be here in a moment,” the queen said. “If you need anything—​drinks, food—​just tell him.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Alex said.

Raesinia waved vaguely as she retreated to an inner room, with Winter following behind. This was her bedchamber, with a huge four-​poster bed shrouded by translucent curtains dominating. Raesinia shut the door behind them and let out a deep breath.

“Not that I mind, obviously,” she said, “but can I ask how you got into the palace without anyone telling me?”

“Sothe,” Winter said. “She found us in Murnsk and brought us here.”

“She’s here?” Raesinia said.

“In the city, at least,” Winter said. “There was business to take care of, apparently. But she told me to tell you that she’s sorry and that she’ll be there when you need her.”

There was a long silence, punctuated by a soft thump as Raesinia slumped back against the closed door. The tears in her eyes threatened to overflow, and she wiped her sleeve across her face, sniffing.

“When I most need her,” Raesinia said in a small voice. “I’ve needed her ever since she left. Idiot woman.”

“I know the situation is... complicated,” Winter said, shifting awkwardly. “Whatever she’s doing, she has a good reason.”

“Of course she does.” Raesinia blinked rapidly and pushed herself away from the door. “God. I’m sorry. It’s been a difficult few days.”

“I understand,” Winter said. “How much do you know about what’s happening?”

“About the war, you mean?”

“About the Beast.”

Raesinia stared at her. “How can you know about that?”

“I was there,” Winter said. “When it escaped from Elysium.”

“Escaped?” Raesinia shook her head. “You may need to start at the beginning.”

There wasn’t time to go over everything, of course. Even a summary took a while. Winter kept to the basics—​the nature of the Beast, its ability to control minds, its unstoppable spread throughout Murnsk and its implacable pursuit of Infernivore. While she spoke, Raesinia walked slowly to the bed and sat down, as though she didn’t trust her legs.

When Winter came to Ennika’s role in the story, the queen brought her up short. “Janus? She said Janus spoke to her?”