Page 348 of Commanding Scythe and Sky

Which meant, like Cyrus and Blaz had implied, I was barely more welcome here than Aren would’ve been. Maybe less. But for now, trusted advisers kept us all on a leash.

Weighing the odds against the stiff greeting, I decided transparency between allies mattered more than comfort. Delivering the information myself was the only way to frame it as one leader trusting another. If news of the fires reached her independently, it would only feed her distrust.

So here we were.

“Queen Reyna,” I said, bowing my head low in deference that was not returned.

“Mr. Porter. I see you’re still glued to that cane.”

“It eases the discomfort.”

“And what of your healers?”

“It’s a long story.”

“Have somewhere to be?”

Forcing a smile, I said, “Just here, Your Majesty.”

“So, what’s the story?” she purred as we climbed the steps and I bit back against the grimace that threatened my composure.

“Nat believes the pain is internalized.”

“Well. How very… mortal.”

I shrugged. “We’ve all got a little humanity left in us.” Whether the reminder was for her or for me, I wasn’t entirely certain. “I fear I bring unwelcome news.”

“What’s new about that?” she asked with saccharine sweetness, extending an arm for me to brace against.

“Thank you,” I breathed, following her lead into the foyer.

Reyna led us down a long marble hallway, sentinels stationed every ten feet or so—my mind tallying them automatically as she brought us to a study. Elegant bookshelves lined the far wall, sunlight pouring through the adjacent windows. The entire space was drenched in Bellaton blue.

Not the war room.

That was something, at least.

She stopped beside an armchair, and I lowered myself into it, relieved when the pressure in my spine eased notably.

Reyna swept around her desk as a lithe red-haired woman entered with a tray of teacups, passing them around before setting ours on the desk between us.

“So. Commander. What brings you to my neck of the woods today?”

“Alvara.”

“Well. I could’ve guessed that.”

“We got intel—a great deal of it, and I wanted to bring you up to speed myself.”

“By all means, do keep me waiting.”

“Mother,” Blaz grumbled in annoyance.

“I don’t have all day,” she said emphatically.

“And I respect your time,” I vowed.

“I somehow doubt that.”