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But their mouths just as quickly dropped open as they jarred to a halt and gaped in stunned shock over what I’d just done.
“Sh-she had a knife,” I started, a bit unsteadily, even though everyone had seen the queen try to stab me. “She was going to kill me.”
“Aye.” Farrow nodded. “You reacted perfectly, my lady.” Then he started toward me again, more slowly this time, which seemed to jostle the dumbfounded Far Shore army into action.
“She killed the queen,” one knight murmured in awe, while another cried, “Seize her!”
“Kill her!”
A horde of metal-clad soldiers surged forward as one. I squeaked in fear because I was all out of hairpins.
But a voice rose above them all, roaring, “CEASE!” Farrow waved his arms above his head, somehow gaining everyone’s attention. “You cannot kill her, per Far Shore custom.”
The confused guards blinked and stared at him before glancing at each other to see if anyone else understood what he meant.
Turning in a slow circle, he spoke again to the room. “Whoever kills the crown becomes the crown. Is that not right?”
My lips parted in surprise.
“And you killed the king,” I uttered, realizing what was happening.
But, oh! Oh my goodness! He was going to claim the throne.
My true love was about to become a freaking king!
Head going light with excitement and pride, I vibrated with vigor, honored to be here to see this moment happen for him.
But he threw me for a loop when he said, “No. I abdicated my right to rule when I didn’t claim the throne after Torrance’s death. So Kalendria stepped up and took the seat. She became the new crown who could then be dethroned…” He smiled lightly. “By you.”
“Wait, what?” I blurted.
“You took the crown, Nicolette.” He motioned toward the high-back, padded stone chair behind me. “Claim your throne.”
I bubbled out an anxious and incredulous laugh as I glanced back toward the seat of honor. “I—I—but I can’t…” I shook my head insistently, my skin going cold with sudden nerves. Moving closer to him, I lowered my voice. “Farrow, I’m from Donnelly! I’m a girl. I’m way too young. I—”
Farrow took my hands in his and squeezed encouragingly, his gaze swirling with fervor. “It doesn’t matter if a foreigner comes in and steals the throne. It
doesn’t matter how old you are. And as Kalendria just proved, it doesn’t even matter if you’re female. As long as you kill the crown first, you can rule. And she’s obviously been killed.”
He pointed toward the impaled queen. Her head and chest were arched back at an odd angle with a huge vine growing through her neck, one end rooted to the floor and the other nudging the ceiling. It had pulled her feet a couple inches off the ground to leave her dangling oddly with her arms dropped limply at her sides in defeat and blood trailing from her gaping mouth.
The crown slipped and tumbled off her head, clanging to the floor as if to accentuate Farrow’s point.
She ruled no more.
Encouraging me back around to face him, Farrow pressed his brow to mine and smiled trustingly into my eyes. “You are the most just, honest, caring person I know. You have three generations of great rulers running through your veins. You were raised at court and know how to be a diplomat, how to deal with your subjects more fairly and compassionately than any ruler who’s ever run this kingdom before. I have every confidence you can lead us to peace and prosperity like no one else.”
“But—”
“Who can stop the Donnelly army from attacking us, but you?” he added.
Damn. That was a good point. I paused, considering it. Someone needed to save these people from a coming war. And I knew for a fact that my own brother wouldn’t attack me.
“I…” I started, gaping at Farrow for answers.
He smiled with all the faith and trust I’d taught him to have. “You can do this,” he assured. Then he let go of my hands, stepped back, and knelt before me, bowing his face as he added, “Your Majesty.”
Pausing next to him, Bricklynn fell to one knee as well, pledging allegiance to me. Dewla along with Payne followed suit with Indigo doing the same.
