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There was a murmur of agreement from the crowd, and the Queen Mother leaned over to me again. “This could be very dangerous,” she whispered. “If things go wrong, it could mean frosty relations between us for years to come. And a lack of trade would be disastrous for the economy of Carthem.”
My brows furrowed. “But she has already been crowned.”
Regicide wasn’t something that had happened before in Qarath. What made her so disagreeable to the people of Qarath?
The Queen Mother nodded. “Yes, she is. But her half-brother is favored in Qarath. If he were to take the throne, it would destabilize the region even further.”
And the support of Manzimor would ensure that she stayed queen. I could see the wheels turning in her head. The Queen Mother was a canny politician, and she knew which way the wind was blowing.
If her half-brother took the throne, it would mean war. The Mentom seemed to be invested in this, and Izmir wouldn’t allow the Elvish regions to do whatever they wanted.
The people of Qarath had made their decision, and now it was time for us to make ours. Guilt flared in my chest. The stability of an entire region was more important than the wishes of the common people.
Murmurs rose from the crowd as people discussed the ramifications of the decision. From the corner of my eye, I saw that some people looked worried while others looked excited.
The speaker banged his cane. “All those in favor of the motion, please raise your hand.”
Almost every hand in the room went up. Except for the blue section. The Houses of the region Carthem. They would be the ones most affected by war.
“The ayes have it,” the speaker said.
The reaction was immediate. Some people stamped their feet and clapped, while the Houses of Carthem looked like someone had punched them in the gut. Despite their mask of impassivity, I saw the horror in their eyes.
“The motion is carried,” the speaker said. “I will send a delegation to Qarath within the week.”
If the situation was as tense as it was portrayed here, that would take too long. If only I knew more. What connection did the beasts in Carthem have with the situation in Qarath? The only way to enter Carthem was through Qarath.
The crowd’s voices raised in excited discussion.
“It will not be easy,” the Queen Mother said to me. “But the economic stability of the region depends on it.”
I nodded. I knew she was right. But I couldn’t help feeling worried about what could happen if things went wrong. It was selfish of me, as the people in Qarath preferred another ruler, but I didn’t want their unrest to lighten up the entire region. One small country in turmoil was enough.
What would happen if Qarath’s new queen was deposed? Sides would have to be chosen and it would most likely lead to war.
And I would be right in the middle of it.
“Will my friendship with Emre be a problem?”
Izmir had the most to gain from the instability in the region. If Qarath fell, they could take advantage of it. The trade roads would be open for them, and they would have a chokehold on the region.
She looked thoughtful, and the First Minister glanced at me. “It’s a useful connection to cultivate,” she said. “Ambassador Hatice is a powerful woman. If you can stay on their good side, it will be very beneficial for Carthem and Manzimor as a whole.”
The First Minister nodded his head in agreement. “There’s a lack of trust between our two countries,” he said. “If you can help to build social connections, it will go a long way towards preventing a war.”
War. That paused me. Their political maneuvers were all about preventing war, but what if they failed? What would happen to the region then? Ambassador Bennani would need to be notified. Midar needed to be prepared.
The Queen Mother stared at me when I leaned back in my seat. “I believe that the last crisis could have been prevented if we hadn’t isolated ourselves from our neighbors. I do not want to see that happen again.”
There was a look of resolve in her eyes, and I nodded in understanding. Isn’t that what led Midar to its current situation? Our isolation had led to centuries of fear and distrust. Not all of it was unfounded, but some of it was.
The speaker banged his cane again, breaking me out of my thoughts.
“That concludes this session,” he said. “Thank you all for your time.”
There was a rustle as people got up from their seats and I turned to the Queen Mother.
“Are you coming?” she asked. “Let’s go for a walk.”
