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The crowd quieted when the First Immortal appeared at the podium. The austere creases in his face weren’t as obvious from here, but his frown was as distinguished as ever. He raised a hand to quiet an already silent crowd.
Even the rain seemed to pause for him.
“Loyal citizens of Cambria,” he spoke in his dry, though surprisingly loud, voice. “Indeed, you have been anticipating Imperator Brennin’s address with great excitement. However”—he paused and glanced over his shoulder—“due to the sudden gravity of the king’s illness, that will no longer be possible.”
My vision pulsed with the pressure from my beating heart. The crowd reacted with a buzz of surprise until the First Immortal held up his hand again.
“We will instead be honored to hear from our most gracious queen. I present to you Imperatrix Maeve Brennin.” He gestured grandly toward the queen and bowed before taking his seat.
The noise of the crowd heightened into a roar. As much as she pretended to be, Imperatrix Brennin wasn’t a true ruler of Cambria. Her influence may have been strong, but she didn’t technically wield political power. It was her husband who was the descendant of the Second House. Because of the laws of genetic inheritance, she was only queen for now. She’d lose her title the moment the king was dead.
Maeve Brennin stood and walked to the podium. She smoothed her violet dress and adjusted her sharp gold crown over the black and silver strands weaving through her elaborate braided hairstyle. She looked down, her cheeks stretched in a tight grin. “My beloved citizens.” Her voice was high and condescending as if she were addressing a disobedient toddler. “I am despondent to stand here this evening with unfortunate news, but my dear husband, and your beloved Imperator, Desmond Brennin”—she sniffed and dabbed a handkerchief at her eyes—“has fallen into a truly lamentable state.”
A sigh breathed through the audience. Her attempts to garner sympathy must have worked since the king was well-liked by the nobles. The oppressed majority knew him as a tyrant, but unfortunately, most of them weren’t here to express themselves.
“He has been a most exceptional leader over this blessed city. There has never been a ruler, excepting Imperator Irvine, who has possessed such intellect, such morality . . .”
I rolled my eyes while she listed his virtues. The high-pitched adulation went on for so long that I wished the rain would start up again to drown it out.
“While reluctantly accepting the grim reality of his imminent departure, I have grown concerned for our future and have been compelled to reconsider what is optimal for our kingdom.” Her smile grew wider until it was nearly a grimace. “Citizens, do not fear! I value the sanctity of tradition above all else and I am extremely disinclined to induce even a modicum of change within these walls.” She swept her eyes through the crowd, but there was no sign of disagreement so far.
Graham hadn’t lifted his eyes from the balcony floor since the queen started her speech. His emotions were on full display in front of thousands.
“However,” the queen said, “a very inexperienced young man is next in line to rule.” Her voice suddenly lost its sweetness and seemed to drop an octave. “While he has attempted to learn the statutes of the Academy, he lacks the understanding and responsibility necessary to be an effective leader. His character issues, no doubt stemming from the tragic loss of his older brother at a tender age, require remedial improvements. I am unable, in good conscience, to allow his shortcomings to affect you all, dear citizens. My loyalty to Cambria comes first, always.”
Graham’s face flushed, and I wondered what kept him from making a run for it.
The queen continued. “Only in dire circumstances would I suggest a departure from tradition.”
Dread filled me as I realized what the queen was about to say. I remembered Graham’s argument and how he’d told her he would never delegate to her. My heartbeat quickened and my fingernails dug into my palms.
“One day, perhaps, my son will be sufficiently prepared, but for the time being, we need someone who truly knows how to rule. I may not have been born into the Second House, but Imperator Brennin and I are aligned in purpose. Every decision of the past twenty years has been influenced by my opinion. Both my heart and mind are firmly embedded with the desire to protect our city, our culture, our values, and our most virtuous language. No one could be more qualified.”
I couldn’t begin to imagine how she could betray her own son. Family was sacred—the one thing I’d never risk. And she did it all with a smile on her face. Didn’t she feel some pity? Some sense of loyalty?
She’s no more power-hungry than you are.The thought crept into my mind along with a heavy dose of self-loathing.
I shook my head to push it away. I wasn’t like her.
The queen’s voice returned to its false sweetness. “I am not suggesting a long-standing shift in tradition, merely a temporary solution to the problems at hand. I am hopeful that my son will one day be worthy of the throne. Until then, let us sustain a leader who will carry on the virtues of our beloved Imperator Irvine.”
She paused. “I believe that if our dear founder were alive today, he himself wouldn’t hesitate to alter our current policy of genetic inheritance, given the circumstances. After all, I was born a Donovan. Imperator Irvine selected my own family to one day rule Cambria. This remains entirely within his will.”
The swell of applause made me sick to my stomach.
“It is now that I must ask for your support, my dear citizens and glorious Immortals. Please write to the Academy, share your desire for stability, and petition them to support my proposal to remain Queen of Cambria. Use the power of your words to persuade and I assure you, we cannot fail!”
With a false smile and self-congratulatory waves, Imperatrix Maeve Brennin turned and glided the length of the balcony before disappearing into the building.
ChapterEleven
The applause erupted into a clamor.After a moment, the crowd began to flow back toward the gates on the other side of the square, but my legs had lost their mobility.
I couldn’t tear my eyes from Graham. While the nobles and Immortals socialized on the balcony, he made a quick retreat through one of the Academy’s doors. The urge to run and find him nudged at me, but there was no point. He’d be gone before I came close, assuming I didn’t get caught by an Enforcer’s pistol first.
The crowd shoved me along, so I finally forced my feet to act. I crossed the expanse of Academy Square, where the citizens exited through the gates. The noise around me sliced apart the fragments of my thoughts, preventing them from coming together into something that made sense.
The sky darkened into a swirl of gray and black. The rain returned in large, angry drops and the world pushed in on me from every side. My chest constricted and I forgot how to breathe. The sounds faded away, except for the rush of blood through my veins.
