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Astrid flipped her hair off her shoulder. “A lesson, son. Be quicker than your enemy.”
“A lesson I shall take to heart.”
After a moment, Queen Astrid lowered to her knees. “Per our laws, I have been defeated in a claim to the throne. I willingly abdicate my seat as High Queen to my son and heir, Bracken. High King of the Court of Hearts. He will remain unchallenged, according to our laws, for no less than a dozen turns.”
The fae folk lowered to their knees. They praised their new king. I would never understand the way the royals fought battles like a game, as if bloodshed did not matter so long as you were victorious.
Bracken held up his hands as his people cheered.
I kept my gaze on Astrid. She smiled. Called her son the king, but there was fear there. A dark secret she carried beneath her smile.
My fist curled over my knee. Inwardly, I marked the queen of the South. She was to be watched from a distance. Should she try to destroy our new ally, or wreak havoc on our kingdom again, I would end her.
Malin laughed with most folk as Bracken began to deliver punishments for those warriors who’d fought on the side of his mother.
Things such as, food would taste sour for fifty turns. They would drop their sword every time they tried to swing it. Some would not be able to grow a beard, or they would not be able to satisfy a lover. All were sealed by an incantation delivered up by a wrinkled fae with a snowy beard down to his waist.
“I was informed this morning,” Bracken announced to the courtyard, “to some thrilling news that will surely strengthen our new bond as kingdoms. My cousin, Eryka, has accepted the hand of Prince Gunnar. I give my blessing to their union without question, but what of his folk?”
Herja and Hagen stood. Laila had been reunited with her parents, along with Von to Luca and Dagny, and the abandoned fae boy to Sol and Tor.
The young princess had already become a caretaker for Dain and Metta, overjoyed to be an older sister. She released their little hands as Hagen picked her up and whispered in her ear.
After a moment, she shot Bracken a toothy grin. “We give our blessing!”
The crowd cheered. Gunnar sat beside his parents, his face had grown red, but he pulled Eryka against his side, kissing the scar on her cheek.
“It is a historic alliance. The union of three kingdoms,” Bracken said. “A prince born of both the East and North, and a princess of the South. These are the bonds that will keep us at peace, bonds that will keep us strong.”
My mouth parted. Malin looked at me at the same time. We both laughed.
“She was right all along,” Malin said. “Eryka would be key in uniting three kingdoms.”
Her random, wild prophecies were more than ramblings. I still thought she didn’t know what she was saying half the time, but she loved Gunnar Strom. That I knew. That was all that mattered, I supposed.
The last order, Bracken had the woman Ari battled brought forward.
“Dear Saga,” he said. “Your choice to stand as my opposition was difficult to stomach.”
“Nothing against you, My King,” Saga said. “My loyalty has always, and will always, remain with the High Court. It now belongs to you.”
Ari scoffed, loudly.
The sound drove Bracken’s attention to the ambassador, and a new light shone in the new king’s eyes as he faced the woman once more. “I believe you. We’ve known each other too long, Saga, for me to deliver too harsh a punishment. But there must be some consequence. You understand, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“Good.” Bracken was plotting something. He was a tease, a mischief maker. And admittedly, I looked forward to seeing what he would say next. One hand on Saga’s shoulder, he went on. “Saga of House Korsson, for your role in the battle against your king, you will be bound to servitude for . . .” Bracken paused, considering his options. “For one hundred turns to a single master. Ambassador Ari Sekundär of the North.”
“What?” Ari shot to his feet. “Bracken, what—”
He was cut off when Bracken went on, muffling a laugh. “With the hope, you two might finally stop bickering.”
Saga looked horridly pale. She curled her fists around Bracken’s tunic as she lost her composure. “Brack, no. Please, I beg of you. I will serve you for a century. I’ll serve Bo. I will serve the bleeding trolls, please.”
Bracken held up his hand. “It is done, Saga. But do not worry, Ari is in the South so often it will be as if you never left. And,” he said, enunciating, “I know you will soon see what we all enjoy about him. I do look forward to watching it.”
“No.” Ari said with a low growl. “Bracken, I do not want her.”
