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Elma had seen paintings of Ordellun-by-the-Sea. It was a city of splendor and riches, with libraries and palaces and beautiful gardens. It was said to rival even the beauty of Lothyn. Despite the warmth of the room, she shivered at the thought of seeing the city first-hand.
“I will require my maid, Cora, to accompany me,” she said. She caught and held Godwin’s gaze.The rest is up to you.
Her uncle inclined his head, understanding her. “Very good, Majesty. I shall select three of Rothen’s best swords, as well as working models of our ballista and the trebuchet. I’ll ensure they’re outfitted appropriately. King Alaric of Navenie will require evidence of what Rothen provides.”
“Thank you, Godwin,” said Elma. “The rest of you may go. I wish to speak with my uncle alone.”
The lords seemed eager to leave, and the room was quickly empty but for Elma and her uncle.
“I see your father taught you well,” Godwin said. “Queenhood suits you.”
“Thank you for the flattery,” Elma said, “but there’s no need to lie.”I don’t know what I’m doing. Her father had taught her to be cold, to build a wall of ice around her heart. But there was more to being queen than being frozen from the inside.
Godwin chuckled. “Well, you’ve certainly made me proud, niece.”
“You speak as if I’m a child.”
“I know very well that you’re not,” he said, pouringhimself another goblet of wine. “And I also know that, despite your status as sole heir of Rothen, you never actually believed you’d find yourself in this position. Are you ready for it?”
Elma raised her chin. “Yes.”
He took a slow drag of wine. “I know when you’re lying, Elma. Though I’m certain you’d convince anyone else. Soon, you’ll have the other lords quite tightly wrapped ‘round your finger. It is good that you can lie. That you can twist truths convincingly. It is a difficult skill to learn.”
“What a lovely compliment,” said Elma. She glanced at her wine goblet, still full. “Honesty, a good heart, a conscience… What use are those to a queen?”
“You better serve your people with cunning than with compassion,” said Godwin. “A compassionate ruler allows enemies to outsmart her, to overrun her. A cunning one cannot be bested.”
“I suppose you refer to battleanddiplomacy.”
“Naturally.”
“I believe a queen should be loved by her subjects. That she ought to protect them as if they were her own children.”
Godwin frowned. “Why?”
“Isn’t that what it means to be a monarch? That we’re selected, ordained perhaps by the gods, to feed and house and protect a kingdom full of people? Otherwise, what are we but despots, power-hungry inbreds with coffers of gold?”
“Is that what you believe?” Godwin’s amusement was obvious.
Elma sighed, impotent in her frustration. “I’m duty-bound to serve this kingdom. That, I believe.”
“You are duty-bound torule.”
“I’m tired, Godwin.” Elma stood and moved to the door.
“Wait,” said her uncle, still seated,fingers playing with the stem of his goblet. “When you sent away the others… was there something you wished to ask me?”
Pausing by the door, Elma frowned. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know. But it would eat at her until she made herself sick. So, she said, “Those Slödavan bed slaves. My birthday gift. Did they…?”
Godwin’s expression did not change when he said, “They were executed.”
Elma swallowed, her throat constricting. “I see.”
She hurried from the room, teeth clenched, determined not to let Godwin see her pain.
Four
Goodbyes were easy in Rothen. With Cora accompanying her on the journey, Elma had no one to miss. Anyone who could have been considered a companion, a friend even, would be making the journey to Ordellun-by-the-Sea with her. If all went well, they would return just in time for King Rafe’s funeral.
