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We walked out into the courtyard together. “Thank you, but you missed kind,” I said in a cold tone as my eyes settled on Alrick, who was being escorted to me by some of my soldiers. “Doesn’t a king or queen need kindness to rule? The one thing I seem to lack in the eyes of my people?”
I wanted to run and throw myself into Alrick’s arms. Instead, I straightened my spine, as if to gather courage. I still held Alrick’s gaze. His beautiful blue eyes were glued on me as if I was the last thing he would ever see.
“No, My Queen,” Dieter said. “Kindness won’t help you secure and rule your kingdom. Strength and fairness will.”
“Good,” I said as the wall around my heart began to rebuild.
I smiled at Alrick as I walked toward him. It took all my strength to hold his gaze.
“I don’t know how much kindness I’ll have in me after this.”
Alrick stopped in front of me and bowed. “Your Highness.”
It broke my heart. The way he sounded—so distant.
“Leave us,” I said to the guards and Dieter, who hesitated.
“I said leave us.”
Dieter and the guards rushed off and joined the turmoil of soldiers and servants running about the courtyard.
“I—” My voice broke off, tears flaring up again. “I don’t know what to do, Alrick.”
My hand moved up to reach him, then dropped again. Alrick stepped closer, now only a foot or two away from me. “I’m so sorry for your loss. It all seems so strange.”
I agreed with him. Wholeheartedly. “Do you think King Algar—”
“Not here,” Alrick said, cutting me off. He turned to make certain no one had overheard. “We have to be smart now, raise no suspicion with King Algar or whoever is behind all this. Make them believe you are to be overthrown, that you are the weak, spoiled woman they think you are. In the meantime, you must return to your kingdom as your men advised you. Bring stability, claim the throne, and clear the North of wrongdoing.”
My heart shattered all over again. Deep down, I had hoped he would tell me to stay with him or that he would come with me, and everything would be all right. But he didn’t.
“How...” I shook my head in disbelief. “How could I possibly do any of that?”
Alrick placed his hand on my shoulder and looked deep into my eyes. “Never doubt yourself. I have seen you jump out of a window and pick up a sword when even the bravest of soldiers would have run. You can do anything, Queen Mina. I believe in you.”
A brief flicker of hope brightened the darkness surrounding my heart.
“What about us?” I whispered.
Alrick smiled, with a sadness in his eyes even he couldn’t hide.
“It will be all right. I will meet with the lords of the Northern rebellion and tell them what happened. I’ll find a way out of all of this, I promise.”
I nodded, swallowing my tears.
“I’ll reach out when I have news, now go,” he said and leaned in even closer. “And never forget,” he whispered into my ear, gently, passionate, “that I love you more than life itself.”
And just like that, he left.
I didn’t dare turn and watch him leave. I was hurting too much. I couldn’t bear it. I didn’t trust myself. I worried I might run after him and the whole world would see me beg him to stay.Queen Mina, the woman who bowed to the land that killed our king,my people would say. No, if I wanted to save my kingdom and see Alrick again, I had to be fearless, proud, and strong. I had to win my kingdom over and have my men behind me when I made King Algar pay for all he had done to my father and me. But for now, I would have to fight the Night Queen every step of the way, keep her from reemerging. As long as Alrick believed in me, I would as well.
When we finally met again, I wanted him to find the woman he fell in love with, not the sad remains of the skeleton she once was.
I exhaled, steadying my shaky breath. In the distance, I saw my men preparing Fiona. Chin raised high, I crossed the courtyard past bowing soldiers and servants and mounted Fiona. Dieter was by my side, handing me a long, silken cape of deep purple.
My father’s.
I briefly froze before accepting it, then flung it over my shoulders and grabbed Fiona’s reins.
“Let’s ride,” I said loudly as I gave Fiona my heels and rode past my men to lead them out of the courtyard, down the road south, and home...to my kingdom, where I was supposed to belong. Into a future of uncertainty and struggle that maybe also entailed a little bit of hope.
