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“Will you accept the position?”
He brought his head up to search my face, and I forced myself to maintain composure. I wouldn’t force him to accept the position, but I hoped he would take it. When the wraiths made an attempt on my life, it was him who dove in to save me. When I was ill, it was him who aided me. And as we walked from the ship, it was him who was at my side, hand on the hilt of his sword, ready for an attack at any moment. I trusted him more than I trusted anyone else in these palace walls, aside from Thana, but Thana didn’t train in the Horde, and I doubted she could wield a blade.
He nodded once, sharp, “If it will please you, majesty, I accept. I vow to protect you until my dying breath.”
My breathing hitched at the sincerity in his voice, in the stillness of his gaze, “You have free reign to select the sentries who will serve as members of the Royal Guard at your side. I’ll give you two moons to choose who they’ll be.”
Silas, the leader of the Horde armies, stood, “Though I cannot speak to your reasoning for dismissing former Captain Ronan, I can speak to your choice of captain. Even at the top of the chain of command, I was made aware of Alaric’s bravery and skill in combat. He served as a respected leader of his regiment. It was I who nominated him as the fourth sentry to join the Royal Guard, and for good reason,” and then to Alaric, “Congratulations on your new position.”
Alaric nodded, “Thank you, general.”
Edris clapped his hands together, all too eager to have the meeting over with, he asked, “Now that that’s settled, is there anything else?”
I resumed my seat, signaling to the shifting and fidgeting dignitaries in attendance I was far from finished, “One last thing. I would like to invite an emissary from the Day Court to my Blessing Ceremony.”
Chapter Five
Chaos erupted in the chamber after that. Not a single council member supported my decision. I took each of their concerns into consideration, but none of them could change my mind. Thefeudwith the Day Court was unjustified. There was no proof they were to blame for the fall of Enya.
When I asked the council why there were no open lines of communication between courts, they said it was because the Fae of the Day Court lived like savages. They fought to the death for entertainment and took more than one mate. The denizens of the Day Court danced naked under the moon and drank to the sun. They were devious and not to be trusted. Maybe that way of lifewasstrange—foreign. But to them, our way of life could seem just as strange.
Then there was the presentation of other matters that needed attention, like invitations to the Solstice Ball, and a disturbance in a northern village that ended with the disappearance of two Fae nobles, a male, and a female. It was all so trivial, and if I was being honest, a total bore. I didn’t care who came to the ball or didn’t, and it was obvious the two nobles had simply run off together, considering their homes were empty.
“You did what?” Thana asked, aghast when I returned to my chambers to find her awake and explained what I’d done.
“I didn’t trust Ronan, so, I fixed it. And I want to know more about the Day Court, and why everyone thinks they’re at fault for Enya’s assassination, so, I found a way to learn more,” I shook my head in exasperation. It had been a long night and soon, the sun would rise. I couldn’t handle another interrogation, “Isn’t that what you told me to do? Surround myself with people I trust? To learn quickly? And to trust my own judgment?”
“Well, yes, but—”
“Please, Thana, tell me you support my decision.” I needed at least one person to understand. I wasn’t raised at court. I didn’t have the same prejudices as the others or the same way of thinking. I knew no one. I was all alone in the palace save for Thana, and I needed her on my side.
She took a long, exaggerated breath, “I support you, Liana. I always will.” She came forward to wrap me in a hug, “Even if I think you’ve lost your mind.”
I laughed against her shoulder, “Thank you.”
“Now,” she exhaled, pulling away, “On a less somber note, there’s a tailor waiting in the parlor to take your measurements.”
I scrunched my eyebrows, “What for?”
A slight roll of her eyes told me I should already know, but my mind was foggy and filled with longing for my bed, “For your gown.” She threw her arms up when I still didn’t understand what she was on about, “For yourBlessing Ceremony.It’s in two days, Liana, or had you forgotten?”
“Oh.”
“Oh?’” She took my arm to pull me towards the parlor, “Honestly, Liana, it’s one of the most important days of your life, how could you forget?”
And she was right, it was an important day. And I had forgotten. In two days my ancestors would decide which of the Graces to bestow me with—if they Graced me with anything at all.They have to,I thought, because, without a Grace, I could never keep my throne.
“Ah, there she is!” a short male squealed as we entered the parlor, rising from his seat on one of the oversized settees. “Such beauty!” he exclaimed, taking my hand in his and twirling me around. I was so taken aback that I nearly fell on my face when he released me. The male bent to one knee in an exaggerated bow and righted his ornate green and gold tunic, which matched the coloring of his squinty eyes, “My name is Darius, majesty, and I’m honored to be your tailor,” and then to Thana, “Lovely to see you again, my darling, it’s been some time.”
“Darius,” Thana said by way of greeting with a nod.
“A pleasure to meet you, Darius. Thank you for coming on what I’m sure was very short notice.”
The tailor wasped the thought away with a flick of his hand, “I heard you were with the council almost the whole night through, so we’ll make fast work of this.”
“Word travels fast.”
Darius helped me to stand atop a small pedestal, pulling several things from a leather case near my feet, “Oh yes, majesty. Nosey bunch here at court, be careful who your trust, and who you confide in.”
