Ashared glanced at Lannahi, and when she didn’t say a word, he bowed again. “Please follow me.”
When he turned around, two guards, who were also dressed in white jackets with gold stripes and buttons, followed him, but the rest stepped aside, making way for the newcomers. Although this was what she expected, Lannahi didn’t like the fact that they outnumbered her own guards, but she took comfort in Nimmat’s presence. Even if the landshapers didn’t like that she had become their new queen, they wouldn’t dare attack her in front of the Arbiter.
What they would do when Nimmat left the city remained a question.
When Ashared’s steady gaze no longer held her attention, Lannahi finally noticed her surroundings. They were in a square with two pillars in the middle, similar to the one in Goldenshadows and probably any other city that cooperated with the Guides Guild. This one, however, was wedged between rocky hills dotted with snow. Lannahi tried to keep the wonder from her face as she took in the surrounding mountains and rock-hewn houses. She’d seen pictures of them both before, but it wasn’t the same as seeing it with her own eyes.
Nihhal was right…
At the memory of Danihel’s son, the level of excitement building up inside her plummeted like a bird that broke its wing.
Focus, she scolded herself.You are not here to enjoy yourself.
Maybe someday, but not today. Today she was here to oust the former ruler. However fascinating the rocky hillside structures appeared to her, she knew that behind their inconspicuous doors and windows were fae who viewed her as the enemy.
The elongated slopes of the hills cut into the valley like outstretched fingers reaching for prey. They formed a natural system of branching roads, but the towering stone structure in the near distance that resembled a superimposed cuboid blocks left no doubt that they were traveling on the main road to the palace. That this road was deserted was a separate matter.
In Goldenshadows, it took a half an hour to walk from the portal square to the palace, but here it took only a few minutes to reach the wide staircase leading to the Ruler’s residence. Subconsciously, Lannahi expected that since no litters had been sent to the city square—perhaps due to the short distance—they would be waiting for them at the foot of the palace hill. When Ashared began climbing the stairs, Lannahi felt confused. However, Nimmat, who walked beside her, and the water elemental guarding her didn’t slow down either, and Lannahi had no choice but to stifle her surprise and follow them.
Maybe she shouldn’t be surprised. This was the city of landshapers, not enchanters who were accustomed to comfort. Maybe Lizaar wasn’t fond of ceremony. Or perhaps litters weren’t used here at all.
Those were the explanations Lannahi told herself all the way up the hill as she tried to walk proudly without panting from exertion and envying Nimmat, who never slowed her pace, perhaps because she was used to walking up the towers her people liked to build for some reason. She didn’t want to think about the steadily increasing distance between Ashared and their group but when she finally climbed up the last step—sticky with sweat despite the chill and gasping for breath–she found Ashared standing in a relaxed pose, expectant and then suddenly strangely pleased, as if he was almost glad to see her, the suspicion that had germinated inside her leafed out. An ornately decorated litter heavy with gold and jewels that stood near the palace entrance turned this suspicion into certainty.
This was a deliberate ploy to intimidate her. A clear message stating that Lannahi wasn’t welcome in Goldfrost.
“Wait, captain,” she said, seeing that Ashared was about to continue into the palace. When he looked at her questioningly, she held his gaze calmly despite her discomfort and burning cheeks, then stepped aside and waited for the rest of the members of her retinue. She smiled at her guards, who showed only slight signs of fatigue, and perused her surroundings deliberately, giving Souhi and Blann time to recover.
A shiver went through her at the sight of the forest stretching out behind the hills. The trees were said to be the tallest in the world, and even from this distance, Lannahi believed it to be true. But it wasn’t just their size that impressed her.
She was standing on the edge of the map.
When her companions’ breathing evened out and they started to send expectant glances in her direction, she turned back to Ashared.
“You may continue, captain,” she said with a polite smile, and Ashared bowed with an impassive face.
She stamped out her disappointment. She hadn’t thought that their next meeting would be so soon nor did she fully understand why he was here, but she’d forefelt that they would become enemies, hadn’t she? Nurturing fond memories and unjustified longing for his kindness wouldn’t help her in the end.
Upon seeing the arrival of their retinue, the guards awaiting outside the palace opened the impressive doors to reveal a hallway that led to the throne room. Lannahi was struck by the similarities between her new palace and her father’s. Here too gold and light marble reigned supreme. Of course, the details differed, and the golden metal had the reddish tint typical of goldcopper, but if it weren’t for the physically overwhelming presence of the landshapers, Lannahi could have pretended she was home.
Before entering the throne room, Ashared gave them a moment to remove their cloaks. Nimmat put hers in a magical locker she opened over one of the silver rings on her left hand. Lannahi gave hers to Souhi and instructed Akammu to stay behind with her and Blann.
The sky-blue dress, the folds of which flowed towards the ground like a waterfall, wasn’t practical from a military point of view, but it helped Lannahi pretend she was on stage. Admittedly, her audience was usually shorter and didn’t have horns on their heads, but the dozens of pairs of eyes watching her was nothing new. She crossed the room with practiced grace, ignoring that Lizaar, who rose from her throne when they entered, was wearing armor.
“Lizaar, daughter of Mahrur,” Nimmat spoke aloud when Ashared stepped aside. “According to the rules of the Royal Game, you have lost the right to rule Goldfrost. On behalf of the Arbiter Council, I order you to surrender your crown.”
Lizaar descended slowly from the dais with proud indifference, but when she handed over her golden crown, a shadow of emotion flashed in her eyes. Lannahi was surprised to see that the Arbiter’s face softened with sympathy. She realized that these two women knew one another.
She recalled the cautious, almost gentle note in Nimmat’s voice during her conversation with Ashared. A shiver ran down her spine. The Arbiters were obliged to remain neutral, but Nimmat’s presence was no longer comforting.
“Lannahi, daughter of Sarkal and Asirri,” the Arbiter addressed her, replacing her mask of polite indifference. “By my right, I grant you the title of Queen of Goldfrost.”
Lannahi lifted the skirts of her dress and bent her knees slightly, freezing in an elegant bow until Nimmat placed the crown on her head. The heavy weight of the object surprised her and she was forced to straighten with caution.
Nimmat stepped back and gestured politely at the throne. Ashared stared ahead as if he didn’t care what was happening. Lizaar clenched her jaw, but her intense gaze was more expectant than angry as was the surrounding silence.
Lannahi climbed up the steps and turned gingerly to face those present. As she sat down on the throne, the crown started to slip from her head. She adjusted it with both hands, being careful not to ruin her elegant chignon. Her cheeks heated with embarrassment, but it was better than letting it clatter to the ground.
She dreamed of the moment when she could take it off.
