Kaigarr leaned forward. “Then you will leave everything as it was?”
“For now, yes.”
“For now?”
“Until I find that changes are needed.” Lannahi waited for her words to settle in their minds, then added, “According to the rules of the Royal Game, the city is now mine, but I don’t intend to make life difficult for anyone who doesn’t wish to make life difficult for me. Do you need additional assurances?”
Lorikk, a hunter with gray hair and high cheekbones, who was the only one of the guests who didn’t have horns growing on his head, spoke. “Did you know that one-third of the population is mixed-blood fae? Mostly landshifters?”
Lannahi suppressed the urge to turn to Ashared standing at the door with Erril and replied, “Chancellor Varrdan mentioned this to me.”
Lorikk regarded her carefully. “Is this an issue where you willconsiderchanges?”
Because shapeshifters aged and died at a human rate and their magic was limited, many fae treated them and their mixed-blood offspring with the same disdain as humans, so it was a legitimate question, but she had sensed an underlying current.
“Are you worried that I will banish the shapeshifters from the city or that I will bring enchanters here?”
The corners of the man’s mouth lifted a little. “Both.”
She arched her eyebrow. Shouldn’t the mixed-blood be more tolerant?
“How ironic.”
Lorikk curved his lips in a smile that had little to do with mirth. “Life is full of irony.”
“Indeed.” Lannahi moved her eyes across the delegates’ faces. “I’m interested in loyalty, not race, so you don’t have to concern yourself. I do not plan to interfere with the social structure of the city.”
After a short pause, Bairadd asked, “What about the goldcopper? Aren’t you going to send it to Goldenshadows?”
Lannahi held his gaze. “Currently, I have no such intentions.”
The miner narrowed his eyes. “But you are thinking about it.”
“Why wouldn’t I? You see my father as a conqueror, but I see him as an ally. Why should I nottradewith him?” When no one answered her, she asked, “Do you have any more questions?”
The landshapers looked at each other, but they must have previously agreed on their expectations because Kaigarr shook her head as if she had the right to speak for everyone.
“No,” she said but soon added, “For now.”
Lannahi smiled endearingly. “I’m glad we came to understanding.”
When the representatives left the chamber, Lizaar stood up with the clear intention of following them.
“Are you disappointed that none of them threatened to blast away the mine?” Lannahi asked.
“Enjoy it while you can,” Lizaar replied.
She left without waiting for an answer, but Lannahi didn’t mind.
She didn’t know what to say anyway.
***
The next few days were relatively quiet. Admittedly, Lannahi did have the impression that the landshapers made it a point of honor to say the phrase “Your Highness” as if it were a joke and that the maids that had been sent to assist her had been chosen precisely for their clumsiness, but no one openly defied her. She wasn’t naïve enough to believe that she wouldn’t encounter more resistance, but the decision not to overwhelm the citizens of Goldfrost with sudden changes gave her some time, which she and her companions used to familiarize themselves with their surroundings.
Blann complained about the lack of ingredients and spices in the kitchen, but she marshalled her frustration, encouraged by the promise of a visit to the market in Sapphirinetower. Erril and the rest of the guards studied the maps of the palace and the city while keeping a close eye on the other guardsmen. Souhi juggled between her duties as Lannahi’s personal assistant and secretary, sharing her insights about the people she dealt with. Everyone was waiting for the landshapers to become accustomed to their presence and, more importantly, to start exchanging gossip which could be a useful source of information.
Lannahi focused on observing Lizaar. From the beginning, she’d expected the temperamental landshaper to be the most likely source of her problems, and the words the woman had said to her after the meeting with representatives of the city’s residents only reinforced this belief. Lizaar attended the meetings that Lannahi had set and answered questions when asked, but it was obvious to anyone that the former queen wasn’t doing so out of fear for her life. The proud attitude and laconic statements were one thing, but the calmness with which she endured her defeat was louder than her earlier cries of rage. She was well aware that Lannahi needed her, and her apparent obedience was only a fabrication. By remaining compliant, she could attend to the city affairs. Why should she give that up? That way she could ensure Lannahi didn’t destroy the fruits of her work.
