Page 19 of The Witch Queen
As I approach him, his expression betrays his absolute terror. I look directly into those bronze eyes, menace in my hard gaze. “The only reason you aren’t dead where you stand is because I saw you helping the injured. Be sure you give your Princeallthe details of what happened today. I want to make sure he knows who he’s spying on.” The male’s jaw drops, and I revel in the moment as his throat bobs with a swallow.
I prowl closer, stopping just inches away. I lower my voice. “Send Prince Hawthorne my regards and tell him that if Ievercatch any of you spying on me again, I’ll kill you. This is your only warning.” With the threat lingering in the air, I aerstep from the room, tightening the tendrils that hold the rebels in place as I go.
Hawthorne
Thayarian ale should be carefully consumed, especially by those unused to its potent blend. Because of the recent isolation of the kingdom, Thayarians have had to become inventive to secure the things they used to import, such as alcohol. Their ale is created by water and plant channelers working together to ferment the grain quickly, and the thayar flower is used to amplify the process even further. This results in a unique flavor and the ability to knock even experienced drinkers on their arse with just a few pints.
A Brief History of Modern Thayaria
“She’s fucking powerful,” Fionn repeats for the third time. He came running back to our apartment, slamming the door behind him and looking at me with a terrified expression I’ve never seen from the warrior. Silene and I listened in stunned silence as Fionn relayed what happened at court. Some rebel group attacked, but before they could do any serious damage, Laurel stopped them.
“Some of her power made sense,” Fionn says. “The first dagger thrown at her exploded into shards, indicating metal channeling. She just broke the blade apart, though she did it quick as a whip. I would have had a fifty-fifty shot of pulling that off. And the wind, light, and water cyclone that circled them also could have been regular channeling, as were the plants that ensnared the group. It would confirm that she has an affinity for all the known conduits. But the way she made those weapons just… disappear… It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
“I would just like to point out that the two of you have always insisted I was crazy for thinking the Queen had an affinity for all five conduits. Looks like I’m right,” Silene says with triumph in her voice and a wide grin.
“Fine,” I admit. “That does seem to be the case. But you have to agree the idea of that is… It’s inconceivable.”
“Yes, thank you, I’m incredibly intelligent, I know,” Silene says after sticking out her tongue. Both Fionn and I roll our eyes. Despite her flippant and childish demeanor, I can see the gears turning in Silene’s mind. “Did she appear to use any blood or speak any spells?”
“Not that I saw. But there was plenty of blood around her from the explosion. I don’t know if she needs to physically touch it to channel or just have it around,” Fionn answers.
“We just don’t know enough about it, and that’s the problem,” I say with a frustrated growl. “We’re not going to find anything out if all we ever do is meet with her never-ending Council of Advisors.”
“She made it extremely clear that we shouldn’t try another stunt like today, Thorne,” Fionn says firmly. “It’s too dangerous to attempt to spy on her again. I don’t even know how she knew I was there.”
“That’s what troubles me the most,” Silene offers. “Your light bending is impossible to spot. We’ve used it countless times, even around your father, and this has never happened. Did you slip at some point?”
“No,” I say, firmly. “I know I can be a cocky bastard sometimes, but when it comes to my magic, it’s warranted.” I give them a crooked smile. “I didn’t slip. I know I didn’t.”
“What do we do now?” Fionn asks. All three of us deflate, unsure where to go from here.
It’s beenweekssince we arrived in Thayaria, and all we have to show for it are endless meetings with mid-level advisors. We’ve listened to them plan how much grain to purchase, where to store it, whether they should subsidize it; sat in on discussions about applications for government-sponsored small business and arts grants; even observed a contentious vote regarding raising taxes in Arberly to fund more scholarships to the magical training school for gifted channelers. On and on the meetings go, never about anything that might give us insight into Queen Laurel’s magic, pulling us from room-to-room with little time to rest or strategize with one another on how to get the information we actually want.
Today was the first day we attempted to get closer to the Queen, after one of the advisors let slip in a morning meeting on food security that she had to end early to attend court. It was a testament to how locked away we’ve been that we hadn’t even heard of the public court date yet. We hastily hatched our plan and sent Fionn to listen, deciding it was too risky to send me.
“Let’s go to the city tonight and try to learn more about this rebel group that attacked. We should see how the general public feels about today’s events,” I suggest. Silene and Fionn share a glance, and I sense their hesitation. “Look, very few people actually know what we look like, thanks to the Council of Advisors keeping us locked away. We can wear traditional Thayarian clothing and keep the hoods of our cloaks up. We have no idea how long we’re going to be here. I for one do not intend to spend months—or aether-forbid, years—of my life holed up with the two of you in this apartment,” I tell them with all the princely command I can muster.
“No way, it’s too risky,” Silene lectures.
“Come on,” I whine, dragging out the last word. “I’m stir crazy in this palace, and if you don’t let me out, I’ll end up barging in on the Queen and demanding an audience. You know I have no patience and a tiny tendency to be impulsive.”
Fionn snorts while Silene chews her bottom lip and narrows her eyes. “Fine. But only because you have amassivetendency to be impulsive, and I love a costume opportunity.” She gives me a stern look. “But we have to be careful. We stick to crowded pubs. We wear disguises. No fighting, and absolutelyno drinking.” Fionn and I smirk at one another over Silene’s head even as we nod our agreement.
As luck would have it, because of the public court day, many fae traveled to Arberly to petition the Queen and the streets are filled with citizens from out of town. An hour later, we’re seated in a pub that’s packed to the brim, every table crammed with fae drinking copious amounts of an amber liquid that looks unlike any alcohol I’ve ever seen. A bar maid walks around with a giant pitcher, refilling anyone who has the coin, and musicians are just setting up for the evening in the only space left. I nurse the ale Fionn purchased at the bar, surprised by how good it tastes, earthy and nutty all at once. Silene only rolled her eyes when he returned to the table with a glass for each of us, immediately breaking her no drinking rule.
“I’m surprised at how… high functioning everything in this kingdom is,” Silene screams across the table at me, and I nod in agreement. “The sub-committees and the Council—it’s all so civilized and organized. And the programs you described from today’s court session… Those would never exist in Velmara.”
“It’s nothing like the stories told about the Queen abroad,” I respond as loudly as I can. Fionn looks around, spotting a table that has just vacated tucked away in the back. He nods in that direction, and we follow.
“That’s better,” Silene’s already hoarse voice says.
“I hate to admit it,” I continue, “but I’m having… not fun… but I’menjoyingbeing an ambassador. I’m learning more than I ever would have under my father. Even if none of the topics are actually all that important.”
“Your father would certainly never run a kingdom this way. He would have to give up too much control,” Silene observes astutely.
We drop into a comfortable silence, watching the comings and goings of the pub. Despite the many fae from out of town, there still appears to be a large gathering of regulars in the middle of the room with several tables pushed together so they can play a card game I don’t recognize. They greet one another as they enter, calling out and raising hands to indicate where their group has gathered. The space feels just like a Velmaran pub, maybe even a little more lively. For a kingdom rumored to be in squalor, the city of Arberly is thriving.
“So, here’s what we know.” Silene’s catchphrase and sudden interruption of the silence makes me smile, while Fionn groans and rolls his eyes. “The Queen delegates almost all aspects of running her kingdom to an endless hierarchy of advisors and sub-committees. She rarely leaves Thayaria, but we don’t really know what shedoeshere, since her advisors seem to handle the day-to-day decision making. The kingdom is prosperous, despite being isolated…” Silene says the words matter-of-factly, ticking each item off using her fingers before trailing off.
