“And what would you do? Negotiate with the rebels?” one of the advisors says, his nose in the air.
I shake my head. “Certainly not.”
“With the Queen of the Whisperwood?” one young advisor asks more sincerely.
“We do not know how deeply the rebellion is rooted in the royal court,” the High Queen answers for me.
I nod. “We should investigate the wraiths and the rebels separately. We will prosecute any guilty parties caught. But we shouldn’t punish the court as a whole with so little information. Even just a gesture of good faith from the High Courts may help absolve some of the unrest.”
“It’s a short-term solution,” the Frost Court Queen says. “If the Shadow Court is as desolate as you claim—and I admit to hearing rumors to that effect—then it will take much more than good graces to get them into a healthy position where rebels will not be an ongoing issue. And if rebellion continues, retaliation will occur. War may be imminent. And with our own conflicts hanging over our heads we cannot afford to give a poor court charity...”
“They do not require our charity,” I say, head high. “You’re right that we do have very important issues to handle that outweigh the conflict with the Shadow Court. However, I do have a possible solution, assuming you agree with my assessment that poverty is the core motivator of the unrest.”
The room quiets, all eyes focused intently on me.
“We will give them a new queen.” My lips curl up in a wide smirk.
Caelynn
Ipace in the roomwhile I wait for Rev to return from the meeting.
My stomach is in knots, the power in my chest coils. This is what he promised.
I know everything that is precious to you. And I will take it away bit by bit.
The Night Bringer is behind this. I know it. I feel it.
They attacked one of my personal allies. Wraiths hurt Kari.
That alone is enough to boil my blood and make me shake in my boots at the same time. No one that cares for me is safe.
No one and nothing.
He’s going to use this conflict to destroy my court. Part of the bargain was that he couldn’t attack our courts, but his allies can attack us—especially if there is provocation.
Kari may not retaliate against the Shadow Court, but there are others that would gladly go to war against my helpless court.This is only the beginning.
