Ursula was holding court in the great hall. She wasn’t seated on Uorsin’s throne or her own, but stood before them—wearing fighting leathers and her sword.
The hole where Glorianna’s rose window had been gaped empty still, autumn air and sunshine filtering in. Always lean, Ursula now looked nearly gaunt, with shadows under her eyes. Queen Andromeda sat in her traditional throne as Princess of the Realm, but with King Rayfe beside her in the one that had always been Ami’s. Though I’d become accustomed to the Tala’s appearance, Andi and Rayfe with their loose dark hair streaming over the shoulders of their colorful silks, the crackle of magic about them, seemed wild and exotic in the harsher frame of Ordnung.
Ursula nodded somberly at the petitioner who spoke to her, then fastened her sharp gaze on us over his shoulder. She surveyed us all thoroughly, and seeing that none of us bore injuries, something relaxed in her face.
“Has she sat on the High Throne yet?” I asked Harlan as softly as I could.
“Refuses,” he murmured back.
I sighed mentally. We had a great deal to do.
Ursula finished with the petitioner, a man I didn’t recognize—more catching up for me to do, with so many who’d populated the court gone and new ambassadors coming in—held up a hand to the others waiting and beckoned us forward. She kissed Astar and Stella on their foreheads, raised her chin and her voice, announcing, “I welcome back to Ordnung Queen Amelia of Avonlidgh and her son and daughter, who I declare to be my heirs to the High Throne, Prince Astar and Princess Stella.”
That sent an ascending murmur of astonishment through the assembly, as the existence of Stella had been a secret until now. For myself, I clamped my mouth shut over the protest that she, first, couldn’t name anyone heir, since she wasn’t yet the High Queen, and second, that she couldn’t declare two heirs at once, especially one that didn’t officially exist as, third, Stella had yet to be named and entered into the records as Amelia’s daughter.
Ursula, never anything less than observant, caught my expression anyway, a line forming between her brows. “Welcome back, Lady Mailloux. You were missed.” At least she’d gotten the warning about making more declarations.
“Your Highness.” I curtsied, careful to observe protocol.
She narrowed her eyes at me, then greeted the rest of the Tala delegation, seeming especially pleased to see her cousin. With Harlan, she simply brushed his forearm with the tips of her fingers, but the look she gave him said everything—and went a long way toward easing my guilt over causing disharmony between them.
In light of our arrival, she adjourned court for the day, a move that sent another wave of reaction through the room, this time of disgruntlement. In future days, I would assume Derodotur’s duties—assembling, reviewing, and prioritizing petitions—and attempt to keep a reasonable timetable for Ursula’s decisions. Uorsin, especially in the last few years, had grown increasingly unpredictable and often canceled court on a whim, or didn’t show when expected.
If I had my way, we’d establish an orderly schedule that would allow for issues to be addressed, leave some room for unexpected crises, and give Ursula time and space to retain her humanity.
Perhaps to first regain it.
“I’ll have food sent to my rooms,” she said after the courtiers dispersed. “We can meet there and—what, librarian? Enough with the baleful gazes.”
Ah well, might as well start off as I meant to go on. “Your Highness, perhaps a more formal location?”
The scars high on her cheekbone whitened and her hand fell to the hilt of her sword. The end, where the cabochon topaz had been, was twisted with rough edges. Another broken thing. “I’m not using his study.”
“There are alternatives to the former High King’s study. The family’s private dining hall would make fine council chambers.”
She gave me long stare, took in the expressions of the others. Nodded. “Fine. I’ll ask Lise to—”
“Allow me, Your Highness.” Before she could stop me, I found a serving girl to notify the chatelaine of our plans and to see that the room I’d suggested be quickly readied. And to send me writing materials along with food. Coming back, I found the three couples in deep conversation, discussing the vandals and beasts Harlan and his troops had encountered on the journey to and from Annfwn, including the one he’d described to Ash.
“I’ve never heard of such a creature.” Ursula sounded dubious, frowning at Harlan.
“You saw odder ones in Annfwn,” he replied.
“Not ones like that.” Rayfe looked equally perplexed. “I wouldn’t know what to call it, even in my language.”
“A gryphon,” I supplied. “At least as how they’re described in the old tales.”
“How old do you mean?” Ursula wanted to know, brow furrowed.
“Old enough not to be able to date them accurately. Certainly before Annfwn sealed itself off.”
Ami nodded slowly. “I remember some of those. When Dafne and I studied the ancients and their wild magic.” During that long, snowy spring at Windroven, while she’d been pregnant.
“It puts some of the other rumors we’ve been hearing in a new perspective,” Ursula mused. “I’ve sent some of the Hawks’ scouts to clarify reports and get accurate information, but even more eyes and ears might help. I don’t like sitting here, blind and deaf. Maybe Jepp?”
Ash gave a slight shake of his head. “I’ve healed her as much as I can, but even with the barrier down and magic flowing out, it’s not the same for me as being in Annfwn. Plus it feels like the magic is . . . eddying in some ways. I couldn’t do as much for her as I did for Harlan inside Annfwn for example, and Jepp’s wound was equally mortal.”
“Jepp was mortally wounded?” I asked. I hadn’t heard that.
As no one else seemed inclined to speak up, Ash replied. “Uorsin nearly gutted her, but she’ll be all right. It took a great deal out of her and she needs to recover. She’s restless, yes, but better for her to stay close another day or two.”
I sighed. I liked Jepp, the boisterous and flirtatious woman who served as Ursula’s best scout. I’d have to go find her later. “Information is good, but we have important decisions to make on matters directly before us. Matters of protocol and precedents.”
Ursula grimaced, but banished her reluctance with a brisk nod. “I suppose that’s why I recalled you. Let’s get this over with, then.”
Ami and Ash went to settle the babies in the nursery, planning to meet us in the council chambers. Andi embraced me with a smile and with her back turned to Ursula, rolled her eyes. “Good to have you with us, Dafne.” She took Rayfe’s proffered arm and they strolled ahead of us. I walked with Ursula and Harlan flanking me, feeling very like a small cat trapped between two wolves twice my size.
“Are you managing me, librarian?” Ursula asked mildly. A tone that didn’t fool me for a moment.
“Somebody needs to,” Harlan commented in the same tone.
“Don’t start with me.” She shot him a glare over my head. “Just when I was feeling all sentimental over missing you.”
He grinned at her. “I love you, too, my fierce hawk.”
They made me laugh. This was home, something I’d forgotten in my time away. “I’m happy to leave you to your devices, Your Highness, if you don’t wish me to advise you. I’m sure the library needs extensive work.”
She huffed. “Every thrice-damned thing in Ordnung needs work. It’s like a battlefield after the armies have destroyed every last living thing and soaked the soil with blood.”
As it had been after Columba fell. Though it wouldn’t occur to Ursula that she evoked that image for me. It did to Harlan, however, and he set a heavy hand on my shoulder for a moment. There and gone. We stepped into the old family dining hall, which had fallen into disuse over the years—and then clearly pressed into recent service as sleeping chambers for many people at once during the crisis, when Ordnung had been packed tight with a population forbidden by Uorsin to leave. Servants were working to get up the worst of the detritus, but restoring the room to full functionality would take some doing.
How many of the people who’d made those blanket pallets on the floor had been turned into creatures of Deyrr and then burned?
Ursula surveyed the room with aggravation and disgust. “Still think this is a good idea?”
Her words were deliberately cutting, but under it lay a grief that haunted her eyes. No wonder they all danced around her. And yet that wasn’t what she needed. I’d known Ursula all her life, since Salena handed the indignant baby to me and told me I held the future High Queen. Ursula would cripple herself trying to take responsibility for the past, if we let her. Time to focus on the present and future.
As the servants had done what they could without hours more work—the open windows helping to freshen the room considerably—I sent them on their way and chose a seat. Andi, eyes stormy with concern, sat also while Rayfe restlessly prowled the room, examining the portraits that hung on the walls. All of Uorsin in various poses and life stages, his presence heavy both on and in the walls. Perhaps we should follow his example and tear down the castle, build another on its undead ashes.
Goddesses, I was in a morbid mood.
Ursula seemed poised to follow Rayfe’s example, but Harlan moved to the head of the table, holding the chair for her with steady, implacable courtesy. She capitulated, rolling her head on her neck and then folding her hands on the scarred table. Harlan took up position behind her, ever standing guard.
“I appreciate you answering my summons, Dafne. Though if you wish to return to Annfwn, I understand. I know you loved it there.”
“Thank you, Your Highness, but I’m here to stay, as long as you’ll have me.”
“It’s only us. You can dispense with the formalities.”
“All right then, along those lines, I need permission to speak frankly to you.”
Her gray eyes went steely. “I’ve told you before that I value your advice and wouldn’t censure you for your words.”
“Good. I already said this to Ash and Ami, so I’ll start there. Nobody should address you as High Queen or Your Majesty.”
It would have been funny, the astonishment on her face and Andi’s. Rayfe tossed me a look full of wicked amusement, shook his long hair back and leaned on the wall next to the open window, to all appearances like a man preparing to enjoy a spectacle. The wounded pain under Ursula’s quick return to composure stopped my own smile.
“You believe I should step aside for another then.” She nodded, confirming something to herself. “Face the rule of the law as a murderer.”