I never liked being summoned to the throne room. It reminded me of being called to my father's back in Niemen for some youthful infraction. But at least his temperament was even. With Ilara, I never knew what I was going to get.
My nerves were especially frayed recently since Felix had been outed as the masked vigilante who'd been patrolling the streets and causing anarchy. The secondary charges were complete nonsense—at least, I hoped he hadn't been involved in spreading ond and killing Forcadelians. Where the rebels had gotten their hands on the Niemenian ore, I had no idea. Access to the mine was tightly controlled. I'd already penned a note to my sister, Queen Ariadna, asking her to look into it.
But even Ariadna's latest note to me had left my mind with more questions than answers. She'd written about the first snowfall of the season, included some minor details about her pregnancy, as was normal for our regular correspondence. At the end of the note, she had a like that seemed out of place for the rest of it:
Even though winter is descending, spring may yet be on the horizon.
I could read between the lines, but whether or not I believed my own instincts were another story. If they were to be trusted, Brynna had made contact with Ariadna, and help would be arriving soon.
I prayed it came sooner rather than later, as Beata had already received reports of Felix's mistreatment in the dungeons. He was tough, but if Ilara found out Brynna was alive… I shuddered at the thought.
"Good morning, Katarine," Ilara said, her face a bright, contented mask. One could scarcely believe her city had been viciously attacked a few days before. "I hope you're well. You look a little pale."
"Merely the stress of the news these past few weeks," I said, forcing myself to smile. "I trust the cleanup is going well?"
"I suppose. I'm not really interested. Captain Coyle has taken it upon himself to oversee all of it."
Captain Coyle. That certainly hadn't taken long. "He is very on top of things, it appears."
She made a face. "Shame to hear that Felix betrayed me so."
"I don't know what to say," I said softly. "Perhaps he suffered a mental break. He didn't seem right after August died, and with Brynna…" I shook my head. "He never allowed himself to grieve."
"Perhaps you should've pressed him to," Ilara replied, eyeing me intently. "Because now…now I don't know what to do. Shall I leave him to die in the dungeons like Garwood? Or have him executed?"
"There are still many in the city who adore him," I replied, as my pulse ticked upward. "It might be better to keep him out of sight."
She cast me a coy smile. "I know you care for him deeply. You don't have to pretend otherwise."
I quieted, not trusting that I wouldn't say something to get me in trouble. Finally, I settled on, "I just wish he'd made a different choice."
"As do I, my dear. As do I." She took my hand. "I'm just grateful you had no part in it. I don't think I could stand it if I lost both of you."
I had my doubts about that. My position with Ilara had always confused me. I'd obviously been loyal to her predecessor, and Ilara had killed my husband. When Brynna had been deposed, Felix and I had both agreed to stay and serve the kingdom as long as Ilara would let us.
But while she'd spent months surgically removing all Felix's protections—first, he lost his oversight of the cadets then she began reassigning his allies to the farthest reaches of the country—she hadn't done the same with me. She still sought my advice on strategic matters in our weekly sessions, I gave it to her, and she ignored it. Perhaps she considered me of more value, as my sister was the queen of a potential ally. Or maybe she was just biding her time.
Either way, I remained on guard.
"Did you want to discuss something with me?" I asked, as politely as I could.
"Oh, yes, of course." She handed me a thick stack of papers. "I reviewed these requests for waivers and none of them seem truly in need. They're all denied."
I took the stack, a half-smile of disbelief on my face. Within them were shippers who'd been loyal to the Forcadelian crown for generations, and even some who had helped ferry Ilara's own forces into the city.
"Your Majesty," I began slowly. "There are some excellent cases in here. People whose very livelihood depends on earning an income from what they transport. Surely, we can allow some of them to dock in port and unload their wares?"
"If they wish to unload, they can do it in the east," she said. "Do the people out there not need to eat as well?"
It wasn't about feeding Severians; it was about economy. One shipload of food could net a shipper a hundred gold coins—more than enough to pay for the trip. But if they were returning with nothing but Severian glass, worth a fraction of the cost, they would soon run out of money to fund their operations. Already half a dozen shipping companies—some spanning generations—had gone out of business.
"I worry that we're squeezing the life out of our merchants," I said softly.
"It's merely a change," Ilara said, rising to her feet. "If you trust that I know what I'm doing, soon, all will be revealed. I promise you that."
But I don't trust you. For Felix, however, I would have to pretend I did.
"As you wish, Your Majesty."
My mind was heavy at the end of every day, weary of watching my tongue and thoughts, filled with anxiety for my best friend, my love, my adopted homeland. Unanswered questions about what the future held.
But all of that seemed to ebb away when I opened the door to my suite of rooms and found my love waiting for me.
Beata grinned when she saw me, popping up from the settee and rushing over to greet me formally. Although I was a head taller than her, I fell into her arms, pressing my face into her neck and inhaling her sweet scent. Everything I'd been holding back came rushing to the forefront, then disappeared in her embrace like mist in the sun.
"It will get better," Beata whispered, unpinning my hair and letting it tumble down my back.
"It's just so absurd," I said, straightening. "I speak about Brynna and August as if Ilara wasn't the one who'd killed them."
It pained me to not tell Beata that Brynna was alive, but Felix had made me promise. And although I trusted her with my life, we had trusted others. And Brynna's secret was too precious to gamble.
Beata brushed the hair from my fore head. "I've made some tea. You haven't been sleeping, and if you aren't at your best, you may…" She bit her pink lip.
"I will try to relax tonight," I said, resting my head on her shoulder. My eyes grew heavy and my pulse slowed. I slid my hand on her knee and she covered it with hers. "I promise nothing will—"
A knock at the door jarred us both from our stupor. Beata gave me a panicked look, but I patted her knee and rose. "It's probably a servant."
I gathered my hair into a makeshift braid and opened the large door.
"I don't…" The words died on my tongue. Felix stood before me—no, not Felix. His younger cousin, Jorad, a man who'd been assigned to Neveri with Riya. My heart raced in my chest as a thousand scenarios dashed through my mind.
"Your Ladyship," he said, bowing. "Miss Beata."
"What are you doing here?" Beata asked, joining us at the door.
Jorad pressed his finger to his lips and stepped inside. "I'm here to take you two out of the castle."
"I'm sorry, what?" Beata said beside me. "On whose authority?"
He grinned and flashed the Forcadelian seal under his hand. "Princess Brynna."
My knees grew weak as I braced myself on the door. Brynna was not only alive, but she'd made contact with the soldiers in Neveri. My hopes, which had been so far in the darkness, lifted slightly.
"That's a horrific joke," Beata said beside me, mistaking my relief for horror. "Jorad Llobrega, your cousin would have you flogged within an inch of your life if he heard you carrying on this way."
"Bea," I said, giving her a look. "It's the truth. Brynna's alive."
Just like that, she turned her formidable ire on me, her cheeks growing ruddy. "Excuse me? You knew? And you didn't tell me?"
"We can discuss this later," Jorad said. "I only have a few minutes before the next shift and—"
"I'm not going." The words tumbled from my mouth as the thought echoed through my brain.
Brynna still needed my help. I could still gather intelligence about Ilara's weaknesses and plans. And I couldn't even dream about leaving Felix behind.
Beata spun on her heel and Jorad's mouth hung open in an unspoken argument, but my decision was final.
"Bea, go with Jorad," I said. "It's safer for you outside the castle."
"I'm not leaving without you," she said.
I took her hands in mine as Jorad turned away to give us privacy. "Bea, I have some measure of immunity from her right now. But you? She could use you against me if she had a mind to. It's better that you get far away from her."
"She could use you against Brynna, as well," Beata replied.
"Not if Ilara thinks I'm more loyal to her," I said. "It may take some time, but I have an idea of how to spin this. But only if you leave with Jorad now."
"But—"
"Brynna needs you," I said, caressing the smooth skin of her cheek. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but we thought…after Coyle…"
"We?"
"Felix knew as well." I softened my gaze. "He made me promise. She came to town a few weeks ago, and we sent her to Niemen to ask my sister to help her reclaim the kingdom. I can only suppose she was successful."
"This is a lot to take in," she whispered. "And how do you know we can trust him?"
"He's Felix's cousin," I said. "And I have faith that Brynna sent him. Things are moving, and war is coming to Forcadel." I squeezed her hands. "You'll be safe—"
"Screw safe," she said. "I'm staying with you."
"If you want to help, you have to go," I said, as a lump of emotion gathered in my throat. "If Ilara is to trust me, she has to believe I've been forsaken by all whom I love. Felix is in the dungeon, and my love has run to Brynna's side." A tear leaked down my face. "She has to believe I'm without allies, and at her mercy."
"But what if she doesn't believe you?" Bea whispered. "Kat, if something happened to you, I don't know…"
"Brynna would come for me, the same way she sent for me now," I said. "It's up to you to guide her as if I were there. She needs her allies." I cupped her face. "Please, I'm begging you. Go."
Bea covered my hands with hers, sending warmth from my fingertips to my toes. She closed her dark brown eyes, allowing a few tears to leak out. But when she opened them again, there was determination in her gaze.
"If you don't return to me, Katarine, I will be most cross with you," she said.
"And if you don't leave right now, Beata, I will be most cross with you," I replied with a watery laugh. "I love you with everything I have."
She stood on her tiptoes to capture my lips. "I will see you very soon."
"I'm counting the days," I said.
Jorad cleared his throat loudly. "I hate to break this up, but we really must get moving."
I helped Beata quickly gather her most personal effects—her mother's silk petticoat, her father's compass—and pack them in a bag. All the while, her eyes were wet and her lip trembled. I couldn't look at her, in danger of falling to pieces myself. But I needed to be strong for her, or she wouldn't leave.
She disappeared into the back and Jorad came up beside me.
"Her Highness won't be happy that you stayed. She was counting on your strategic help, now that your brother has returned to Niemen."
As much as I wanted to know every detail of Brynna's journey, I held up my hand. "Tell me nothing more. It's hard enough to keep my tongue." I paused, chewing my lip. "But do pass along my love for her. And please…just tell her to trust me. This is the best place for me right now."
"I will." Jorad nodded. "And I swear that Beata will arrive safely and remain out of harm's way until you two are reunited." His eyes flashed as he turned away. "I only hope you'll be able to keep Ilara from hurting my cousin too much."
"He was proud to be led to the dungeons," I replied with a half-smile. "It was the least he could do for his country."
When the coast was clear, Beata led Jorad to the hidden servant's door across the hall. She paused, only briefly, to give me a final look, then her brown eyes were gone. I shut my door and leaned against it, holding my aching chest as tears leaked down my face.
Then, with a deep breath, I steadied myself. There was no time for tears. I had work to do.