I had every intention of testing the boundaries of my new rules in Aunela, but I laid my head on the pillow for one second and the next thing I knew, the door was opening and morning light was streaming in. Two Severian servants came in, each carrying two buckets of water that they poured into a small tub. I didn't see any sign of fire, so I girded myself for what was probably going to be a very cold bath.
I wasn't disappointed, my teeth chattering as my nails were scrubbed. Afterward, my hair was merely braided and left to hang down my back. They dressed me in a loose shirt and fitted me with sandals. Thank the Mother there didn't seem to be a corset in sight.
They led me out of my room, down the main hall, to a large room with a long table in the center, and benches lining either side. The center of the table bore steaming bowls of stew and baskets of bread, as well as some selected fruits that seemed fresher than anything back in Forcadel.
"Good morning," Luisa said, walking in a few moments after I did. "I trust you slept well."
We took spots near to the ornate chair in the front—clearly Ilara's. More Severians filtered in, some of whom I recognized from the party. They chatted with Luisa and took no notice of me, which suited me fine. I was more eager to listen than anything else.
Three were merchants, half-Severian by birth and grateful to have a spot at the table. They fawned over Luisa and spoke of her good health and Ilara's magnificence and gave me nothing of value. One was in charge of moving varo from the sands of Severia. His skin was a dark brown from spending days out in the sun, and his voice was deep and joyful. His wife, in contrast, seemed sickly and smiled weakly whenever he mentioned her.
More arrived—a lawyer, a healer, and even a few artists sat at the table, all in deep conversation about the future of the mural in the center of town. They all agreed it should bear the likeness of their savior queen, but no one could settle on what it should look like.
"I feel it should show her feeding the hungry and leading us to paradise."
"It should show her building this city brick by brick."
"It should show her smiting the Forcadelians," said one of the artisans, grinning until he caught my raised eyebrows. "My apologies, Lady…"
"Lady whom Her Majesty smote," I said with an icy glare. "Water under the bridge. Or whatever the expression is here in Severia."
Luisa chuckled and laid her hand on my arm. "Brynna is Her Majesty's special guest here in the castle, Alaqua. We're thrilled that she's here to help us build Aunela into a city worthy of the legends."
Alaqua wasn't impressed. "And we're sure she can be trusted?"
"She saved my life," Luisa said. My heart twisted a little.
"A Forcadelian? Saving a Severian? I never heard of such a thing," Alaqua said.
I forced a tight smile onto my face, but my attention was diverted by the sound of trumpets at the front of the room.
"Her Majesty Ilara Hipolita Särkkä of New Severia."
We rose from the benches, and I followed the rest of the table who bowed their heads when Ilara walked into the room. She had also had a bath, but I had a feeling hers was warm and refreshing instead of frigid.
"It's so nice to see all of you," she said, resting her hand on the back of her chair. "I trust everyone's journey was pleasant. Welcome to the first day of the era of New Severia. Please, eat to your heart's content."
I'd already endured a few minutes of the smell of the food, so I was better able to school my features than when I'd eaten the pastry before. The meat was mostly gristle and featured some herb I'd never tasted before, and I had to fight to swallow it. Luckily, the wine was sweet and delicious—a Kulkan varietal.
"Well, Brynna, what do you think?" Ilara asked, tapping her napkin to her lips.
"You've accomplished a lot," I said. "The city is thriving."
"Oh, not about that," she said with a laugh. "I heard you weren't a fan of the kyushur. Perhaps you'll need to acquire a taste for Severian cooking. Thank goodness we'll never have to see another fish again."
The table twittered with laughter, reminding me that everyone was listening to our conversation.
"If you didn't know," Ilara said, raising her voice to address the rest of the table, "my dear friend Brynna here was something of an adversary. The former princess of Forcadel, she moonlit as a vigilante before her father and brother mysteriously died."
Another round of laughter echoed across the table, and I dug my thumbnail into my palm to hold my tongue.
"She was on the throne when I arrived, and oh, poor Brynna, she was hopelessly fooled by my ruse." Ilara pouted at me, and I forced a smile onto my face. "Cough, cough, I'm so ill. I'm so weak. I almost felt bad for her. She offered me a place in her castle, and I turned around and took it from her!"
I snuck a glance at the rest of the table and found sneers and amused smiles. I had no friends here.
"Then this poor dear mounted a laughable attempt to reclaim her kingdom." She reached across the table and patted my hand. "It's all right, though. Because I'm a forgiving queen, and I find there's no better sign of victory to have those you once considered your enemies at your table. Especially one so inept at causing any real trouble." Her smile widened to a cruel grin. "I mean, who would've thought that an army of children would have any chance against the might of Severia?"
I clicked my tongue and couldn't mask my glower. Luisa looked a little uncomfortable, but didn't interfere. Alaqua raised his goblet. "To their stupidity!"
"Cheers!"
"Brynna, are you not going to raise your glass?" Ilara asked, smiling at me over her goblet. "Surely, you aren't going to be sour over a bit of fun."
I opened my mouth to ask how mocking murdered children was fun, but Luisa was faster, resting her hand on Ilara's arm. "My queen, leave her be."
"I suppose," Ilara said with a sigh. But I had a feeling this was only the beginning.
Blessedly, another merchant asked how Ilara was planning on designing the grand hall, and she launched into grand visions of drapes and paintings of Severian legends and vases made by Severian artisans, all of whom had been commissioned and paid out of the Severian treasury.
"How does Severia have any money left?" I asked.
"I'm sorry?" Ilara asked.
"Well," I put my hands in my lap, "I see a brand new bay and river, not to mention the new buildings within Aunela. You're talking about commissioning art and vases to rival those in Forcadel. And with the ban on all trade with Kulka and Niemen, you haven't been receiving tariffs…"
"Our debts are none of your concern," Ilara said, flashing me a dangerous look. "Besides that, Forcadel's coffers were flush with riches. We could've fed all Severia for ten thousand years on the money I found in there."
My cheeks warmed slightly. "I see."
"And as for our friends out west, I'm sure that once they see our might, they'll change their tune. I've already received some information from those in Ariadna's court that her strong will is breaking." She made a face. "Clearly, the stress of giving birth has been too much for her. I dread the day I'll have to do the same to continue the Severian line."
My heart thudded—Ilara had spies in Ariadna's court? Did that mean she knew about Beswick, too? She'd still had Ignacio at her party, but…
"Oh, Your Majesty, you'll make an excellent mother," Luisa said, smiling brightly. "One day."
"I shall have the child and hand it over to you to raise," Ilara said with a shake of her head. "I do not mind funding schools and housing children, but I do not want any part of the raising of them."
"The school is magnificent, Your Majesty," Alaqua said. "I hope you'll be visiting soon. I spent many hours designing pieces for the school, and it would be my honor to show you one day."
"You're in luck, then. I've requested a tour of the school today," she said, smiling warmly at those gathered. "And you are all invited to attend."
They clapped politely, Alaqua beaming with pride.
Ilara basked in their praise like a lizard in the sun. "You know, of all my crowning achievements, this school is the one I'm most proud of."
"Even more than the river?" Alaqua asked.
"Even more," she said with a somber nod. "Education is the most valuable asset a person can have. We do not have a future if we do not have an educated population. And the welfare of children has always been my top priority."
Except when it came to the children in Celia's camp.
The thought came unwelcome, and stung worse in the echo of the Severians' laughter. I exhaled slowly until the anger subsided and I regained control over my mind.
"Our nation's children were in dire straits," Ilara continued. "They had nowhere to go, and in most cases, parents who were out in the desert or had perished there. It doesn't matter their background, all children get an education in New Severia."
"Are there Forcadelian children there, too?" I asked.
A twitter of laughter echoed from the table. "My dear, the Forcadelians have had their day in the sun," Alaqua said.
"Have they, now?" I asked, an edge coming to my voice. "All of them? Including those in Haymaker's Corner?"
"Sweet Brynna," Ilara said, breaking through the confused looks. "I promise that I've taken care of everyone who wanted to be taken care of. Those who didn't, well…" She shrugged. "I can't help people who won't help themselves."
"So you're saying there aren't any Forcadelian children in the school?" I pressed. "If they aren't there, where are they?"
"They're adequately busy with things the new kingdom needs to function," Ilara said. "Don't worry about it. I promise you that everything is fine. After all, they're my people now."
I didn't like that answer, nor did I like the way every question I had about the fate of my people was deflected.
"I'm sure the Severian children are grateful to you," Alaqua said.
"All I hope for them is that they continue to thrive," she said, looking wistful. "I cannot wait to see what they've accomplished since I was last here."
I chanced a look up. "You started the school before you came to Forcadel?"
She shared a knowing look with the table. "There's much you don't know, Brynna. A whole world of events occurred outside the sheltered walls of Forcadel."
"And I'm sure I would've known about them, had I been on the throne longer than three months," I replied with a thin smile.
"I doubt it," the artisan said. "Forcadelians didn't seem to care about anything beyond their borders."
"Aunela was part of Forcadel," I shot back. "So yes, I was concerned about our borders."
"As it stands, you no longer have to concern yourself with it," Ilara said, something of a warning in her voice. "All you should worry about now is making Aunela the best possible city it can be. That's why you came with us, isn't it?"
I felt the eyes of the table on me. I'd let my anger get the better of me again and Ilara's eyes warned that I was dangerously close to ruining her good time.
So I forced a tight smile onto my face and pushed my head to bob a short bow. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Excellent." She turned to the crowd. "Now hurry up and finish your meal. The students at my school are waiting."