Sleep is my only relief from the headache, but it’s its own type of torture with Androlla taunting me the entire time.
The council sentenced Kada to execution. I want no part of it, but as the queen, I don’t get much choice. The council refused to have her just locked up, like I talked them into doing with Daros. Now that he’s free despite his crimes, they don’t want that happening to another criminal.
Sure, she was wrong and cost people their lives, but I’d rather lock her up for life. Maybe try to help her see where she went wrong. We’ve seen how well locking people up works, though. We need something stronger than that. It hurts to have to do, though, even if the council is the one doing it.
We interrogated Mina thoroughly, and Jaku had guards searching through her things and past. Despite this, we never found anything against her. She seems to be worthy of staying on the council, despite being detained by the attackers.
A servant enters the room. “Kapeni Nola is here, Your Majesty.”
“Send her in.”
She enters the room with grace and poise, moving like she’s going to curtsy.
“You don’t have to do that,” I say.
She bends low. “Of course, I do. You are the queen.”
“And you are my friend.”
She beams. “That doesn’t change the fact you are the queen. You wished to see me?”
“I have a proposition for you.” And it would be much easier to think about it if the pounding in my head eased. “I am in a conundrum. My Head of Relations with the Queen had some problems.”
“I heard, but what has that got to do with me?”
And this is the hard part. “I was wondering if you would be willing to take the position.”
“Me?” She stumbles backward until her legs hit a chair. She sits in it. “Why me?”
“Because I know you and trust you. This would be a good position for someone like yourself, who has experience in dealing with things such as the sale of your mine. I heard you helped with the sale.”
“That is true, but I’m not sure I’m qualified to do such a job.”
“Not qualified or not sure you’re up for the task? I know this is a hard thing I’m asking of you, and if you’re unwilling to do it, there’s no hard feelings.”
She’s quiet for a moment. “I think—I believe I can do the job. I’m just not certain you’re picking the right person.”
“As far as I’m concerned, you’re perfect for it, but I don’t want to push it onto you.”
“Why do you think I'll be a good fit?”
How do I tell her? I suppose there’s no better way than to say it. “There aren't many people I can trust.”
“What about the sale of the mine? Will that create a conflict of interest?”
“Not since it’s already sold and dealt with,” I say. “Listen, if you don’t want the job, that’s fine. Or if you need time to think about it, that’s fine as well, but I would consider it a great favor if you were to assist me in this matter.” Thank you, ladies-in-waiting, for helping me know what to say in a situation like this. Whoever thought I’d believe that? It’s true, though. My time with them has become vital, even if it doesn’t feel like it on a day-to-day basis.
“You make it a hard choice.”
“I don’t mean to. You really are welcome to turn it down.” But please, please don’t. There’s no one else I trust more with the position. “Like I said, you can have some time to think about it.”
“I don’t need the time.”
Great. She’s going to say no. “You can speak with your husband about it, at least.”
“Unneeded. Coplo will support my choice whatever it is, and yes, I would like to help you. I will take the position of Head of Relations with the Queen.”
Relief fills me. I don’t know what I would do if she rejected me. “Thank you. I know it can’t be an easy decision.”
She sits up straight, looking much more like herself than she did a moment ago. “I don’t know about that. It was a shock, all right. I didn’t expect anything like it. But, if truth be told, I’m excited you asked me. I need something to do with my time, now that the mine is sold, since I was assisting Coplo in running it. He is the one who wanted to retire, and I supported him. But since we sold the mine, life has been boring. This will be perfect for me.”
I give her a wide grin. “I’m grateful it works out so well for the both of us. You will attend the next council meeting, and I will announce you there.”
“Perfect. Thank you for this, Your Majesty.”
“Please, call me Ryn.”
“All right, Ryn. I look forward to working with you.”
“And I with you.”
One less thing to worry about. Someone I trust on the council besides Jaku and Jem. There’s still a long way to go if I’m to do a good job as the queen, though. I need to find ways to help my people. Ways to keep them in mind. In any case, Kapeni is a great start.