Jem stands straight and tall, like a board. Her expression is neutral. I can read people, but I can’t get a feel for her other than a slight tightening around her eyes that belies a calm emotion.
Nash and Julina are here in my sitting room, and Puneah is at my side. She hasn’t left it since Nurf attacked me several hours ago, though Nash did bring her a plate of fish.
“Have you heard?” I ask Jem.
“That I’m to be your new Head Advisor? Yes.” Her tone is sharp. “What about Nash?”
I need to have him do something that will keep him close. Both him and Jaku are vital. They’re the only two I can fully trust to help me with the First Queen. And Inkga, but she doesn’t know anything about the First Queen. “Nash will return to being my guard. He’s well-suited for the job.”
She opens her mouth, and I expect a litany of complaints. Instead, she snaps it shut again.
“What is it?” If she’s to be at my side more often, I have to know what she’s thinking. My last Head Advisor before Nash tried to kill me, after all. Not that I expect that from her, but the more I know, the safer I’ll feel.
“I’m certain Your Majesty doesn’t wish to hear it,” Jem says.
Ouch. “Tell me anyway.”
Her gaze drifts first to Nash and then to Julina. “It’s not my place.”
“I’m making it your place. Now, what is it?”
Still, she hesitates.
This isn’t like her at all. “I would excuse Nash and Julina, but you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t. Due to recent developments, it’s prudent to have a couple guards around me at all times.”
“I understand about the circumstances.”
“They will keep your confidence. I can promise you.”
“It’s not that.” Her stoic expression breaks into a rage of hurt and anger. “Why didn’t you have Daros executed? Why did you let him go free, back to his life? He tried to kill you, he outed you as the Shadow Wraith, and he’s killed countless people, including Wilric.” Her voice breaks on his name.
I soften my voice as much as I can, like Inkga taught me. “I’m sorry, Jem. I promise you I would like nothing more than his execution, but there are reasons I can’t disclose as to why this can’t be.”
“I don’t understand.”
“There’s nothing I can say that will help make sense of it. I’m sorry.”
She purses her lips, looking much more like the Jem I knew when I first arrived at the palace. “Does he get to know?” She motions to Nash.
Not the question I expected. I thought she would fight more. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, then. Why can’t you tell me?”
Because you’ll think I’m insane, for having another person in my head. “It’s a secret. I’m sorry.”
“Stop saying that. If you were really sorry, you’d tell me. I’d convince you otherwise, and we would execute the evildoer.”
“I wish it was that simple.” More than words can ever express. The man has a black heart with a need for power that can never be cured.
“Fine.”
“Fine, what?” I ask.
“If you won’t tell me, that’s your prerogative, but don’t expect me to go along with it.”
Chills wash through me. “You can’t hurt him.”
“There’s more than one way to deal with him.” She plays with her dress, where I know she hides a dagger.
“You can’t use your dagger on him.”
“Never said I would.” Her eyes are dark.
This isn’t a battle I can win, mostly because I want to join her side. I can tell her this, though— “His time will come, but for now, we need something only he can give us.”
Her lips thin, but she doesn’t argue further.
“Let’s talk about some situations that need dealing with.”
“Excuse me, Ryn,” Nash says.
“Yes?”
“If you don’t need me, I’d like permission to interview your attacker.”
“Certainly.” I may join him after I’m done with Jem. I want to know more about Nurf.
“I’ll send Eldim in,” he says.
“Thank you.”
I pretend not to pay attention to him as he leaves. It’s hard, when all my thoughts are attuned to him. As Eldim switches with Nash, I tell Jem, “Please have a seat.”
She sits nearby and faces me. “What would you like to discuss?”
“The Kurah have me worried. Do you know all that’s happened with them?”
“I’m caught up to speed. Were they the ones behind Nurf attacking you?”
That’d be easier to deal with. “Not this time, but they’ve tried on several other occasions, and the last word I have is that a few released their goods to be sold, but some are still hoarding them.”
“It’s a conundrum.”
“Indeed. I need to know who their leader is.”
“A Kurah in a cloak, right?”
“Yes, and by all accounts, a man. I need to find out who it is and get this country back on track.” And hope I can get the First Queen out of my head, so it makes a difference.
“What do you suggest?”
“I want you to know so we can be on the lookout for things.” If I had full control of my body, I would be out searching for the problem. With a limited body, there are limited things I’m able accomplish.
“I’ll see what I can do about getting people on finding more information.”
“That’d be good. Someone out there knows who it is. We need to find them.” Puneah bumps against my hand, making me give her some attention. Can’t believe I was ever scared of her. “The other thing we’re dealing with is the purchase of the mine. We have the couple who owns it coming in sometime in the next couple of weeks to finalize the details.” I’m looking forward to seeing the woman who taught me to read.
“I heard you found a mine to purchase. I admit I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Why not?”
She glances down. “The Kurah are so angry I didn’t think any of them would relent to sell to you. Do you know why they’re angry?”
“Over taxes.” I changed the taxes almost as much as I changed my Head Advisors.
“I believe you’ll be able to fix it better than you think. Your heart is in the right place. It’s time to let the people know.”
Her words give me a spark of hope. “Any idea how to do that?”
Her fingers tap on her leg. “Let me think about it.”
“Very well.” I’ll be thinking about it too—when I can, with everything else going on. There’s so much, it’s hard to keep track of it all. No wonder I have an entire council to help. “How is your training going? I know I haven’t been much help since…” I’m too weak to move.
She ignores my breaking off. “I’m still training, but it’s hard without Wilric.” Her voice cracks.
“I miss him too.”
She dabs at the corner of her eyes.
“Were you—” I almost ask her about her relationship with him. If she cared for him as more than a friend. But I hold myself back. Though I trust Julina and think Eldim is pretty trustworthy as well, it’s not my place to out Jem’s feelings.
“Was I what?” Her mask is back on, clouding her feelings.
“Are you ready to be finished with our meeting for today?” It’s the best cover I can come up with.
Her eyebrows twitch. “Certainly.” She stands.
“Jem, if you ever want to talk… about anything, you can come to me. I’d be happy to—you know—speak with someone about… well, anything.” That was awkward.
“Thank for the offer, Ryn.” She gives an almost smile.
As she leaves, Inkga enters the room. “Would you like some lunch?”
“No, thank you. Would you please wheel me down to the room Nash is interrogating Nurf in?”
“Of course.”
When we arrive at the room with my entourage, I hear a muffled noise, almost like a grunt. It sends a chill through me. Eldim opens the door, and Inkga rolls me in after him. He stops, and Inkga rolls me past him but halts as well.
Nurf, my attacker, is dangling by his arms in Nash's grip, bruises already forming and blood dripping from his lip and nose. His breathing comes in gasps.
What has Nash done?