Death's Betrayal by Janeal Falor

Author:Janeal Falor [Falor, Janeal]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chardonian Press

Chapter 23

We show up to the open portcullis, a bedraggled group. There are several more guards than usual, along with Jaku.

I glare at the guard who lets us in.

“Don't blame him,” Jaku says. “I went looking for you last night and couldn't find you. What were you doing going out without telling me?”

I want to use my old excuse of I am the queen but it feels trite. Besides, Jaku has been nothing but helpful. Something dawns on me. “Were you coming to find me because you have news?”

He forms a thin line with his lips as he shakes his head. “I'm afraid there's no news. I was checking in on you, to make sure everything was all right. I'm being extra cautious, with what's happened.”

“At least there hasn't been an attack on my life.” There have only been a couple since the ball. Nothing major that I’m aware of.

“Don't jinx it.”

I head toward the palace in the growing sunlight as the men lower the portcullis. “Superstitious?”

“Not in the least, but where you're life is concerned, we can't be too careful.”

“Have there been queens that didn’t get attacks on their lives?”

“Some have less. That's why some live longer than others. Of course, that also tends to make us complacent.”

Will I ever become complacent? I would say no, but that's the thing about it. You never realize it's happening.

“You should get some rest,” Jaku says.

He doesn't know how desperately I need it. To talk to the First Queen. “Later. I promised I would meet with the people today.”

“The same people you threw daggers at, Your Highness?” Julina's voice is steady.

I give her a sideways glance. “Yes, those people.”

“You threw daggers at them?” Jaku sounds anything but steady.

“In all fairness, they attacked her first,” Julina says.

“They what?” By the way he’s squeezing his eyes shut tight, he's barely holding back his anger.

I stride up the palace steps, not missing a beat. “They attacked, but we took care of them. There will likely be some repercussions for the palace. I wish we could send peace and food their way, but I'm afraid it would only lead to more attacks.”

“I'll put extra guards on the front gate. Are you certain you want to hold court this afternoon?”

“I need to. The people are angry at me enough. If I don't listen to them, how am I ever going to earn their trust back?” Like those people at the throne room that I previously didn’t really listen to, instead sending them home with food. It’s not that I don’t want to listen, it’s that I don’t know what to say. I can’t tell them what’s happening.

It's going to be a hard road. One I’d rather take with Nash back at my side. I sweep his name away, trying to pretend it never crossed my thoughts.

If he’s not back, maybe I should revert the taxes. There’s no sense keeping them like this if Daros isn’t going to fulfill his end of the bargain. The thought of telling Nash’s family I’ve given up haunts me.

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