The Queen of Sorrow by Sarah Beth Durst

Author:Sarah Beth Durst
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2018-05-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Ambassador Hanna drank the tea, which despite Queen Merecot’s assurances that food in Semo wasn’t made with rocks still tasted like rocks. She wished she were in her roost at the academy, where students were in awe and a bit afraid of her. Instead she was playing mediator to two very different and equally headstrong queens.

I should be retired, she thought, soaking in my golden years in a quiet midforest village, far from politics, responsibility, and risk of violent death. Queen Merecot always seemed a few seconds away from a toddler’s tantrum, and Queen Naelin had already destroyed part of Aratay with her emotional needs. I’m too old for this.

She leaned forward as Naelin and Merecot launched into another argument about abdication and said, “Perhaps we should break here for the day. Now that the topic has been broached, the prudent choice is to retire, rest, and consider the matter before continuing. Queen Naelin has had a long journey, and I admit that my stamina is not what it used to be.” She gave a rueful chuckle, entirely faked—she wasn’t tired, but she was getting a headache from the tension in the room.

Both queens scowled at her for the interruption.

“Rest, reconsider, and meet again tonight, perhaps over dinner, with the children,” Hanna pressed. “Queen Naelin can use the time to familiarize herself with Semo, and Queen Merecot . . . I’m sure you have much that needs your attention.”

Slowly, Merecot nodded. Her shoulders sagged—only minutely, but Hanna saw it. She’s tired. Worried, perhaps. Even afraid. Hanna couldn’t imagine Merecot ever admitting fear, but she must feel it. Even from what little Hanna could sense with her limited power, she could tell the spirits in Semo were a breath away from disaster. The land felt like a pot about to boil over and scald anyone close enough to be burned, which was just about everyone in its borders, and possibly some beyond.

Ven pushed back from the table. “The ambassador is right. If you keep at it now, you’ll just piss each other off.”

“That too,” Hanna agreed, wincing slightly at the champion’s lack of tact.

“Very well.” In a swirl of jewel-laden skirts, Merecot rose and swept across the throne room. “You’ll be escorted to your rooms,” she said over her shoulder. “Anything you need, simply ask the guards—I’ll be assigning them for your own protection, of course, as well as to make sure you don’t run around murdering people or stealing from the royal treasury or whatever.”

“Your hospitality is extraordinary,” Naelin said dryly.

“It is,” Merecot said, “as is the trust I’m demonstrating by allowing you here. Don’t abuse that trust.”

Ven was fingering his sword hilt. He just can’t help himself, Hanna thought with a sigh. Champions always thought every problem could be solved with a blade. “So we’re to be treated like prisoners,” Ven said.

“Nonsense,” Merecot said. “Go where you want. Do what you want. Just remember you’ll be watched, and don’t do anything stupid. If you’re tempted, simply remember your children are under my protection.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.