Page 50

With a burst of annoyance, Erida remembered his nattering in the courtyard, upon her arrival.The ambassador requests an audience, he’d told her,and she had agreed.

“Of course.” Erida did her best to don her court mask: lifeless eyes and a demure smile. “Lord Cuthberg, escort my husband to his attendants and see he is ready for the ambassador.”

Erida half expected her seneschal to drop dead.

“I would prefer to dine in my chambers,” Taristan ground out, looking just as uncomfortable as Cuthberg.

“Your preference is noted,” Erida shot back, gesturing to the door.

To her relief, he didn’t argue. He didn’t linger either, pushing past her without so much as a backward glance or a trailing hand. It felt like a bucket of cold water over hot coals.

Cuthberg scurried after Taristan, who swept down the long passage and out of sight with a few quick strides. Erida pitied whatever attendants awaited him.

The crown comes first, she told herself again, shaking off the buzzing sensation of Taristan’s lips on her own. Without him, it was easier to be Queen of Galland instead of Erida.

She stepped back from the door and allowed her ladies to sweep in, a flock of pretty birds in silk and lace. Lady Harrsing followed after them.

Erida fell back into the old rhythm without thinking. Maids appearedalongside her noble ladies, and together they went through the usual motions. So did Erida. She tipped her head back, letting nameless hands wind through her hair, combing out the old braids to set them anew.

Only Lady Harrsing sat, the others too afraid to look idle in Erida’s presence.

“Bella, we’ve had quite the day,” Erida said, letting someone unlace her gown. Another pulled it over her head, revealing her undergarments. “I cannot say how long I will be able to treat with the ambassador this evening.”

“Little more than an hour will be good enough,” Lady Harrsing replied, leaning heavy on her cane. “Ambassador Salbhai had a long journey too, and he will not be riding off again so soon.”

Erida caught the meaning easily.

“Ah,” she said, already frustrated with the presence of an ambassador she did not know. Let alone one from the Temurijon, the only empire in existence to rival her own.

“I do not have the patience for this, nor the time,” she muttered, tipping her head to allow a maid to remove her necklaces. Another polished the emerald on her finger.

“Your Majesty does as she wills,” Harrsing allowed. Her pale green eyes were still sharp as ever. Erida felt them like two icy daggers. “But it serves us well to keep the Temur behind their mountains for as long as possible. I have no desire to see the Countless in my lifetime.”

I cannot say the same, Erida thought, careful to keep her face still. She had desired such a thing for too many years: to test her legions against the horseback army of Emperor Bhur. To win, and stand above all others in the realm.

She eyed Harrsing again, reading the lines of age on her face. She was seventy years old at least, a mother and grandmother many times over, tochildren all over the realm, in every kingdom.

Lady Harrsing stared back, letting the Queen look.

“I do desire to see one thing, though,” the old woman added, flicking her gaze down to Erida’s stomach.

The Queen huffed out a dry, withering laugh. She wanted to tease Bella for her prying but refrained. The eyes of her ladies were many, their gossip swift.

“Lady Harrsing,” Erida clipped in a scandalized tone. She hoped the gentle chiding would be enough to turn her curiosity.

Behind her, the ladies arranging her clothing for the evening slowed in their work, looking on. Erida felt like a lion behind bars, caged and observed by weaker beasts.

To Erida’s relief, Harrsing relented. She put up a hand in surrender.

“It’s an old woman’s privilege to wonder, and speak out of turn from time to time,” she said, smiling idly. Like the Queen, she wore a mask too.

Erida saw through it easily. She knew better than to mistake Bella Harrsing for anything less than a cunning politician, who survived for decades in the Gallish court. Lord Thornwall commanded armies across the kingdom, but Bella navigated equally dangerous ground in the palace.

“I am mother to a kingdom, and birthing an empire,” Erida said, over loud. “Certainly that is enough for now.”

“For now,” Harrsing answered, nodding agreement. But her sharp eyes flashed. “For now.”

Slowly, Erida nodded back. She knew what Harrsing meant, what she wanted to say but could not in mixed company. Even now, with all the power in the world in her hands, Lady Harrsing still tried to protect Erida of Galland. It made the Queen’s heart twist.