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Reyla

“ A h, yes, well.” Lord Briscalar looked from me to Merrick exiting my room close behind me with his hand resting on my lower back. My body still quivered from Merrick’s kisses, and I was tempted to send the lord away and drag my husband back to my bedroom. “Nice to see you both this morning, my king.” The lord’s smile grew. “My queen. A delightful day, don’t you think?”

“Delightful,” I echoed. He must think we’d spent the night together, working on that baby I was supposed to be carrying soon.

“Briscalar.” Humor burst through Merrick’s voice. His hand slid up and down my spine, reminding me of him planting kisses as he secured each button, and a shiver bolted through me.

I liked it. Liked him.

Loved him, actually. And Lorant which was the most bizarre thing about all this.

“I took the liberty of ordering plenty of food, plus extra tea and a few treats for myself as well. I do hope you don’t mind if I join you while we talk. And I sent all your ladies-in-waiting outside with Farris.” Lord Briscalar waved to the table he’d set with a vase full of bright flowers and a lacy cloth beneath an array of silver-covered dishes. “I’ve spoken with Talvon, and he shared…” His face tightened. “Please sit.”

“Such a clever idea.” I walked over to the table and Merrick held out my chair for me, his fingertips trailing across my nape as he moved away.

Walking into the middle of the room, Merrick extended his hands. His low hum rang out, and I felt the ward lash around us. Tested, it might give way, but we’d have a few moments to talk before someone tried.

Lord Briscalar waited until Merrick was seated before settling in the last place.

The lord lifted the covers off the platters, revealing a pile of crispy strips of rusher. Another held coddled eggs with an herbed cream sauce, and yet another was mounded with an assortment of sweet cakes.

“Do you remember, before my coronation,” I said, “when you told me Lord Lorant couldn’t meet with me in the tower room?”

Tilting his head, Lord Briscalar frowned. “I’m not sure that I do.”

“Think. Who told you he couldn’t meet me?”

“I assume it would be Lord Lorant himself.” His face cleared. “Ah, yes, I remember now. It was Lord Lorant. He caught me in the hall in passing and asked me to give you the message.”

Merrick and I locked gazes. It couldn’t have been him.

Then who ?

“Is there something wrong?” Briscalar looked back and forth between us.

“Probably not.” Truly, there was, but the lord wasn’t going to be able to help.

We each ate a few bites before the lord lowered his fork, looking Merrick’s way. “I heard Lord Zeiger was sent on a vital mission.”

“Exceedingly vital,” Merrick said.

“I see.” Satisfaction gleamed in Briscalar’s eyes, and I was reminded of the man who had taken care of whoever tried to poison me on the ship. He might appear fluffy with his ornate clothing and ruffles, but he was as much a viper inside as Lorant.

A true ally to me and the throne.

We ate as the lord continued. “As I mentioned, at your request, Talvon informed me of his unfortunate discovery. I’ve been thinking about it ever since, trying to come up with suggestions for how you might handle this delicate situation. And if I might be so bold, I have a possible plan in mind.”

I nodded, urging him to continue while I chewed a bite of egg.

“One of the conspirators away on assignment fragments the growing faction. I suggest we build on the, how shall we say, the disarray his absence will foster.”

“She’s clever,” Merrick said with a touch of warning in his voice. “She’ll know we’re eliminating threats.”

“Hadrin’s face must be florid. I imagine he’s waiting to be called into court and asked to take on an assignment himself,” I said.

“Let him churn,” Merrick said with considerable satisfaction. “Maybe that’ll give him time to think.” He looked toward Briscalar. “I have a few ideas of my own about how we should handle my mother, but I welcome hearing your thoughts.”

“Ah, yes, exactly.” Briscalar minced out the words. “I thought, perhaps, a counter-rumor, one that could stem the one circulating about your supposed parentage. I believe our true queen could play a vital part.”

“I’m curious to hear what you suggest,” I said.

The lord beamed my way. “Delightful.” His attention traveled between me and Merrick as we settled into a rhythm of eating, speaking, and listening.

After pausing to check his ward, Merrick’s fingertips brushed my wrist before linking our fingers. He lifted our hands and kissed my knuckles, a total distraction. I sent him a teasing, though stern look, trying not to laugh when he winked. This man… He was going to undo me, then put me back together again completely new, and I was almost looking forward to it.

“I believe the queen has an opportunity to sow doubt where Erisandra has planted seeds.” The lord's voice came out calm, but quiet urgency lay beneath the raspy tones.

“I like this,” Merrick said. “It’s better than my thought of making her go look for Zeiger.”

Briscalar gave Merrick a horrified look before he chuckled.

Merrick did not laugh.

Lorant might rule the night and all the devastation that came with it, but Merrick was his match in many ways. They were two parts of one soul, and it wouldn’t surprise me to hear that, before they were split, this king was both kind and ruthless.

With a little huff of a breath, Briscalar sat straighter. “Queen Reyla’s presence alone has already changed the tone of the court. For the better, I must say.”

I swallowed a sip of tea, the subtle sweetness barely touching my tongue. “You’re referring to the way the high lords and ladies watch me now.”

“Precisely. Before you arrived, the queen mother was a shadow behind our beloved king, struggling to thrust herself into the light. She still maintained considerable power. That has shifted. Now, they don’t see her as the queen any longer. You’ve disrupted her place. She’s bitter about being sidelined from power after the late king’s death, and I believe we can twist this and use it against her. Reframe her as someone who undermines the crown out of desperation and spite.”

“She has plenty of that,” I said dryly.

Merrick flashed me a smile before his mouth smoothed. He shifted his posture, and his gaze sharpened. “And you think Reyla should grab the reins of that dragon?—”

“We don't use reins with dragons. Only foot commands,” I said.

“Interesting. I really need to fly with you on a dragon soon.” Merrick grunted. “Once this is settled.”

“I think our queen could reflect Erisandra's spite back on her as if she holds a mirror,” Lord Briscalar said. “Indirectly, however.”

He should've seen me in the meadow, throwing my blades. That was as direct as it got with a mirror.

“Nothing blatant, which is not our queen’s style and honestly, could cause more harm. A quiet word here. A thoughtful question there,” the lord said. “Alluding to the queen mother’s ambitions without outright accusing her of anything untoward. Show her in the light where she already shines.” He turned to me, his voice lifting in excitement. “People like her thrive when others don’t question them aloud. But cast doubt on her motives? Make them wonder why she wants to rule so badly? That can be more powerful than any denial you or the king could offer.”

I nibbled on a slice of rusher, processing this before speaking. “It's hard to paint ambition in a poor light when it's so prevalent inside this court. What makes you think the lords and ladies would turn on Erisandra?”

Briscalar smiled, his gray beard shifting with the movement. “ Because she’s trying to destroy the thing this court holds most dear.”

“Their status?” I asked, unsure where he was going with this, though the idea had merit.

“The king’s status. Her actions would disrupt everything. They’d wonder if she’d displace them as well for someone within her own inner circle.”

“I’m the one who upset the hierarchy by elevating my ladies to high status. That created conflict.”

“While that worries them, it’s clear you’re not trying to rule from the king’s throne. They're eager to find your favor to ensure their way of life remains the way it has been since this court was formed. And if I might add, they hope to influence you into keeping things as they are now.”

“Hmm,” I said.

“The people already respect you, my queen,” he added. “Bucking convention can brew trouble, but I believe, in your case, countering her rumors will make you more allies than you realize.”

I needed them all to support me. Could this work?

“More importantly, they have faith in you,” he said. “Even if they haven't stated this openly yet. I hear things about you, and they're good. Very good.” His gaze darted to Merrick. “Those who believe in you will be less likely to tolerate someone threatening your standing in this court. If she displaces the king, she’ll also displace you.”

Merrick’s hand rested on the table, his fingers tapping a slow rhythm. “If the court strengthens around Reyla, won’t that inspire my mother to act more boldly? I will not endanger my queen.”

“It depends on how cleanly we thread this needle, my king,” Briscalar said. “This can’t be heavy-handed. We aren’t laying her guilt at anyone’s feet. We’d gently open questions. Those questions would do the walking. No, they’d do the shouting for us.”

The plan wasn’t without risk. No, it was riddled with it, but by the fates, it had potential. Minds that were naturally inclined toward suspicion didn’t need much to latch onto. A whisper here, a rumor there. It didn’t have to be neat. In fact, the messier it looked, the more believable it would be.

I ate more of the rusher, savoring the salt on my tongue. “If we’re going to align the court against Erisandra,” I said after swallowing, “we need to offer them something tangible to rally behind. They crave confidence in the throne. Confidence in their position within this court. Stability will quiet them faster than gossip.”

Merrick's eyes darkened and he leaned back, folding his arms across his chest. “What are your thoughts about this in general, Reyla? I don't want to put you at risk.”

“I'm at risk every time I take in a breath,” I said, stealing his words from earlier. “We’ll need help. This plan will require echoes, ones we’ll both need to quietly bring about.”

Briscalar chuckled. “Does Evergorne know how lucky it is to gain a queen so shrewd?”

“Let’s not start praising me too quickly.” I smiled, then dropped my tone. “But I can see how this could work. The court has already begun to shift its gaze toward Merrick since Erisandra launched her game. They’ll follow whoever they feel is stronger. The trick will be in how carefully we set things up so she’s caught in her own trap.”

Merrick loosened his arms and took a sip of his tea. “What about using Erisandra's past actions?”

He spoke of her possible affair with the high advisor, the night to the king's day. It was comical, really, that she might believe she'd cheated when, all that time, she'd been with the king .

Briscalar tipped his head. “Wise idea, my king. I suggest we leave a framework for doubt that people will fill in on their own.”

“It has a chance of success,” I said. “Especially if we’re subtle about it. I’m not concerned about any possible risk. I’ll do what I must to preserve this court.”

“I approve of this plan.” Merrick smiled grimly, and in the gesture, I again saw hints of Lorant. “When can we get started?”

“Immediately, my king. My queen.” Briscalar grinned, but his shrewd eyes gleaming like steel. “This will be delightful.”