Page 51 of Once the Skies Fade (Immortal Reveries #2)

Chapter 51

Calla

I f Isa knew what had happened between Matthias and me, she never let on. Actually, the absence of her chastisement almost made me feel guiltier for what I’d done. Almost. For the next few days, life went on much as it had before the tournament, even before Brennan’s death. Quiet time spent in the solar, poring over reports from the provinces, reading up on the grievances that I may have needed to address in the upcoming citizens’ assembly.

With the next trial postponed until after we met with my subjects, there was no reason for me to see or visit with the competitors, but every night when my room was too quiet, I felt that pull to the hidden passage that would take me to Matthias’s room. I didn’t know if it was my shadows, my heart, or my body that yearned to be close to him, but somehow—even with the bottle of brandy I’d brought down from the solar—I refrained.

He didn’t come to me, either. Not that I expected him to. Stars, he probably didn’t even know where my room was—though, as a general, surely he could have found it if he wanted to.

He’s probably respecting your space.

Why did he have to be so stars-damned fucking perfect?

He’s not perfect, Calla.

He’s just here.

And he’s skilled.

That’s all.

I couldn’t let myself think about what would happen at the end of this tournament—couldn’t worry about him winning or losing or which outcome I preferred. I just needed to get through this next citizens’ forum.

Standing outside the Great Hall, I listened to the quiet thrum of conversation on the other side of my personal entrance. I’d taken a double dose of Jocelyn’s tea in hopes it would give me more control over my shadows than usual, but still I couldn’t stop my hands from shaking as I wrung them at my waist. My heart thumped against my sternum, beating out the seconds as they passed. I hadn’t met with my subjects in weeks, but it seemed more like months with how frayed my nerves were.

I straightened my shoulders, sucking in as deep a breath as I could, and lifted my chin. Exhaling through my mouth, I imagined pushing out every anxious thought and feeling. Based on the grievance reports I’d reviewed, this should have been simple enough, but with the added audience of the Assembly and my suitors, I couldn’t shake the apprehension that today was more a trial for me than for any of the competing males.

I was the one being tested here––but then, every day was a test for a queen suspected of murdering her husband.

There won’t be any humans here today.

They are only bringing forth the grievances I reviewed, and those are simple.

I’ll be fine.

The door in front of me opened, and Isa poked her head out. Spying me, her face lit up with relief.

“Oh, good. You’re here. I didn’t want to have to track you down,” she said, reaching for my hand and starting to drag me forward. My feet resisted, though, remaining planted firmly on the stone floor.

“Wait,” I muttered, slipping my hand from hers and rubbing my temple. “Any potential surprises?”

Isa gripped both of my shoulders. “There are always potential surprises, Calla. You know this, but I’ll be right there with you if they arise. Yes?”

I gave a string of small nods, though my gut was still annoyingly tied up in knots. Gritting my teeth, I drew in one last, slow breath, and muttered, “I’m ready.”

Inside the hall, my throne had been set up on a long dais with two smaller chairs placed on either side for the competitors. My core tightened at the sight of Matthias seated on my left, just as he had been at dinner—a fact I had to quickly brush out of my mind before it distracted me. Phillip sat to the right, and Isa had thankfully kept Matthias and Korben apart, placing Graham beside him instead.

The males didn’t turn as I approached, stepping around my throne on Phillip’s side—a minor precaution to ward off any temptation. Even with hundreds present, I didn’t trust myself with Matthias. From the corner of my eye, I could see him look at me, a devilish grin gracing his lips. I ignored it as best I could, pushing my attention to those gathered before me. Clasping my hands behind my back, I looked out at the crowd and greeted them.

“Good morning,” I said firmly, giving them a moment to quiet their conversations and turn toward the dais. Every face looked toward me, setting off a frantic fluttering in my chest. “I do apologize that I have not been able to meet with you as often as my parents did, but I want to offer my sincere gratitude that you have been so gracious and understanding to me during such tough times.”

Somewhere in the sea of faces someone scoffed. How many here today believed the rumors? How many thought me a heartless killer? If they only knew the truth about their king’s death, they would understand why I’d exiled the humans, why I’d killed so many for their insolence. Or would they?

Ignoring it, I continued. “As you can see, today’s assembly is a special one, as I am accompanied by the four finalists of our tournament. They will be aiding me in my judgment of your cases to assess how well we might rule together. While this is not an official trial in the games, it is a valuable exercise for all of us. I expect you to show them the same respect and courtesy you do me.”

I nearly scoffed myself, given what little respect and courtesy my subjects showed me by spreading those disgusting rumors. Swallowing hard, I settled myself onto my throne and beckoned Isa and her list of grievances forward. She stepped down off the dais and stood in front of me, looking out at those gathered as she called the first case forward.

“Mrs. Mola of Leighbracht,” she said in her commanding tone.

An older female hobbled forward on frail legs, supporting herself with a weathered wooden cane. She bowed her chin to me and then glanced warily at the males to either side. I searched my memory for this female’s case, vaguely recalling it had something to do with her crops.

Smiling warmly down at her, I greeted her directly. “Good morning, Mrs. Mola. How can we assist you today?”

“Your Majesty, it’s my crops,” she said, bowing her head sheepishly again. “The season has been too dry, leaving me with little to sell at the market and barely enough to feed myself and my young ones.”

I turned to my right. “Korben,” I said, waiting for the male to look at me before I proceeded. He barely turned toward me, though, choosing to give only a cursory glance my way. I curled my fingers into the arms of my throne, trying to ease the anger his impertinence sparked, but pulling in a calming breath brought Matthias’s familiar—and distracting—scent of woody leather.

Focus, Calla.

I eyed Korben coldly. “How would you handle Mrs. Mola’s plight?”

He shrugged casually as he stared at the female. “You’re from Leighbracht?” Mrs. Mola nodded slowly. “Your neighbors in Polneir have had a plentiful season, so I’ve heard. How is it that theirs thrived yet yours faltered?”

The female fidgeted with her fingers. “I am not an expert on the weather, sir, but it does not always bless—or curse—each part of the kingdom equally.”

This earned a light laugh from the crowd which Korben brushed off. “Indeed.” He paused and turned to me, fully this time. “Could we spare some of the royal stores to help her and the town out? Perhaps put in a request with the Assembly to have a donation taken up from around the kingdom?”

“Agreed,” I said, nodding as I turned back to the female. “General Marlowe will give you a notice to take to the castle steward, who will issue you some food stores to take home and schedule your case with the Assembly.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” she said as she backed away.

The morning continued in much the same fashion, with my asking each male how they might resolve a dispute or address a concern. For the most part, all went relatively smoothly. I even managed to keep all interactions with Matthias as professional as possible—though that did require I refrain from looking at him directly.

There was only one instance of disagreement between a male and me. I had asked Phillip how best to handle the killing of a farmer’s cow when it got off his property and allegedly trampled a neighbor’s crops. While he had thought it best to fine both parties—one for negligence in containing their animal and the other for killing someone else’s animal—I was all-too-acquainted with this pair of farmers. Their decades-long list of disputes over everything from trees crossing property lines to accusations of sabotage had been a nuisance for my parents when they ruled and had now apparently become mine. The cow-killer was to pay a retribution to his neighbor and reminded to stop looking for offense wherever he could.

I couldn’t help but smile as the pair walked away, with Isa having to separate them to prevent a public squabble from breaking out between them. While so many things had changed since my parents’ deaths, it was oddly comforting to have their drama remain constant. Like welcoming the horrendous winter winds simply because they were reliable.

“How do you sit through all of these for so long?” Matthias whispered from my left.

I glanced in his direction, but returned my attention quickly to the crowd. “Do the Durands not meet with their subjects?”

“Sure they do, but they travel to each town, rather than having the citizens make the trip,” he explained.

“Was that due to the dangers on the roads?” I asked, still refusing to look at him.

Even so, I could picture his light shrug and down-turned smile as he answered. “Even before the rebel attacks. The king and queen enjoyed getting out of the palace.”

“They’d still be sitting for a long time,” I argued.

“But with ale,” he said, laughing quietly.

“You often traveled with them, didn’t you?”

Matthias was silent for so long, I wondered if he’d heard me or not. When I finally turned to see what had kept him from answering, a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Oh, so you can look at me after all!”

My expression soured as I tried to conceal any hint of attraction to this stars-damned male. “Of course I can look at you,” I said, tipping my chin up as I faced our guests again. “I simply prefer not to.”

His chair creaked as he leaned across the armrest toward me and whispered, “Why is that exactly? Is it that awful to remember?—”

“Remember what?” I hissed as I spun around to face him, my nose mere inches from his in an effort to keep the conversation quiet. “This is not a conversation I want to have right now.”

His eyes drifted down to my lips. “Is it a conversation you want to have at all? Because I get the impression you’ve been avoiding me.”

“Don’t flatter yourself, general.” I swallowed hard at my use of his title, remembering all the other times I’d used it in private. Ignoring how my cheeks warmed, I dropped my head to the side and regarded him coldly. “I didn’t take you for the type to need to talk about your feelings. I’ve been rather busy preparing for today.”

As if on cue, the main doors to the Great Hall swung open, and six of my guards marched in, escorting four hooded figures in the middle of them. The crowd parted to allow them to pass. Matthias quickly shifted back in his seat. I could feel his intense gaze studying me as I rose to my feet. Isa waited for them at the bottom of the dais. The lead guard exchanged quiet words with her, but I couldn’t make them out with the muted conversations spreading through the room.

Isa’s whole body tensed, and my stomach plummeted to my feet when she looked back over her shoulder at me, her face pale behind her stony expression.

This isn’t good.

She whispered something more to the guard before rushing up the dais toward me. Her lips grazed my ear as she tried to keep her voice as quiet as possible, though she only uttered one word.

“Humans.”