Page 39 of The Shadowed Throne (Midlife Fairy Tale #4)

R o had a guard escort Ecclesia to the quarters Aunt Violet and Posey had prepared, so the woman could settle in, but with the knowledge that Ro would need her again shortly. Ro was thrilled she’d decided to stay.

Ro went to work immediately, sending Gabriel out to set up a private lunch meeting with JT, Professor Denwood, Professor Cloudtree, Ecclesia and himself.

Next, she had Posey craft two letters, one to Professor Morehouse about the plaque for Wilm Skyforge, the second to King Ehlzar and Queen Varyana, apprising them of the meeting with Anyka. She spared no detail, wanting to be sure they understood exactly what was going on.

While Posey was transcribing the second letter, Ro’s mind wandered, mostly to the meeting Gabriel was working on. Should she include any of the other professors?

Spencer Cloudtree was the First Professor of History. Ro valued his insights, and his knowledge of what had gone on between Malveaux and Summerton in the past had been invaluable so far. Anything he could add would be useful.

And while Ro wanted to keep word of this operation as quiet as possible, it was not something that could be accomplished without a reasonable number of people involved. Still, keeping the group small meant there was a better chance of it staying secret.

She questioned, too, if she should bring Nazyr in. No one knew Anyka better than he did. No one they had access to, anyway. She felt he could be trusted, but she doubted the rest of them would feel that way.

If only Uldamar was here. He’d know what to do.

Maybe she’d come to rely on him too much, but wasn’t that the role of those around any ruler? To extend support and advice, to lend an ear, offer ideas, become a sounding board? If she leaned on Uldamar too much, she hated to think what that said of her relationship with Gabriel.

But then, she was in love with Gabriel. Relying on him was only natural.

Posey left to deliver the first letter to Morehouse and the second to a messenger who would take it via the new portal to Hythe.

Ro reread the one Anyka had sent. She was just finishing when Gabriel returned.

“Meeting is set for forty-five minutes from now,” he said as he closed the door.

“Good.” She set Anyka’s letter aside. “What do you think about including Nazyr in the meeting?"

Taking his usual chair, he frowned. “I thought about that. He’s our best guide to Anyka’s possible behavior, but if he’s actually here on her behalf, we could be signing your death warrant.”

“That’s a happy thought.” She sighed. “I’m sure if Uldamar was here, he could do something to help. Like that truth spell he used on your brother.”

“What about Ecclesia? That’s why she’s here, right?”

Ro snorted. “Yes, of course. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. I feel so scattered right now.”

“You’re allowed to be scattered when you find out someone intends to kill you two days from now.”

She shot him a look. “Thanks for reminding me.”

“We are not going to let it happen, you know.”

“I hope not, but we have no idea what she has planned. How do you stop something from happening when you have no idea how it’s going to be carried out?”

“You do your best to account for all possibilities.”

“That doesn’t sound foolproof.”

He shook his head. “It’s not, but that’s why I’m there.”

Ro leaned back in her chair. “I don’t think it’ll be poison. For one thing, I’m not about to eat or drink anything she gives me. So what does that leave? Guns don’t exist in this realm, correct?”

“Correct.”

“A hidden archer?”

“Having one of the Wyvern guards do a flyover will suss that out pretty quickly.”

“Then what? She attacks me herself? She already said she’ll have a dagger on her person, along with her royal sword.”

“Which means you can have a dagger and Merediem. But it is a possibility.”

Ro sat up, chewing the inside of her cheek as she thought. “I need you to go to the mortal realm after this meeting. I’ll write down what I want and where you’re most likely to find it. I’d go with you, but I have a feeling you won’t approve that.”

He smirked. “I am merely your personal security. I would never presume to tell my queen where she can and cannot go. But you’re right that it’s probably not a good idea.”

She laughed, happy to have a moment of lightness. “So noted. Did you tell the kitchen we were going to need lunch for the meeting?”

“I did. The kitchen promised roast game hens with herb stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, glazed carrots, seeded rolls with butter, and apple fritters for dessert.”

Ro groaned. “I’ll be too fat to run away from Anyka if I eat all that.”

Gabriel chuckled. “You can always have them make you a salad.”

“And miss out on that meal? No, thanks. If I’m about to die, I’d rather go happy.” She stood up. “Let’s go visit Ecclesia and see if she can do something about Nazyr telling the truth.”

Together they walked to Ecclesia’s quarters. Gabriel knocked.

The old woman opened the door with a look of consternation.

She was in the same clothes, minus the heavier wool vest she’d been wearing.

“Did I miss the meeting?” She hastily bowed her head at Ro.

“Forgive me, your majesty. All this royal business is beyond my normal life. I’ve forgotten my manners. ”

“It’s fine,” Ro said. “And no, you haven’t missed the meeting. We came to talk to you about something else. May we come in?”

“Yes, please.” Ecclesia stepped aside.

The apartment she’d been given was nice, but there was no sign that anyone was living there. Maybe all of Ecclesia’s things were in the bedroom.

Because of the apartment’s placement, the windows looked out over the gardens. Ro wondered if that was because Violet had researched what the woman might like best or because that was the view she and Posey favored. Either way, it was a good decision.

“How are you settling in?” Ro asked.

Ecclesia shrugged. “Fine. Not much settling to do. Don’t imagine I’ll be here that long.”

“No, probably not. But we could use a Second Professor of Magic.” Ro knew it was a lot to offer a woman who was, as of yet, untested.

But again, Uldamar’s faith in her went a long way.

“We’ve come by to see if you can help us.

We have someone who might be able to supply us with additional information before the meeting with Queen Anyka, but we don’t know if we can trust him, to be honest. We were hoping you might have a way to ensure that. ”

Ecclesia nodded. “That’s easy enough.” She glanced toward the windows. “Am I allowed access to those gardens?”

“You are, and if there’s anything else you need, just ask.”

“When do you want this spell performed?”

Gabriel answered, “As soon as you can. We’d like to bring this man into the meeting we’re about to have.”

“That soon? I’d better get to work.” She turned for the bedroom.

“How long will it take?” Ro called out.

Ecclesia stopped. “If the garden has what I need, and I believe it will, then I should be ready to dose him very shortly.”

“Dose him?” Gabriel asked.

She nodded. “I’m going to make him a tea. Once he drinks it, he’ll tell the truth for the next hour or so. You need him to be truthful for longer than that?”

Ro looked at Gabriel.

He shook his head. “We’ll make good use of the hour you give us.”

Ecclesia started for the bedroom again. “I’ll need boiling water and a sturdy teapot.”

“We’ll have one sent up,” Gabriel said. “The man in question is in the holding cells.”

“I figured he would be,” Ecclesia called out. She reappeared a few minutes later with a small basket in one hand and a pair of glass shears tucked into her belt.

“I’ve never seen anything like those,” Ro said. “Are those actually glass scissors?”

Ecclesia nodded. “A few bits of metal to make them work properly, but otherwise, yes. Wilm made them for me. Made about ten pairs, actually, so I’d have backups if I broke one.

They make the truest cuts and keep the plants from being influenced by the metal.

Silver and gold can both cause magic to turn a certain way. ”

“I had no idea.”

“Wouldn’t expect you to, your highness, but that’s all right. You don’t need to know so long as you’ve got your professor. Or me, I suppose, for the time being.”

“Right,” Ro said. “We’ll get that boiling water and teapot for you.”

“Back in a bit.” With a nod, Ecclesia left.

Gabriel was frowning.

“What is it?” Ro asked.

“She doesn’t care much for protocol, does she?”

“You mean because she doesn’t curtsey or ‘my lady’ me as often as you think she should?”

“She might keep to herself and live out in the country, but that doesn’t mean you’re not still her queen.”

She put her hand on his arm. “Your protection of me is sweet, but she’s old and deserves a little grace. Not to mention she’s here trying to save my life. Besides, I don’t care one bit about protocol. You know that.”

He nodded, and his expression softened. “Yes, I do. You’re right.” He looked a little sheepish. “That’s the problem with falling in love with you. My instinct to protect you has increased more than I thought possible.”

Her hand still on his arm, she kissed his cheek. “And I appreciate that more than I can say.”

Even as she said the words, she wondered how he would react if Anyka’s plan succeeded. Because she couldn’t imagine there was any way Gabriel would let the Grym queen live if that happened.

Even if it meant losing his own life.