Chapter 7 #2
Despite Duke Petturi having taken his own life, Gustav remained hypervigilant, and his paranoia proved contagious.
It led to Avera wondering, had the former Duke worked alone?
The notes seemed to indicate he’d involved no one else, but what had been his ultimate goal?
And how had the assassins managed to make it to shore?
Someone either helped them or turned a blind eye.
That line of thinking led to her demanding a meeting with Admiral Venne who handled their fleet of ships, a pompous man with so much white hair even his ears sprouted tufts.
“Majesty. You called for me?” Admiral Venne’s bow proved shallow, and his demeanor less than pleased at being summoned.
“Admiral, thank you for coming. Given recent circumstances, I’d like to see an increase in patrols of our shoreline,” Avera stated.
“Why?” Venne bluntly inquired.
“Because the assassins somehow entered our country unseen.”
“Most likely via the port on a foreign vessel.”
“A possibility,” she agreed, “However, what if they didn’t?”
“How else would they have entered Daerva?”
“Could be they did so via the cliffs.”
Venne harrumphed saying, “Only a fool would try to climb those.”
“Or someone well-paid and trained,” she countered. “Hence why I want an increased naval presence around Daerva.”
“It’s a waste.”
She leaned forward on her desk and eyed him firmly. “This isn’t a request. You will increase the patrols, or I’ll appoint a new admiral who will.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” While Venne did acquiesce, he also grumbled, “However, might I suggest if you’re worried about foreigners entering undetected, you should probably be talking to the portmaster. Rumor has it Loomis has greasy palms.”
“I am already aware and will be handling that matter. You have your orders, Admiral.”
With a disgruntled salute, Venne left, and Avera only needed to give Gustav a quick glance for him to know what she wanted.
The portmaster was summoned.
Lord Juno Loomis, who ran the nearby and largest port title in Horizon’s End, apologized upon meeting her.
He was still bent over in a bow as he exclaimed, “I swear those killers didn’t come in through my docks, Your Majesty.
My agents are very thorough at ensuring only people with proper papers disembark. ”
Avera raised a brow. “You’re claiming they can’t be bribed?”
The portmaster met her gaze and blanched. “Perhaps a little, but not for anything that would ever harm Daerva.”
“And what do you consider harmless?”
Apparently, Lord Loomis smuggled in alcohol to resell without declaring it or paying any tax. Dishonest, but not a hanging offense, so she let him off with a warning once they confiscated the crates of it in his home. They’d serve it at her coronation.
Horizon’s End, however, was only one of two entry points.
Seaserpent Bay, on the opposite side of their continent, proved trickier to contact.
The portmaster there, even the dock workers, might have been persuaded to let in the assassins given their lack of traffic since Verlora went dark.
While she knew from the ledger that her mother had been sending them funds to keep it running, poverty had a way of making people, even good ones, shed their morals in favor of survival.
Given Avera couldn’t leave to question the portmaster in Seaserpent Bay herself, Gustav dispatched a pair of knights he trusted to investigate.
The delay of a reply chafed, though. It would take a week to get there and a week back.
If the knights found any guilty parties, then they had an edict signed by her giving them the authority to arrest the culprit.
Now to wait for their return and report.
As the coronation approached, even more lords and ladies arrived from all over the continent.
They showed up at the palace with gifts, trying to curry favor, some of them quite lavish and useless like the slippers with heels to make a woman taller.
Why would she want to totter around? Avera kept being introduced to bachelor sons of all ages, including a twelve-year-old boy who made her uncomfortable as he flattered with practiced words.
She even had widowed lords with children her age trying to pay her court.
Appalling and tiresome. It led to her grumbling to Gustav, her only confidant, “I might take a consort just to stop the blatant attempts at matchmaking.”
“Do you have someone in mind?” he asked rather than scoffing.
“Depends. Does it have to be a lord?”
“It would be unusual to choose otherwise but not without precedent,” he admitted. “Your great-grandmother ended up marrying a rook.”
“Meaning I could choose you.”
Gustav recoiled so fast he almost fell. “My queen! I am much too old, not to mention involved with someone.”
“Calm yourself. I am jesting. Although, it would solve my problem. You could still bed your paramour and I could get on with ruling this kingdom.”
“But what of an heir?” Gustav reminded.
“This sudden obsession with children from my womb is really annoying. No one cared before.”
“Because before we had numerous heirs.”
“And what if I birthed an idiot?” Avera retorted.
“I’m sure it would be no worse than your brother.”
Her nose wrinkled. “Perish the thought.” She paused. “I don’t suppose you can think of a lord I could tolerate?”
“Not in Velunda. Many of the lords in our capital are soft from city living. Given the recent troubles, I’d recommend a strong consort. One who could act as your guard in private.”
“A fighter, eh…” A husband who could wield a blade and defend. An interesting idea.
“Alas, I don’t know of any lords with that kind of skillset, but then again, I am not familiar with those outside the capital.”
“Meaning this pilgrimage of mine should be done sooner than later.” While Avera didn’t truly want a husband, she did want to put a stop to all the puffed-out chests and boring monologues about how long their family had served, how loyal they were, how well connected.
“You must do the tiara ceremony first.”
She waved a hand. “Fine. But once I’m crowned, we’ll depart immediately.”
“And who will run things while you’re gone?” Gustav asked. “You haven’t yet appointed a new duke.”
“Must I?” Avera failed to hide the whine at yet another thing she had to handle.
“Someone has to make decisions when you’re absent. You’ll want to choose someone who won’t undermine your rule.”
“Only that?” she sarcastically stated. “And how am I supposed to select that person when I barely know anyone? Keep in mind, most of these people currently simpering in my presence never spoke to me before the death of my family. I know no one and trust no one but you. Want to be Duke?”
“No.” A firm refusal. “But I might know someone that would suit.”
“Who?”
“Lady Josslyn Druuven, a widow just slightly older than you. She has no children, and from what I understand, no intention of remarrying anytime soon. As the last of her line, she is wealthy and so not easily bribed.”
“But can she ensure things run smoothly while I’m gone?”
“She is strong of character. Not easily pushed around. Firm but fair.”
“High praise.”
“The truth,” said Gustav with a roll of his shoulders. “Meet with her. See what you think.”
Since Avera valued Gustav’s opinion, she had the lady fetched. She arrived at Avera’s office promptly. The new queen sitting behind the desk in a chair she’d had swapped from the one that reminded her of her mother. It helped her feel like less of an intruder.
“Your Majesty.” As Lady Josslyn curtsied, Avera took her measure. Elegant in a simple gown of blue, her blonde hair tied back in a braid, the lady appeared barely older than Avera.
“Thanks for coming on such short notice,” Avera stated.
Chin held high, eyes bright and curious, Lady Josslyn took in the space then Avera herself who also wore a simple gown with no frivolous nonsense. The lady tilted her head. “Of course, Your Majesty. How may I be of assistance?”
“By being honest. I’m going to be blunt and ask, how are you at running things and keeping people in line?”
Josslyn blinked. “I’m sorry?”
“My understanding is your home is well kept.”
“Well, yes.” She looked confused.
“I also hear that your family orchards produce a very good wine.”
“They do.”
“And you’re involved in that?”
“Yes…” A slower, drawn-out reply. “Why do you ask?”
“Because I need someone competent to oversee the palace, the city, and any issues that might arise while I go on my pilgrimage after the coronation.”
The lady stared at Avera “Isn’t that the duke’s job?”
“Yes, but as you might have heard, I’m currently without one.”
Josslyn’s lips pinched. “Appalling what Petturi did. Pity he took the cowardly way out. I’d have liked to have seen him drawn and quartered.”
“Me, too. Anyhow, given the position is vacant, I’m seeking a replacement, someone not easily intimidated who can snap out orders and make sure they’re followed.
Who won’t lose their head in a crisis. Who can’t be bribed or flattered into giving concessions.
And of course, isn’t plotting to kill me. You were recommended to me.”
“By whom?” she blurted.
“My Grand Rook, Gustav.”
“That ornery ass,” she huffed.
Avera arched a brow. “You know him, I take it.”
“Did he happen to mention he’s my brother?”
It was Avera’s turn to stare. “No, he did not. I wasn’t aware he had family.
” Then again, she’d never asked. The rooks, those carefully elevated from the rank of knight to directly serve the royals, severed their family connections when they received their commission.
They dropped their family name and gave up all inheritance rights.
“We’re only half-siblings. I’m the result of Father’s second marriage. Given he already had heirs for his estate, when my mother died, as the only one left of her line, her family fortune came to me.”