Chapter 37
The weight of the gilded crown was unexpected, lighter than I imagined but only in the physical sense. An intangible heaviness came with it, one that spoke of thousands of years of decisions, choices, sacrifices, and gains.
But I would bear the weight because I’d sworn to, just like Casteel had.
He looked rather striking with the crown resting upon his head.
I looked over at him as we stood just inside the palace foyer before a row of banners that hung from the ceiling to rest a scant inch or two from the floor.
The palace staff had been called and briefly introduced to us by Eloana and Valyn.
There had been hundreds of them, from kitchen staff to housekeeping to the stable hands and those responsible for the grounds.
My head had spun from all the faces and names, and now they were filing out from the foyer while my gaze swept over Casteel.
He wore the crown as if he’d been born to.
Eloana approached us, along with an older woman wearing a long-sleeved gown of gold—the color that all the staff wore.
I’d learned that many lived within the palace on the floors above, while some maintained homes offsite with family.
I’d been shocked to learn that they held quarters among the Lords and Ladies.
In Solis, the staff was considered servants, and they shared bare rooms lined with cots and very little personal items.
“I would like to introduce you to Rose,” Casteel’s mother said, touching the woman’s arm. “She is the palace manager—or the magician of the palace. Whatever you need or would like done, she is your woman.”
Rose bowed as warmth and bubbly happiness radiated from her. “It will be an honor to serve Your Majesties.”
“It will be an honor to have you continue on as the magician of the palace,” Casteel replied smoothly.
A bright smile broke out across Rose’s face.
“The Royal Chambers are being cleared as we speak, and I took it upon myself to have some of your personal items moved, Your Majesty.” This was said to Casteel, and I was curious to discover what these personal items were.
“I have already had refreshments sent to the State Room for your session with the Council of Elders. Is there anything else that you would like?”
I couldn’t think of anything.
“There is one thing.” Casteel looked over at me, his eyes twinkling. “I believe my wife and I would like to make a change.”
My gaze flew to the banners. “The crest,” I blurted out, and both Rose and Casteel’s mother turned to look at the banners. “I mean, I would like to change the Atlantian Crest. I was told that we could.”
“You can.” Eloana turned back to us.
“Yes.” Rose nodded. “What change would you like to make?”
I glanced at Casteel, grinning when he winked. “I would like the arrow and sword to be crossed equally over one another so that neither is longer than the other.”
“We can do that,” Rose conferred while I felt a splash of surprise from Casteel’s mother.
“I will have the banners pulled down at once and send word to the steel workers, seamstresses, and leather shops that they can expect an influx of work—which they will be happy to hear,” she added quickly and brightly.
“There are saddles and stamps, shields and flags which will need to be changed. The banners we could have completed within the week, the shields will take a bit longer. And the rest—”
“There is no rush,” I assured her. “Whenever it can be done is fine.”
Her look turned perplexed. “It will be done at once. Anything else?”
“I…I don’t think so?” I said.
Casteel shook his head. “That should be all for now.”
“Perfect.” She bowed and then spun, hurrying off as she motioned to several staff members who waited by the walls.
“She is mortal. I know you were going to ask,” Casteel stated before I could do just that. “I don’t think she has any Atlantian blood in her. Does she, Mother?”
Eloana shook her head. “Many generations ago, her family did, but by now, she is of a mortal line. I was surprised by your request,” she admitted, turning to me. “The sword represents the strongest one in the union. That would be you, Your Majesty.”
Casteel was utterly unfazed by the blunt statement. “I believe that Casteel and I are of equal strength,” I reasoned, a little surprised that she would even question it. “I want the people of Atlantia to see us as such.”
Eloana held my gaze for several moments and then nodded. “I think that is a wise choice,” she said finally.
“And, please, just call me Penellaphe,” I said.
Her smile widened as she nodded. “I will join you all shortly in the State Room.” She started to turn and then faced Casteel. Her gaze roamed over his face. “I am so very proud of you today.” Stretching up, she pressed a kiss to his cheek.
Casteel cleared his throat. “Thank you.”
His mother smiled and then left, heading down the same hall that Rose had disappeared down. She was leaving to make sure the announcements were sent out.
“Ready?” he asked.
I nodded.
Taking my hand, we walked forward under the banners and into a hall straight ahead.
Evaemon Palace was a surprise. Based on the exterior alone, I would’ve imagined that the inside would be cold and unwelcoming, but only the floors were made of the crisp black I now knew was shadowstone.
The walls were covered with a cream-hued type of plaster, and all the windows and glass ceilings let in a surprising amount of natural light.
Staff hurried along the sides of the corridor near the walls, stopping to bow hastily before disappearing into other wider halls. I caught sight of a sparse atrium, one full of night-blooming roses, and the hall we entered had numerous closed doors.
“These are meeting spaces,” Casteel explained, his hand wrapped firmly around mine. Kieran, Delano, Emil, and Naill walked with us. Some of the wolven had remained in the foyer while Vonetta and Lyra followed with a dozen or so wolven.
They weren’t the only ones who trailed behind us.
From the moment the crowns had been placed on our heads, Hisa and several Crown Guards followed.
I wondered if it was strange for them to switch who they protected so quickly, and if it was also odd for Casteel’s parents to suddenly be lacking familiar shadows—although at least two guards had flanked Eloana when she parted ways with us in the foyer.
The hall we traveled down spilled into another foyer, one where a grand staircase spiraled up to the second floor and several above it. “Guest rooms are above, along with the staff rooms.”
I resisted the urge to break from Casteel and rush over to the staircase to see if the black stone of the banister was as smooth as it looked. “What—what about our rooms?”
“They are the east wing,” he answered, nodding at an older male who descended the stairs, carrying a platter of empty glasses.
“Oh,” I murmured and then frowned. “Wait. They’re in the east wing, right?”
A smirk appeared as Kieran said, “His and Her Majesty’s quarters are the east wing.”
I…
Well, I had nothing to say to that as we entered the hall beyond the staircase, passing several paintings I would have to stop and look at later when I wasn’t thinking about the fact that the Royal Chambers were an entire wing of the palace.
“Where will your parents live?” I blurted out the thought as it occurred to me.
Casteel grinned. “They will probably remain here for a bit while the transition is made, and then they’ll either stay or move to one of the estates.”
“Oh,” I repeated.
We entered a circular chamber where the breezeways connected the east and west wings. A goddess statue stood in the middle, her arms stretched above her head and palms tilted upward. I had no idea which goddess she was, but she was definitely…ample in the hips and chest areas.
We passed a family room, a rather inviting space with couches and thick carpets and a glass ceiling, and then continued on through the Great Hall and past a dining area large enough to seat dozens.
The State Room was more than one space, situated toward the west wing of the palace.
Cream settees lined the walls of the reception hall, placed in between large potted plants with leafy palms. Staff lingered near the banquet tables, where people I assumed were members of the Council helped themselves to drinks and finger foods.
At the back of the hall, two open doors led to a chamber that was long and oval, set with a table that stretched nearly the length of the room.
We’d taken perhaps two steps into the Hall when the Elders turned from the table. Along with the staff, they all bowed deeply, even Gregori—the only one I recognized.
“As you were,” Casteel issued with a nod, and I committed that phrase to memory as the staff and Elders immediately straightened.
His father broke away from where he’d stood with a woman with deep brown skin, and a man with long, reddish-brown hair.
“We are still waiting on a few to return from their rooms, but they should be here shortly,” Valyn said, clasping his hand on Casteel’s shoulder. His voice lowered. “You will be expected to choose an advisor. Both of you. It doesn’t have to happen today, but you should choose one soon.”
“I already know who I will choose.” Casteel looked at me, and I could only think of one person. I glanced to where Kieran now stood just inside the door, his head tilted as Delano spoke quietly to him. I nodded in agreement. “I will want to speak with him first.”
Valyn’s gaze flicked to Kieran. “He is a good choice.” He squeezed Casteel’s shoulder, and I was relieved to see the gesture. “For both of you.” There was a pause as he looked at his son, clearing his throat.