Chapter 30
Beatryce had Lysette change her into another gown, one more befitting a queen. It was crimson silk with black beading. At her waist, she wore a matching set of daggers that she’d found in the vault. The obsidian handles gleamed in the light.
She’d add a platinum, ruby, and diamond circlet with earrings from the same set.
Merylynn arrived as Sylvia was touching up Bea’s hair and makeup. She curtseyed as she came into the dressing room. “You look very regal, my lady.”
“Thank you, Merylynn.” Bea studied her image in the mirror. She did look regal. “I’ve decided it’s time for me to shed my princess image. I am the queen. My attire needs to reflect that.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
Bea gestured over her shoulder. “There are a few gowns on the bench. You may have them if you want them.”
Merylynn pressed her hands together in front of her. “That is so kind of you, Beatryce. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome.” Merylynn had come in a decent enough dress that Bea decided not to ask her to change.
What she wore wasn’t as important as what Bea had on anyway.
“I need you with me today. Ishmyel claims he’s found a new magician.
We’re going to meet this potential hire in the formal sitting room very shortly. Dren is coming with us, as well.”
“You honor me with your inclusion.”
“I need you to play a part, Merylynn. I need you to profess to have the ability to suss out true magic. To be able to sense it. Do you understand me?”
Merylynn nodded. “I can do that.”
“Good. I am going to present you as one gifted with the ability to detect the gifts in others. I want to put this new magician on edge a little. And perhaps my uncle as well.”
“You suspect he may try to install one of his own people? Someone more loyal to his cause than yours?”
For a shopkeeper’s daughter, Merylynn was surprisingly clever. She had proven herself useful in several ways already. “It has crossed my mind.”
Merylynn came closer, lowering her voice. “I don’t mean to speak out of turn, but your uncle is next in line for the throne. Only an observation, my lady. You are wise to be cautious.”
Another of Leda’s rules came into Bea’s head. Your court must be more loyal to you than they are to themselves.
“There is something else I’ve been meaning to ask you,” Bea started.
“Whatever you need, my lady. I’m here.”
“I would like to offer you the provisional position of Queen’s Councilor. Now that my mother is on the mend, her councilor will once again be occupied with her needs. He will obviously help me if I require it, but I should have a councilor of my own.”
Merylynn’s hand went to her throat. She fell into a deep curtsey. “My lady. I am beyond honored and proud to accept.” She straightened, eyes gleaming with happiness. “Whatever you need, you have only to ask.”
“You must move into the castle so you can be near me. It won’t do for me to have to send into the village for you every time something arises.”
“I will do that immediately.”
“My darling Beatryce,” Dren called out. “I have arrived.”
Bea jerked her chin toward her private sitting room. “Go explain to Dren what we’re about to do. Tell him I’ll be out shortly.”
With a nod, Merylynn took off, her chin lifted and her posture straighter than it had been when she’d entered the room.
As soon as Sylvia placed Bea’s black leather slippers on her feet, Bea went out to Dren and Merylynn. “Let’s be on our way.”
Dren went ahead to open the door. He fell into place beside her as she passed, with Merylynn following behind. Krohl brought up the rear.
The formal sitting room was empty when they arrived. Bea settled into the largest chair. There was no fire in the fireplace, but the day was warm enough. “Merylynn, see what you can find out about my uncle’s arrival.”
“Right away, my lady.”
She left and Dren took the closest seat on the couch. Krohl stayed outside at the door. She glanced at Dren. “I’ve made Merylynn my councilor. I need someone loyal to me. My mother has Wyett; now I have Merylynn.”
“And you trust her?”
Was Dren questioning her choice? “I do. Have you some reason that I shouldn’t?”
“No, not at all. Merely curious.”
She didn’t believe him. “Do you think I would place someone in such close proximity to me without trusting them?”
He laughed like it was nothing. “No, of course not. You know your people.”
“Yes, I do.” But she was beginning to wonder if she knew him. Or was that just the darkness at play? Before she could think about it any longer, Ishmyel entered with a slim figure cloaked in black, hood up.
“Your highness.” He bowed. “I’m pleased to see you here already. My apologies if we kept you waiting. May I present Elyra Evenshade.”
The young woman pushed her hood back to reveal a face that appeared to be barely more than a child’s. She curtseyed. “Your highness.”
Bea frowned for several reasons. One of which she needed to confirm. “Evenshade? Are you related to Grylan Evenshade?”
Elyra smiled. “My older brother, your highness.”
Bea gave her uncle a hard look. Did he really think this second-best offering was suddenly going to be good enough? She had no idea what he thought he was doing.
He correctly interpreted her expression. “Your highness, Elyra has only just finished her schooling and is now of age. Old enough to be considered for a position of responsibility such as this one.”
Bea’s expression didn’t change, but that meant Elyra was eighteen.
And Ishmyel wanted Bea to make her the Minister of Magic.
He was insane. Clearly plotting something.
Or, at the very least, trying to make her look foolish.
She stood, glancing at Dren and Merylynn.
“If you would give me the room, I wish to speak to my uncle alone.”
Dren and Merylynn ushered Elyra out.
Bea held her tongue until the door was closed. “What are you playing at, Uncle? You want me to place a child in a position of power? One of the most important positions in my council? And a child whose elder brother currently holds a position? Explain yourself.”
“My dear niece, Elyra far surpasses her brother’s powers, I promise you. It is only her youth that has kept her from already being appointed a position. She is highly skilled. More so even than Nazyr. She will not answer directly when I question her on this, but some say she can dream-walk.”
Bea refused to be impressed. According to Leda, the hungrier the ambition, the greater the risk one would embrace to assuage that hunger. How hungry was Ishmyel? She wasn’t sure. “What proof do you have of her skills?”
“Bring her back in and see for yourself. But again, she will not answer me directly if she can truly dream-walk.”
“I don’t suppose she would. The gift of sylphnoct was outlawed at the same time being unsynct was.” Being a dream-walker wasn’t punishable by death like being unsynct, but at least one man, who was said to have plagued a neighbor into madness, had been sent to Tenebrae.
Ishmyel shrugged. “I thought you would find her gifts useful.”
Bea softened because he was right about that. If her gifts were as he said. “They would be, if she truly possesses them. And what of Grylan? Do you believe he’ll stay on as Vice-Minister if his younger sister is elevated over him?”
“Grylan has been essentially useless. Pardon me if I fail to care whether he stays or not.”
For once, Bea agreed with him. “Bring them back in.”
Ishmyel went to fetch Elyra, Dren, and Merylynn. He returned with them shortly, closing the doors behind him.
Bea had sat back down. She stayed seated.
“My uncle tells me you are quite gifted, Elyra. Show me something that proves him right. Be mindful that my betrothed is familiar with powerful troll magic and my councilor has a gift that allows her to sense the strength of magic in others. Play games with me and you will be summarily dismissed.”
Elyra’s wry smile didn’t waver as she came forward. “I would never play games with you, your highness.”
“I should hope not.” Bea sat back. “I’m waiting.”
Elyra looked around the room. She reached out toward the empty chair beside Bea. No, not the chair. Something behind it?
With the curl of her fingers, Elyra gathered up the chair’s shadow and twisted it into a new shape. A dagger. Without touching the dagger but still guiding it with her hand movements, she sliced the shadow blade down the interior of the chair.
Stuffing sprang from the cut.
Elyra opened her fingers and the dagger was pulled into her hand. With a quick motion, she flung it into the wall, where it stuck with a solid thunk.
She waved her hand and the dagger was gone, once again a shadow. The slice in the chair and the gouge in the wall remained. She looked at Bea. “Was that enough? Or would you like to see more?”
Bea had never seen magic that could make shadows into weapons. Judging from the faces of Dren and Merylynn, neither had they. “No,” Bea said. “That will suffice.”
Elyra smiled, her youth very much on display. “Your enemies’ shadows already belong to you,” she said softly. “I merely need permission to make them…obedient.”
“And the dream-walking?” Bea asked. “If you truly possess the gift of sylphnoct, tell me. There will be no repercussions.”
Elyra’s smile was as secretive as moonlight sliding across still water. She tilted her head, and the shadows in the room seemed to deepen and grow.
“It is true that I can tread where the waking world ends and the sleeping mind begins,” she murmured, voice soft as velvet. “But the question is not whether I can, your highness.”
Her dark eyes gleamed with quiet amusement. “The question is whether you truly wish me to.”
Bea knew the answer to that question. “What would you need to apply such a gift to a particular person?”
“Merely something that had once been in their hands.”
That was a little disappointing. Bea didn’t possess anything the Radiant queen had once touched. Not that she was aware of. Perhaps her mother did. It was something to look into. She got to her feet. “Welcome to Castle Hayze, Elyra. We’ll see to your official appointment immediately.”