Chapter 20 Nora
Nora
With essentially zero expertise in regards to ruling, sitting in a room with over a dozen civil authority representatives who’d been running their various cities, towns, and villages for years, knowing I held the power, was uncomfy, to say the least.
These faces were familiar to each other, which meant they wasted no time expressing their biggest grievances. Their requests cascaded over one another’s in a quickly escalating torrent. Then the ridiculing and blaming began. That’s when Nick raised his hands and the voices quieted.
“I know the guardsmen continually shuffling has created gaps in our attention to lesser priorities, and we will work towards resolution, I can assure you. First, I would like to formally recognize our newest attendee, Queen Nora Shen-Charmant of Highcrest.” He birthed a moment of pause wherein the gathered group offered me respectful nods as we all sat around the obscenely large mahogany table in the Council Chambers.
“Now, I’ll ask that we first navigate your biggest concerns. One at a time,” my husband said, returning the time over to the guests.
A woman with beautiful dark skin, the darkest I’d ever seen, and hair shorn close to her head, spoke first. She was the representative for Solei, the town welcoming the Argora Vale refugees as we speak.
“Your Majesties, with no amount of disrespect, the instability of the royal guard is a threat to my town. With this new influx, I have no doubt we will see trouble. Proper protection should be in place. I’d wager an increased amount will be the only thing to keep order. ”
Next, a bald man with a high-collared burgundy shirt and thick brown mustache added, “I’m already receiving complaints from businesses refusing to aid the new arrivals.
They’ve stated they reject Crown funding and refuse to participate.
If you order them, Your Majesty, I fear backlash.
Maybe not right away, but resentment like that breeds.
While I may not be thrilled to have this controversy so close to my front door, I can appreciate the sentiment of progress.
Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for all my residents. ”
I turned to Nick. The idea of people refusing to help never even crossed my mind.
Being a little miffed about it, sure, but refusal of aid to those in need?
I supposed it shouldn’t be a shock, considering the newly established display of tolerance toward magic in South Harbor. Nevertheless, defeat squeezed my heart.
Ever the politically adept royal, Nick smoothly replied, “No business shall be forced by the Crown. If they’re already aware of the tax cut set to benefit them come next collection season, then this is a matter of principal and not money.
While this transition will be the first of its kind in decades and will be controversial for the time being, I expect the language you all use when your constituents bring this concern to your attention is clear.
Highcrest is changing. Intolerance shall not be encouraged.
If any of you will be unable to keep personal beliefs from your position, speak now. ”
The authority and conviction with which he spoke sent an electric thrill through my body. No one piped up, though I knew that couldn’t be indicative of their true feelings.
The representative for South Harbor chimed in, a man nearing middle age with chestnut brown hair sprinkled with gray. A man I still had trouble viewing as an ally and not foe.
“Things are only beginning to heal in South Harbor,” he said. Yeah, no thanks to his actions. “I agree with my colleagues that any subtraction in their lives for the sake of the witches from—”
Heavy emotion parted my lips. “I am dedicating my entire rule to saving my people from homelessness and starvation. Already we’ve made massive strides in that regard, and I assure you there will be no sliding back to the way things were before.
It will be your job to ensure the people know that.
That they believe you when you say it.” What started as an intended chastising for South Harbor became a solidifying declaration of what Nick had stated previously, but from their new queen.
I realized my hands were in fists on the table and pulled them into my lap. But I raised my chin.
Nick stared at me, but I wasn’t ready to know what I’d find in his eyes, what he thought of my outburst. Yet when he spoke, his voice became a comforting hand in mine.
“My brilliant wife has already orchestrated our new structure of leadership.” He gestured at the door.
All heads turned as the three new commanders entered.
He continued, “Highcrest has a history with deep stains that will be tough to remove. With her by my side—” He reached for my hand and held it as he set it on the table for all to see.
We were united. “—we have double the capacity to hear the problems that arise. You will not be left alone during this transition. Lean on us when you need to.”
We walked to our bedroom, our usual routine post meetings. It was during this time we could vent and discuss our thoughts without reproach. The heat from his hand on my lower back penetrated my skin, and I leaned into his touch.
When we finally curled up on the plush bedding that nearly swallowed us, his chest became my pillow, and my arms anchored around his waist. He gently stroked my hair.
“I hate this political bullshit,” I said. Executing our vision of a new Highcrest would be easier without filtering it through a hundred other minds.
A low chuckle rumbled in his chest against my ear. “I’m inclined to agree with you. I’m proud of you, though.”
Despite my raw emotions still simmering, I laughed. “I’m anxious to hear Commander Francesca’s report on the new settlers when she gets there.”
“About that…” Nicholas shifted beneath me and I sat up to look at him directly. “I’ve been thinking about it, and I want to go.”
I adjusted further, leaning upright on my elbow. Confusion tugged my eyebrows.
The apology that shone in his eyes had me swallowing the knot in my throat as realization dawned. “One of us needs to stay here.”
Not one of us. Me. My thoughts raced, considering the timeline of all the things on our royal agenda, trying to find some weak spot that would allow us to both depart from the castle for over a week… I came up empty.
“And I have to stay for the appearances Ricks scheduled at the food bank,” I said, full of defeat.
Nick’s strong hand cradled my jaw. “I knew it might hurt you to even suggest it. I’m sorry.” His plump lips pressed against my forehead in an act so slow I threatened to melt beneath it. “I know how much you want to oversee this.”
With a deep inhale, I strung together some thoughts.
“No, as long as one of us goes. To see it firsthand. Call me paranoid,” I said with a look of jest, considering the betrayal within the castle just weeks ago.
“Gods, there’s so many people and issues to deal with.
I feel like I’d be more effective if I were drawn and quartered.
That way, there’d be more of me to go around.
I’m drowning in how to prioritize it all.
And all those counselors mentioned their people showing symptoms of iron poisoning, but increased shipments of burdock root from Duski will still take about a week to arrive.
So even when I want to help, I can’t.” Burying my face in my palms, Nick quickly took hold of them.
“Hey. We’re in this together. You’re not doing it alone, and I sure as hell don’t want you feeling this burdened.
This kingdom will only take what you can give it, and not an ounce more.
” He dropped his forehead to mine, hands held together between us.
“That’s an order from your king.” I could hear the mischievous smile on his lips.
It had me laughing, and with it, releasing some of the tension I’d carried since the meeting. “When do you plan to go?”
“I should leave tonight. The sooner I’m gone, the sooner I can come back to you.”
My heart stalled for a moment, an ache spreading through my chest. “I’m going to miss you.” I wasn’t mad at him for planning this, or for leaving. I loved watching him live up to his potential by working hard for our people. Still, it didn’t stop the emptiness I would feel in his absence.
Before I could say anything further, he tossed me onto my back. I released a surprised shriek, followed by a giggle.
“Then I better make sure you’re not left wanting until I return.” The primal promise glistening in his eyes sparked something feral in me. And then our hands were on each other.
We’d finished by noon, which was perfect because by this point we were starving. Nick went to bathe, though he’d protested.
“I don’t want to wash any of you off me,” he’d purred into my ear.
The thought of my claim remaining on him sent my lower stomach twirling.
Knowing he wouldn’t dawdle on the journey there, I insisted he left fully prepped.
This way, by the time he departed this evening, his hair would be fully dry.
Summer’s heat was nearing its crest, but I didn’t want to chance him catching a sickness, even if the evenings generally remained warm and humid.
My grumbling stomach could be heard from one end of the castle to another, I was sure. Padding into the dining room, I was pleasantly surprised to find Melody and Tio already seated. “Oh! Hello, you two. You’re back already?”
Melody replied, “I’d wanted to show Tio all my usual places, but being escorted by guardsmen and a castle carriage hindered my usual experience. People like to gather and gawk.”
“Mm.” My brows flashed upward, a bit of disappointment setting in. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Melody said, donning that beautiful, bright smile.
“You didn’t offer him an invitation to afternoon tea, did you? I’ll have to insist that is my quality time slot,” I said, partially joking.
Someone not as close to her wouldn’t have noticed the fractional falter in her next smile, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“What is it?”
She looked down at the space between her and Tio’s chair, to where I assumed their hands were linked, before steadily lifting to peer at me again. “I’m afraid I won’t be at tea this afternoon.”
“Oh.” I exhaled with relief. I almost thought she was gearing up to say something—
“Because I’m leaving.”
I nearly swayed. “Leaving? Why? Where?” An aching absence already started hollowing my nerves.
Mel leaned forward, extending her hand palm up and resting it on the table between us. I grabbed it, somehow hoping if I held on, what she said would no longer remain true.
“I know it’s sudden, but…” She squeezed my hand as a small smile laced with determination settled across her beautiful lips. “I’ve decided to return to Rahana. There, I’ll practice my magic and see if I can master it. Put it to use in ways that will mean something other than parlor tricks.”
I tightened my grip. “You can’t practice here?” Desperation laced my reply, but I didn’t care. Deep down, I already knew there was nothing to be done. Something sparkled in her eyes and it let me know she’d chosen her path.
“If you need me to stay, Nora, I will,” she conceded. Her grip on my hand weakened and her pang of defeat zapped through me as alarmingly as a bolt of lightning.
My self desires caught fire and burned to ash. “No. I want you to go.” For her sake, not mine. I’d burn the world down for Melody, and I sure as hell wouldn’t be the reason her soul silently suffocated behind these royal walls. I knew the feeling of a call to action stirring beneath the skin.
A hint of pride spilled over my hesitation to see Mel reaching toward something for herself. I placed my other hand on top of ours, fighting back the warmth churning behind my eyes. “We’ll have to send you with some tea.”
She laughed. I noted the relief that washed over her from my blessing, and a jab of guilt cut into me.
Had she been worried I’d say no? That I’d try to stop her?
I supposed I had at first hearing it, and shame ripped through me.
We would never go back to that place where I underestimated her, where I made assumptions about her capabilities in the world.
“I’ll watch over her,” Tio added, like he could see my heart splitting in two.
I dragged my gaze to his, staring at the man who now held my sister’s well-being in his hands. It was the way she looked at him with bright eyes that had my shoulders easing from their rigid pose.
“We’ll hold you to that,” Nicholas said from beside me as he returned from the kitchen, his voice deeper and filled with more menacing promise than I’d heard in a while. I should have chided his tone, but a selfish part of me supported it.
Instead, I cleared the rising lump in my throat and asked, “When do you leave?”
Melody stiffened before she replied, preparing to drop the last piece of information I’d have to digest. “After lunch.”