Chapter 45
Ro had slept well. The syphnoct had not returned.
She was back in her own quarters, freshly bathed, and standing on the balcony in her robe sipping another cup of her usual half-coffee, half-spiced cocoa mix. The sun was rising higher, but there were storm clouds on the horizon. A dark, brooding front streaked with lightning.
Fitting, she thought, for what lay ahead.
After breakfast with Gabriel, Uldamar, and Spencer, she and Gabriel, along with a royal guard, had taken the horses out so he could show her more of Starfall. His way of making up for not taking that walk last night.
They’d visited the mine where Valentyne would be applying his expertise and the gardens that Nazyr would be bringing back to life. The two men had their work cut out for them. If nothing else, it would occupy them and leave them too tired to think of doing anything else.
The storm clouds rolled closer. The meeting wasn’t far off either.
She hadn’t brought Luena or Helena with her to Starfall. It was a short trip, and she didn’t need that kind of help. She could dress herself, especially in the simple outfit of jacket, leggings, and boots.
Gabriel, however, had brought in a young woman from the village to assist Ro with her hair, or anything else she might need. Nirra was in the small dressing room, making sure Ro’s clothing was clean and wrinkle free.
She smiled at his thoughtfulness. Then she smiled a little bigger thinking about last night.
He’d given her his bed, then he’d slept in the sitting room next door. After a very prolonged goodnight kiss.
The memory brought warmth into her cheeks.
“Your highness?”
She turned to see Nirra at the door. “Yes?”
“I’m ready for you. If you’re ready to get dressed.”
“I am. It’s time.” As much as she would have preferred to spend more time on the balcony, she wanted to be downstairs well before the meeting was scheduled to start. She went in.
There was only a small dressing area, about the size of a standard, mortal world walk-in closet, so Nirra had laid the clothing out on the bed. “I must say, your highness, I’ve never seen a jacket like this one.”
“No? Why’s that?” It was new, but it had been designed after one of Ro’s favorites.
That was the one she’d worn to Tenebrae, which needed to be repaired because of the fabric being cut where Anyka had stabbed her.
This jacket was in a deep royal purple with silver buttons bearing the same dragonfly that was on the royal seal.
“Because of the metal panels.”
“Metal panels?” Ro went over to look.
Nirra nodded. “You can feel them in the fabric. They’re between the outer layer and the silk lining. Here, touch this.” She held the jacket out, partially open.
Ro ran her fingers over it. “You’re right. That’s definitely a metal panel. Thin, but hard.”
“There are four on the front and four larger ones on the back.”
Ro nodded, affection for Luena swelling her heart. “I have a feeling my seamstress did that for protection.”
“Protection from what, your highness? If it’s all right that I ask.”
“Queen Anyka stabbed me during our meeting at Tenebrae.”
Nirra’s eyes went wide. “My lady.” She pressed a hand to her throat. “And yet you are about to meet with her daughter this day?”
Ro nodded. “I suppose you think that makes me a little crazy, hmm?”
“No.” Nirra shook her head. “I think it makes you incredibly brave. That you would do this for us, for the sake of peace…” She swallowed. “We are blessed to have you, your highness. I pray no harm befalls you today.”
“Thank you. I’ll be well protected today, I promise.”
“I am glad to hear it.”
Raindrops began to ping against the glass.
“I should be downstairs as soon as possible.”
“Yes, my lady.” Nirra helped Ro dress, then did her hair, braiding it back on the sides in an elaborate four-strand plait Ro had never seen before. A little makeup, the addition of Merediem, her Silversmith dagger, and a more decorative one on her belt, and she was done.
She walked out to the sitting room to find Gabriel waiting. “You should have told me you were here.”
He got to his feet. “I didn’t want to rush you.” He nodded at her outfit. “You look beautiful. And ready for the meeting.”
“I am.”
“Good, because I’ve had word they came through early.”
“Of course they did. Anything else I should know about?”
“Nothing yet. It seems Beatryce kept her word. She’s got two lady’s maids with her and a bodyguard. Of course, we have no guarantee those people are who she says they are, but that’s why we’ll have Uldamar with us.”
“Exactly.” Ro gave him a quick smile that she didn’t really feel. “Let’s head down, then.”
They walked into the great hall a few minutes later. It was smaller than the great hall at Castle Clarion, but not by much. She could imagine the parties and balls this space had once hosted. Maybe it would again soon.
Polished marble columns divided lively teal green silk panels and painted mural sections depicting beautiful young fae men and woman doing various activities. Hunting, dancing, fishing, riding, archery, fencing, animal husbandry, all kinds of things.
Gold accented everything, even the floor where gilded strips had been laid between squares of light and dark wood in a checkerboard pattern. The sheen on the floor made it seem freshly waxed. In fact, Ro thought she picked up a hint of lemon and honey.
In each corner of the room stood a royal guard. Ro doubted Beatryce would like that, but she didn’t care.
Five enormous chandeliers lit the space.
Chairs had been brought in and set in two rows, four chairs apiece.
The rows faced each other at a reasonable distance.
Between them sat a long table with more chairs, sheets of paper, pens, water goblets and pitchers of water.
The peace treaty Ro had prepared lay in the very center, waiting to be read.
“You’ve thought of everything,” Ro said. She wasn’t sure any of that paper would get used, but she hoped she was wrong.
“I did my best.”
“As usual, your best is pretty fantastic.”
He smiled, then stifled it. “Besides the guards stationed at each corner, there will be a pair outside each exit. That’s as minimal as I’m willing to be.”
“I approve. Bea probably won’t like it, but she’ll have to get over that.”
Gabriel was about to say something when Uldamar and Spencer walked in. Uldamar was wearing an impressive robe of midnight blue, embroidered with silver runes. Spencer was in dark gray breeches with a white shirt and marula tweed vest. Both men wore several visible daggers.
Spencer gave her a quick bow. “How are you feeling, your highness?”
“Ready. And also not ready.”
Uldamar smiled. “A very appropriate way to feel.”
A guard entered, bowed, and announced, “Queen Beatryce of Malveaux has arrived, your highness.”
“See her in,” Ro responded. She straightened, feeling every nerve in her body come to life, her fight-or-flight responses at the ready for whichever path she might take. But regardless of how her body felt, she would not be running.
Gabriel and Uldamar took their positions on either side of her. Spencer stood next to Uldamar.
At breakfast, she had discussed in greater detail with the three of them her thoughts on how the day might go and what her reaction would be to several possible outcomes. They knew what she wanted to happen. And how she planned to respond if it didn’t. Or if Beatryce tried anything foolish.
Ro reminded herself to breathe. So far, the Silversmith dagger remained cool.
Another guard walked in, then stepped to the side. “Queen Beatryce Blackbryar of Malveaux.”
Beatryce came through the door next, followed by her bodyguard, then her two lady’s maids.
Uldamar hadn’t moved, but Ro could hear his voice in her ear as if he’d bent and whispered in it. She knew it was magic, but it was still impressive. “That man is not her bodyguard, but Prince Dren, her betrothed. I am sure of it. I met him as Nazyr. A questionable ruse on the queen’s part.”
Ro had to agree. Beatryce had not only arrived earlier than she was supposed to, but she’d brought her troll fiancé instead of her actual bodyguard. What the purpose of that was, Ro couldn’t be sure. Did he have magic?
As if reading her thoughts, Uldamar said, “He has no discernable magic that I can tell.”
Are you reading my mind?
But no response came.
Beatryce and her entourage moved closer, lining themselves up in front of the chairs so that they faced Ro and her people.
Again, Uldamar’s whisper filled her head. “The aura of magic from the younger of the two lady’s maids is staggering. Too much for a mere maid. Also, there is darkness in Beatryce. The same darkness I sensed in her mother. Something is afoot, my lady. Take care.”
Ro gave a short nod, then stepped forward. The first tendrils of anger curled around the base of her spine. She’d already warned the three men behind her that she would not be playing any games. This meeting was going to be firmly grounded in reality.
Whatever Beatryce was playing at, Ro wasn’t going to tolerate it.
Her eyes narrowed. “Queen Beatryce.” She gestured at the men with her. “This is First Professor of Security Nightborne, First Professor of Magic Darkstone, and First Professor of History Cloudtree.
Beatryce gave Ro a haughty look. “Queen Sparrow. I’ve only brought with me my lady’s maids and my personal guard.”
Ro knew that wasn’t true but ignored that for the moment to set the ground rules.
“No magic will be tolerated. Daggers will be allowed, as you see yours have not been demanded of you and those in my party have theirs as well. If anyone attempts to use a dagger, the royal guards present have been instructed to remove that person immediately. Do you agree to that?”
“Of course,” Beatryce said with an odd smile.
Rain pattered against the windows, the thunder faint and distant.
Ro nodded, then decided to break the ice with a little small talk. The kind that might unsettle Beatryce slightly. “How is your mother?”
Beatryce took a hard breath before snapping out, “She is as well as can be expected.”
“Should we expect her to be wearing the crown anytime soon?”
“Only fate knows the answer to that,” Beatryce replied, a bitter edge sharpening her words.
Ro wondered who’d schooled Beatryce in that response. It felt rehearsed. But the time for small talk was over. “Before we begin, would you care to explain why you’ve brought your betrothed, Prince Dren, in place of your bodyguard?”
Beatryce’s lips parted in shock, then she erased all expression from her face. “I will forgive you for thinking all trolls look alike. This is Krohl, my bodyguard. My betrothed remains in Malveaux.”
Ro clasped her hands behind her back. “Lying to me is not a great way to start a peace discussion, your highness. I’ll give you one more opportunity to tell me the truth.”
Anger, maybe at being called out, crept into Beatryce’s face. “Calling me a liar is an even worse way to start a peace discussion, your highness.”
“So you deny it?” Ro asked. The Silversmith dagger had warmed ever so slightly.
Bea lifted her chin. “This man is my bodyguard.”
Ro looked at Dren next. “Anything to say for yourself, Prince Dren? Or is it standard operating procedure for trolls to impersonate others during treaty meetings?”
Dren said nothing, just slanted his eyes at Beatryce, who didn’t notice. She did seem a little angrier, however. In fact, even the lady’s maids were starting to look angry.
Suddenly, Uldamar’s voice was in Ro’s ear again. “My lady, be careful. The maid with magic is far more powerful than I initially realized. I now believe she could be the sylphnoct.”
Ro hid her reaction to that news as much as she could, but she doubted anyone was paying attention to her.
Beatryce had just thrust her hand out and produced a ball of fire.