Epilogue
EPILOGUE
GWEN
G wen’s stiff smile remained in place until the door closed behind the latest supplicants. Some days it felt like their time consisted of nothing but meetings from sunup to sundown. Hands appeared on her shoulders, firmly kneading at the knots. She closed her eyes and sighed, welcoming the momentary release of pressure.
“It won’t be so bad once everything is more settled,” Easton murmured. “At least that’s what my parents have assured me, and the count agrees.”
Gwen opened her eyes and smiled up at him. Reinstating Lydia and Jett to the court had been an easy decision, and they had already turned out to be better advisors than most of the people who held the title. She was thinking of giving them the official appointment soon.
She stretched, bending her head from side to side in an attempt to erase the crick in her neck. Charlotte and Henry’s current days at the royal lodge were looking more and more idyllic with every passing hour. But Gwen and Easton had promised each other they would have their own visit there once matters settled down in the mountain kingdom. She just hoped it didn’t take much longer.
At least both the court and city had accepted Count Oswin’s reinstatement as Chief Advisor thanks to the combination of his longstanding position at court and his role in the rebellion. Unfortunately, the new positions given to Patti and Dane weren’t so uncontested.
Gwen sighed again. It was only a minority who insisted the whole family should take the blame for Baden’s treachery, but their last meeting had contained several of their number. Of course it had also included a few who represented the majority—people who argued in favor of the valuable role in the rebellion undertaken by Patti, Dane, and even Natalie. Thus why the conversation had been heated.
Thankfully, those who were wavering in the middle had been mostly convinced by Natalie’s participation in Charlotte’s wedding. Seeing she still held royal favor had swayed all but the most entrenched. But those who were most entrenched in their opinions were also usually the most vocal.
And she and Easton would have to make a decision about Baden himself soon. She had been putting it off for Patti and Dane’s sakes—and to a lesser extent Lydia and Jett’s. As betrayed as they all felt, they had argued passionately that he had only done it out of fear for his family, believing the old queen too powerful to be overthrown. They had pleaded for clemency, and Gwen and Easton had put off any decision at all, not wanting their reign to begin with something so contentious.
Celandine’s guards had been easier to manage, at least, since no one had spoken in their defense. Those known to have committed casual cruelties in the city were handed over to be tried as civilians, and the others had already been marched through the new mountain pass. According to Easton, there were sea captains who would be both willing to take them and capable of keeping them in line. Some of them might even become productive citizens.
“Do you think they accepted Patti and Dane’s new roles as spokespeople for the city?” Easton asked, gazing at the closed door. “Even if they didn’t like it?”
“They certainly didn’t like it,” Gwen agreed. “But there’s no one we could appoint who would be loved by everyone. I’m sure they’ll come around when they see what a good job they do.” She groaned. “But what are we going to do about Baden?”
“Actually, I’ve been thinking about that,” Easton said. “And for once, maybe we can follow in Celandine’s footsteps.”
Gwen’s head snapped around to face him. “What?”
“She misused her power, but she did manage to maintain it in the face of opposition for twenty years. She knew something about balancing opposing interests. And when faced with a rebellious youth whose parents had influence, she chose banishment over a more confronting punishment.”
“You only challenged her!” Gwen cried indignantly. “You didn’t put anyone’s life at risk. You weren’t a traitor to your own family and people! Her reaction was outrageous.”
He shrugged. “That’s a matter of perspective. Celandine certainly thought of me as a traitor. I’m sure if she’d had her free choice, she would have executed me for daring to challenge her. But she recognized the effect that would have on every parent in the court. So she solved the problem by removing me from view.”
Gwen forced herself to consider the option with an open mind. “If Baden is banished from the mountain kingdom, he’ll be out of sight, and hopefully mind, of everyone baying for his blood. But his parents and sisters will know he’s physically unharmed and able to build a life for himself.”
“Exactly,” Easton said. “I, of all people, know it’s possible to do. And he’s three years older than I was when I was banished. He’s certainly old enough to work and provide for himself in a town like Ranost. I’ve had several long talks with him, and I agree with my parents. He did it out of fear for his family’s safety. He won’t be a danger to anyone else if we set him loose in Northhelm.”
Gwen’s shoulders slumped. “Patti and Dane won’t exactly be happy, but you’re right. I think it’s the best we can do. And now that the mountain pass is open, they can probably pay him some quiet visits in a few years’ time, which is better than your parents could hope for.”
“You don’t feel the punishment is too light?” Easton asked curiously.
Gwen rubbed her temples. “He’s still a youth. Of course we can’t ignore something so big, but I don’t want us to start our rule by handing out harsh punishments. These weeks have been difficult enough as it is.” She groaned. “I can’t say I thought I would be taking Celandine’s example in anything, though.”
“No one is completely wrong all the time,” Easton said. “Just like no one is right every time. I’ve been spending every spare minute reading the histories, trying to absorb all the records of how past monarchs handled the issues that arose. I haven’t found one who was perfect yet, but there’s always been something to learn from each of them.”
“And this is why you are just the husband I need.” Gwen stood and wrapped her arms around him. “I think you’re better at this than I am.”
He shook his head. “No, we just make a good team.”
He leaned down to kiss her, but a knock on the door made them pull reluctantly apart. Alma backed inside, a tray held in her hands.
“I knew you’d need something substantial after that lot,” she said, placing it on the enormous desk. “So don’t even think about starting another meeting until you’ve eaten everything on there.”
She fixed them both with a stern look, and they grinned back at her. Gwen had already said farewell to Miriam and most of the other captive servants, but she had been beyond delighted when Alma decided to stay.
Gwen had immediately given her the official role of housekeeper, and Alma had already sourced paid servants for most of the needed roles. From what Gwen had seen, she was training them thoroughly and ruling with a firm but fair hand. Gwen was just relieved she didn’t have to attempt the task herself. She had enough on her plate already and very little idea of the daily practicalities of running a palace building.
“What would we do without you, Alma?” Easton asked, settling in to eat with enthusiasm.
“That’s what I asked myself,” she said, watching him eat with satisfaction. “What was the point of returning to Northhelm when there was no family waiting for me? That was why I was snatched in the first place, after all. Here, on the other hand, there’s plenty needing my attention.”
“And you have family here now,” Gwen said firmly.
When they had both eaten, and Alma had taken the tray away—having watched them sternly the whole time—Gwen finally sank back into Easton’s arms.
He managed to kiss her successfully this time, but when he pulled back, they both sighed simultaneously. Their stolen moments were always too short.
“After our trip to the lodge, I want to take a trip to Ranost,” Gwen announced. “I want to learn more about your life in those years when you were gone.”
Easton smiled. “And I want to share all my stories with you. I think you’ll love the sea as much as I do if you get the chance.”
He glanced toward a locked drawer in the desk. A drawer whose only key was on a chain around Gwen’s neck.
“In ordinary circumstances, I would say we won’t have the opportunity to get away very often,” he said. “But thankfully I married a queen who can ride the wind. We can manage a day trip to Ranost if that’s all the time we have.”
“Oh yes, let’s!” Gwen said instantly. “Surely we can manage at least a single day away soon.”
“We’ll be able to visit Charlotte and Henry more easily with your halter too,” Easton said. “The more I think about it, the more advantages there are. I’m sure there will be plenty of difficult decisions in our future, but at least we’ll always be able to manage brief trips away to clear our heads.”
Gwen smiled at him and turned her face up for another kiss. “Just having you at my side is enough for a happy life. After everything we’ve been through, it isn’t something I’ll ever take for granted.”
“I want more for you than just me,” Easton protested, his eyes soft as he smiled at her. “And thankfully that’s true already. And we’ll continue to build even more together.” He nodded decisively. “I think we can have a very happy life riding the wind together.”