Chapter 9. The Last Queen.
Roxanne’s words lingered in my mind through the rest of the trip. Her saddened expression left me with countless questions.
She hadn’t said a single word for the remainder of our journey, nor had she spared me a glance once we’d arrived at the castle’s stables.
“Where have you two been?” Francis’ voice dropped a few octaves, his eyes flickered with panic, as he stood at the threshold of the stables.
“None of your business.” Roxanne pushed past him towards the castle.
Francis shook his head until his eyes landed on me; he looked me up and down, surveying for injuries. “We went to Faris,” I sighed, putting Annabelle’s reins in their designated place. “Nothing of danger.”
Francis’ lips turned into a thin line as he chose his words carefully. “Please tell someone of your whereabouts next time. Florence and I lost our minds worrying for you two.”
“Why?” I started past him. “You don’t tell me of your whereabouts or your mysterious business that is apparently more important than working on a plan.”
Francis sighed before replying, “I went to the human village near Faris to help with the rebuilding after the attack.” He walked beside me. “I promise to always tell you my whereabouts if you promise me the same.” He reached for the door, holding it open for me.
“I don’t actually care what you do with your spare time, Francis.” I walked into the castle, guilt spreading through my blood. How could I be mad at him after his candidness? “I am not a child that needs constant supervision.”
The bright luminance of candlelight gleamed in the hallways of the castle, the paintings on the walls stared at me with curiosity.
“I was worried you were in danger, Cordelia. Surely you can understand that.” Francis’ hand brushed mine as we made our way through the hall. “Despite what you like to tell yourself, I care for your safety.” He stopped before the door of his study. “Come, we have much to discuss.”
The wooden floors creaked as I entered the room, following after Francis.
He sat before the oak table; pieces of parchment covered every inch of the surface, connecting at the corners. They resembled something similar to a map of a construction—a castle, perhaps.
“What is all of this?” I studied the papers Francis had arranged in an order I failed to understand.
“It’s the Royal palace’s underground paths. Florence stumbled upon it the other day in the library.” He raised one brow when I leaned on the table, trying to make sense of the ancient layout. “I didn’t even know we carried something like this here,” he hummed more to himself than to me.
“It’s outdated.” I frowned. “By a few centuries at least.”
“That is why I needed your help.” Francis offered me a quill. “Can you fix what is missing?”
“Why?” I ignored the quill. “What do we need a map for if you have me? I know all the passages.”
Francis swallowed, his voice turning gentle. “You shouldn’t go back there, Cordelia.” Before I could protest he added, “I am not going there to kill Kane, not yet, I am merely looking for the archives Caleb mentioned.”
My dear Moon and the Gods... “No.”
“No?”
“I cannot believe you wasted three nights coming up with this.” I shook my head. “Caleb can do this for us, he said so himself.”
“You trust him,” Francis scoffed, shaking his head.
“I do not. I simply know when it’s best to use others for your gain.”
“And what do we do when he finds the archives and brings them straight to Kane?”
To that I had nothing to say.
“It’s decided. I am going.” Francis nodded, offering me the quill once again. “As much as it pains me to admit, Caleb is right. Royal steel is our only chance at survival.”
“Then I’m going with you.” I shrugged, pushing the quill away—
“What good are those weapons if we have no one to carry them?” Roxanne’s voice carried through the study, our heads flew in her direction.
Roxanne and Florence stood at the threshold of the room, their hands in a tight embrace.
“How long have you two been standing there for?” Francis’ voice shone with annoyance.
“Long enough,” Roxanne said as the women made their way to the settee by the window. A small smile spread across Florence’s face when her eyes met mine. I wished I could return the gesture, yet my lips refused.
“Faris is still recovering from its last assault.” Roxanne faced Francis. “We lost a dozen vampire warriors trying to free Cordelia from the palace.” She glanced at me.
My brows furrowed as my heart beat faster. What was she saying?
“We have no use for the weapons without an army.” Roxanne shrugged.
“You didn’t come for me alone?” My voice echoed through the study. “Someone else died because of me?”
“The royal family wasn’t the only family who died that night.” Roxanne’s gaze bored into me. “Don’t let their deaths be in vain.”
“Roxanne!” Florence gasped. “She doesn’t mean that.”
“I d—” Roxanne started when Florence’s hand covered her mouth.
“It’s not your fault.” Francis held my gaze, breaking his glare at Roxanne.
“As I said, we need an army first, weapons later.” Roxanne broke free from Florence.
“Well I don’t have an army, Rox!” Francis seethed.
As appealing as the idea of simply walking into the palace and destroying Kane from within was, it wouldn’t be possible without the proper preparation. I’d made that mistake once.
“Roxanne is right,” I interrupted the looming fight.
“We need an army above all else.” When Francis’ surprised gaze met mine I continued, “For Moon’s sake, we got caught breaking in when the palace was filled with humans, not to mention the wall of fire that now surrounds the palace during daytime.
We don’t even know where Mother kept those archives.
This is madness, we should prioritize the army.
” I looked over my company. “Are there any vampire villages beside Faris?”
“None that would be willing to help.” Florence shook her head, disappointment filling her eyes. “All that disagreed with Kane have already made their way to Faris, the rest either joined his forces or chose to simply witness how everything unfolds.”
“They plan to do nothing?” I wouldn’t give up, unsatisfied with her answer. “Are you sure we cannot change their minds?” When silence followed in reply a wicked thought crossed my mind. “Does Barren’s duchy still stand?” Three pairs of eyes buried into mine.
“A human army without Royal Steel is no use to us, we will be sending people for slaughter. Besides, Barren’s army is nowhere near big enough.” Francis shook his head. “Getting Royal Steel should be our priority.”
“Humans can fight with fire.” Roxanne protested. “Surely they aren’t foolish enough to rid themselves of their Silver weapons either. It’s better than nothing.” She nodded. “There aren’t enough of us here, Francis.”
Florence sighed as Roxanne and Francis glared at each other, their silent argument floating in the room.
“Are any other duchies standing?” I asked.
“Not that I know of.” Francis sighed, breaking his glare with Roxanne.
“All the dukes were gathered for a meeting with the Queen the day of the attack. Barren was the only one to survive, as he was away from the palace with the best of the Royal army looking for Timothy.” Francis glanced at the map on his table before adding, “My sources say that one of the Royal commanders currently resides at Barren’s estate.
I swallowed before facing Francis. “Barren knows of Timothy.”
“Well, yes, they noticed his absence eventually.” Francis leaned back on his chair.
I rolled my eyes at his mockery. “Does he know I was the one to kill him?” My throat prickled at the thought of human blood. The memory of the crimson pool Timothy was left in tingled on my tongue.
Florence and Roxanne glanced between each other, their brows furrowing; though they withheld the questions they most certainly had.
Francis’ lips turned into a thin line. “There’s no way of knowing that. Perhaps he blames the Wurdulacs for his death.”
“But the Wurdulacs attacked after Timothy’s death.” I cleared my throat. “His body wasn’t far from the palace.”
“They didn’t find his body.” Francis smirked at my puzzled expression.
“I went back and got rid of his body the following night, before we left the cabin.” Francis sighed before adding, “Don’t bother entertaining the idea, Cordelia, William Barren won’t help us, he only cares for his own skin in this war. ”
“I can convince him.” I filled my lungs. “I will convince the Royal army commander to combine our forces.”
“I’m not sure Barren will let that happen. He claims the Royals army is now his—” Francis started.
“Isn’t the army Caleb’s now. Given he is the rightful Crown.” Roxanne shrugged, picking a piece of lint off her dress.
“What are you talking of.” Florence and Francis said in unison.
Before Roxanne managed to explain I replied, “I can convince Barren and anyone who is by his side that this alliance is necessary. We need each other for survival and they know it.” I continued before Francis had the chance to interject.
“Once the deal is sealed we will figure out how much Royal steel we require and how we can make it.” I charged towards the exit.
“Write a letter to Barren, Francis,” I said over my shoulder, heading back to my only sanctuary in this castle.