Long May She Reign(99)

“Your Majesty,” the men on their knees murmured, the words forming a chant that flowed through the air. And then, as if the word had more meaning, as though it meant more respect, “Freya. Freya.”

I stepped through them, my head held high, to where Sten stood, weaponless now, glowering at me.

“I did not kill your friends, Sten. I did not want them dead. I know you didn’t, either. But I am queen now, and I will protect my kingdom from anyone who attacks it. And the Forgotten will protect me as I do.”

And with no weapons, no army, no one left to support him, Torsten Wolff could hardly disagree.





THIRTY-THREE


“I SWEAR ALLEGIANCE TO QUEEN FREYA, THE ONE TRUE queen of Epria.”

I sat in my throne, crown on my head, as a soldier knelt before me, head bowed. I nodded at him, hands folded in my lap to hide my nerves. “Thank you,” I said, and I put all my happiness, all my genuine relief, into the words. “You may rise.” The soldier stood, head still bowed, and stepped aside to allow the next man before the throne.

True to my word, every man who had surrendered during the battle had been pardoned. Even those captured fighting were pardoned and recruited into my army, if they agreed to swear loyalty to me. And so I had sat on my throne all day, hearing oath after oath, dwelling in the relief that I was alive, I had survived. No one else needed to die now.

But there was still the problem of Sten. He was in the dungeons now, and I had to decide how to deal with him. The assumption, of course, was that I’d have him executed to ensure he never posed a threat again. To show the cost of rebelling against the queen. But I meant what I had said, about wishing to avoid more bloodshed. I didn’t want anyone else to die. Not even those who’d been trying to kill me. But I couldn’t let him go, couldn’t exile him. He could easily try to gather forces and attack again.

So was I to leave him in the dungeons for the rest of his life? Somehow, that didn’t feel like justice, either.

At least he’d be easier to deal with than any lingering threat in the city. My show had convinced most people—what else could have caused all that smoke and light?—but I couldn’t have convinced everyone. There would always be doubters, and if they chose to put that doubt into action . . .

I shook my head. I was safer than I had been. I had followers of my own now, and love and respect, besides. If anyone plotted to kill me, they wouldn’t find much support.

And then there was Madeleine. Beautiful, charming Madeleine, who had helped me in the end. If I told anyone else what she had done, they’d scream for her execution. Madeleine would deserve it. But I couldn’t bear to see that happen. I couldn’t see what good that would bring.

No more bloodshed. No matter what.

When the last soldier had sworn his allegiance, the old throne room emptied out, leaving me and my advisers alone. I stood, my legs aching after too many hours on the throne, and stretched. “That went well.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Holt said, striding to my side. “But there is still work to be done.”

I walked into the middle of the room, taking in the somber stone, the desperate attempts to make it appear anything other than a prison. It wasn’t enough. This place was too cruel. “I want the court to move back to the palace.”

“Your Majesty?”

“This place isn’t fit for living anymore, and we’re not going to hide here in fear.”

“But Your Majesty, the implications of that—”

“It will mean we carry on.” I looked back at the golden throne, my throne. “The kingdom needs money. It needs more. So we’ll sell a lot of the gold in the palace, the statues, tear down the ridiculousness of it all. Create a new home for us. Have the palace banquet hall turned into a memorial for those who died. But we cannot stay here.”

Holt nodded. “It is a good thought, Your Majesty.”

“Then we’ll do it. And Sten can remain here, for now. Where he can’t cause any trouble.”

Holt pursed his lips. “Your Majesty, I really do advise—”

“No more death, Holt. Not even for that.”

He looked at me for a long moment, then bowed. “That may be wise, Your Majesty. Or it may be folly. But I would like to see it as wisdom.”

I continued toward the door. “Your Majesty,” Holt said. “I must apologize, for my attitude regarding William Fitzroy. I must admit that I may have been—biased, in that regard.”

It was probably all the admission of fault I could expect. Quite a big capitulation, from a man who had been so convinced before. “I can’t trust you,” I said, “if you will not trust me.” He and I did not always see eye to eye, and sometimes his motivations were puzzling to me, to say the least. But he did genuinely, passionately support me as queen. And he understood things that I could not, things about the Forgotten, things I needed to know. “But I am grateful, to have you as my ally.” I slowed my walk. While we were being honest . . . “May I ask you a question?”

“You may ask me anything, Your Majesty. You are queen, after all.”

“Why didn’t you side with Sten?” He stared at me, and I smiled. “He was the safer option. The known quantity. And he was a reformer, too. Why did you choose to support me, when I looked like the losing side?”