The Mirror King (The Orphan Queen, #2)(110)



He never had been mine.

“That’s—” Melanie shook her head. “Awful. But now it makes sense. The rumors about what Chrysalis said. The way you choked on Tobiah’s name, though I could tell you loved Black Knife.”

“I didn’t know how to talk about it. Or if I should. It would have meant admitting so many uncomfortable things about my time in Skyvale.”

“You can tell me anything. Even if it’s that two of the people we used to hate the most are actually the same person and you’re in love with him.” She tilted her head. “Or just one of them.”

“It doesn’t matter, thanks to the aforementioned murder.” I stepped out of the gown, only a petticoat covering my skin. “And right now we have more important issues to discuss. The council meeting begins soon.”

The council chamber was full.

From my father’s seat, I twisted to face Tobiah while he told everyone about the events in Skyvale.

“Once West Pass Watch fell, we realized the barrier wouldn’t work—not for the whole kingdom. So we packed the pieces into crates and shipped them east.”

“You shipped me east, too.” Francesca feigned annoyance. “Many of the ladies and I went to Hawes at the same time, the barrier among our belongings. Tobiah was concerned that if people realized what was being transported, the pieces would be taken and improperly assembled. Wasted before we knew whether they worked.”

“You guarded them well, Mother.” He took her hand and smiled. “I tried to make those four”—he gestured at the Skyvale Ospreys—“leave for Hawes, too, but they insisted they could be useful. And they were. They were instrumental in getting people to evacuation routes, killing wraith beasts, and finding supplies for the journey. Without the Ospreys, we’d have lost thousands more.”

The praise made Connor blush, while Carl and Kevin sat up a little taller. Theresa just stared at the table, her jaw clenched tight.

Later, I’d hug them and scold them for not writing to let me know they were alive, but for now I said, “I’m so proud of you. If I had medals to pin on you, I would.”

“After we set up the barrier,” said Carl. “I’m sure you’ll find something by then— Ow!” He glared at Connor. “If you’re going to kick me, don’t aim for the bruises.”

“Let’s talk about your award ceremonies another time.” I turned back to Tobiah. “Please, tell us what happened when the wraith arrived.”

He kept his posture solid and stiff, but I could see the urge to wilt at the reminder. “At first, it was as though the wraith splashed up against the eastern mountains and stayed contained in the valley. Many evacuees went straight east along the old rail lines, aimed here, but I went south to Two Rivers City, stopping in the towns and villages in between to make sure people were ready to leave.”

“Were they?” Paige asked.

“Some.” Tobiah’s gaze strayed toward the window. “Others had never left their villages, and had no plans to leave now.”

“Even if it meant—” Paige pressed her hands over her mouth. “Really?”

He nodded. “I spent a lot of time trying to persuade them before I realized they were more afraid of leaving than they were of the wraith.”

How could someone be afraid to leave if it meant they’d live? But maybe there was no way I could understand.

Tobiah turned back to the council. “Most of Lakeside had already evacuated to Two Rivers City, so they were aware of the situation. Still, everyone thought they had several more months, maybe years. After all our projections and careful tracking, no one expected this.”

All around the table, people lowered their eyes.

“From there,” said the queen mother, “he came to Hawes, where we continued preparing the kingdom for evacuation.”

“Our riders never heard from you,” I said to Tobiah. “After your communications ended, we sent people to search for you.”

“I was forced to disguise my identity much of the time. Traveling as the king meant I was in constant danger from people who believed I could single-handedly stop the wraith.” He turned his palms upward, as though wishing for that ability. “When the wraith began crossing the piedmont, I realized Hawes wouldn’t be safe much longer, so we headed for Snowhaven Bridge—which was collapsed partway across, unfortunately.”

“Then it was whole,” said someone from the back of the room. “We all saw it from the throne room.”

“Indeed.” Tobiah gazed around the table until he met my eyes. “We took advantage of that and rode across as quickly as possible. Then we came here to find out I’d died and you’d become Queen of Aecor.”

“I’ve never been gladder for false information.” My knee touched his and I held there so he’d know . . . what? That I still loved him? Meredith was still between us, her death not that long ago—because of me.

“Me too.” Tobiah pressed back, making my breath hitch. “We brought as many supplies as we could, including food, livestock, and building materials.”

“Thank you. We can go over the specifics tomorrow, when you’re recovered from your journey.”

“I appreciate it.”

“Perhaps we should hold off on tonight’s ball so our guests can rest.” We didn’t really need a ball to celebrate my coronation. If some believed building a barrier against the wraith was a waste of resources, surely a ball was completely useless.

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