The Orphan Queen (The Orphan Queen #1)(28)
“I’ll make quick introductions, and then we’ll catch up Lady Julianna on our efforts.” Tobiah sat—the rest of the men followed—and gestured around the table. “This isn’t the full committee; some members have been called away recently. But I’ll start with Captain Clint Chuter, House of the Sea.”
“I remember. We were seated close together at the engagement ball.” I nodded toward the captain, who looked a little abashed by his staring earlier. He sent a faint, apologetic smile.
“General Adam Goldberg, General Fredrick Goldberg, both House of the Sun. Adam commands the Indigo Order, while Fredrick oversees the Indigo Army.”
The generals, brothers presumably, were both solid-built men with thinning hair. They eyed me warily.
I put on a shy, hopeful smile. “I’m afraid I’m not clear on the difference between the two divisions. The Order and the Army: they’re both military, yes?” I knew, of course, but Lady Julianna probably wouldn’t. Men like these enjoyed explaining things. They liked being helpful, so I would put them at ease.
Adam cleared his throat. “The Order is a highly selective military branch. We accept only highborn soldiers.”
I nodded toward Tobiah’s bodyguard on the other side of the room, standing stoically. “Like James?”
“Lieutenant Rayner is one of many young men trained to guard the King’s Seat and the royal family, as well as deal with anyone practicing magic in the city. Lieutenant Rayner’s scores on the Academy final examination, as well as a recommendation from His Highness, earned him this position.” The general sat back. “It’s a small, elite army, since there are so many qualifications.”
It hadn’t been the Indigo Order that had come through Aecor nearly ten years ago, unless Tobiah’s previous bodyguard had followed. They were dangerous for an entirely different reason. No doubt they had whole divisions dedicated to ruining the lives of anyone caught using magic.
I turned to Fredrick. “And the Indigo Army?” Which had been there. Maybe even this man. I pressed my hands to my knees.
“We accept anyone, so long as the young man has all his limbs, though, like the Order, we do comb through the records at Bome Boys’ Academy for the highest-scoring students to be considered for officer positions.” He shot his brother a wry look, an indication of a long-standing argument that might never be won. “It’s not as prestigious, but my soldiers and officers have an opportunity to travel. We have men at West Pass Watch, under the command of Prince Herman Pierce, and all along the western border of the Indigo Kingdom, protecting people from the wraith.”
Along with men from Aecor?
I bowed my head solemnly. “Both seem like selfless pursuits. I’m sure your people must be grateful for both the Order and the Army.”
“Isn’t she delightful?” Clint asked the others, as though I were a secret he was finally allowed to share.
I’d never been called delightful before.
After a bored shake of his head, Tobiah turned to the last man in the room. Though he wore a uniform of the Indigo Order, the buttons strained, and he appeared to have seen little fighting in the last decade. “Finally, my uncle, Prince Colin Pierce, House of the Dragon, Duke of Skyvale, and Overlord of Aecor Territory.”
I blanched. Overlord of Aecor.
Overlord of my kingdom.
“My lady?”
My breath was too short; I could feel it, but I couldn’t fix it. Men leaned forward, studying me. Someone said something about me not being fit for this type of work, but his voice came from far away.
The prince pushed himself up and started around the table. “James, call for a physician.”
“No. It’s all right. I’m fine.” I wasn’t fine, but my ailment wasn’t anything a physician could cure. I forced my expression into something resembling calmness, struggling to recapture the mask of Lady Julianna before I ruined everything.
Tobiah rounded the table toward me and crouched at my side, pressing one hand flat against my spine, an incredible breech in manners. “Are you certain?” He touched two fingers to my throat. Our eyes met for a heartbeat before his gaze shifted to somewhere over my shoulder. “Your pulse is racing.”
“I’m fine.” I reached for an explanation. Anything. “I’m afraid I haven’t fully recovered from my journey through the wraithland. I suppose I was thinking too much about the necessity for this committee.” I needed to control myself better. Even now, the men exchanged unimpressed glances.
James hesitated by the doorway. “Your Highness?”
The moments lengthened, but at last the prince stood and waved James back to his position. “Let’s continue. If the lady says she’s fine, we won’t disrespect her by calling the physician against her wishes.” His polite words didn’t quite disguise the withering look he gave me.
James returned to the corner where he’d been standing, but his eyes, filled with concern, stayed on me. As though I needed his protection.
Tobiah took his seat and slid a pile of papers across the table to me. “I thought you might like to study these. In addition to statistics and reports from West Pass Watch, they detail the different ways members of the Wraith Alliance have attempted to mitigate or halt the wraith, as well as the varying levels of success reached.”
None of the attempts had been truly successful, though. Like Liadia, some countries held off the wraith for a few months or a year, but eventually, it broke through. “I appreciate this, Your Highness.”