Queens of Fennbirn (Three Dark Crowns 0.5)(23)
“What did Queen Arsinoe do?” Katharine asks. “They said that she was to be punished. That you were to punish her.”
“She tried to leave the island.”
“But queens are not allowed to leave the island.”
“I do not even think that it was her fault.” Natalia sighs. “Certainly it was not her idea. She was taken in by foolish naturalists. They have never been fit guardians.”
“Not like you.” Katharine looks down. She is so meek. So sweet. They ought to train that meekness out of her, but Natalia cannot bring herself to try. Or perhaps she knows that it would be impossible. Katharine will always be a kind, grateful girl in need of looking after. “So you were merciful, then? If it was not her fault?”
“I was.”
“But you did punish her?”
“I did.” Natalia reaches out and touches the queen’s pale cheek. “I will always take care of everything, Kat. If you are tired, I will be alert. If you are weak, I will become twice as strong. I will guard your crown for you.”
ROLANTH
“Queen Mirabella, I have brought you something.” Luca takes down the hood of her light traveling cloak, and the queen sets aside her book and walks quickly into the High Priestess’s open arms. She squeezes the girl tightly and steps back to remove her gloves. Fall has come early to Rolanth, so far in the north, with a chill wind rushing through the evergreens and across the basalt cliffs. In the capital of Indrid Down, from whence she came, they are still enjoying the last of a balmy summer, and the change in climate has made the bones in the High Priestess’s wrists ache. This Rolanth weather will take some getting used to.
“I care only that you have brought yourself,” Mirabella says, and kisses her hands. “But what did you bring me?”
“Iced anise cookies.” Luca holds them up, in a pretty striped box, and Mirabella takes them. She sniffs the edge. “I thought we could have them with our tea. But first, to business. I must tell you what has happened to your sister, Queen Arsinoe.”
Mirabella’s smile fades. They have come a long way from water spirits forced down Luca’s throat. Mirabella is no longer a danger. No longer kept in a basement out of fear. But the queen is stubborn. At least as stubborn as she is strong, and that makes her the most stubborn girl on the island.
“They should have known she would get herself into trouble. They should have guarded her more closely. Do they not know her at all?”
“They know her, and they care for her,” Luca says. “I have seen it.”
Luca takes her arm and walks with her through the open air of Rolanth Temple. As the years passed, she has grown fond of the elemental queen. More than fond. She has grown to love her, and the favoritism shown by the High Priestess cannot be denied. But favoritism by the High Priestess is not the same as favoritism by the temple. So she told Natalia Arron when the woman finally confronted her. She will never forget the look on Natalia’s face when she said she would be leaving Indrid Down to reside in Rolanth with the queen.
“What was the punishment?” Mirabella asks as they walk past the altar and into the dome with the mural of elemental Queen Elo, the fire breather, where they might hide from the wind. “Was it as bad as you feared?”
“It was not. It was a rare show of Arron mercy. Banishment to the mainland for the boy.” She pauses as Mirabella puts a hand to her throat. “And banishment of another kind for the girl. To the Black Cottage, to serve as the next Midwife. However, it seems that the girl’s aunt will take her place, so Queen Arsinoe may keep her companion.”
Mirabella exhales. After their first meeting on the banks of Starfall Lake, Luca did not know if she could be controlled. But the key to taming Mirabella has been to use a soft hand. Not to try to drive the thoughts of her sisters from her head, but to understand them. To educate her in the ways of a queen and devote her to the Goddess completely. To make her a servant.
Sara Westwood still foolishly hopes that one day Mirabella will forget, like other queens do. But Mirabella will never forget. Perhaps it is because she is such a rare queen, of such tremendous power, and the memories are the way the Goddess has chosen to test her. Or perhaps it is because her sisters were burned into her mind after being locked in a dark basement for three long years.
It will take time, and more education, but Mirabella will be the queen that the island needs. She is chosen. Luca knows that as surely as she has known anything since the day she took the bracelets and entered the temple.
“You are still wild.” Luca reaches out and flicks a long lock of tangled black hair from the queen’s shoulder. “Have you been out in the wind, running along Shannon’s Blackway again, with Bree?”
“Only before prayer this morning. We were both so restless, awaiting your return.”
“Come, then. I am restless as well after days in the carriage. Will you walk with an old woman, down toward the city? On the evergreen path?”
“Of course, High Priestess.” Mirabella offers her arm.
Luca does not really need the arm. Not yet. Her old legs are still sturdy and show no sign that they will fail her for years to come. But it is good for the queen to feel necessary. Like a caretaker. They wander down the evergreen path, in the hills that overlook the city of Rolanth. Not too far, Luca hopes, for the way back will not be quite so easy, but luckily, they come across the funeral procession just after the third curve.