The Deepest Blue(109)

But Roe didn’t. She merely said, “Yes, I can.”

Garnah dropped the soup bowl, drew a knife, and jammed it into Lord Maarte’s throat. Blood spurted around the blade. His eyes bulged. He landed hard, with a thud, on his knees, and then he sprawled onto the floor.

“Messier than poison,” Garnah complained.

Mayara had schooled herself not to react. They’d planned this. Lord Maarte had to die, or the others wouldn’t understand there were consequences to their actions. He had to die in order for Queen Rokalara to allow the others to live.

Yet it was brutal to watch.

She reminded herself of the others on Akena. Kemra choked by vines. Nissala crucified on the cliffside. The other to-be-heirs they weren’t even able to identify, torn apart in the air or trapped in the crystal.

That had been brutal too.

“Our people need your help to rebuild their homes—you have the resources and experience to aid them,” Roe said to the other Families. Her voice was steady, as if there weren’t a dead man lying on the throne-room floor. “But in return for allowing you to keep your positions and lives despite the crimes you have committed against my family, I require a pledge of allegiance.”

Lady Garnah stepped over Lord Maarte’s body. “Let me clarify: Her Majesty may find you useful as a whole, but as individuals, you are expendable. You don’t harm her, you don’t harm her family, and you protect your people. Keep to this, and I won’t slip poison into your drinks that will make your blood turn to acid, your brain turn to mush, and your heart liquify in your chest. Does that about cover it, Your Majesty?”

Mayara suppressed a smile despite the tension in the room. She could see why the late queen had relied on Garnah. She was direct, and she had the skills to back up her threats. She was glad the ruffle-clad poison-maker was on their side. “Or I could have a kraken eat them,” Mayara offered helpfully.

Queen Rokalara blessed them all with a sunny smile. “I think that about covers it, at least for now. I will be meeting with each of you individually to discuss how this will work going forward. But the essence is this: Don’t threaten my family. Don’t threaten me. And we’ll rebuild our islands together.”

She paused, and the two queens and the royal poison-maker allowed the Family representatives to whisper among themselves. When the whispers began to grow louder, Queen Roe spoke again. “Now who will offer me their allegiance and be pardoned for their crimes?”

All of them stepped forward and knelt beside Lord Maarte’s body.

AFTER THE FAMILY REPRESENTATIVES WERE DISMISSED AND THE BODY was removed, Mayara wanted to sink into her throne, which was merely one of the few unbroken chairs in the palace, but they weren’t finished.

“Silent Ones, please remain,” Queen Roe said.

The Silent Ones waited while the Families filed out of the throne room. When only the Silent Ones remained, Roe raised her voice, “Heir Sorka, would you please enter? This matter concerns both heirs and Silent Ones.”

Heir Sorka, who had been waiting beyond the throne room, entered and bowed to both queens. Whatever she felt toward the two spirit sisters who’d escaped the test, she didn’t let it show on her face. She folded her hands in front of her and waited, more patiently than any of the Family representatives had.

“Here’s the situation,” Roe said, when the throne-room doors were closed. “I’m queen of Belene, bonded to the spirits of the islands, but unlike prior queens, I do not have to use my power to control the leviathans of the Deepest Blue.” She nodded to Mayara.

Mayara stepped forward. “I’m the queen of the Deepest Blue. I’ll use my power to keep them in check, leaving Queen Roe free to fight alongside the heirs.”

She saw Heir Sorka’s eyes widen as the implications sank in. She wasn’t surprised that their trainer understood before they’d even put it into words.

“This means that being an heir won’t be as deadly, and it won’t require such sacrifice,” Roe said. “Going forward, there will be no more test. Just as there is no more Akena Island itself.” She paused, as if expecting Heir Sorka, or even one of the Silent Ones, to object.

They didn’t.

Mayara chimed in. “All spirit sisters will be trained. The most powerful will be encouraged to become heirs, and the others will serve as new Silent Ones.”

“We still need both heirs and Silent Ones,” Roe said. “Heirs to serve as our army—fighting against the external threats of the wild spirits. Silent Ones to serve as our police—ensuring our people remain safe from internal threats. Our islands aren’t safe places, and we need women of power to do their duty. But we think, without the test and Akena Island, more will choose to be heirs willingly, and therefore changes can be made that will improve the lives of both heirs and Silent Ones.”

Heir Sorka’s forehead knit into a frown. “Without the test . . .”

“A school,” Lady Garnah piped up. “Like on the mainland. Train your heirs in a more civilized way. You’ll still lose some of them, obviously, but you should be able to lower the death rate by not chucking them in the water and hoping they learn to swim, so to speak. Teach them.”

“Exactly. And we want you to lead the school, Heir Sorka,” Mayara said.

Her mouth formed an O.

It was kind of nice to render their old trainer speechless.