Four Dead Queens(100)

“No,” he said uncertainly, glancing to the other advisors, who shook their heads in agreement. “I suppose not.”

“Then another system needs to be put in place. We have no choice.” Her patience was wearing thin. Surely, he could see they were out of options. When he didn’t speak, she added, “Temporarily, of course.”

Jenri turned to the other advisors, and they began speaking heatedly. After what seemed like hours, he turned back to Arebella.

“You are the only surviving Quadarian with royal blood,” he said. Arebella lowered her head sagely. “We could place you in charge of the other quadrants, however—”

“If that’s what must be done,” she interrupted. “Then I will endure the extra burden.”

“But, my queen.” Jenri’s eyes were wide. “If you were to take their thrones, there is no undoing it. It would not be temporary.”

Arebella knew all of this, but she forced her face to scrunch in confusion. “Why?”

“It is part of Queenly Law, something we must uphold. For if anyone with royal blood is to take the throne, then they absorb the power of that quadrant until their dying day.”

“But that law was written for the queen’s quadrant only,” one of the advisors said. She was a tall woman with white hair. Alissa. Arebella remembered her from one of the many introductions over the last few days. She was married to Queen Corra’s former handmaiden. “When a queen takes her throne, she is bound to that throne till her death.”

“It is not stipulated that she can only hold one throne,” Jenri said.

Yes. Yes. Finally, they are getting it.

“Jenri,” Arebella said, bowing her head slightly, “I will do whatever my quadrant or quadrants want of me. Whatever is best for Quadara.” She pinned him with her gaze. “It’s what my mother would have wanted.”

That’s it. Play upon his weakness. Mackiel’s voice was clear in her head.

Jenri addressed the other advisors. “We were planning to wait till we found a distant descendant, but Arebella proposes a quicker solution. If the choice is between the quadrants being notified their queen is dead and no one has yet to take the throne, or the quadrants being notified their queen is dead and the last royal will rule all the quadrants, then we have no choice but to place Queen Arebella in charge of all of Quadara.”

“For all time?” Ketor, the old, stoic Eonist advisor, asked. “That is too much to ask.”

“Until her dying day,” Jenri clarified. “As Queenly Law states. We cannot read around the laws at such an unstable time.”

This is it. This is it. Arebella bunched her skirts in her hands to stop from shaking.

“No,” said another advisor. He had red hair, and it was clear from his bloodshot eyes that he’d been crying. Lyker. It had to be. She’d heard the palace staff whispering about his scandalous relationship with Queen Stessa. “That’s not what Stess—that’s not what Queen Stessa would’ve wanted. She wanted to protect Ludia and keep it separate from the other quadrants. What would this—” He looked at Arebella. “I mean, what would the queen know of the other quadrants’ wishes? She just arrived here. She didn’t even know she was a royal until six days ago. And she’s so young!”

How dare he! He was barely older than her.

“I agree,” Ketor said. “Queen Corra would also have been against this.”

But she’s dead. They’re all dead. Arebella bit her tongue to stop from replying. Mackiel subtly held a hand up, palm facing her. Take deep breaths. Don’t let them know what you want. She knew what he was trying to say.

“Then you teach Queen Arebella everything you know,” Jenri said. “Ensure she rules wisely.

“What other choice do we have?” he asked when the other advisors didn’t reply. “Queen Arebella is correct. We cannot wait years to find someone suitable. It is too risky.”

“But Queenly Law . . .” Alissa lamented. She glanced at the walls around her, but the etched words were still unclear due to the little sunlight filtering in from above.

“These are desperate times,” Jenri said. “We must do what is right for Quadara. The queens would all have agreed to that.”

Alissa lowered her head. “Yes, Queen Iris would do anything for her quadrant. I suppose even if it meant sitting a Torian upon her throne.”

Ketor nodded solemnly, while Lyker stayed quiet. Clearly, he did not agree with the other advisors.

“Queen Arebella?” Jenri’s sullen eyes were back upon hers. “The choice is yours.”

Yes. Yes. Yes.

“Of course,” she replied. “I will do what is right for Quadara, for my people. And I will respect the memory of the passed queens.”

Don’t look at Mackiel. Don’t look at Mackiel, she warned herself, for she knew she would be unable to hide her grin.

“Good,” Jenri said. “You are already a queen; all that must be done now is to sit upon each throne and declare your loyalty to that quadrant.”

Arebella rose. “I’m ready.”





CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE





Keralie



I waited thirty minutes before enacting my plan. I had to ensure Mackiel had left, and I needed the extra time to collect my thoughts, and myself, from the floor.