Four Dead Queens(99)

Mackiel raised an eyebrow. “Did she?” he mused. “I guess you’ll never know. But I’ll have more power here as Arebella’s confidant than I ever could’ve achieved back at the Jetée. And I’ll ensure no one will threaten my business again. Not even a queen.” His expression grew intense. “No one will ever forget my name.”

Infamy. That was what this was about? Mackiel’s father had always said he’d amount to nothing, and he was determined to prove him wrong.

My tears fell heavier now, blurring my vision. Blurring Mackiel. Blocking the hideous truth. “Get out!”

This time, he obliged. He tipped his gold top hat and left me sobbing on the prison floor.

Once his footsteps could no longer be heard, I wiped away the tears with my right hand. In my left was the second blade I’d stolen from Mackiel’s pockets.

Yes, he’d taught me well.





CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR





Arebella


   Queen of Toria



Rule thirteen: Only a queen may sit upon the throne. When she takes the throne, she accepts the responsibility to rule the quadrant until her dying day.


Arebella took her throne, unable to avoid glancing at the empty thrones beside her. A tug lifted the corner of her mouth. Up on the dais, she could sense the power coursing through her. The power of ruling a quadrant—soon to be a nation. A nation no longer divided.

Mackiel had done his job; no living blood relatives could be found. Arebella would soon be named the only living Quadarian with royal blood. The next step was clear: she would become queen of Quadara.

Once she was seated, the entire palace staff and advisors took their seats opposite her. Some Torians still wore black, their faces covered by veils. It was clear from the advisors’ tight expressions that they were unhappy with only one queen up on the dais. Their system was falling apart.

Arebella glanced at the Quadarian dial behind her. It was an overcast day; little light shone from the apex of the dome above, down to the golden jewel in the middle of the dial’s face. The Queenly Laws were hardly decipherable in the low light, which was appropriate, Arebella thought, for the start of a new era. She would rewrite all the rules.

Mackiel grinned at her from the front row. They’d done it. They’d actually done it.

“You called this meeting,” Arebella said to Jenri. “What’s the agenda?” Act surprised. Act outraged. Make them think this was never my intention. The final act.

“Yes, Queen Arebella,” Jenri replied. “I’m afraid to say we have failed.” He cleared his throat. “We have failed to find any royal ancestors for Archia, Ludia and Eonia.”

She raised her chin. “How is that possible? I thought it was part of Queenly Law to ensure the royal line?”

He exchanged a glance with the other advisors. “We do not know what’s happened, but it appears that all traces of royal relatives have disappeared.”

“What does that mean for me?” she asked, before realizing her mistake. “What does that mean for the other quadrants? Who will take the thrones?”

He let out a deep and exhausted sigh. Dark circles rested below his eyes. She doubted he’d slept since he found out about her mother’s passing. But that was not her concern; in fact, it might work in her favor.

“Well?” she asked. “We can’t leave the quadrants unruled. My Queenly Report is due to be broadcast this evening after the execution. We must act quickly. An unruled nation is a weak nation.”

That’s it. Lead them to the water . . . but don’t push them in . . . Mackiel’s voice was in her head. He nodded infinitesimally at her.

“You are right, my queen,” Jenri replied. “We cannot wait a moment longer. The people will not be pleased to hear we’ve concealed the truth. Rumors have begun to spread that something awful has happened. We must announce the deaths of the queens, and your rise to the Torian throne, to keep the peace.”

“Yes, yes.” Arebella nodded a little too enthusiastically. “It must be done.”

Jenri motioned to one of his staff. “Record a special Queenly Report detailing the murders to follow Queen Arebella’s coronation announcement.”

Arebella sat straighter in her throne. Waiting . . . Waiting . . .

When he did not say any more, Arebella rose.

“My queen?” he asked. “Is there something else you wish to speak of today?”

Were they all fools? What were they waiting for?

“A decision must be made,” she replied, her voice filling the cavernous chamber.

“A decision?” he asked, the bags underneath his eyes seeming to swell. “About what, my queen?”

Fools it was, then.

“For the other quadrants.” She eased the frustration from her voice. “Toria is protected, but what about the others?”

“I’m sorry, my queen. But as I said, we could not find any living relatives. We will continue to search for other female descendants, those not directly related to the queens, but we’ll have to run genetic testing on the entire population of Quadara. It could take years to find someone with royal blood.”

“Years?” Arebella pressed her lips together for a moment. “We can’t leave the other quadrants without a queen for that long, can we?”