The Void of Muirwood (Covenant of Muirwood Book 3)(35)

“You are my friend as well as my chief lady-in-waiting, Suzenne. I am certain there will be other embarrassing occasions in the future.”

“I know. But if someone had walked in on Dodd and me, I would be mortified.”

Maia reached and squeezed her hand. “Let us not talk of it again. I am so pleased to have both of you on my Privy Council, you know. You are the first woman to be invited. Please do not be daunted to give your advice, Suzenne. I will expect you to speak your mind. You must speak for the women and the children of the realm.”

Suzenne paled at the thought, but her expression was determined. “It is a privilege, Maia.” She squeezed her hand in return.

Maia nodded to Captain Carew as they neared him. “Good morning, Captain!” she said cheerily.

“Your Grace, good morning,” he replied, stiffening to a bow. His injured leg had been healing well, and he no longer winced when he put weight on it. “Your first Privy Council meeting is underway. They await you.” He opened the handle and invited her inside.

In keeping with rules of rank, Suzenne fell several steps back so Maia could enter the room well before her. Designed as a half circle, the enormous room was dazzlingly appointed. Rings of stuffed leather-and-wood seats were arranged in concentric rows around a carved, polished throne chair stationed before several enormous stained-glass windows. The rich wainscoting on the walls was a buttery brown color that shimmered with bronze and gold touches. A large chandelier hung over the center, and Leerings for light had been fixed into pillars along the walls. The workmanship was more than fine—it almost assaulted the senses with its lavish detail. It reminded her of the Rood Screen of Muirwood, only more luxurious and costly.

The members of the Privy Council rose as she entered and made her way down the center aisle toward the throne. She received nods of attention from the Earl of Caspur, his graying hair and pointed beard dipping dramatically as he bowed to her, as well as the mayor of Comoros, Dodd Price, and several others whom Maia had appointed to the council. The first seat was taken by Richard Syon, of course, and she noticed that her old friend looked about as comfortable with the setting as she was.

She could feel their eyes on her, weighing her choice of gown, the simplicity of her style. They were all careful to guard their expressions, but she could sense a growing unease in the room. This was the first time a woman had ruled Comoros. She was intruding on a lair that had been dominated by men for centuries.

They were all watching her. They were all curious to know how she would react. She felt a flush start to rise on her cheeks, and her stomach clenched with nervousness.

Maia paused before the throne at the head of the room, unable to mount the steps to the seat. It would put her above everyone else around her. Her father had done that deliberately, she knew. She turned and faced them from the floor, feeling the strangeness of the moment as a physical weight. The others awaited her signal to sit. She acknowledged that by nodding for them to seat themselves.

Memories began to unwind in her mind. Years ago, Chancellor Walraven had arranged for her to be sent to the borders of Pry-Ree to settle land disputes. She had seen a functioning Privy Council before. She knew how to rule. But she also realized that what she did outside this chamber would have more meaning to the people than what she did inside it. It was how she chose to treat her servants, down to the lowliest ones, that would matter most. Still, she needed her councillors on her side. How best to approach the situation?

If Collier had been there, as Earl of Dieyre, it might have been different. People would have looked to him, a king in his own right, to lead the conversation.

She folded her hands in front of her, still standing before the throne chair without sitting in it. She looked at each of those assembled, one by one, gazing into their eyes and nodding to them. She tried on a smile, which felt a little forced. “There is a saying in Pry-Ree,” she began. “Os nad iditch in gweebod forth, certheth in araf. If you do not know the way, walk slowly.”

Some of them chuckled nervously.

Maia then sank to her knees before them. “I cannot walk slowly, so I must kneel and beg your help. I am here before you reluctantly. I am young and inexperienced with the ways of men. We have a foe who seeks our eternal destruction. A foe that is even now summoning their forces to crush us, to destroy our beliefs, to make the rest of the kingdoms cower in fear and obeisance.” She shook her head slowly. “I do not know how long the Medium will have me be your queen, but I know there are enemies in our realm that we must face together. There is distrust and rancor amongst our people. It is the duty of every leader to protect her people, even at the risk of her own life and comfort. It is my solemn intention to carry out the task the Medium has given me to the public good and to the benefit of all of my subjects.” She sighed deeply. “I have entrusted my affairs and myself to you, my councillors, and I urge you to be faithful to the oaths you have sworn. To be loyal to me as your queen. To follow the example I give you, I who am only following the examples of others greater than myself.”

When she looked up at their faces, she was surprised to see tears in their eyes, especially Lord Paget of Bridgestow, whom she remembered of old. Her Pry-rian words had touched his heart for certain. They were staring at her in amazement, as if they had never seen or heard such a thing before.

“I will give my last drop of blood to save our kingdom from the Naestors,” Maia vowed.