Page 8 of Return of the Vengeful Quee

“Oh, yes you are. Your queen orders it.” She took some pleasure in the expression of murderous defeat on his face. “Besides, it’s your great-aunt Estr’s tea party. If anything, you should be more comfortable here than most other places in Solvang.”

“You’re only saying that because you haven’t met Great-Aunt Estr.”

The footman opened the door, and Reuben exited, blocking the doorway with his body while he searched the courtyard for any danger to the queen and her heir. Not that it would be easy to see a threat through the fog that obscured all but the hazy glow of the lamplights burning on Lady Estr’s porch.

Charis crossed the distance between the carriage and the porch in rapid strides, the copper tea gown her Solvanish seamstress had finished for her that morning whipping around her ankles.

“Your Majesty.” A tiny woman who barely reached Charis’s shoulders inclined her head respectfully and then studied Charis’s face with sparkling eyes so dark brown, they looked nearly black. “Welcome. I see you’ve brought my rogue of a great-nephew with you.”

“Thank you.” Charis stepped across the threshold, grateful for the warmth of the fire burning in the gracious front parlor. “I promise your great-nephew will be on his best behavior.”

“Oh, I hope not.” Lady Estr winked at Holland. “What a boring afternoon we’d all have if that was the case.”

The butler reached to remove Holland’s duster, and Holland batted at his hand. “I’ll keep my coat. I’m not staying long. Besides”—he turned to his great-aunt—“I doubt your friends would approve of me wandering your parlor with a sword in plain view.”

“Given the threat your queen’s presence has brought to us all, I think a sword would be quite welcome.” Lady Estr tapped his arm none too gently. “Now, give Welsin your coat and go be sociable for at least ten minutes.”

Charis schooled her face to conceal her racing thoughts.

If Lady Estr had no problem possibly offending Charis with her words, how many other members of the Solvanish nobility were whispering behind Charis’s back? If too many of them felt unsafe, the warm welcome Gareth and Vyllanthra had extended could just as quickly turn cold.

Where would she take her people if Solvang turned them away?

The pressure in her chest sent a spike of pain into her jaw.

“Hmm, I’d wondered how much of your mother you had in you. Turns out, you have quite a bit.” Lady Estr peered up at Charis, her expression open and direct.

Charis drew in a slow breath and then said quietly, “I’m not sure what you mean.”

Lady Estr snorted none-too-delicately. “You heard me say that you’ve brought danger to our people. I know you’ve already calculated how much influence I have with my sovereigns, or you wouldn’t have taken time out of your busy schedule to accept my invitation when you’ve turned down so many others.”

The door opened behind Charis, and a gust of damp, chilly air swept the parlor as new guests arrived.

Lady Estr waved impatiently at the newcomers. “Yes, yes, you’ll be introduced to the queen in a minute. Go have some tea and try not to look gobsmacked while you’re at it.”

As the new arrivals brushed past Charis and into the tearoom, Lady Estr said, “I’m sure you started thinking about options the instant you heard me speak. But your face!” She gestured once more at Charis. “Just like your mother. Ice wouldn’t melt on that one, no matter what was happening around her. It’s good you have her self-control. Let’s hope you have her brains as well.”

Charis took a moment to assess Lady Estr once more. Sharp intelligence gleamed in her eyes, but there was no malice. No anger. Nothing sly or sinister.

A real smile lifted Charis’s lips. “I see where Holland gets his . . . forthrightness.”

“Thank you. Now, I’ll do you the courtesy of being straightforward.”

Lady Estr’s voice lowered as a man in a deep-purple tea jacket and a pale violet scarf leaned against the tearoom door, glancing their way even as he spoke to someone still within the room. Flapping her hand at the man in the doorway, she said, “She’ll be along when she’s ready.”

The man disappeared back into the tearoom. Lady Estr turned back to Charis. “The king and queen met with their advisors this morning. We have reason to believe pallorens sent to Calera are being intercepted by the Rakuuna.”

A shiver crept up Charis’s spine, but she held herself still and waited for Lady Estr to finish.

“As you know, all pallorens sent from Solvang must go through the royal hub, where officers of the crown make sure no message compromises our kingdom’s security. However, your people use your own pallorens, and therein lies the threat.” Lady Estr’s eyes narrowed as she studied Charis. “The king and queen planned to inform you of this new development immediately, of course, but as you were scheduled to be here today, I volunteered to be the messenger. Be careful what your people are saying. It’s one thing for the Rakuuna to ignore a small group of Calerans living in Solvang. It’s quite another for them to discover you plan to wage war against them.”

Charis nodded, her mind racing. “Thank you for that warning. Beyond checking in with family members to let them know we’re safe, my people haven’t said a word about my intentions.”

Or had they? She’d certainly ordered them to keep quiet about her plans. Furthermore, she’d made sure several messages had contained the news that she’d sailed on from Solvang, though the refugees weren’t sure where she was headed. It was the best she could do to assure the safety of both her people and those in Solvang, in case the Rakuuna decided their agreement with Tal to leave Charis unharmed was no longer valid.

“Better make sure it stays that way. The royal hub received word this morning that the Rakuuna queen has offered a generous reward to anyone who tells her where to find you.” Lady Estr’s short finger stabbed the air as she pointed to Charis. “Best hope every single member of the group you brought with you is absolutely loyal, or you’ll have just invited the monsters to come fetch you back home.”

Four

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