Page 98 of Return of the Vengeful Quee

“I sentenced him to death by slipping some mursilla herb into his drink.” Charis scanned the room slowly, noting with grim satisfaction that every eye, Rakuuna and human, was locked on her. “Surely you didn’t think I made four toasts in a row because I was feeling festive.”

“But you—how—he’s my son.” Lord Everly rushed to join his wife as Ferris tugged his collar open, revealing the sweat pooling along his collarbone.

“And they were my parents. My friends. My people. You dare say that to me when my loyal guard is dead and one of my closest friends could be dying just a short distance away?” Charis’s voice was a whiplash. “You killed thousands of innocent people. Ships from our allies. Ships from our merchants. Our navy. People celebrating our most sacred night of the year. And all because you thought you were entitled to power that was never yours.” She met the Everlys’ anguished gazes as Ferris crumpled to the floor, his body convulsing. “Power that will never be yours.”

Lady Everly keened, a cry of bone-deep grief, as Ferris became still.

“Why are you crying?” Holland snarled. “You’ll be joining him in a moment.”

Charis turned to Bai’elsha. “I am offering you a choice, one queen to another. You can take the serpanicite your people need and leave for Te’ash immediately with the promise that if you need more, you will simply send a palloren informing me of the situation so that I can arrange shipment to you. Or you can try to kill me.”

“Come any closer to my queen, and I get to fill you full of holes.” Holland hefted his sword.

“You keep your word?” Bai’elsha asked, voice heavy with suspicion.

“Always.” Charis held the Rakuuna’s gaze for a long moment. “You can have me as an ally or an enemy. The choice is yours.”

A chair scraped and then King Alaric spoke. “As our two kingdoms unite today, I will add my promise to Her Majesty’s. I will honor the agreement I made with Calera, which includes a generous shipment of serpanicite for you, but only if you leave today and never come back. If a single Rakuuna is ever spotted in southern waters again, you will never receive another jewel. I don’t care how many people you kill.”

The ensuing silence was broken only by Lady Everly sobbing and Zale murmuring to Tal. Charis stood tall, blood trickling from the gouges in her shoulders and palm, grief hollowing out her body until it felt impossible to bear, and waited to see if Bai’elsha would capitulate.

Finally, the Rakuuna queen gave a single nod. “We have an accord.” Her voice rose in the undulating wail that Charis had first heard so many months ago on the open sea. Instantly, every Rakuuna in attendance moved to her side and then left the room.

Thirty-Six

WITH THE THREAT of the Rakuuna lifted, Charis called for a physician and rushed to Tal’s side, trusting Holland to hold the Everlys captive until she could deal with them and seeing that the Malinsons were still caring for Nalani.

Vahn saw her approach and leaned back to make room for her at Tal’s head. She dropped to her knees, her entire body shaking as if she was caught in a windstorm.

It was over. She’d won, but the cost was impossibly high. She couldn’t bear to add Tal to the list of those she’d lost.

Zale kept Vahn’s dress coat pressed against the bloody gashes in Tal’s chest but whispered softly, “He’s going to be all right.”

Charis raised a trembling hand to Tal’s face and said, “I forbid you to die, Tal Penbyrn.”

“As do I,” Holland spoke from above them. “You promised me a disembowelment, and a true gentleman keeps his word.”

“My guards have detained the Everlys, Your Majesty,” Alaric spoke from somewhere behind Holland. “And now, young man, I’d like my sword back.” Holland handed back the sword and hurried to Nalani’s side as the palace physician rushed into the room.

Charis leaned down until her mouth was beside Tal’s ear. “If you don’t wake up right now, I will never forgive you.”

His lips parted. “Liar.”

His voice was a shadow of its usual strength, but she didn’t care. Taking his face in both her hands, she kissed him. “It’s over.”

“I never doubted you.” His eyes fluttered open and found hers before slowly closing again.

“Get another physician in here.” Charis looked at the palace staff as she climbed to her feet. “I want this hero’s injuries treated immediately. Go!”

Two uniformed servants rushed from the room.

Charis faced the assembled nobles, many of whom were looking at the exits as if they were hoping to leave now that there were no monstrous guards blocking the doorways. Before they could move, Charis spoke with the icy calm Mother had used to bring order out of chaos.

“You have one opportunity to prove your loyalty to me. I will not threaten you to gain your compliance. I will offer you a choice, just as I offered to the Rakuuna.” It hurt to see Reuben’s body lying on the floor. Charis swallowed against the lump forming in her throat. “We need healing, not division. We are entering a time of rebuilding. I need people in Arborlay who are willing to work hand in hand with each other to restore our beautiful kingdom to its former glory.”

Every eye in the room was on her. She paused as a second physician entered the room and was directed to Tal, and then she continued, “You came here tonight because you believed the Everlys were the best choice to rule our kingdom. You’ve now seen that the Rakuuna answered to them, not to me. You’ve heard that all this could have been avoided had they brought the Rakuuna’s needs to my mother and me immediately. You know the tremendous cost that Calera has paid for their treachery. You also know that I have the confidence of King Alaric and every allied kingdom on the sea.”

She scanned the room slowly, fire burning in her belly. “If you still believe someone else would be a better leader, you are welcome to leave. Take your families and move to the countryside. Or to Solvang or Thallis. I don’t care where you go, but you can’t stay here. If, however, you believe that you put your faith in the wrong people, and you’re ready to submit to my sovereignty, I will accept your fealty and expect to see you working harder than most to restore our city.”

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