Page 151 of Merciless Is My Crown

Nothing—not a single thing—had gone right since the wall fell. Magic was only making the situation worse, and when Tristan stumbled in holding a hand to his bleeding side, I had fucking had enough.

“Southwell?” was all I asked.

He’d gone into Southwell to see what the mages were plotting now that their magic had been restored. Cosimo was right. They should be here in the Keep helping—I remembered how Bexley had conjured up an entire buffet with a flick of his fingers—but they wanted to overthrow us instead.

“Worse than we imagined,” Tristan croaked, Raziel healing his side in an instant.

“Trubahn has them uniting, and they have magic, some of them more powerful than us.” His hazel eyes slid to mine. “They’re planning a full-on assault tomorrow night and they’re scouring the city, looking for anyone who will join them. The soldiers are hungry and ready to listen to alternatives to their new queen.”

“Fucking arseholes.” Zorander pushed to his feet. “That is not happening.”

“Sit down, Zor.” I laced my fingers and leaned forward. “This city must be fed. Nothing breeds discontent faster than empty bellies. We have to get that road open. When will we run out of food?” I looked to Zor, who sat back down heavily.

“Three days if we ration. Two if we don’t. The road was…thirty miles long, give or take, and the river’s getting wider by the day. We can’t go around.”

“We have two days to get the road open and the bridge built. Then convince the farmers that traveling through a newly emerged forest born of pure magic is safe. And profitable. How full are our coffers?”

“Filled to the brim.” Tavion’s smile was grim. “Too bad we can’t eat gold.”

“No, but we can use it to entice the farmers to risk traveling on our brand-new road. We’ll build it as straight as we can. No sense in wasting their time and resources on travel.”

“We’ll head to Siltbrook and map a road leading straight to our front gates. Then we’ll use our magic to build it.” I lifted my chin. “If our magic can’t be used to make things better, then what good is it? We can’t let people starve.”

“Who’s building the bridge?” Tavion pushed off the wall. “I say give that task to the astrologer since he seems to be full of suggestions.”

Did I mention tempers were running hot?

“Get me to Siltbrook and let’s get started. Anything is better than sitting around here and tearing each other apart. This is our kingdom now, and we’re responsible for these people. There are children down there, and okay, some bad-tempered arsehole soldiers, too, but we can’t let them stop us. We feed this city, we fucking bribe the farmers if we have to, and then…” I sucked in a breath.

“We prepare ourselves for the Oracle’s arrival.”

By sundown the following day, a road stretched from the town center of Siltbrook straight to the front gates—and the main market—of Blackcastle. There was even a bridge, cleverly spelled to expand with the ever-growing river, though we expected Cosimo’s magic would take some routine maintenance.

The wagons were already on the move, a caravan of them heading to the city.

“Not too shabby.” Raziel squeezed me as another wagon rumbled past, horses straining against the weight. “This is good, Anaria. Really good.”

I nodded. There was a warm, tight feeling in my chest as I watched the caravan of wagons head toward the city, fully laden with food.

“This is what real power is all about, Raziel. Changing things for the better.”

Building something like this, something useful, was better than sitting on a throne any day. And we’d built this road to last, with a little help from the forest which had cleared a straight path through the now-towering trees.

If I squinted, I could see the Keep from here.

And the forest had made me a promise. Safe passage for those who bore no ill will toward the city or its citizens. So no need for soldiers or armed guards.

“We’d better get back,” Raziel reminded me with a wry smile. “Or we’ll miss Trubahn’s uprising.”

“Maybe he’ll call off his revolt.” I slipped my hand into his. “Or postpone it. I’d really like to get some sleep tonight.”

Raziel kissed my forehead. “You and me both, but we have a revolt to stop, and we don’t want to be late.”

62

ANARIA

Zorander had his most loyal soldiers posted in front of Trubahn’s barricade when Raz and I arrived. Tristan waited with his bow slung over one shoulder and Tavion looked uncharacteristically serious.

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