Page 61 of Shadows and Roses

While a lord explained his need for additional loans due to a poor harvest, she impaled a small sausage half the length of her claw and turned to Castien, bringing it to his mouth. He hesitated a fraction of a second at the cold in her eyes and the sharp edges of her claw.

The man stopped talking, instead watching fascinated as her claw slid from his lips.

"Silk?" Anais asked quietly, her eyes still on Castien’s lips.

The lord blinked. "What?"

She turned to him. "Your crop is silk, is it not, Lord Orlien?"

"Yes, your highness, that’s right. The best silk in all—"

"And the last few harvests were abundant, is that not correct?"

"Well, you’re quite right, my Queen. It's terrible how the fire spread so quickly—"

"Why were you not prepared for a single harvest failure?"

His smile faltered. "I— that is, we've been expanding, building structures so that more of the land can be used to produce and process more silk. It's an expensive endeavor, your majesty."

"Is that so."

The lord's simpering smile grew sweeter. "I wouldn't bother my Queen with those dull details. We only need a small loan, a hundred thousand gold, and the silk will flow like the raging Estes River."

Castien almost laughed at this man's idea of small.

The Queen swirled her wine. "Hmm. So if I were to send a surveyor to audit your accounts, they would find nothing more than an accidental fire?"

"Ah, of course, my Queen. But, some of the records were caught in the fire—"

"Enough," she snapped, her tone no longer bored. "Your request is denied. I'm fully aware of your debts, your penchant for losing records, as well as your more than sufficient treasury. The damage to your property, if not self-inflicted, was small. And if you truly cannot manage your finances, I'm sure another of this court could absorbyour lands with little difficulty."

The lord gaped, closed his mouth, and slunk away.

There were a few legitimate concerns. A baron brought the complaint of a large pack of wolves that sounded like better predators than his guards. She berated the poor man, demanded recompense for her time, and sent him off with several squads of reinforcements. On this day, she could be almost magnanimous without inviting the nobles’ suspicions.

Almost. The spy’s screams weaved into the court’s laughter, and though she smiled, it was without joy.

Chapter 16

Jerome stood guard outside her chambers; the man probably didn’t sleep. He didn’t seem surprised to see Castien approaching. Although, he looked suspiciously amused.

Castien passed him and stepped through her open door.

An unmistakable hint of roses laced the air. It was the only evidence that royalty dwelled here. He should have known better, but he had expected her bedroom to be richly decorated, luxurious, and decadent. Of course, it was similar to the rest of the Queen's Wing—austere, simple, practical. There was still an elegance to the basic layout, and no one would mistake the room for a peasant’s, but it was hardly fit for a Queen.

"Darius? Close the door, will you?" Anais said from a small table, her back to the entry hall.

He cleared his throat. "My Queen."

She spun, eyes wide. "Castien!" Surprise, but not displeasure.

"My apologies. Darius suggested… were you not aware?"

Why was his heart fluttering like a hummingbird, his palms damp as though this was his first assignment?

She smiled, the curve of her lips soft and hesitant. "I wasn’t sure if you’d come."

He bowed, words fleeing him. She was silent as well, though her eyes roamed over him. Perhaps she did not want him here.

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