Page 88 of Shadows and Roses

The door opened and an unkempt boy stepped in, looking around with wide eyes.

Harlen piped, "Damon says we's ready ta meet. In tha Silva Bria's, in five days. An' 'e says ta rememba only five guards."

Jerome looked as apoplectic as she'd ever seen him. He might raise his voice at her once he heard the next part.

She nodded. "Thank you. We'll be there. Meriana, please help him with provisions for the return journey."

The moment the door closed, Jerome opened his mouth.

Anais raised her hand. "I spoke to Damon and agreed. I will be at the meeting."

"No, you can not—! My Queen, this is…" Jerome looked both embarrassed and angry. He settled on a thin-lipped scowl directed at the table.

Ah, that was the limit. Her life. "I understand the concerns. Five guards are far too few. The risk is too high, particularly without Castien. Their leader has already come here, so should the rest of them. The court will wonder where I've gone." She raised a finger for each point, then proceeded to lower them as she spoke again.

"Vern will handle the court as usual." She nodded at her steward. His brows lowered. If he remained at court, he couldn’t guard her.

"Castien has already served his purpose." Harsh but true. "I doubt his presence would prevent them from killing me, if that were their intention."

At their continued tense expressions, she lowered her hand. "We must build trust. Damon came to me, so I must go to them. None of you are opposed to this meeting. You are opposed to my participation."

She inclined her head at Jerome. "No number of guards will satisfy you, but we need the rebels, and the people, desperately. If we show unity and strength, the other nations will rethink any further aggression. We need time, and these rebels are our best chance."

"And if they slaughter you, everything is lost," Vern commented quietly.

"If I am not there, I show our lack of faith in my people. If the rebels cannot be convinced to join us, we are lost anyhow."

"We can hold," said Trishve. She had returned for this meeting. "Our armies and the nobles' militia can withstand the otherQueens until we find a better option."

Anais shook her head. "So we die slowly of attrition while the rebels tear us apart from the inside? No. I am going. That is final."

Rare was the instance she commanded her Inner Circle while not on display. She respected them, preferred discussion and compromise, but sometimes there could be no compromise.

"Then we send a hidden convoy—" Jerome suggested.

"No deceit. But we will tell the messenger to relay that our party will consist of eight. The rebels must be ready to negotiate, not make demands."

Laureline nodded. "Sounds reasonable to me."

Jerome looked only slightly mollified. "You will be fully armored. Swear you'll run if I tell you to. The moment I say it." His eyes had a flinty, hard look that meant he would be difficult about this, inasmuch as he ever was.

"I swear, Jerome."

He nodded, but the look didn't fade.

Vern grumbled, "I dislike the look of a Queen going where she is summoned."

It was a resigned complaint. "If they were nobility or the other rulers, I’d agree, but decorum and protocol mean little to the rebels. A small loss of my dignity is no sacrifice at all."

The progress was too welcome to be overshadowed by her Escorts’ overprotectiveness. Sadly, only Laureline’s calm tea-sipping agreed with her.

Chapter 25

Anais

It was a three-day ride to the Silver Briars. Despite mid-winter, an almost warm breeze made the journey tolerable. The second half of the third day was spent over a flat, open plains with a few rare trees dotting the landscape. The rebels would have a clear strategic advantage.

Swords loosened and shields raised as they approached the trees. In the lead, Jerome slowed.

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