Page 20 of A Queen This Fierce and Deadly

Most of her people seemed wary of the thought of ahybrid queen. Vicer had once told me these people were secessionists who loathed the concept of being ruled by anyone. But the truth was, theywerebeing ruled by someone.

Kaelin Stillcrest.

She’d strengthened their isolationist ideals, and yet she was the one who dictated everything in their lives. She controlled the food rationing, the security, the little education available for the children. Her refusal to prioritize healers meant she even governed life and death.

And yet Stillcrest had convinced these hybrids that Prisca was the threat. It was utterly infuriating.

So, I was slowly attempting to convince them otherwise––making no attempt to hide my desire for them to leave. I sat with mothers as they watched their children play, and I told them of how Prisca had saved so many children from Lesdryn not long ago—with Vicer’s help.

I trained with the sentries and told them about the army Prisca was amassing, ready to defend our kingdom.

I talked to young women and men, who likely dreamed of a life outside this camp—although none of them would admit to such a thing. I told them what Prisca had told me, about the hybrid kingdom known as Lyrinore, and what it had looked like when Ysara showed Prisca all it had to offer. I told them of the markets and the libraries, the people and the magical creatures that roamed the land. And I told them that the hybrid queen was determined to ensure the hybrids on this continent could return home to that life.

A few of them seemed open to at least listening to what I had to say. A tall, thin woman named Tralia had acool head, and unlike most who merely echoed Stillcrest’s insistence that this camp was too well hidden to be found, she actually asked questions about our armies. About Prisca herself, about the fae, and about Regner.

Meanwhile, Vicer spoke of the threat. He told everyone who would listen how Regner’s scouts had been drawing closer. He warned them about other camps that had been decimated, and he detailed all he had learned about the devastation of the village he, Prisca, and Tibris had once called home.

We’d rescued almost two hundred hybrids from the city the night we freed Jamic. And most of those hybrids had already moved south. They’d lived beneath the oppressive cloud of Regner’s tyranny, and they knew exactly how much they had to lose. According to Vicer, they’d managed to convince a hundred or so people from this camp to leave with them.

Around a third of that number would travel down to the fae lands to join our army. The remainder would make their way to the meeting point near the Asric Pass, where they’d wait for our signal to cross.

Three days after we arrived, I broke my fast with Vicer. I’d spent the early hours of the morning walking through the forest surrounding the camp and searching for signs anyone had been lurking. It was quiet. Peaceful. And yet, it made the hair on the back of my neck stand to attention.

“Galon told me he sent a few of his fae friends to keep an eye on the camp,” I said. “But I haven’t seen any sign of them.”

Vicer looked a little sick.

My fists clenched. “She sent them away, didn’t she?”

He gave a sharp nod.

I sneered at him. “How long are you going to tolerate this?”

“We can’t force these hybrids to move unless we send in an army. And if we do that, we’re no better than Regner.”

“Unlike Regner, we would be saving their lives, not killing them.”

Vicer dropped his gaze to his porridge. I snorted. Unlike most of the tender-hearts I was continually surrounded by, I had no problems with removing others’ rights if necessary. I played with my spoon, but I was no longer hungry.

“Once you cross the line into a certain level of idiocy, you lose the right to self-determination. And that is especially true for those responsible for protecting children.”

Vicer said nothing, simply pushed his porridge away. I clenched my teeth.

Not long ago, I’d told him to use his power on Kaelin Stillcrest to make her cooperate. His reaction had made it clear he would never do such a thing. All of us could be moving toward safer ground this very second. Vicer’s power was wasted on him.

“The fae Galon sent wouldn’t have left the area,” I said, changing tactics. “They’ll be making themselves scarce. I’m going to go find them. Perhaps they can help convince some people of the danger here.”

He nodded. “Those who listened and moved south have been safely making their way to the planned location.My people have been refreshing the caches of supplies hidden at each point.”

“Good.”

He angled his head, meeting my gaze once more. And his eyes were haunted. “You feel it too.”

“Yes.” We were running out of time. This camp may be well hidden, in a strategic location, but it couldn’t stay hidden forever. Eventually, Regner’s iron guards would find it.

“I would like a word.” A sharp voice came from over my shoulder.

I rolled my eyes at Vicer. His mouth twitched, but I turned on the hard wooden chair to find Stillcrest staring furiously at us.

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