Page 95 of The Stolen Kingdom

Isen sighed and rubbed his temple in apprehension. “How can we know she is among us?”

“We don’t,” Valda muttered, her grip on the sword growing tighter. Within seconds, she felt Maris’s hand on her back again, attempting to soothe her. “I want to make one thing clear,” Valda began, drawing the attention of everyone in the room, and she felt the weight of their worries on her shoulders. She didn’t crumble or balk from their tired gazes.

“It is time we stop putting the needs of the rulers first. It is time we look out for the civilians, the regular people inside and outside this tavern. We have people trying to carry on with their lives, regardless of who is ruling or not. They want to have the reassurance that everything will be fine.

Most of you believe I want the throne back because I am the rightful queen, because of my birthright, to the symbol on my forehead, and for the power of the wind that I yield. I will not lie, yes, I am indeed all that, but I want the throne back to make a change. You deserve more than a queen who didn’t care much about your well-being and simply filled a space in the castle to boost her ego, or a queen who puts out a show and poses in the next royal painting.

Things will change. Believe it. I will use my power not to serve me and my lineage, but to serve you all. You all deserve better than a powerless queen and a blood-thirsty tyrant. You deserve to live a dignified life, surrounded by peace, family, and friends. Arwin believes he knows what is best for our kingdom, but at the end of it all, he wants to fill up his ego, to let everyone know that he was the one created for this role and he wasn’t.“ Valda turned to Maris, who looked at her as if she was the only one in the room. “Sealians deserve to have the chance to choose for themselves. To rebuild their homes or stay here as equals. To have their needs taken care of, even if they decide to head back, they still needour help to restore what was destroyed. I don’t know how long it will take, but I know I will not stop until we get what we want.”

“We,” Maris rectified. “Wewill not stop.”

Valda nodded, her hand finding Maris’s and giving it a soft stroke over her knuckles before pulling away. She took a couple of white stones and placed them over the rocky formations in Umbriel and the blue stones. She stopped and looked in a young soldier’s direction. “Gather as many carts as you can, as well as provisions. The trip is long, and I need them all with as much energy as possible.”

The soldier nodded understandingly.

“I will head to Cressida and deliver the news and get them ready.” She patted at the map and then raised her eyes to Isen. “We need a small group to head to Prospero. We are not fighting, we are investigating. The fewer people we take, the better.” Before Valda could continue, she noticed Isen’s expression darken. She turned to Melvian and saw the young healer turning away after looking at her mate. “Is… something wrong?”

“Your Highness…” Isen’s voice lowered. “Melvian is soon to give birth. Any day now, and I don’t—“

“Don’t.” Valda waved her hand at him. “I understand.” A sigh of relief escaped him, and he quietly thanked Valda while she looked about the people in the tavern. She frowned and stood straight, her shoulders squaring with tension. “Where’s Eyphah? I could always take her if she doesn’t give me an attitude…”

Isen opened his mouth to talk, but he looked around and noticed his sister’s absence. “I haven’t seen her since our dinner last night.”

“She left early this morning. I saw her leave town, but she didn’t say where or if she would come back,” Cai spoke for the first time, making his presence known in the tavern. “I didn’t think I should’ve gone after her…”

Valda turned to Maris and frowned at her mate’s accusatory expression. Valda didn’t know where Eyphah could’ve gone. “What do you think?”

“She has never done this before…” Maris answered and turned her attention to Isen.

“Eyphah can have her temper tantrums,” Isen sighed and rubbed his temple. “But running away?”

Valda pressed her palms over the table and dismissed everyone except Isen, Melvian, and Maris. Once alone, she turned to Isen and pursed her lips in disapproval.

“Listen, my sister loves her people more than anything and she would do nothing to harm them… at least not intentionally.”

“Is she a danger to herself?” Melvian asked, but Isen was already shaking his head before she could finish her question.

“No, no. She isn’t. That’s not the Eyphah I know. The Eyphah I know probably got angry at something and wanted to release some anger.”

Maris arched her eyebrow at Valda and crossed her arms scoldingly.

Valda cleared her throat and scratched the back of her neck. “Anyways. I will head out to Cressida tomorrow. I can take Cai and the other guards to keep me company—“ She stopped as she heard Maris let out a disapproving groan. “What is it?”

“Are you sure you should go with a small group?”

“I will be in and out in no time. I will be fine.”

“I am sorry I cannot go with her, Maris,” Isen said.

Maris waved him off. “Don’t worry, Isen. It is fine. You need to see your babies’ birth.” She turned her attention to Melvian. “You need to let me know about your contractions.”

Melvian rolled her eyes, patted her stomach, and nodded. “I will.”

Before the sun peeked over the horizon, Maris could feel her lover slipping away from her embrace. She watched quietly as Valda walked to the washroom and emerged with wet hair and naked. In her hand, she held her chest wraps and white blouse.

“So early?” Maris’s voice was groggy, and apparently Valda found it amusing. Maris could tell by the soft curve of her lips as she wrapped her chest up.

Her eyes trailed over her, taking in how breathtaking she looked every second of every day. She devoured Valda from her head down to her powerful thighs. Maris frowned at the new scar. If only Valda were a Sealian, she could erase those scars by drinking Sealian water.

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