Page 30 of Between Despair and Hope

“Firstly, you were summoned for a meeting with your princess. She can’t do anything to you for obeying a royal order. It would reflect poorly on her. Secondly, if we are successful, she won’t be an issue. And if we are unsuccessful? It is me you have to worry about.” Hoping they didn’t notice my wavering tone, I gripped Raj’s hand under the table. They had to see right through me. I barely spoke at council meetings when my opinion was asked for, but here I was, attempting to defy my mother.

“What exactly do you want?” The austere man to my right, Captain Louis, asked, not unkindly.

“Queen Emmeline is attempting to stop my mother from trading the Folterran prince for Rainier—for the king.”

“Why?” Captain Blane cut me off before I could continue, outrage in his eyes.

“It is complicated,” I sighed. I didn’t want to divulge that not only did my brother have an heir, but she was in mortal danger thanks to the prince Emma now sought. “He has a use, and he is but a child. It isn’t something my brother would want.”

“You stand to wear his crown if he dies, so what you claim he would want doesn’t matter, does it?”

“You’re not wrong, but why would I come to you with the request to rally your men to my cause? I want to go to Folterra and lead an attack on Darkhold to save my brother.” Captain Blane was poised to interrupt me again, but I held up my hand. “As soon as she finds the boy, Emmeline—the queen—plans to rally with us at the Cascade. The two of us together will lead the rescue of the king. We need soldiers.”

“So, you attempted to procure them by undermining me, by staging a coup. I have to worry about the company you’ve been keeping, daughter.”

I tensed, and Raj’s hand squeezed tighter as we heard my mother behind me; she must have been waiting in the pub. Someone had told her.

“One of us has to have a spine, Mother.”

The only captain who’d stayed quiet, Bowell, smirked at me before standing. The other two stood quickly, scrambling out of their seats. They clearly weren’t in on this ambush either. Of course, my mother had to do it this way.

“I suggest everyone except my daughter leave. I’d like a word.”

I felt her hand on my shoulder as Raj released mine with a squeeze.

“Your Highness, would you like me to stay?”

Looking at Raj with affection, I thanked him, but dismissed him all the same. Once it was just the two of us left, my mother sat down in a chair beside me.

And waited.

“I suppose you want to gloat. Get it over with. If you plan to stop me, you’ll have to toss me in the dungeon. Otherwise, I’d like to reschedule my meeting.”

“I suppose I’m confused, Lala.” I stiffened at her use of the name she’d called me when I was small. The name I’d called myself because I couldn’t say my real name. “I thought things between us had changed since your father.”

Since we’d spent hours together keeping the man down.

“I thought so too,” I said.

“Then what are you doing?” she whispered, and she finally drew my gaze. She wore a sapphire gown, more plain than her usual attire. Her hair was in twists which she’d pulled to the back of her head, and she wore no cosmetics. The bags under her eyes were apparent, and I realized she reminded me of Emma. “Baby, I did what was best.”

“But you didn’t. If you’d stopped being so gods damn stubborn, you’d know.”

“You’re telling me your brother is worth less than that little fool?”

“It is not my place to speak about someone’s worth, but he was helping with Elora. They’ve made progress. Emma said she told you.”

“She mentioned it, but I’m sure we can find other people to help with the girl.”

“The girl?” I laughed. “Your granddaughter. It’s been weeks, and you have found no one. The prince was helping quite a bit. Emma could go into illusions with him to see her. You’d know that if you would have listened to me and come to visit.” I softened my voice, knowing taking that tone with her wouldn’t get us anywhere. “Mama, she’s beautiful.”

Her mouth tightened, and she looked away. Gods, she was stubborn.

“The fact remains that the best thing forVestawould be to trade the princeling, regardless of his abilities to help one child. You might be queen soon, and the fact you cannot see the bigger picture is astounding.”

“Mama, I think what you cannot see is that if I become queen, we have to go to war. Or do you expect us to stand idly by while Folterra captures and kills our king?”

“Trading the boy avoids war altogether!” She threw up her hands in exasperation. “What does your simple mind fail to comprehend there? Lavenia, you are not that stupid. Quit play-acting as such.Think. You are a princess of this kingdom and cannot afford not to.”

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