Page 10 of The Queen's Crown
Sabine had never been to any of the other kingdoms, so she had no idea how difficult it might be to get into Lynk. However, she assumed that someone trained in the art of killing would be able to find a way in.
Karl turned and sat against the window ledge. “This is a disaster.”
She tilted her head to the side, observing her brother. “The death of our sister is a tragedy. That is theonlything I’m focused on right now. If you’re upset over losing this treaty with Lynk, I suggest you leave my room before I say something I’ll regret.” She hadn’t meant to speak so harshly, but anger started to worm its way into her heart, replacing the grief. Somehow anger was easier to deal with than horrific sadness.
“If we go to war, we’re going to lose a lot more than just our sister. We’ll be lucky if any of us make it out alive.”
His words sent a chill through her body. “War?”
“If Carlon is truly behind this like Father thinks they are, he’ll either strike against them for murdering Alina, or Carlon will eventually invade us—which is what he has been expecting based upon the raids and kidnappings. Either way, we’ll be at war with them. Or, if Lynk is responsible for our sister’s death, then we’ll be at war withthem.” Karl pushed away from the window ledge, folding his arms. He began pacing in the middle of the room.
“But our army is…” Barely an army. They had limited resources and couldn’t afford to go to war.
“If we go to war, we lose.” He closed his eyes. “My wife, boys…” When he opened his eyes, he looked right at Sabine. “I don’t want those I love to suffer. Or die.”
They needed a stronger army. They needed more soldiers. And then she remembered why her sister had agreed to marry King Rainer in the first place. “Without a wedding, there’s no soldiers coming to our aid,” she said out loud, the realization only now dawning on her. There would be no stopping Carlon.
“Our kingdom is not in a good place. I fear for what’s to come.” Karl ran a hand over his tired face.
Sabine couldn’t lose anyone else she loved.
“I need you to go see Mother. Please.” His soft voice hinted at the grief he barely had under control.
She nodded. As a member of this family, she would do her part. Karl was clearly doing his right now, trying to hold the family together. Her parents’ grief had to be unimaginable. If her brother needed her to be there for their mother, she would. As much as she could be.
“Thank you.” He kissed the top of her head then left.
Sabine resumed staring out the window, waiting for Alina’s body to arrive. Her dear sister had been alone in a foreign kingdom when she was killed.Murdered. Did Alina know she’d been poisoned when she was dying? Or had she passed in her sleep? It wasn’t fair that the sun shone outside, bathing the land in warmth. It should be dark, cloudy, and raining. Like the inside of her mind right now. The world shouldn’t be beautiful and going on as if nothing had changed. As if Alina hadn’t died. Tears slid down her cheeks.
Dear, sweet Alina had gone to Lynk to protect Bakley. Now it seemed as if it had all been for nothing. If she hadn’t gone, she’d be alive. They’d be in the same position they were currently in—threatened by Carlon. If Carlon was responsible for Alina’s death, they had to pay. Their father had no choice but to defend their kingdom and go to war. But Bakley’s army was severely lacking. Without Alina’s marriage to King Rainer, there would be no additional soldiers coming to help. The only way to secure those soldiers would be if someone from Bakley took Alina’s place and married the king of Lynk thus fulfilling the contract—assuming King Rainer wasn’t responsible for Alina’s death. However, since he needed Bakley’s food so badly, she doubted he’d sabotage the union. It had to be Carlon.
A thought suddenly occurred to Sabine. She was eighteen and of marriageable age. If she took her sister’s place and married King Rainer, the contract could still proceed as negotiated. Her kingdom would have the protection it needed while Lynk received the food they desired. And, the best part, Sabine could hunt down the person who’d murdered her sister. Instead of relying on King Rainer to investigate when he had a million other things to worry about, Sabine could be the one to do it.
And when she found the murderer, she’d kill him for taking her sister’s life. A life for a life. It seemed fair. Justified. Now all she had to do was convince her family to let her go in Alina’s place.
Sabine stepped into the queen’s bedchamber. The curtains around the bed had been drawn shut. She stood beside the bed, not daring to part the curtains and intrude into her mother’s personal space. The queen would come out when she was ready.
She didn’t know why Karl had asked her to come and not one of their other siblings. Probably because she was the only daughter left and somehow, being a woman meant she was more equipped to deal with grief than a man.
“I know you’re in there,” Sabine said, her voice soft so as not to startle the queen. “I’ve been hiding in my room as well.” She clasped her hands together, fidgeting with her fingers as she tried to find the words to say. “I know it hurts.” Her voice cracked. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. To survive, she had to cling to her anger and the plan she’d formed. It was the only thing pulling her out of the black hole she’d fallen into. The only thing giving her comfort and purpose. “I’m going to find who did this and make him pay. I promise.”
The queen didn’t respond.
“I love you,” Sabine whispered.
Not knowing what else to do to comfort her mother, she left the room. As she walked through the halls of the castle, her hand trailing along the stone walls, she considered how best to implement her plan. If she went to her father, he’d dismiss her without even considering it. Karl seemed to be in a rather emotional state at the moment. His thoughts were too focused on his fear of losing another person he loved. Otto and Viktor held no sway with the king, and both tended to be far too overprotective of her. Rolf tended to be the most sensible of her brothers and was the only one who’d objectively consider her plan.
Since Rolf liked to spend his mornings with his soldiers, he usually reserved the afternoons for working in his office. She headed that way, hoping to find him alone and not in a heated meeting with his generals. When she neared the door to his office, she slowed and listened for voices. Not hearing any, she knocked.
“Come in,” Rolf called out.
Sabine entered, closing the door behind her.
He raised his eyebrows. “I didn’t expect to see you today.” He gestured for her to take a seat across from him.
She sat, looking at his disorganized space. Stacks of papers were strewn over his desk, books were shoved on the bookshelves instead of being lined up and orderly, swords were piled in one of the corners, and a pillow and blanket were on the floor.
He scooted his chair back, stretching out his legs and crossing them at his ankles. “Sarah isn’t sleeping well at night,” he said, pointing to the pillow and blanket. “Sometimes this is the only place I can catch a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.”
