Page 89 of Amidst the Insidious Courts
Aiyana looks up at me, eyes wide and watering. Her normally pretty face is drawn and grey, and this is perhaps the first time I’ve ever seen her look afraid.
“I was entitled to restitution. It’s the law,” she stammers.
“I said agoodreason.” I take another step. “It’s been centuries. You’ve had more than enough time to move on. This was just an excuse to satisfy your pride.”
“Dear heart,” Titania mutters, appearing beside me and placing her hand on my shoulder. “If the Goddess demands punishment, sometimes it’s best to compromise. Rein her in rather than try to stop her entirely.”
I know I’m drowning in Danu’s emotions when it registers that I can feel Titania’s cold hand as a physical touch. Reign the Goddess in? Why would I want to?
“Being queen isn’t always about getting what you want,” my grandmother counsels, sadly.
She’s right, I know she is.
But Jaro still hasn’t gotten up.
My eyes burn with tears as I take a shuddering breath. “How do I do it?”
“Give and take,” Titania answers cryptically. “It’s all about balance and connection.”
“I swear, if you let me live, I’ll never waver in my support of the Nicnevin.” Aiyana’s head drops, shoulders quaking in fear. “I’ll do everything in my power to help retake Elfhame.”
An open-ended bargain like that is dangerous for her. She’s afraid of me and desperate.Good.
“Rose,” Kitarni tries again, but is interrupted.
“Nicnevin Rhoswyn!”
Neila’s voice—so out of place—halts my hands inches away from Aiyana’s throat. Every face in the arena turns to regard the selkie as she shrugs off her cloak and strides towards the royal box.
She must have been hiding in the crowd. So much for taking the Hellebore Knights to Elfhame. My eyes narrow. Has she been in Pavellen this whole time? I fold my arms over my chest and try to keep them there, mildly concerned that I don’t even remember raising them in the first place.
The selkie’s clothes are rumpled, her wary eyes surrounded by dark rings. Nevertheless, she’s defiant as she hurries up the steps to the box and takes a stand between me and Aiyana.
“Aren’t you supposed to be in Elfhame?” I demand.
She bows her head. “I will join the rest of my knights, who are already fighting alongside your brother as we speak, but I couldn’t leave my lady while she was in danger.” She pauses, expressive eyes pleading for me to understand, but looks away, sighing in resignation when my scowl remains unchanged. “I call upon the debt you owe me. Spare my queen’s life, and I’ll consider it paid in full.”
“You were exiled.” Aiyana’s eyes flash with annoyance.
“I will accept your reprimands later, my lady,” Neila promises without looking back at her still-quivering queen. “Nicnevin, punish her as you see fit, punishmefor not riding straight to Elfhame, if you must, but spare her life this one time.”
It’s the strangest thing; Danu’s strength soars through me, but instead of shoving the selkie aside and taking the queen’s head, we’re forced to step back. First once, then again.
Kitarni breathes a sigh of relief, and deep in the back of my mind, some rational part of me feels the same way. I don’t want to begin my reign by killing another queen in front of a crowd of her subjects. Not like this. That way lies a cycle of retaliation that we’ll never break free of. Danu, however, is not so easily appeased, and I’m not certain I would’ve managed to hold her back by myself. Her ire bristles against me.
“Very well,” I whisper.
“Then I hold your debt fulfilled.” Neila’s shoulders sag.
But it’s not over yet. “You understand this cannot go unpunished.”
The selkie grimaces. “As you wish, Goddess.”
Danu regards the trembling queen through my eyes. The corners of my mouth turn down as I realise that there are a lot of ways to hurt someone without killing them, but if I’m truly honest, I’m not sure I have the stomach for torture.
We need to end this, I think.Jaro will get justice, but not with more violence.
There’s a pause. Then Danu takes control of my lips. This time, instead of addressing the fae as she has done in the past, she tugs on my magic and says two words.
