That was a dark thought, but the Highcrowns were surely not above torture. They were brutes.
Fortunately, they weren’t very bright brutes.
“First, I need to know that my cousin is well. Nadine Holt. She’s a sister to me, and I’ve been so worried—”
“Lady Nadine is staying in the east wing, along with the rest of the delegates from Embria.” King Opus waved away Hanne’s concern. “You’ll see her soon enough.”
Relief swelled up in Hanne’s chest, and she didn’t try to hide it. Let them see what Nadine meant to her; it made her story all the more plausible. Because her relief was for her cousin’s good health, but also for herself; Nadine would never tell anyone what they’d really been up to, so long as she was unharmed.
Unless they were lying.
Which they probably were.
Ugh.
“I need to see her before I can go on.” Hanne gripped the water glass they’d given her. “I need to see her with my own eyes.”
The monarchs glanced at each other, and the queen shook her head ever so slightly.
Dread closed Hanne’s throat. If they wouldn’t let her see Nadine, then something was definitely wrong.
“We must ask a few more questions,” said the king. “We all thought you were dead, and it’s very important to get the facts straight.”
“I’ve told you everything.” A faint whine entered her tone, and she tamped it down. She was going to be a queen. Queens did not whine.
“You haven’t.” That voice came from the door to the office. A moment later, Prince Rune strode in, somewhat disheveled but just as handsome as before.
“Hello, son.” Opus didn’t bother to hide his frown. Interesting.
Rune turned toward Hanne. “I’m relieved you’re here, Princess Johanne. And I’d like to hear the full tale of your escape, as well as how you came to be trapped in the malsite in the first place, but for now I’m just relieved that all tensions with Embria can ease. I hope you will consider writing a letter to your parents and informing them of your safe arrival in Brink.”
Alliances were such fragile things.
“I will, of course, write to my parents at the earliest opportunity. We wouldn’t want to start a war with this, would we?” She laughed a little, but no one else did.
Rune shot his parents a significant look, and then said, “We are all very thankful that you’re alive, my lady.”
The room was quiet, and finally Hanne pulled herself to her feet. The guards tensed, but she’d already been relieved of her dagger. “Your Highness,” she began, her voice soft and gentle. “My prince…”
A look of discomfort crossed Rune’s eyes, but he banished it quickly. Or disguised it.
Perhaps claiming him had been too much. Their relationship had been cordial but distant, and she’d been trapped in the malsite for so long she’d nearly forgotten where they’d been before all this began.
She could use this, though.
“Forgive me,” she said quietly. “The malsite was a time slip. I survived by myself for weeks, while only days passed for you. I had a lot of time alone. To think.”
He nodded. His parents watched. The guards went back to pretending they were invisible. Caberwillines were so easy to manipulate.
“I came to”—she forced a catch in her voice—”appreciate how kind you’d been to me before. When you had your men send supplies into the malsite—even though you had no way to know I was still alive—I understood that you have a selfless and generous spirit. I’m embarrassed to say how often I thought of you, and how many, ah, conversations I imagined.”
His eyes widened.
“If you’re still willing, I’d like to continue with our original plans. There’s no point in wasting any more time or risking our alliance again. I’d like to get married as soon as possible.” She waited a beat and repeated, “If you’re still willing.”
Rune hesitated.
Hesitated.
Then, almost imperceptibly, his eyes darted toward his parents, and at last, he nodded. “Yes,” he said. “I am. The alliance between Caberwill and Embria is of utmost importance.”
“Yes, of course it is. But in addition to that, I’ve grown very fond of you—or, at least, the idea of you—and I’d very much like to learn if there’s any truth to what I imagined.”
“Oh.” A note of surprise entered his voice, and for a long heartbeat, Hanne wondered if she’d overacted in her role. But then he smiled and said, “I, too, look forward to knowing you better. We have long lives ahead of us, once this matter with the Winterfast Accords is settled, and it would be best for both of us to make our time as pleasant and productive as possible.”
The king gave a small nod of approval, and that was that. The wedding would be held on the original date—tomorrow, she realized, once someone pulled out a calendar.
“We will continue to investigate Lord Bearhaste’s death, as well as everything else related to this unfortunate episode. Thank all the Numina you have returned to us unharmed.” Grace stood and came around her desk to embrace Hanne. Her voice dropped to a whisper, for only Hanne to hear. “We wish you happiness. Just remember, I am still the queen of Caberwill. If you have secrets, I will learn them all.”
Hanne unleashed her best smile, the kind that dazzled people from half a league away, and let Queen Grace’s words roll right over her. Grace might be the queen of Caberwill for now, but soon she would be dead. Then Hanne would be the queen of Caberwill, and eventually the queen of all three kingdoms. The queen of everything.
She smiled even brighter, imagining that kind of peace.
“You can’t smile your way through this alliance.”
“Your Majesty, I’m getting married to your eldest son tomorrow. I have every reason to smile.”
Grace flinched, clearly trying to decide if the jab about her eldest son was intentional. (It was.) Hanne offered a small curtsy and moved toward the door.
“By your leave, Your Majesties,” she said, “I need to see my cousin now and prepare for the wedding.” Without waiting, Hanne strode out the door, soldiers following closely.
Soon she would see Nadine. Soon she would be able to let down her guard while her cousin watched over her.
But in the hall, someone stood in her way.
It took Hanne a moment to put everything together—the great black wings, the light-slashed new moon on her chest, and the immense, nightmarish sword peeking over her shoulder—but finally Hanne understood what she was looking at.