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“Yes. What I say next you may reject, but it’s also true. He could never have done this without the help of your brothers. There are records of their visits.”
“Oh.” There it was. She’d known this too, just never done more than circle it. “I understand. And...” She nodded slowly. “I believe you.”
“I could show you the evidence but I’d rather not. It’s gruesome. Some of it.”
“I see.” Here it was. “I believe you. Remember? Trust.”
“Good. Good.” He seemed more lost than before. “Why I felt this was important was that it says why defeating Vass was the best result for the people here. Being appointed to posts or inheriting them does not mean you are good or just. I’m sure I will make errors.” Drake stared out the window at the building.
His warm, solid body beside hers was reassuring but for once she wanted to hug him, just because he seemed to need it, so she reached for his arm and twined hers under it, leaned her head on his shoulder, and snuggled in.
“I don’t know how well you know the truth of your own family. Your father was a good man, the best in some ways. But your dynasty began after the Quarantine, when a great-great-grandfather took control by force.”
“Yes,” she murmured. “I know. He was the controller at the spaceport.”
“But did you know all he was allowed to do was direct the landing routes of ships? He was not in charge of the city, not like your family teaches. We mauleons have records too. He raised an army and took over the city, killed the men elected as mayor and councilors, and created the kingdom after that.”
She did not know that.
It was a revelation. The Dywin family was not what she’d thought. What was more surprising was that she accepted his explanation. Was this why the memoirs of other Dywin rulers were locked away where she could not reach—inside a solid ball of glassomer, as a decoration at the palace?
She must read the rest of her father’s memoirs, the earlier years.
“It’s a poor end to such a grand day.”
“Reality. You gave me reality. I think that’s best.” She patted his arm. As the last remaining Dywin, it somehow was less important than it might have been. She was the only one who was affected. “Were there mauleons brought here?”
“Yes. They were persecuted equally.”
“You know, I may not have been taught how to govern, how to be a royal, but I’m glad when I see things like that.”
Silence, then a moment later, he spoke. “You weren’t given instructions. I had heard that. A rumor.”
“No.”
He grunted in a noncommittal way, as if she’d surprised him, or made him think. She wasn’t inclined to ask what he was thinking—not when she had the poor people who’d come here and never left to be sad for.
