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“All of it,” I admitted. “I want to invite the whole kingdom.”
“You must be joking.” She looked to Bishop but received the same noncommittal response. At least he was consistent.
“I assure you, I’m not. This country is divided.” I motioned toward the small window in the corner as if to remind her what waited outside. “You have to have seen that in recent weeks. We are headed for a civil war, Mother.”
My words were no more than gnats buzzing around her head. With pursed lips, she brushed them off. “There has always been infighting. This isn’t the time to give into a few words of disdain—“
“Disdain, Mother?” Pressure swelled in my chest, angry with how flippantly she could disregard everything I’d been dealing with since the competition had begun. “A corpse before you’re ever a king. Those were her words, Mother. Or did you miss it? I heard it replayed eight times last week in case anyone had missed the threat on my life and this monarchy. She said that civil war was imminent and our bloodline is marked for death. Tell me how that is simply disdain.”
“What is the matter, Leonidas?” She ignored my point entirely. “You’re ignoring your parents’ wishes, sending away those we have chosen for you, and the hospital? Honestly. What if you’d caught something? It’s hardly the place for the future king.”
“They’re my people.” I felt the ground shifting beneath me as though her words had the power to reduce me to nothing. But I wouldn’t allow it. “Places like that are where a king absolutely should be.”
She turned away, frustrated. “You haven’t thought any of this through. You’re acting impulsively.”
“Not at all.” I stopped myself, knowing she was right. Changing the ball days before it was supposed to take place was absolutely impulsive but I didn’t care. “Even if I am, I have Lady Sadira to assist me. She’s helped to create similar gatherings in her province.”
“Lady Sadira?” Mother whirled back, a faint expression of horror etched on her face. “You mean Sadie from Eshein Province? The raffle winner?”
I bristled at her reaction, immediately protective of Sadie. “That may be who she is and how she got here, but that is not how I see her.” My words and conviction surprised me. Did I really feel that strongly about her?
“What then, Leonidas? Where will you put the whole kingdom? They won’t fit in the palace ballroom. We’re at capacity with the lords and ladies and visiting dignitaries.” She crossed her arms over her chest, challenging me to disprove her.
“Then we’ll move it outside into the square. It will be a boon to the shopkeepers in town. We’ll even set up the maypole in the heart of the city.” I swallowed my nerves, knowing it was all on a wing and prayer.
“The maypole? It’s pouring outside. Do you hear yourself, Son?” She stared as though I’d lost my mind. Setting her jaw, she went at me from another angle. “And how will you handle security in the square?”
“We have security, don’t we?” I frowned deeply at her assumption that we would be in more danger in the heart of our people. “And must you assume the worst of your subjects, Mother?”
She scoffed. “Weren’t you the one who quoted the threat against us verbatim?”
“Yes,” she had me there, “but I trust my team to keep me safe. Perhaps this celebration the olive branch we need to unite our people.”
Done with me, she turned to Bishop. “Do you hear him? Can you talk any sense into him?”
Bishop’s smile spread easily, as though this whole conversation was a movie and all he needed was popcorn to enjoy it a little more.
“Not likely, Auntie.” Bishop shrugged. “Besides, he may have a point. And hey, if they off him in the process, you and I can have it out to see who will take the throne.”
What was he talking about? I shot him a dirty look. “A lot of help you are. Surprised you aren’t leading the rebellion at this point.”
“Always looking out for number one, Cousin.” He opened his palms as if to proclaim his innocence. “At least I’m dependable that way.”
Mother’s hands called for our silence. “Fine. You children think you can pull this off, so be it. But I won’t be there to witness the calamity.”
With a rustle from her skirts, she rushed from the room, leaving us to stare after her. My thoughts turned inward, worried I’d mucked it all up.
“See?” Bishop nudged me. “Told you I’d help.”
Michaela
I waited until late, hoping Fitz would find some way to reach me. Finally, around midnight, I took matters into my own hands. Using the passageway, I made the trip quickly, small flashlight in hand. I knew he’d probably fallen asleep, perhaps on the couch while watching his fire burn. Was it bad to hope that maybe I could curl into his arms for a little while and breathe in some comfort? I wouldn’t stay, but I needed to understand where we stood after everything that had happened. We could be friends, but somehow, I didn’t even feel that as securely as I used to.
The outer wall pushed back easily as I arrived at the far end of the tunnel. I cut the light on my flashlight in case he wasn’t alone. Warmth curled into the chill of the passageway. Evidence that he was still awake enough to stoke the fire. My heart quickened at the thought of seeing him. He’d gotten busy and probably didn’t want to wake me. That was the only reason he hadn’t sent me a note. At least that was the story I kept telling myself so I would feel better about his absence.
Rain pelted the windows, angry and insistent. The storm hadn’t let up for days. When she wasn’t complaining about missing the prince, Gwen had spent most of the day educating everyone on the overabundance of rain and lack of snow. I felt like I’d gotten a crash course in Nolcovian agricultural needs.
“But what if we put this here?” His voice spoke easily. “I think it would work for the flow of traffic, don’t you?”
