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“So,” I drew out, putting the pieces together. “Like everyone else, they must rely on themselves for hunting. But then their prey took off to the mountains earlier than expected. Is there a reason? Did something happen?”
“This land has been cursed for a millennium. All living beings had to adapt or die. The plants and flora learned to grow withoutsunlight. The woodland animals evolved new ways of escaping predators in the dark,” he said. “And the predators in that darkness...”
I knew without him saying so.The Taken.
“As their numbers grow,” Alisdair went on, “the animals flee. Soon it will be only us, and them.”
The hairs on my skin stood on end at the very thought of being trapped in this place with only the Taken.
“What are they?” I whispered, voice shaking. “Are they your people? The faeriken? Is the last stage of the curse becoming... that?”
He gave me a long, unreadable look. So long, discomfort tightened my skin. “Oh, little bird,” he said softly. “It’s much worse than that.”
“My lord? My lady?” Aeris spoke up, saving me from trying to force a reply from my suddenly dry mouth. “What is your decree?”
All eyes were on me—Alisdair’s included.
Drawing back, I blew out a breath. “All right, I believe I understand the problem, and that problem is any solution that utilizes our current resources would be temporary. We’ll all be right back here within a week. What we need is to open trade between the other kingdoms.”
“Well, there was a certain treaty that ended the war and allowed for the very trade you speak of,” Bradach sang. “But a certain princess saw the end of that.”
“Thank you, Bradach,” I forced through clenched teeth. “As always, your unasked-for interruptions are most welcome and not in the least bit irritating.”
Winking, he bowed deeply. “You’re welcome, my queen. I am your eternal servant.”
I rolled my eyes. “The truth is, you never need a treaty to trade. All you need is a fake merchant license, and someonewho blends in with the n—with the fae,” I corrected, leaving out the wordnormal. “I will forge the license and teach our chosen merchant what they need to know. You”—I turned on Alisdair—“will provide the coin.
“This palace is rife with riches. A few trinkets from the front entryway, and you’ll have fifty cartfulls of fish, chickens, turkeys, and flightless bunnies,” I said. “In the meantime, we will work out a schedule that gives both your basks equal access to the marsh. That should tide you over until...” I glanced at Alisdair. “How long is the journey to and from Lyrica?”
“A fortnight.”
“Two weeks,” I announced to the bask leaders. “If you both can get along and abide for the schedule for two weeks, you’ll soon have all the food you need. Agreed?”
The men stiffly turned in each other’s direction, as if having to look at each other was torture itself. Snarling, they both said, “Agreed.”
“Very well.”
Noise sounded in the throne room. It was applause.
“Well done, Queen Ana,” Aeris gushed. “Of course you would know exactly what to do.”
“She’s amazing.”
“Our queen. Beautiful and wise.”
I blushed in spite of myself, preening a little in my seat. I didn’t want to admit it, but their praise felt good. As good as it felt to come up with a solution to a real problem, and be heard. The only hope of a future I had was selling vegetables in a market square. The only thing anyone would ever ask of me was the price.
But now here I was, solving food shortages and ending territory disputes. Me, the queen of nothing, and owned by no one.
“Yes, very well done,” Alisdair remarked. “A fair and reasonable plan that solves their issue and a great many more. I like it.”
“You do?” I hated immediately that I asked that. Hated even more that a small, lonely, pathetic part of me was pleased at his approval.
“I do,” he replied, rising up. “I like it so much that I will have this schedule drawn up immediately.” Alisdair nodded at Aeris. “Aeris, share it with their widows as soon as it’s complete.”
My smile twitched. “Wait. Their wid—?”
Alisdair roared. Launching off the dais, he changed in mid-air. The handsome king melted away, and the ferocious beast took over.
