Page 55 of A Courage of the Chosen

“You should appoint your own advisor,” Grandpa says with a scowl. “If you don’t trust him, you need to get rid of him.”

The question slips free. “I can do that?”

“Sweetheart, you’re the queen. You can do what you like, no matter what the council tells you.”

My cheeks heat. I hadn’t even considered that it would be an option to replace him. I can’t prove it, not yet, but I’ve thought on more than one instance Hume might be the reason we’re two steps behind.

“I don’t trust a lot of the council, but we can’t get rid of them all, surely?” I ask.

Callahan moves before the fire, turning to us as he runs a hand through his hair. “No. But maybe there’s a way to sniff out the ones we can count on.”

Grandpa leans further back into the cushions, tugging me with him so I’m forced to relax. “How?” He looks up at Callahan.

“I’ll speak with my uncle tonight, and we’ll devise seven stories, tell each council member something different and send scouts along those routes. When they’re attacked, we’ll be able to trace it back to who isn’t on our side.”

“Even Hector?” I interject.

“I know you trust him, but we need to rule it out.” Callahan remains impassive, and I know it’s because he’s far better at shutting away his emotions when he needs to.

My stomach pitches at the thought of Hector being the one to betray us, and I relent with a sigh, knowing that this will provide the clarity we need on everyone who’s supposed to help me rule.

Callahan’s expression turns calculating. “I’ll go to my uncle now, set things in motion.”

I still haven’t met Lord Sellar, and can’t help but admire the way he’s so determined to provide aid, but wanting to keep as far away from the politics of war as possible.

“Do it,” I say, when Cal looks at me for confirmation before I continue. “We’ll need to be careful how we tell the council of the new plans, or they’ll be suspicious.”

“We can play to their egos, make it seem like they’re the only ones who can be trusted,” Callahan responds.

I shake my head. “That won’t work on Hume. He’ll see right through it.”

“So you get rid of him anyway. We’ll use him being removed as a distraction. You force the issue of them acknowledging your title, your grandfather can help with that, and then we’ll slip the new plans in conversationally with each of them when you address court.”

Grandpa looks impressed at how quickly Callahan just put this together. “How can I help her?”

“Well, they know you, or of you, at least. They knew you were set to marry Màiri. If you stand with Elsie and tell them what happened, they can’t deny it any longer.”

Callahan’s resolve soothes some of the strain in my chest. His plan is pretty solid.

Grandpa agrees and then asks me, “Do you know who you want as your advisor?”

I smile.

For once, an easy decision to make. There’s only one person in this entire realm I trust enough to fulfill that role.

Chapter 16

Elsie

Today is going to be an absolute shit-show.

Callahan left pretty quickly after we agreed what needed to be done, and didn’t return until the early hours of the morning with the details of what he and Lord Sellar discussed. He had the chance to see his mom, too.

She arrived with Grandpa and Finneus, and was staying with her older brother in one of the large homes beyond the stone walls of the palace.

Grandpa and I had dinner, just the two of us, and it felt like a regular Tuesday back in Brooklyn, sharing our weeks over our favorite food. His eyes lit up when I summoned Colin’s tarts for dessert, and it comforted me to know that some things would never change. That we still had this little commonality that brought us together.

That comfort is long gone now as I stride into the council chamber, followed by Cal and Brodie, with steel along my spine and determination steadying my heart.