Page 95 of A Courage of the Chosen

My brows fold over my eyes. “It was about the wagons, and who was spilling that information.”

Hector pats my hand. “Keep telling yourself that, lass. But if that idea came from Callahan, it had nothing to do with those supplies, and everything to do with rooting out who wanted to hurt you.”

Chapter 27

Elsie

“Callahan said you were looking for me, Your Majesty?” Freya finds me in the library with Finneus later that afternoon, as we pour over more of the books from the Darrow chambers. We haven’t found anything significant but we keep searching anyway.

I planned on finding her myself soon, but it seems Callahan beat me to it after I clued him in on what I wanted to do.

“I did,” I reply, rising from my chair. “Shall we go for a walk around the grounds?”

“That would be lovely, Elsie.” She turns and I follow her, waving a goodbye to Finneus.

“How is that little girl, Erin, settling in?” Freya asks as we enter the courtyard covered in a fine mist with the fall afternoon.

“She’s . . . I can’t imagine what she’s been through. We’ve found her a place to stay and we’re keeping an eye on her.”

Freya slips her arm through mine as a pair of guards bow when we pass them. It makes my skin itch, and Freya chuckles delicately.

“You really don’t like that, do you?” She remarks as we stroll through the neatly trimmed hedges that bloom with beautiful winter roses, kept alive by Seelie magic.

“Is it that obvious?”

“You grimace whenever it happens,” Freya grins.

“I’ll get used to it . . . eventually.”

“You will.”

The fresh air fills my lungs, and I welcome the chill after hours closed away in the library.

“So, you wanted to speak with me?” she prompts, after we pass the fountain of the woman gesturing to the sky in the heart of the gardens. I sit on the stone benches that surround it and Freya joins me.

“Have you heard what transpired at the council today? What Lady Navin has done?”

She inclines her head. “It sounds like you did the right thing by having her removed.”

“We did. I need to be able to trust my council.”

“You do,” she agrees.

“Which is why I wanted to speak to you. Lady Navin didn’t like me, but she played a part. One I know nothing about.”

Freya turns toward me slowly, and in the movement, I spot a little bit of Callahan as she watches me.

“I need someone to oversee court, acting as intermediary between the nobles and the crown.” I pause, and Freya waits patiently for me to continue. “I’d like you to fulfill that role.”

She doesn’t reply instantly, only blinks a couple of times before her aged, ethereal face stretches with a broad grin. “I would be glad to help you, Your Majesty.”

I wish I possessed the same excitement about my role at court as the one that shines in Freya’s brown eyes. No doubt she’d hoped to have a duty to perform when she returned to the palace, while mine has me questioning if I’m cut out for it.

She takes my hand into hers, holding it on her lap. “Your grandmother would love to see you like this.”

“I hope I’m making her proud,” I reply somberly.

Freya’s dainty floral scent drifts off her as she shifts closer. “You are, sweet child.”