Page 49 of Court of Bone and Amethyst

“A wise sentiment,” Esbella says, fixing her gaze on Sarielle in an appraising manner.

The conversation strays to superficial topics the next few minutes as everyone finishes their food. Then, after the plates are cleared away, Sarielle lifts her wineglass. “I’d like to propose a toast.” Everyone lifts their glasses to join her. “To new friendships and bringing peace to Valaron.”

Everyone chimes their glasses together and takes a sip of wine. Sarielle levels her gaze on the northern queen. She’s clearly the decision maker of the two, not to mention the king is already on his fifth glass of wine and looks like he might fall face first onto the table.

“I’d like to discuss our alliance further,” Sarielle begins. “On our travels north, we experienced several harrowing incidents that threaten all of Valaron. Even you here in the far north.”

“Oh?” The queen arches her brow.

“In addition to the Septarus murdering the king and invading Selaye, Avonia has somehow figured out how to release nightmares beyond the border to their territory. We were attacked by dozens on the road here.”

“Including one of the ancients,” I add, locking gazes with Esbella. Across the room, I see Rivald stiffen in surprise.

The queen’s eyes widen. “And how did you survive this attack?”

“We are all skilled in magic,” Owyn says. “But none of us more than Queen Sarielle. She destroyed the ancient herself.”

Silence falls across the table for several moments.

“You defeated an ancient nightmare?” the baron asks, his mouth hanging open in an unattractive manner.

Sarielle does not shrink beneath their gazes. If anything, she grows taller, her presence expanding. “I did.”

The queen shoots the baron the briefest of looks, and the king says, “By the dark goddess. That’s astounding.”

“Not only that,” Sarielle continues, striking while she has the advantage. “But we experienced several earthquakes just south of here, and the sky turned from day to night and back again. The realm is becoming unstable, no doubt due to whatever dark magic Avonia used to release the nightmares. She must be stopped, or no one is safe. Not even here in the north, where you have such independence.”

Leaning back in her chair, the queen holds her wine in one hand, staring into its glittering red depths for a moment before looking to Sarielle. “So, you want the armies of the north, ten thousand strong, to march south and go to war with the Septarus for you. What do we get in return? It seems it would be safer for us to ride out this fight up here rather than losing good men and women to a battle that isn’t ours.”

I feel a growl rising in my chest, but underneath the table, Sarielle rests her hand on my thigh and squeezes.

“Even if you stay here, the nightmares rampaging and the earthquakes we felt, just miles from here, are going to get worse, not better. Avonia wants to merge our realm with the rest of Aureon. She told me her plan. If she succeeds, none of us will ever be safe from the nightmares again. They have no hesitation coming this far north—it was mere miles away that they attacked us.”

The queen waves a hand. “Say you do manage to kill Avonia, who will return the nightmares back beyond their border? It defeats the purpose of having a Queen of Nightmares if the ancient spell has been broken.”

“I can return them,” Sarielle says. “In fact, I’m the only one who can return them. I am Valaron’s only chance of a safe future.”

“You’re j-just one girrrl,” the king says, slurring and spilling more wine from his glass.

“I’m not a girl. I’m the Queen of Nightmares,” Sarielle says, her eyes glowing bright gold, a slow spin of shadows moving off her. “And the Queen of all Valaron.”

When the queen’s eyes narrow, Sarielle continues, “However, it’s clear you seek independence, and that you have laid claim to it, declaring your own throne here in the north. But what good is power if no one knows you have it? When I am sitting on my throne in Selaye, I will make sure the whole realm knows the vital role the north played in defeating Avonia’s army, and I will make your new titles known to all. You will have the respect you deserve.”

The queen takes a long sip of her wine. “I’ll take your proposal under consideration.”

I swing my gaze to Sarielle, my expression clear.Not good enough. If what we’ve said hasn’t convinced the queen, nothing will. She’s clearly too drunk on her own power to see that Sarielle is her only hope. Sarielle thinks she needs the armies of the north, but what she’d said was true: she is the only one who can rein the nightmares in now that they’re free. Especially if Avonia manages to release all of them.

“I hope you do,” Sarielle says. “For all of Valaron.”

I rise from my chair. “The queen must get her rest now.”

Esbella’s eyes widen slightly at my abrupt statement. “Of course,” she says. “We—”

Her words are cut short as the castle rocks beneath us, and the glass ceiling overhead shatters and crashes down.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Sarielle

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