Page 54 of An Archer's Reckoning

“Ah, yes, right. I lost myself in my own thoughts. Your father . . . He had only been King a few years, three, maybe four. Everything was new and exciting. You could see the passion in his eyes and how he carried himself. He had yet to feel the true weight of the Crown on his brow. There was an energy at court I had not felt in many years—a sense of hope, if you will.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your grandfather was not . . . how can I say this?”

“Everybody hated him. He was a royal ass,” I blurted.

“Ha! He wasnotwell liked.” Atikus’s eyebrows jiggled as deep laughter rumbled out of his mouth. I didn’t feel like smiling,but the sound banished my anger. “The Kingdom did fine under his rule, but it was not a particularly joyous or prosperous time. Corruption ran freely. Common folk never stood a chance. Even traveling the King’s Road became dangerous. Melucia was experiencing an explosion of industry and commerce. Your grandfather resented our success and often blamed the ills he created on us.

“Then your father took the throne. He was handsome, young and strong, with a quick wit and ready smile. He spoke of aiding the farmer and farrier alike, proclaiming all citizens of the realm to be royal in their own ways. That bit rankled the nobles, but the people fell in love with him. When he attacked your grandfather’s corruption, the nation rallied to his banner.”

Atikus took a long drink from his waterskin.

“Then you were born, and a burgeoning renaissance turned into a revolution.”

I tilted my head to the side. “What do you mean? What did I have to do with anything at the time? I was just a baby.”

“No, Jess, you have never been ‘just’ anything. You would become the firstQueenin a thousand years. That idea captured the minds of little girls—and some old women, I might add—all over the world. Imagine that, awomanon the throne of Spires. Your birth was the bellows to Alfred’s hope, driving a blaze across the Kingdom.” Atikus reached forward and prodded the fire with a stick, disturbing the dying embers. “It was remarkable to see.”

“The people thought of me . . .with hope?”

He smiled broadly. “Jess, Alfred insisted you be seated in every meeting. Mind, you were only days old. You slept through most of my visit. Well . . . you also made the room so noxious that the King had to move our meeting.”

He rumbled again.

“You became his world.Hishope. His dream for the future of his Kingdom. I watched a proud, fearless man transform into a hopeful, lovesick boy every time you were carted into a room.”

I sat back and drew my knees to my chest. When I spoke, I had to strain to hear my own voice. “I miss him so much.”

Atikus watched in silence.

“It should have been me,” she whispered.

“What should have been you?”

“I should have let her kill me. My father and brother would be alive if it were not for me. I should have died.” I swatted a tear that trickled down my cheek.

“Child, Spirits know we cannot control life. Who knows if killing you would have satisfied her ritual? Then your mother might have turned her eyes toward your brother and father in any event. You would all be dead, and there would be no one to oppose her.”

“I know. I know,” I muttered. “It still should have been me.”

At the sound of Keelan’s heavy footfalls, I quickly wiped my face with the back of my sleeve and looked away.

Chapter 19

Ayden

Icould’ve swatted a willow branch against a nest of hornets and not seen as much frenzied activity as we found upon returning to Grove’s Pass.

“Is every Ranger in Melucia here?” Eilidh asked.

Green-cloaked men and women hurried about the work of shoring up the town’s palisade and the few watch towers spread across its length. More drilled or marched, while others practiced archery, shooting at an endless row of hay bales. The clang of swords and clatter of armor rang out as often as men shouted.

“Looks like it,” I said. “Come on. Let’s go see the Captain.”

An entire troop of guards stood watch outside the entrance to the headquarters building. I knew several by name, but none offered a friendly wave or kind word. Ten eyes scrutinized us as we entered, their owners’ hands resting firmly on the pommels of their swords.

“Sheesh, is it colder here than on the mountains?” Eilidh glanced back.

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