Page 40 of Enchanted Crown
“Just let him go.” It seemed the logical answer. “Agria deservesto know what is going on here. Maybe then they will be willing to work with us.”
“Dra Skor traditionally does not like our Agrian neighbors,” Malachi explained. “But with current events and tensions, you are not wrong. Reyald won’t like it though.”
“I think I am more worried about an entire country of people who are missing than I am about Agria right now.”
Malachi gave me a nod. “Understandable.”
“We can talk to Esta about it tomorrow. See what she thinks,” Amory suggested.
Esta sat up in bed and stretched. “I think whatever Keir thinks is best.”
“Es,” I chided.
“What?” she yawned. “I trust you.”
Amory and I exchanged a worried look. This wasn’t the first time Esta had told us whatever we thought was fine. We’d heard it a lot the past few days.
“You can’t put me in charge of things,” I argued.
“But you’re right. The Agrian spy can go. Release him tomorrow. We have more than enough going on in Dra Skor without figuring out Agrian strategy.”
There was a knock on my door in the silence, as Malachi, Amory, and I didn’t know what to say. Esta was off. But she had every right to be. We’d all been trying to fill in the gaps for her. That was the thing about grief. It took up space when it wanted and how it wanted. It didn’t wait for anyone.
Another knock. This one sounding different.
“Keir?” Dex’s muffled voice asked, making my steps to the door move quicker.
“What?” I asked as I opened up the door a crack to find none other than Esta’s grandmother standing there. At the door to my room.
“Nana Mallick?” I asked with wide eyes.
Rather than use the cane which I determined had just been knocking on the door, she patted my cheek. “Hi, Prince Keiran.”
She pointed the cane at Malachi. “You stay.” Again at Amory. “You stay.” The cane swung its way over to Esta. “You.”
Esta swallowed, her watery eyes going from me back to her grandmother.
“I did not bust my tail for two decades in passing all the laws required for a woman Mallick to be the rightful heir for you to just hand the crown off to your damn brother when things get difficult!”
“What?!”I snapped.
Nana’s eyes went to mine. “She didn’t tell you? That she was considering abdicating to her brother?”
Malachi was now standing next to Nana. “Youwhat?”
“I—” Esta’s voice sounded so damn shredded as she got out, “I amtired.”
I moved to walk over to her, but the cane stopped me. Her grandmother moved over to her instead. Her voice went more gentle as she said, “My darling girl, look around you. You have everything you need right here to build Dra Skor back up. Everything you needright herefor a long and healthy reign.”
Esta’s face distorted as she tried to keep it in, but then a few tears slipped out as she looked down at her hands.
“When did you start considering this?” I asked. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because I knew you’d tell me it was a poor idea,” she got out. “That you’d tell me I was the best queen for Dra Skor.”
“Because you are,” Amory said strongly.
I tried to make my voice softer. “Did you consider this before or after the other plan you had?”
