Page 58 of MidKnight
I sighed. “It’s merely a discussion. Some of her people need more access to water.”
“A lake is easier.” The tiny, brown-haired woman was not the least bit intimidated by me or my position. It immediately raised my opinion of her.
“She didn’t like that option.”
“Of course, she didn’t. She’s a reacher, that one. She doesn’t just want water. She wants everything. She wants my hills because of the river access.”
I swallowed a sigh. The regional battles were close to the heart. Mother had always said it didn’t do to get involved in those frays. You couldn’t win.
I merely listened as Sunya ranted about Isla, claiming the queen wasn’t satisfied with her share of the river closer to its mouth because all the diversions for farming made the mouth of the river too shallow for ships.
I didn’t bother to point out that Isla had an entire coastline and the Sedarian fleet of ships were always at the ready to take trade goods to any location. That didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was the fact that Isla couldn’t access the local river.
Connor rescued me just as I was growing uncomfortable, wondering how I could continue to hold a placid smile.
“Care to stretch your legs, wife?” he winked.
“Of course, excuse me,” I practically leapt to my feet. Blue had to fend for himself as I latched onto Connor, eager to escape. He led Blue and I out to the gardens. Shiter and Fuzzy—I decided on the bear’s name as we walked outdoors—followed.
The animals darted off to stretch and do their animal things as Connor turned to me.
He handed me the scroll that Jorad delivered.
“I need to read it? It’s not just for you?” He handled most of the kingdom’s official correspondence.
Connor nodded solemnly but didn’t say anything.
Nervous butterflies flitted through my stomach. “What could be so important that Jorad interrupted our first meeting with the nobles?”
“Read,” Connor’s answer was terse and put me on edge.
I glanced down at the message and saw Queen Diamoni of Sedara’s seal. I gulped. That was serious. The most powerful monarch in the seven kingdoms of Kenmare had written to me directly.
I flipped over the parchment and read the message. It was a single line.
You have seven days to find Avia. Or we will take over the search.
Chapter Fourteen
“Holy sard!” I nearly stumbled off the path. Connor caught my elbow and held me steady.
“What does that mean?” I whispered frantically.
Connor stared darkly at me, “I had Quinn tell Declan to pause on researching coins and dragons and everything else that kept him up last night. I told him to look at our confidential documents. Anything that might indicate what the hell Sedara has to do with this.”
My chest felt tight. “They’ve always been a good ally. At least, they were before their ambassador and Willard met in the woods.”
“I think that might have been Meeker on his own,” Connor said. “None of his staff have had feelings or thoughts of disloyalty or secrecy. Quinn and I have checked. And Meeker hasn’t been spotted anywhere.”
I arched a brow. “Or Meeker could be working with those involved in whole shite dragon-djinni-kidnapping debacle.”
I stared down at the parchment. The black lines looked as sharp as blades. “But this note from Sedara. Did I misread the tone?”
Connor shook his head and reached for the note. He reread it. “It reads like a threat to me.”
I pressed my lips together and watched Fuzzy scare a half-dressed noble couple out of the bushes. I couldn’t even laugh.
I didn’t understand. Why was everything turning on its head? I didn’t need another nation threatening me when it already looked like Sultan Raj had it out for me. I didn’t need anything else, much less a threat from the most powerful monarch. Why would she do this? “Mother and Queen Diamoni always got along.”
