Page 124 of Knight's End
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The rest of that day was filled with one administrative disaster after the next. Connor’s family reported every detail of everything that had gone on during our time away. And while all our spies said that Sedara still believed Rasle was responsible for the attack we’d secretly led, Connor wanted to go over twelve different potential countermeasures we could take.
I didn’t get a chance to do what I truly wanted to do, and I lacked a manservant to do it for me.
But I woke early the next morning to see the gods had painted the sky with brilliant swathes of pink. The heavens were bright, colorful, expectant. As if they knew this new day were important. I decided that other items could be put off. I had something more important that needed to happen.
I went down to the stables and had Jace round up messengers. I sent them out on gargoyles as the sun rose, so they’d be quick and efficient.
I told my knights to dress for my first royal decree.
Connor wanted to go over it with me, but I refused.
“This announcement is the end of the war,” I said, as I stepped into the bath Gennifer made me. “It needs to be from the heart.”
He’d pursed his lips and furrowed his brow, but little, hesitant Gennifer had plucked some courage out of the air and shooed him away.
“Thank you,” I smiled at her.
“Of course, Your Majesty,” she gave me an awkward bow.
“While I don’t want to practice with him, can I practice on you?” I asked.
Gennifer blushed a deep red and gave me a genuine smile. “I’d be honored.”
When I was finished, she had tears in her eyes and said, “If I might make a slight suggestion?”
I nodded.
“Words mean one thing. Laws mean another.”
And then my maid slipped out of the room, giving me time to think, not realizing the explosive force of her feedback.
The sky had brightened to a smiling mid-morning by the time my knights and I were dressed in our finest.
I wore a black gown to mourn the sacrifices of my people, but the bodice was embroidered with a large, flaming rose. I wore my largest, most ostentatious crown. It made me feel more authoritative. And if I was going to be changing the laws, I needed all the authority I could get.
When a sufficient crowd had gathered below, as well as scribes to write down what was said, and messengers were on standby, ready to deliver my speech to the provinces as soon as the ink dried, we made our way to the balcony.
My knights lined up on either side of me, also dressed in black, also wearing the burning rose of Evaness over their hearts. They all looked so handsome that my heart ached.
I stepped onto the platform that would allow the crowd to see me better from below and signaled the herald.
The trumpet blast nearly made me deaf.
Sarding hell, why do we use those things? I asked as I fake-smiled and clenched my hands because I couldn’t cover my ears.
My ears were still ringing when the man finished.
“People of Evaness, I come to you today with a heart full of sorrow for those we have lost. This war has brutalized our country. But we are strong. We will recover. I have seen so many inspiring shows of strength these past few days. And that strength isn’t physical, it’s mental. It’s the ability to endure. My mother always used to tell me about that. Perseverance. I didn’t use to understand it. Now, I do. I’m in awe of you. You held yourselves together in the face of evil. You kept faith when the fight seemed like one we could never win. Yet, here we are. Victorious.”
I paused as a cheer swept through the crowd. A fierce, hungry, rageful and triumphant battle cry.
The crowd’s emotions were as hot and fierce as a fire. And they burned within me as well.
I waited until silence had resumed.
“Some of you might not know the things I’m going to share with you today. But I have discovered that honesty is important. Honor is important. And rare. Particularly among those of us who wear these silly things,” I gestured at my crown, earning a laugh from the crowd.
