Page 47 of Knight's End
“Ryan will lead the attack. But you have to give him time—”
I took a deep breath and let it out. “I know.”
Then I steered Pony into a dive. I didn’t head straight for the castle. I deliberately landed in the pink district of the nobles. Blue and Connor followed. I commanded Pony to lead the other gargoyle behind as we made our way toward the castle.
Most nobles merely peered out of their windows at us, curious. But one or two came out on their stoop to wave. I spoke to those.
“Evaness has been attacked,” I told them, letting my face show just the tiniest bit of concern. “We came to warn you that Rasle has somehow come up with an entire fleet of gargoyles. And they’re flying this way.”
“Gargoyles!” one elderly man, dressed entirely in white, declared. His ‘a’ sound dragged with a typical Sedarian lilt. “We were told a sea sprite was attacking.”
I shook my head. “She’s gotten herself some allies. A wall won’t stop flying gargoyles. Nor will it stop Cheryn’s djinn. They can wish your wall gone in an instant.”
The man’s eyes widened, and he quickly bustled inside, shutting his door behind him.
“What are you doing?” Declan whispered.
“Ensuring Diamoni doesn’t control the story,” Connor grinned and waved at a little girl peeking through a window. When her mother scooped her up, he made a concerned face and pointed behind them. “Take cover!” he called loudly.
Three or four more nobles came out onto their stoops after that, and I gave each of them the same spiel before royal guards came tromping down the street toward us.
The commander of the guard stopped when he saw Declan and me. I adjusted my tiara and gave him a small nod when he said, “Queen Bloss?”
“We’ve come to warn you of an impending attack from Rasle, sir.”
His eyes widened and he nodded, his guards immediately forming an escort to the palace.
I kept my head tall and my back straight as we went through the gleaming courtyard paved with blue crystal, up the steps, into the castle, which was made of white crystal.
My knees trembled and I was grateful for my thick skirts. Because I was about to attempt to goad the most powerful woman into war. And I was about to lie to her face about it.
Trumpets and a herald announced us at the top steps of the throne room.
I stared across the crystal hall.
Declan's mother was tall, elegant, and ice cold—she was everything you would expect the queen to be. She stood to greet us as my knights and I made our way toward her throne. The dais and her chair were the only color in the room, a warm, opulent gold that gave the illusion of sunlight solidified. The Queen stood in front of her golden seat, her golden hair in a braid that circled her head, a long, silver gown flowing past her feet and trailing elegantly over the steps. Beside her stood each of her knights. They were all dark, solemn, and imposing. Each had a black beard so thick that it was hard for me to distinguish one from the other.
Our footsteps echoed as we walked toward them.
The few courtiers who mingled in the palace today were brought to dead silence by our arrival. Their stares dug into me like ploughs cut through soil. They tried to plant doubt and insecurity and sow discord.
But I kept my eyes on Diamoni. I watched the tiny tightening around her mouth as she realized her spies had fed her false information about my death. False, or unverified.
I let a grin spread across my face, with a hint of sarcasm in it, just enough to make her question whether I’d purposely faked my death. Or purposely fed her spy bad information. Or bribed him. I let my grin grow wider.
She’d never trust that informant again.
I stopped halfway through the throne room and waited for her to come to greet me.
She hesitated when her husband reached for her arm. And then she refused him. The queen did not descend the stairs to shake my hand as an equal. She nodded at me, and then sat on her throne as though I were some peasant, come to beg a boon.
My blood boiled and my cheeks flushed. But clenching my fists would only show her that she had gotten to me. I couldn't lose composure so quickly. It would undermine my ability to negotiate. It would let her know that her first move had put me off balance.
Since she did not descend the stairs, I did not bow. I simply stopped halfway through the throne room and stared. I let the silence draw out to a long, uncomfortable pause full of tension, thinking mother would be proud. Then I said, "I was unaware that Sedara had changed the custom of greeting foreign allies."
"My alliance was with the queen now dead. From what I hear, your capital and your country no longer exist."
My smile widened. “Ah … but didn’t you hear that I was dead? I fear you’ve gotten a good deal of misinformation recently.”
