Page 16 of The Royal Throne
She rubbed her temple. “Do you agree with what King Rainer plans to do?”
He sat there staring at her for a long minute before answering. “My wife likes you. She believes you’re what this kingdom needs. I’m a commander, my son a captain. Neither of us wants to see a war. We’d both be at the front lines. And, well, there are other, more personal reasons. I’ve been around for a long time. I’m in my fifties. I’d like to live the rest of my days on my land. I’d like my family—my entire family—to be with me. I believe the League was put in place for a reason and wish our king would follow and respect the rules set forth by the League.”
Unease filled Sabine. While she’d known Rainer was breaking the League’s rules, she hadn’t fully realized he’d wanted to dismantle the League entirely. The other kingdoms would ban together against Lynk. But Lynk had the strongest army of all. “I’m told we have ships off the coast of Carlon and tent cities with men ready to storm into Carlon and Nisk?”
“We do.”
Sabine gripped her hands together. “Do I have the authority to give you orders?”
He smiled. “You are my queen.”
Hope filled her. “I want the ships called back to Lynk, I want the tent cities torn down, and I want the soldiers to go back to wherever it is they’re normally stationed.”
Felix leaned forward, his forearms on the table. “You must understand what you’re doing. If the other kingdoms decide to come against us, we’ll be defenseless.”
“But I don’t want to go to war.”
“Understandable. What about defending ourselves?”
She hadn’t considered that.
“And what of the king?” Felix asked. “When he finds out what you’ve done, he’ll not only be furious, but he’ll undo your orders.”
In other words, she needed to give different instructions. “What do you suggest?”
“No one has ever asked me that before.”
“Are you not the commander? Wouldn’t your advice be the most valuable of all?”
He leaned back, considering her. “Personally, I’d move the ships north so they’re still in play but off Lynk’s shoreline, close to the border. I’d leave the tent cities right where they are—but I’d give them different orders. Perhaps focus on training, running drills, protecting our border—not preparing to attack. Then, hopefully, no one will discover their orders have changed. Does that make sense?”
She nodded. “That is a good idea.” She chewed on her bottom lip, thinking it through.
“Prince Otto, if I may be so bold to offer a recommendation,” Felix mumbled. “If I were you, I’d leave as soon as possible. When King Rainer returns, Queen Sabine is going to have a fight on her hands. You don’t want to be used as leverage against the queen. The less people here who love or care about her, the better.”
“How can you serve a king you think so little of?” she asked.
“You forget he is a new king. A young king. I served under another man for many years. A good man. When the old king died, the commander retired. King Rainer appointed me as the new commander. I thought it was a great opportunity. Now that I know the king better, now that I know his plans and what he’s capable of.” He shrugged. “However, I swore allegiance to him and the throne.”
“Luckily for you, I am now on the throne and can help you.”
He nodded. “More importantly, you can help all of Lynk.”
Just then, a messenger ran into the room. “Your Majesty,” a young man said as he bowed. “A letter from the king of Bakley.”
Sabine took the letter, examining the seal. It was, indeed, from her father.
“I’ll take my leave,” Felix said as he stood. “I’ll get that full report to you as soon as possible.” He left the room.
Sabine tore the letter open and read it.
“What does it say?” Otto asked, leaning over her shoulder.
She read the words but they didn’t register. “I don’t understand.”
“Our brother, Viktor, is getting married?” Otto said.
Sabine couldn’t imagine her brother married. At least not Viktor. He wasn’t even next in line to marry—Otto was.
