Page 39 of The Frost Queen's Blade

Rune caught her eye, and she thought she saw a predatory glint there. “Your Majesty,” he said, “I am a shield, not your attack dog.”

“You are what I say you are. And right now, I need you to find the person who did this and bring me their head.”

Godwin frowned but said nothing.

Despite the bubbling nausea in her gut, Elma gathered herself and strode forward, pushing past the men, and knelt beside Cora. She couldn’t hide from this; she had to look it in the face, this death. This loss that was meant for her.

Cora’s sobs had quieted, but tears still slid down her face and dripped from her chin. Elma laid a hand on her maid’s shoulder. “Cora,” she said, “you’re safe. It’s all right.”

The other woman said nothing.

At last, Elma turned her gaze to the taster. He had been young, a boy from the city. She’d never learned his name. After all, why should she have? The thought was bitter in Elma’s gut. Why should she have met him, or cared for him, when her father had never done the same? Such a thing hadnever been shown to her. And some selfish, scared part of her was glad she hadn’t known him — why submit herself to the pain of knowing a man whose purpose was to be expendable?

“I’m sorry,” Elma murmured.

Cora sniffed and turned to look at Elma. Her eyes were swollen, her nose bright red. Snot clung to her nostril. “You didn’t drink it?”

“No,” said Elma gently. “No one did. Except…” She swallowed. “Cora, did you see it happen? Did you see anyone in the kitchens or the corridors who shouldn’t have been there?”

Rune, who had still not left despite Elma’s order, moved toward them. “It’s just as likely your maid poisoned the wine.”

The advisors muttered half-hearted assent.

Elma leapt to her feet. She wouldn’t have that. “Cora has been my maid for as long as I’ve been in Rothen,” she said, her voice ringing through the room. “I trust her. This wasn’t her doing.”

Cora coughed and slowly rose to her feet to join Elma. She brushed away her tears with a hasty hand. “I think… I did see someone.”

All eyes in the room turned to her.

“You said nothing of it a moment ago,” Godwin said, suspicion and frustration warring in his expression.

“I was frightened,” Cora said, glancing at Elma. “Confused. I didn’t think you’d believe me.”

“Ofcourse, we’d believe you, foolish girl,” Lord Ferdinand cut in, sounding very much like he meant the opposite. “You simply cannot keep secrets when the queen’s life is at stake.”

Elma ground her teeth but ignored the lord’s outburst. He and Bertram were likely behind this, though they would never have dirtied their own hands. They would have usedsomeone else, a hired goon, or someone who shared their distaste for Queen Elma of Rothen.

“Who did you see?” Elma urged, taking Cora’s hand. “You’re in no danger. I’ll ask Luca to station a guard at your door tonight to see that you sleep safely.”

Cora glanced at the advisors, then back at Elma, her brows knitted together. “IthoughtI saw, darting through the shadows… well, I know it sounds mad, but I saw a Slödavan.”

Every head in the room turned to Rune.

“It wasn’tme,” he said, indignant.

“It wasn’t,” Elma added quickly. “He’s been with me all day. Cora, are you sure?”

Her maid nodded. “He had white hair and blue eyes. And… a blade of ice.”

“Well, there you are, Your Majesty,” Lord Bertram exclaimed, his face wobbling and bright red with suppressed anger. “What else could it be but another Slödavan assassin? They would have our kingdom fall to rubble around our feet!”

“Stop trying to be poetic, Bertram,” Godwin said. “You sound ridiculous. I hate to say it, but he’s right. I don’t know any members of court who look like that, do you?”

The question was for Elma. He was passing the matter to her, their monarch, and she could not have wanted it less. Another Slödavan assassin sent to kill her. Perhaps sheshouldstart a collection. “You know I don’t,” she said. “We must proceed as if there’s an assassin in the citadel.”

Godwin doled out orders swiftly and efficiently, and Elma nodded as if the orders had been hers. Cora was sent to her room with an armed escort. And at last, Elma departed with Godwin, Rune in her wake.

“Rune,” Elma said, turning to him, “why are you still here? I’m waiting for a head on a platter.”

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