“Quite a crowd, right?” Her blue eyes widened in surprise as she took in the full extent of the audience.
The minister droned on, going into great detail about the nature of a king’s duty to his kingdom and its people. It was the same stuff that had been said at Tejus’s coronation, and coming from the minister it sounded just as hollow and meaningless today as it did then.
“We’re going to see Benedict before sunset today at the temple, and then wait around to see what happens when the sun goes down,” I whispered, gritting my teeth against the tugs of hunger that were pulsing through me from being so close to Ruby.
“That sounds like a good plan.” She nodded. “I’ll see if Ash can come too.”
I guessed I had to get used to Ash and Ruby being a package deal from now on. It wasn’t that I didn’t like Ash—I did, but after he had voluntarily decided to work with Queen Trina, I had my misgivings about his judgment…not that I could really talk. I was just watching out for Ruby, and I had no doubt that she probably thought that Tejus was an equally inappropriate match for me. She was just too good a friend to say anything.
I looked over at Tejus.
The words of the minister floated over. “…to pledge one’s life to the protection and care of a kingdom and its people is a great honor. It should not be taken lightly, but with reverence and dedication, a determination to put others before oneself. To rule fairly, to rule bravely, to rule with heart as well as mind. To undertake the sacrifices that go with such a position, and to undertake them with grace and dignity. To be honest above all else—about your own limitations, and others’. To love your people as if they are your own children, to care, protect and love…”
Tejus might never realize it, but he had fulfilled his duty to his people in the short time he had ruled. The night that he had abdicated the throne was, ironically, the night that I had believed wholeheartedly he was made to rule and lead—and if it wasn’t going to be at Hellswan, it would be somewhere else.
The crown was lowered on to Ash’s head.
Tejus stood, perfectly erect and silent against the wall, his eyes fixed on the ceremony. My heart broke for him. He did care about losing the crown, but he would never show it because of all the attributes the minister had just listed. Bravery, dignity, honesty, determination. Tejus had all of those qualities in abundance—and although few people in this room knew it, Tejus had just selflessly lost everything in the hope that he might save Nevertide from the deadly clutches of Queen Trina.
Ash
It was over.
The ministers left the dais, and I searched the room for Ruby. She was standing over by Tejus and Hazel at one end of the room. Her gaze met mine through the crowd. She smiled at me, and it seemed genuine enough, but I noticed the lack of sparkle in her eyes. Ruby always smiled at me like she was contemplating her own private joke—that whatever the situation, she was finding humor in it somewhere. That was one of the things I loved about her; she was challenging. I could win every single one of the Imperial trials and it wouldn’t make me feel as victorious as the moments when I managed to make Ruby laugh.
I stood stiffly up from the chair—it wasn’t the most comfortable seat I’d ever sat on, and already the crown was starting to make my neck ache. It was also strange sitting in the seat that Tejus had occupied only a week ago. It didn’t feel like it belonged to me. I felt like an imposter, playing the role of king while the real one stood, practically shunned by his subjects, a few yards away.
I’d glanced over at him a few times during the ceremony. He had kept his eyes fixed on the dais, and as the minister of ceremony had droned on, Tejus had remained motionless, as if he was genuinely listening to every word the sentry said. I hadn’t been able to attend the actual ceremony of Tejus’s crowning. I had felt too bitter and twisted up inside to watch. But he had braved mine, and once again I started to feel like perhaps Tejus was a better man than I had ever given him credit for.
I noticed that he and Hazel had stood a few feet apart throughout the ceremony. I still hadn’t had a moment to ask Tejus about the logistics behind the transformation, or if there was any way of avoiding it. It wasn’t a conversation I was looking forward to. There would be no way of phrasing it that wasn’t going to be excruciatingly awkward for both of us.
But I had to know.
Because if there was only one conclusion, only one possible outcome, then both Ruby and I had some tough decisions to make.
I started down the small steps of the dais, smiling at the ministers who insincerely congratulated me. The villagers were being moved out of the hall as quickly as possible by the guards. I didn’t like the implication that they weren’t welcome.