"Send the troops north. We protect Mittriel." If Queen Merecot took the capital before an heir was ready, she could claim all of Aratay. They had to keep Merecot's people out of Mittriel, away from the throne.
"But the northeast . . . it will be overrun."
"Can we protect both?"
Isolek studied the map. "No. You have to choose. If you're wrong, all of our troops will be out of position, twiddling their thumbs while Queen Merecot's army bites off the northeast."
"And if I'm right?"
"All of our troops will be in the right position, fighting spirits, while Queen Merecot's army still takes the northeast." Chancellor Isolek slumped back in his chair. "You paint a grim picture, Your Majesty. A choice that is no choice."
How ambitious was Merecot? Would she really use spirits to attack the capital?
Very. And yes.
There had to be a way to protect all her people. She tapped the table. If she weren't afraid of another false death, she could use spirits to defend the capital. Except she'd never been as strong as Merecot. Nowhere near.
But Naelin was. Or she would be, if she were queen.
All Daleina had to do was abdicate and let Naelin take the crown. She could then send the troops to the northeast to fight the army, and Naelin could defend Mittriel from Merecot's spirits.
Question was: was Naelin ready to be queen?
And was Daleina ready to die?
The drums had announced it: the trials would be held at dawn.
Naelin ate dinner with Erian and Llor (without Renet) in their chambers. Or at least she pushed food around her plate with her fork. She couldn't manage to swallow more than a few bites. While the children were engrossed in their own meals, Naelin sneaked a slab of steak from her plate and fed it to Bayn under the table.
"I beat Erian in miyan today," Llor announced.
"That's wonderful," Naelin told him.
Erian whispered in Naelin's ear. "I let him win."
Naelin patted Erian on the shoulder to say that of course she did, it was the right thing, and don't say that where Llor could overhear.
"You did not let me win," Llor said.
"You weren't meant to hear that. I was whispering!"
"I won fair and square, because I'm smart," Llor said.
Erian scowled at him. "If you're so smart, how come you dumped your socks into pickle juice? I had to tell the cooks that you'd ruined their batch."
He shrugged. "I was experimenting. When I grow up, I'm going to be a scientist like Healer Hamon. But not with people, because people's inside stuff is icky. And you have to work with a lot of poop."
"Llor!"
"Healer Hamon said so. It was part of his training. He had to learn all about how bodies work, and that includes-"
"Don't say ‘poop' again," Erian warned.
"You just said it."
Naelin smiled at both of them. It wasn't even a forced smile. She loved them both so much that she felt as if her heart were going to burst out of her chest. Tears pricked her eyes.
"Mama has a big day tomorrow," Erian said. "You should be on extra-good behavior."
"It's all right." Reaching across the table, Naelin took both their hands. "Be on whatever behavior you want. Be yourselves. Who you are is wonderful, exactly as you are. Always remember that." She squeezed their hands.
Now Erian looked on the verge of crying.
"Don't worry about me," Naelin told her. "I've been trained by the best champion Aratay has ever had and by the queen herself. Everything is going to be fine." I even almost believe that, she thought.
After dinner, she tucked them in to her bed-after she was done making sure everything was ready, she planned to crawl in with them. But she couldn't sleep just yet. Her mind was buzzing too loudly to fall asleep. She'd exercise, tire herself out, and then sleep.
Clearing the furniture to the side, she began a few of the stretches that Ven had taught her. She was stronger than she used to be-physically stronger, not just mentally. She had muscles on her arms that hadn't been there before, and she could fold herself in half to touch her toes without any problem.
Not that the spirits would be impressed by that.
She heard a thump from the balcony. Odd, she thought. Stretching her mind, she felt for nearby spirits. There were a few tree spirits above her, clinging to the outside of the palace tree, and a few fire spirits in the hallway, dancing in the lanterns, but none were on the balcony.
She went to check-and saw her friend. "Captain Alet!"
Captain Alet was crouched on the balcony, as if she'd dropped there from above. As she straightened, she said, "Sorry to drop in on you so literally. Champion Ven wanted me to check on you. Tomorrow's an important day, and you know how paranoid he is. Since there are already guards in the hallway, I thought I'd secure this exit."