The Reluctant Queen (The Queens of Renthia #2)(112)

Going out onto the balcony, Naelin looked down. There were a few flagpoles that jutted out from the outer wall, plus windows, but they were all far apart. The night wind whipped around them, fluttering Naelin's skirts. "You climbed up?"

"Down, actually." Alet pointed up toward another balcony.

"You could have broken your legs. Or neck."

"I've had plenty of practice," Alet said. She shifted, and Naelin thought she seemed nervous . . . Tomorrow is important to everyone in Aratay, Naelin thought. "You're not the only one who trains all the time. Speaking of which . . . are you ready for tomorrow?"

That was the key question. "I'd like another few days. Or years. Or a lifetime. But yes, I suppose I am ready. Ven thinks I am, or else he's just saying that to keep me calm." She didn't think he could, or would, lie to her, but she also knew he desperately wanted her to be ready. He might be seeing only what he wants to see, she thought. 

"You can still refuse," Alet said. "There's no dishonor in that. Plenty of the other candidates have already refused. They know they aren't ready, and Queen Daleina was happy to approve their decision. She wants to have some potential heirs in waiting. You could easily sit out these trials, let someone else be heir, and wait until you're needed."

She wished she could. But from what Ven had told her, there was no one else. None of the other candidates were close to ready, though several planned to try. "I'm needed now. Apparently, Renet was right: I'm powerful. You know, Erian told me you were going to come talk to me days ago. I'd expected you before now."

"I had other things to take care of. And . . . well, I was hoping I wouldn't have to have this conversation. I was hoping you'd come to the right decision on your own."

Naelin was confused. "What?"

"Naelin, please walk away from this. You can still have everything you want: your family safe. I can help you. I'll get you out of the palace. Right now! You can run away, with Erian and Llor. Ven won't even know. You can go far, far away. Even leave Aratay. You can start a new life, in the mountains of Semo. You'd be safe."

Naelin shook her head, even more confused. "And what would happen to Aratay if I left?"

"It will fall to Semo. Queen Merecot will take care of the people like they're her own. You don't have to do this. It doesn't need to be your responsibility. There's another choice."

Naelin couldn't believe Alet was saying this-abandon Aratay!

"You think if you refuse, then the spirits will kill everyone, but it won't happen that way. Merecot won't let it. She's poised to save Aratay. As soon as Queen Daleina falls-"

"You mean dies." She didn't want to hear this. It was crazy. "How can you say that?"

"She is going to die no matter what I say or what I feel or what I want," Alet said. "Either she abdicates and the spirits kill her, or she stays queen and the False Death kills her. I'm telling you that the second option won't be the disaster that you think it will."

"But . . . You're talking about a war. An invasion!" She couldn't believe Alet was saying this. Alet was a royal guardswoman! Sworn to the Crown!

"It won't be a war if no one fights back," Alet said. She's serious, Naelin thought. "Please, Naelin. You could flee with your children. Keep them safe, while knowing that the people of Aratay will be cared for. It's everything you ever wanted. You've trained enough to keep your family safe from spirits. Take that knowledge and run."

Naelin shook her head. She pictured Ven and the young queen. "If I become queen, I can protect Daleina. I can keep the spirits from hurting her until a cure can be found. She might not have to die. And Ven . . . If I leave and if Semo invades, he'll fight. You know he will. You'll have to fight too." Unless Alet planned to run too. No, she wouldn't. And I don't want to talk about this anymore. Naelin turned to go back inside. "I can't be having this conversation right now."

From within the chambers, Bayn howled.

She felt Alet grab her arm and spin her-

-and Naelin reacted instinctively, as she'd been trained: she twisted and jabbed upward. Deflected, the knife slid into Naelin's side, slicing her skin but missing her organs. Even as she did, the wolf leaped through the archway and slammed into Alet.



       
         
       
        

Stumbling backward and clutching her side, Naelin called for the spirits.

They swarmed the balcony. Tree spirits skittered over the palace wall. Fire spirits burst through the chimney and out. Water spirits swept toward them in a wave of rain. Shrieking, they converged on Alet. The guardswoman screamed.