"She's healed," Hamon confirmed. "My mother made that antidote. She doesn't make mistakes. I will test the queen's blood as soon as this is all over, but I have no doubt." His voice was filled with all his old confidence.
Sagging, Ven exhaled. Relief was etched on his face, and Daleina noticed how tired he looked. He looked far older than he was, as if the last few hours had squeezed him like a dishrag. She felt the same way, but she refused to show it.
This wasn't over yet.
"Your Majesty," Naelin said. "I never intended to take your crown." She tried to curtsy but couldn't. Her children were clinging to her, draped around her neck like heavy necklaces. She looked battered from the battle she'd faced in the grove, but whole.
"You did not take it," Daleina said. "The spirits still acknowledge me. They have embraced us both as their queen." She managed a smile, despite the fact that her old friend lay bound at her feet, despite the fact that another friend had betrayed her and died for it.
"No country has ever had two queens. I'll abdicate immediately."
"No," Ven said. "You'll be killed."
Her children began to wail. Daleina couldn't remember their names, but she knew that sound. She'd heard it in her palace, in the city, as she'd woken from the False Death. She would hear it in her dreams. Consoling her children, Naelin said, "She can use her power again. She can keep me safe."
"Until someone tries to kill her again," Ven said.
Daleina saw Naelin hesitate-uncertainty was written clearly on her face. Her arms were tight around her children's shoulders. Both children had quieted and were still clinging, whimpering softly, to their mother.
"Don't abdicate. Not yet," Daleina said. "Aratay may still need you."
"You mean because of her." Naelin nodded at Merecot.
Lying there, she looked so much like the friend Daleina remembered. A few years older. But her face was the same. Not the face of a killer. Oh, Merecot. "She had me poisoned." Daleina tried to understand how she could have done it, how anyone could kill a friend. "She'd always been ambitious, but I never thought . . . I never suspected . . ."
"You could eliminate the threat," Hamon said softly. "Now and forever. It could be painless. She'd never need to wake."
"If you kill her, her people will suffer," Naelin warned.
That was true. The spirits of Semo would go rogue, and then everyone would suffer. "I'm not going to kill her," Daleina said. I don't kill friends. "Her spirits are in our land. I don't want them going rogue here, and I don't want her crown." It was hard enough to be responsible for all of Aratay. The last thing she wanted was more lives on her conscience.
"You could take it," Ven said to Naelin. "Give up Aratay and take control of Semo. I could kill her for you. Daleina, you would not have to watch." There was a look in his eyes that belied his words. He looked as if his words were poison on his tongue. He doesn't want to kill her, Daleina thought. But he would, if his queens asked.
The little boy gasped. "Killing's wrong!"
"Shh," the little girl said. And then she hugged her brother.
Daleina looked down at Merecot, who was beginning to stir. Her head rocked to the side, and she groaned. She'd caused so much damage, both through her sister, Alet, and with her army. Daleina knew she should be angry. But she only felt sad. "The boy's right."
"Daleina, she tried to kill you," Hamon said. His voice was still soft, but she heard the anger in it. Anger and fear. "She did kill others. She could kill again."
"A healer advocating death?" Daleina fixed her eyes on him and noticed how worn he looked, as if he hadn't slept in weeks, as if he'd spent every waking moment worrying and working . . . He had, she thought. For me. "That's your mother talking." She said it gently but firmly.
He blanched and fell silent.
"No," Daleina said, decided. "I won't kill another queen. We will find a different way." She raised her eyes to look at Naelin. Queen Naelin. It suits her, Daleina thought. Mother of Aratay. "There's been enough death."
Naelin was silent for a moment-Daleina felt as if she was being evaluated, all her flaws tallied up and slated for correction, all her strengths recognized and catalogued-before Naelin said, "Yes."
At Daleina's feet, Merecot groaned and tried to roll to the side, but the vines held her firm. The tree spirits chittered and tugged tighter on the vines. Bayn growled. Daleina knelt beside her old friend. Merecot's eyes fluttered open, and Daleina felt a pang-sorrow? Anger? She didn't know. Pity, maybe.