Chapter 27

" S he means to kill you. All of us. She plans to destroy Summerton," Gabriel said.

Ro shivered, despite being warm from the long, hot soak she'd had. "You heard her say that?"

"Yes. Val goaded her until she was angry enough to let out her true intent. He upheld his end of the deal."

"As will I. I won't send him to Tenebrae."

"Thank you, your highness."

She tipped her head back and let out a long breath, then looked at JT and Aunt Violet. "Vi, will you get Posey? I'm going to need her. JT, gather the professors. I need to speak to them. All of them. Now, if you will. Send footmen to bring them here."

JT got to his feet. "Uldamar, too?"

"Yes," Ro said. "As much as I'd like to let him rest—which, trust me, is what I'd like to be doing—I need him. If she means to go to war against Summerton…" She closed her eyes briefly. "All because of this stupid book that she only wanted to use against us anyway."

"Indeed," Gabriel said.

JT went to the door to see about the footmen and gathering the professors. Violet left, no doubt going across the hall to Posey's quarters.

Ro could feel anger building inside her. "What is Anyka's problem? Is she really that power-hungry? Who wouldn't choose peace? I genuinely do not understand it."

Gabriel hesitated like he wasn't sure if Ro really wanted those questions answered. "She was raised to believe both kingdoms belong to her. That she should rule them both. That it is her birthright. And, to be honest, I believe her mother's use of dark magic while she was pregnant with Anyka did injury to the workings of Anyka's mind. Perhaps Uldamar could confirm that."

Ro put her hands on her hips. "So Anyka's a little mental because her mother performed black magic while expecting? Fantastic. I don't know how to deal with that. In the mortal realm, I'd call in a therapist at the very least, but I don't suppose those exist here. Not that she'd go to one anyway."

Ro made herself stop and take a breath. "Okay, I don't want to lose it, either. I'm tired and I'm mad. I'm not going to let her hurt a single one of Summerton's people. I'm just not going to do it."

"Good for you," Gabriel said. He smiled at her, something she found very reassuring. "We'll get through this. No matter what happens next."

She touched his arm, more to comfort herself than reassure him. "Thanks. I needed that. And thank you for doing that thing you may or may not be able to do in order to listen in on Anyka's conversation with your brother."

He snorted softly. Ro smiled. If he didn't want to admit to being unsycht , that was fine with her, just so long as he was willing to use that power for good when necessary.

Violet returned, Posey with her. Violet tipped her head toward her friend. "I told her what happened."

"Thanks. Might as well get comfortable. We may have a wait while all the professors arrive."

Uldamar was the first to show up. JT came in next. "The footmen are gathering the professors. I ordered coffee and spiced cocoa, too. I figured we might need it."

"Thank you." He was going to make a great king someday.

The coffee and cocoa arrived before the last of the professors, but finally, they were together. Ro stood before the fire to address them, her gaze going to Larksford. "There are two reasons why I called you all here. The first is good news, the second is not. We'll start with the good news."

Larksford gave her a quick nod.

She looked at Gabriel. "Come up here next to me."

His brows pulled together, but he did as she asked.

She faced those gathered, a smile on her face. "Twice now, First Professor Gabriel Nightborne has saved my life. Once in the garden here, which I'm sure you've all heard about, then again on our recent excursion to the cloud kingdom, home of the Wyvern. Some of you might not have known about that trip, but don't worry. I'll fill you in shortly."

There were furrowed brows and furtive glances, but Ro kept going. "In recognition of his selflessness, his loyalty to the crown, and his peerless protection, I hereby bestow the estate of Starfall on Gabriel Nightborne. By the power of the Summerton crown, I proclaim him Lord of Starfall, a peer of the realm, effective immediately."

Everyone clapped, some not as enthusiastically as others. JT whooped, which probably wasn't royal behavior, but who cared.

Gabriel inhaled, the sound so soft she doubted anyone had heard it but her. He bowed his head. "Your highness, that is most unexpected. I was just doing my job."

"I know you were, Lord Nightborne." She couldn't help but smile as she used his new title for the first time. He was now a peer. A man worthy, according to royal protocol, of her time and attention. And her affection.

He gave a little shake of his head as he stepped back, as if he didn't believe what she'd done. Maybe it wasn't something he'd wanted, but it was something he deserved. And it would make both of their lives easier.

She lifted her chin and addressed the group again. She began with the trip to Hythe, about how successful the trip had been, the warm reception, and the treaty that needed to be drawn up. She assigned Martin Denwood, First Professor of Defense, along with Larksford, Cloudtree, and several other professors to begin work on that immediately.

Next, she told them about Greybone, who was now in a Summerton prison.

Then she went straight to the heart of the matter.

"I believe Queen Anyka means to remove me from the throne by whatever means she's able. If that means killing me, she'll do it." There were gasps and soft murmurs; some shook their heads. Ro kept going. "Anyka has effectively declared war against Summerton. We need to prepare ourselves."

Professor Spencer Cloudtree, who'd been so helpful in finding Lady Cynzia's diary, stood. "Your highness, tell us what you need us to do, and we'll do it."

"Get that treaty done as soon as possible so I can review it and get it sent to King Ehlzar. The sooner we make that alliance official, the better."

He nodded and sat back down.

Professor Delia Morehouse stood. "Thank you for securing that alliance. I realize I am the Professor of the Arts, but that doesn't mean I'm blind to our political standing. I doubt many of us know what alliances we still have. Time and our lack of leadership have eroded many of them. Might I suggest that we reach out to any kingdom we were once allied with to see where we stand and, if there is no alliance, attempt to create a new one?"

"That's an excellent idea," Ro said. "Would you be willing to lead that effort?"

"I would," Delia said.

"Thank you. Professor Denwood, do you have a list of past and present allies that you could supply Professor Morehouse with?"

"I can do that," he said.

Next, Ro looked at the Professor of Labor, Mina Featherlight, a short, red-headed woman. "Professor Featherlight, perhaps you could help Professor Morehouse, too?"

Mina nodded, making her curls bob. "I will."

"Wonderful. We're making good progress. Here's what I and a few others plan on doing. We're going to assist Professor Darkstone in opening Lady Cynzia's diary."

More gasps.

"Our sole purpose is to find a way to lift the curse from Malveaux so that the sun might shine on that kingdom once again."

Larksford crossed his arms and frowned. "Why would you do that for them when their queen is supposedly trying to kill you?"

"Because it is the right thing to do and it is kind, and if being kind is within our power, why shouldn't we exercise that?" She frowned right back at him. "Not only that, but if we can accomplish this, we'll show the Malveauxians that we are nothing like Anyka's been telling them."

Aunt Violet stuck her chin out. "I think it's a wonderful idea and a smart, diplomatic move."

"Of course you do," Larksford shot back. "You're her aunt."

Ro was having none of that. "Professor Larksford, if you don't support the efforts of the crown, maybe you'd be happier in a different line of work. Something…less political."

The entire room turned to look at him. One professor in particular, Dr. Ina Newman, gave him a dirty look.

Ro wasn't ready to let him off the hook. "Just to be clear, Professor Larksford, do you believe we should not help the Malveauxians?"

"I wasn't saying that—"

"Then what were you saying?"

He sputtered. "If Queen Anyka is trying to kill you, then perhaps you should be looking in that book for something to protect all of us."

That wasn't what he'd said at all, and she thought most in the room were smart enough to figure that out. "Ah, I see. I obviously did not gather that from your actual words. I promise you, Summerton will be protected. As I mentioned earlier, Professor Darkstone is working on that."

Uldamar nodded, confirming her statement.

"Additionally, we have learned that Queen Anyka's Minister of Magic, Nazyr Marwood, is, in the simplest of terms, possessed by the spirit of the late queen, Leda Blackbryar. How that came about, we don't know, but Professor Darkstone has offered to share his thoughts with us." Ro gestured to Uldamar.

He got to his feet. "There is really only one explanation I can think of as to how Marwood came to be possessed. He was practicing dark magic, namely, the summoning of a spirit from the Beyond. Did he mean to summon the late queen? Was he attempting to summon Lady Cynzia, who we now know is dead? We can't know. Just like we can't know if he was doing this on his own or at the bidding of Queen Anyka. Perhaps it was even Princess Beatryce's idea, but I doubt that."

Ro nodded. "Which raises further questions. Why would Anyka want to talk to her mother? Why would she want to talk to Lady Cynzia? The best answers to those questions are that she was probably looking for magical assistance in striking out at Summerton. Or me."

"We're in trouble," Posey whispered. Her quiet words carried throughout the room and heads began to nod.

"Not yet, we're not." Ro pulled Anyka's letter from the pocket of her gown and held it up. "While I was away, Queen Anyka sent me this letter."

She unfolded it and began to read. "Dear Queen Sparrow. After much reflection and consideration, I believe the time is right for us to meet and discuss our differences. We must find a way to come together for the good of our people. You have spoken of peace so often that even I have begun to wonder if it might be possible. I hope it is. A return to peace would be greatly beneficial for both our kingdoms."

Ro glanced up. Everyone was listening intently. She continued. "What better way to show our citizens what can be achieved than by the two of us sitting down and finding our way to that peace. If this meeting is not of interest to you, I will understand that your goals for Summerton are not as I believed, and I will therefore take whatever actions I deem necessary to protect Malveaux and her citizens."

Ro set the letter on the empty chair beside her. "I haven't yet responded, as I only just found out about the letter when we returned. I am going to reply to her and tell her that I would love to meet. Whether or not that's still something she'll entertain, I don't know. But the ball will be back in her court."

JT shifted as he looked at her, concern in his gaze. "What about the obvious threat in that letter? Anyka can't be trusted, but to say something like she's going to take whatever actions she thinks necessary is pretty blatant." He frowned. "That sounds like a threat."

"I won't go alone, I promise. In fact, I'd like you with me, as well as Professor Cloudtree and Professor Nightborne."

Spencer nodded immediately. "I would be happy to accompany you, your highness."

"Thank you." Ro put her hands together. "Those of you who have work to do, please see to it. Those of you who haven't been asked to do something can always volunteer. This feels like an all-hands-on-deck kind of situation. Keep your eyes open when you're out and about. I'm not saying we aren't safe here, just that we need to be aware of our surroundings. All right?"

Lots of nods.

"Does anyone have any questions or concerns?"

The First Professor of Defense, raised his hand.

"Professor Denwood?"

"What about the citizens back at home? Should we issue any kind of warning to them? What if Queen Anyka decides to attack Summerton while most of its leadership is here?"

"Good question. I don't think we need to alarm the citizens just yet, but the moment that changes, then yes, we will need to make them aware." She dreaded having to make that call, but she would if things reached that point.

"Anything else?" When no one responded, Ro held out her hands. "You're dismissed to get to work." She wiggled a finger at Posey. "You and I have a letter to draft."

Posey held up her notebook and pen. "I'm ready."

"Good. Let's move to the small sitting room."

As Posey got up and the rest of them filtered out, Gabriel approached Ro.

"Hi," she said softly. "How was that? Did I miss anything?"

"No, you missed nothing." He slyly touched her hand. "I cannot believe…" He cleared his throat. "Starfall? It's one of the best estates in all of Summerton."

"I'm glad you think so. It's also close to the palace."

"It's too much," he said, his grateful tone contradicting his words.

She could barely contain her pleasure. "I think it's exactly right, Lord Nightborne."

He smiled at her as he leaned closer. "I'm going to kiss you later."

She almost laughed with happiness. "I'm counting on it."