That meant that although the Shadow Hunters had lived here under her rule for a while, they had not been of this place. And that seemed to make all the difference in the world. Another thought crossed my mind.
"You mentioned that some of the Summer Court were originally from here and that they might wish to return home. What if…what if they were aligned with Myst? What if I get them back here and they attack?"
Lainule shook her head, and her golden hair shimmered under the cool and icy lights. "We have taken care of that. I did not tell you, but shortly before we routed Myst and retook the realm of Summer, we…cleansed…the ranks. We knew we might have a few traitors. We watched our backs, we listened to the wind, and weeded them out. They are no more."
Her voice was as cold as the room. I wondered what she had done to them. The look on my face must have read clear as crystal, because she gently placed one hand on my shoulder and her other hand on Rhiannon's shoulder.
"My girls, you must accept the reality that to be a queen often entails tasks that require you to be ruthless. I ordered the execution of the traitors and stood by to watch. A queen should never send someone to his death unless she is willing to stand by her order and witness it."
At the look on her face, Rhiannon and I simultaneously shuddered. Lainule's fingers gripped our shoulders tightly. She leaned in closer.
"You must get over your squeamishness. The world is a terrible and beautiful place, filled with life and filled with death. Those who take the helm must, at times, make unpopular and difficult decisions. It is the way of the world."
And then she let go and stepped back. "So, Cicely, what do you think of your home? Go exploring. There is nothing within these walls to fear."
As Grieve and I took the front, and Rhia and Chatter swung in at the rear, we led our friends through the corridors. Lainule and Wrath stayed in the central chamber. Peyton seemed pensive. So did Luna, who was walking beside Kaylin. But he gave me a long look as I glanced back.
"She's right, you know." He slipped his arm around Luna as they strolled along behind us. "You have to be able to make these decisions without guilt. Remorse—that can be a good thing. But guilt?" He shrugged. "No."
I didn't say anything. Lainule was right, and so was Kaylin. I knew it, and by the look on her face, so did Rhiannon. That didn't mean it was going to be easy or comfortable, but sometimes, life just is what it is and there is nothing you can do about it.
The hallways reminded me of the hallways at the Marburry Barrow, except the lights were cooler here. "I wonder if they use Fire Elementals here for the lanterns, too? Or are they something different?"
Grieve smiled softly. "No, they're young Ice Elementals—they have their own glow. That's why the light here is of a bluish tint instead of the warm orange of the Summer realm. The Court of Rivers and Rushes is much cozier, in case you haven't noticed." He let out a soft chuckle and pulled me close to him. "But we'll make this place home, and we'll make it comfortable."
I leaned against him. "I think we have to. There's not much choice, is there? Can you tell me something?" I paused as we entered the section of the Barrow that held the bedrooms. The royal bedchamber was to our right, and as we entered, I stopped, gasping softly. The Eldburry Barrow might be cold and austere, but our bedroom-to-be was absolutely amazing.
It stretched out, almost as big as the throne room, and a thick, soft carpet covered the cobblestones. The tapestry was intricate, woven in swirls of blue and purple and silver, and the weave was thick and plush. I leaned down and brushed my hand against it—soft, it was soft as a kitten's back.
Dark, polished wardrobes lined the walls, along with a vanity table and love seat. The wood gleamed, looking so smooth it almost might be glass.
The bed was a huge four-poster affair, the yew intricately carved with a labyrinthine design. Piled high with pillows, the thick comforters matched the pattern on the carpet, and overhead, the ceiling swirled with sparkling gems—iolite and sapphire, amethyst and clear quartz against a jet-black background. The jewels glowed from within, some inner luminescence that flickered through the dim light of the lanterns.
I turned to Grieve. "I…this is beautiful."
"You like it, then?" He leaned in, his feral teeth glistening in the light of the Ice Elementals.
I nodded. "I think…I think I will come to love it here. I think it will be hard at first, but this is a safe haven. I can live here. I can adjust." And right then, I knew I was telling the truth, not trying to bolster my courage. When I closed my eyes, I could see myself in a long fur-trimmed gown, wandering through the corridors, feeling the darkness of the long winter in the core of my bones and learning to embrace the shadow rather than fear it.
And at that moment, I opened my eyes again, and Grieve was kissing me deeply, his arms around me. "I can hardly wait to claim our marriage bed," he whispered. "Anywhere, loving you is a joy, but when we are married…when you are my Queen and I your King, all will be right with the world."
I didn't know about that—we still had Myst to deal with, and Geoffrey and Leo, but I decided to bite my tongue and leave the future to the future. I kissed him back, his arms strong around my waist, his heart beating against my own, and for one brief moment, I believed it was all possible.
"If you are done exploring, I have someone to introduce." My father's voice echoed through the chamber from the door.
The others had politely been ignoring Grieve and me, peeking into cupboards and testing out the thickness of the mattresses, but now we turned to see Wrath standing there. By his side was a short, dark-haired Fae whose gaze seemed to dart about, constantly observing everything going on. He was dressed in royal blue and purple, with silver epaulettes on his shoulder.
"Meet your Chief Advisor, Strict. He's trustworthy and will not lead you astray by either flattery or deception. Strict was Tabera's advisor, and he escaped the carnage when Myst invaded the Winter Court."
I watched him, closely, cocking my head as I tried to read his energy.
Is he truly safe?
But Ulean wasn't speaking.
He bowed, and when I held out my hand, he stared at it for a moment.
"Your Majesty should not shake hands with those beneath her," was his abrupt reply.