us, its pressure excruciating.
There’s someone here who’s missing, and each of us feels the significance of his absence. This pain isn’t just mental. It’s physical, like claws shredding my chest from the inside out.
“I can’t learn any magic with half of my soul missing.” I sit straighter, tucking my feet beneath me. “And as well as my lie in the prisons went, the only thing the barracudas bought us is extra time. Shanty’s not someone I’d like to be indebted to; we can only use her services for so long. There are too many risks that come with needing to involve so many.”
What I need is a way to change Visidia. To find the legendary artifact and change my fate. Break my curses. Restore Visidia once and for all.
But I’m not able to do that here on Arida.
“I’ve been thinking about yesterday’s meeting.” I look at my lap, curling my toes and hesitating, as though I hadn’t been kept awake thinking up this plan. I have to sell this story. If I pretend to be excited, or give in too easily, Mother will suspect something. “The advisers were right; Visidia is too divided. I need to win our people’s trust now more than ever. They need to know that I’m here to protect them, and that practicing multiple magics is the way of our future.”
Mother cups my hands in hers. She doesn’t want to seem too excited, but it’s not difficult to see that this is what she wants. She thinks I’ll be safer this way, romancing all of Visidia and finding us a new king—one that our people will look to and adore. One she likely thinks will protect me.
That idea alone is enough to curdle my stomach, but I maintain the facade.
“I know this isn’t what you want,” Mother says, “but Visidia needs a distraction. We’re trying to change too much, too quickly. Our people need stability—a leader they trust and adore. The promise of a stable future, with heirs who will one day rule.
“I wish this wasn’t a burden you had to carry,” she continues. “It’s not easy for women in our position. Your father was seen as a capable and trusted ruler from the moment he was poised to take the throne. But us? If we are too firm with our beliefs, then we have cold hearts. If we don’t smile, we are uncaring. There are different standards for you and me, but especially for you as the queen of this kingdom. And part of those standards—part of your job—is marriage and children.”
I tense on cue, making it a point of looking away from her. Parading me around to bachelors is so far beneath a queen it’s sickening. “Father would never have had to do anything like this. He would have laughed at the idea.”
“Your father had the privilege of being a man, Amora. No matter how capable you are, things will be harder for you than they were for him.” She works at her jaw, like saying the words aloud is grating. But she doesn’t need to convince me; a distraction is exactly what it’s going to take to get me off Arida, so that I might find the adventurer who will lead us to the legendary artifact—Ornell Rosenblathe, who will hopefully be one of the many bachelors I’m to meet.
“So, you want me to parade around with men, making a show of it all while my kingdom is still suffering?” I make my voice bitter, not letting her think I’m giving in too easily.
“I want you to play the age-old game of court.” Mother buys into my nerves, squeezing my hand tighter. “The Montara line is dwindling, and our kingdom needs to feel that it’s secure. So give them a queen they will want to protect, and a royal family they will bow to. I’m not saying it’s fair or that it’s right, but it’s easier for the public to love and trust a woman who they see as kind and vulnerable. One who has a charming man at their side. Play their game and show them what they want to see. Put on a show and earn their trust all while doing the work to rebuild this kingdom. Make them love you, Amora. Can you do that?”
It’s not right. I shouldn’t have to smile or change how others perceive me to be viewed as a strong ruler. I earned this crown by far more than blood right; who cares whether I smile as