orders that simply will not arrive on my tongue.
Richard has been apoplectic since I informed him of the attempt on my life at the hands of Corwin—if that was even his real name. “Your Majesty, I assure you, Prince Corwin is royalty. He comes from the finest lineage. His titles are many! He must have been replaced by a spy. That is the only explanation.”
“A spy from Northstream, no doubt,” I say, finding my voice. “They wanted to remove the queen before attacking. And they would have succeeded, if it wasn’t for…”
I can’t bring myself to say his name.
All of those things, Your Majesty…you ordered me to do them.
If I do not die today, I think those words will echo in my ears for the rest of my life. Because Rex is right. I did order him to touch me, kiss me, make love to me. I was just so sure he would have done those things anyway. That he needed my affections as much as I needed his. How could I have been so wrong? One day as a queen and already abusing my power. I ought to be sent to the gallows.
“I demand to be hidden!”
In a daze, I turn my head to the bald prince with bushy eyebrows. Is he still here? Why?
“Is there not a safe room for royalty?” The prince blusters, scurrying around the great hall. “I demand to be taken there at once. This is outrageous!”
“Perhaps we should bring both the queen and Prince Egregious to the safe hold below floors,” suggests Richard to the court, visibly grasping at straws. “There, they can marry. With a king on the throne, perhaps Northstream will retreat, fearing retaliation from two kingdoms.”
Behind me, there is a loud crash, as if a door has been kicked open.
I assume it’s the enemy and fear strikes my chest, but when I turn, it’s Rex.
He’s striding into the great hall with hell in his eyes.
But it hurts to look at him and remember what he said, so I turn away quickly. “No,” I say to Richard. Then louder, “No. Hear me now, all who listen. I will marry no man. Today alone, one has tried to kill me, another is displaying his cowardice and another still has cut the heart straight from my body. I will not marry. Not now. Not ever. Do not ask me again!”
Richard bows his head. “Yes, my queen.”
“Go hide the prince, as he wishes,” I order one of the guards.
“You need to be hidden, too, Britta,” Rex says, sounding hoarse. “You need to go somewhere safe. Immediately. Please.”
“No. I won’t.” Talking hurts. Standing upright hurts. Everything hurts. “And you’ve been relieved of your duties as my guard. Please go.”
“No.”
Fire presses in behind my eyes. “No?”
“No. I am not leaving you.” Rex shakes his head, takes a step in my direction. “I will protect my queen. Always.”
I shake my head. “No. You’ll protect the people.” That’s what I want, I realize. That is the order I need to give. A queen’s top priority is her people. However, I’m inexperienced and I don’t know how to command the men. One day I will. But for now, I am tongue tied.
It’s amazing what happens next.
I look at Rex and he seems to read my mind perfectly. He sees my desires and conflicts and exhaustion and he steps to my side, facing the audience of commanders and members of the court with an air of authority I have not witnessed in him before. “You. Take a dozen solders and warn Downsriver’s subjects. Tell them to move quickly to the east field, women and children first.” He moves his attention to a different commander. “You. The men in the towers need reinforcements immediately. Bring them more weapons from the stronghold. Keep them back from the palace at all costs. No one breaches its walls and gets near the queen—is that understood?”
“Yes,” they say in unison, beginning to look hopeful.
“Has the spy awoken?” I say, some of my composure returning. “Interrogate him. If he was sent to spy for Northstream, he might know their battle plan.”
Rex nods. “They have the element of surprise, but we know the land. We need to use that. Lure them in the direction of the inlet where the boats are moored. Have our soldiers cross the river in the boats and circle back around on foot. The Northstream soldiers will be left on the water’s edge with no way to cross.”
“They killed my parents,” I say, voice