met him?”
Her opinion of Rodric was pressing business? Aurora looked at Orla for a long moment, hoping to decipher something from her expression, some hint of what the queen wanted to hear, but her expression gave nothing away. “He’s nice,” Aurora said slowly. “A good person. Nothing like his father.”
“Yes, I’m sure he’s wonderful,” Orla said. “But did you think he would make a good leader?”
A good leader? Was Orla intending to interfere with Alyssinia? Or had something already happened? “He cares about people,” she said. “And he wants to do good. I think people would be loyal to him, if they knew him. Why? What’s going on?”
Orla ignored the question. “Any ruthlessness?”
“No,” Aurora said. “Not ruthless at all.”
“Not one to make harsh decisions, then,” Orla said. “And what about his subtlety? What are his political abilities?”
“What is this about?” Aurora said. “Surely you have met Rodric yourself.”
“I have,” Orla said, “although not for many years. I wanted your opinion on him. You seem in the position to know him best.”
“But why?” Aurora said. “How is my opinion on his subtlety useful to anything?”
“His subtlety is everything,” Orla said. “If you give me your opinion, honestly, then I will answer your questions.”
Aurora stared back at her. If something bad had happened, if Orla was planning to interfere, then she had to say the right thing. “He can keep a secret,” she said. “I would trust him with my life.”
“And yet you left him.”
“It wasn’t him I was worried about.”
Orla nodded. “Very well,” she said. “I have received reports from Alyssinia, regarding your prince. They say that Prince Rodric is working against his father. I wanted some insight as to whether it might be true.”
Rodric, working against the king? “It’s possible,” she said. People dying because of unrest, homes burned, not enough food . . . he would want to help. He had always complained of being so useless, just as she had. And he was in a position to do good. He had the money, the influence. He could be trying to help.
But it was as Finnegan had said, forever ago in Petrichor . . . his was not a heart for this place, for this time. It was a heart for when peace had already been won.
“What do the rumors say he has been doing?” If the king found out he was involved in the rebellion, in any way, the punishment would be swift. King John would not bear any betrayal, and Aurora could not believe that he would forgive Rodric simply because he was his son.
“Distributing food, mostly, I believe. Helping people to leave the city who need to.”
It could be true. Rodric was kind enough, selfless enough. But would he brave enough to face his father like that? Aurora did not know.
“Where did you learn this?” Aurora said. If Orla had heard these rumors, all the way across an ocean, then surely the king would have heard them too.
“I have sources,” she said. “Different ones from King John, I assume. He may be too distracted to check constantly on his son.”
“Then what shall we do? How can we help him?”
Orla pursed her lips. “Nothing, for the time being. We cannot interfere.”
“You interfered with me.”
“My son interfered with you. I told him not to go. And we certainly will not be putting ourselves at risk for a foreign prince who may or may not be doing things his father disapproves of.”
“Then why did you bring me here?” Aurora said. “Why ask me about him?”
“I was not entirely decided,” Orla said. “On whether it was true, or on how to respond. I am still not entirely decided. But as you implied, he is loyal, but not a schemer. Not a leader. Not subtle. His attempts will probably fail, and it would be too great a risk for us to interfere. We will watch the situation, and if things change . . . perhaps we could consider it. But for now, no.”
“He’s a good person,” Aurora said softly. “A good prince. If you wish for someone to support in Alyssinia, he is a good choice.”
“But Aurora,” Orla said. “It is quite clear that we have already put our support behind you.” She sighed. “I will have it investigated further. There may be something in it. But for now, I expect you to have patience.” She waved her hand. “I wish to speak to my children, in private. Excuse us.”
Aurora stood. She wanted to argue, wanted to scream in protest, but