A Queen of Gilded Horns (A River of Royal Blood #2) - Amanda Joy Page 0,52
arming an enemy, but of course they would see it that way. They thought Eva was human, in line for a stolen throne.
No matter that he hadn’t taught Eva any of blood magick’s darker workings. He’d gifted her with magick that could kill a few men at a time, not hundreds like Raina.
“I believed I found the key to breaking the humans’ rule. And I was proven right in the end.” Baccha sat back, watching rage flicker across Ysai’s face. “Eva is part khimaer.”
“Raised by humans,” she spat. At Baccha’s noise of protest, she held up a hand. “Excuse me, a human who has just discovered she is khimaer, but knows nothing of our culture, of being khimaer. That is our solution?”
Baccha’s mouth fell open. She already knew? Did the Elderi? “How did you know?”
“I saw it in my mother’s notes. I don’t know how she knew, but I haven’t yet shared it with the rest.”
A fact Baccha tucked away to use to his advantage later. “A khimaer Queen is still our goal, if you recall. Her presence on the throne will immediately invalidate the Enclosures. A Queen cannot lock her own people away.”
“Considering the girl is human, I’m sure she will find a way to do just that.”
“She is our ally, Ysai . . . Mother.”
“The throne is earned. Even you know that. And,” she added, “you know as well as I do that no half-human girl will have what it takes.”
Baccha thanked the dreaming God that Ysai did not inquire any further about Eva’s magick, or else he’d have to reveal that this half-human girl had exactly what they were looking for. He wasn’t going to tell her just so she could forbid him from sharing it with the rest of the Tribe. It was clear Ysai hated humans, and with good reason, but he couldn’t let that bias disrupt his plan to see Eva crowned.
“Then test her. I know we deserve a Queen who has earned her place the right way.”
“If you intended testing,” Ysai shot back, “why not bring the girl?”
“It’s unlikely that I could have persuaded her to come here without breaking our sacred trust. No outsiders, ever, remember, Mother Ysai?” He smiled and it was not a kindly expression. “Not to mention I highly doubt the Elderi would welcome a host of human soldiers in Ariban.”
“What makes you believe this girl is our path to freedom?”
“I traveled to Asrodei with the Princess months ago. I was able to see the number of soldiers in the Queen’s Army. With thirty thousand soldiers stationed there and double that number stationed at the Dracolan border. Ninety thousand soldiers lay between us and Ternain. War cannot be our path, Mother.” He paused, letting his words sink in. “It isn’t only that I believe Eva is the best candidate for the next Queen. I also believe this moment, this time, is the best opportunity we will ever have. Following Eva, supporting her, is the only path that does not lead to our slaughter. Or require another century of planning. This is a chance we have to take.”
Ysai leaned away, apparently having heard quite enough. “Lucky for us, I disagree. Your judgment doomed us in the past. Forgive me if I cannot trust it now.”
“Your mother did.” Soon as the words leaped from his tongue, he knew he’d made a mistake.
“Well,” she said, “my mother is dead, and maybe she would have entertained your schemes. But I will not surrender the throne to another human. Never again.”
“Who will be the Queen, then? Unfortunately,” he said, a mirthless smile on his lips, “you cannot. When you became the Mother of the Tribe, you forswore the throne. One of the Tribe who has never set foot in Myre?”
Ysai flushed but covered it with a shrug. “There will be a girl with Queen’s magick living in one of the Enclosures. Perhaps more than one. They can be the next Queen. The Elderi and I will find them.”
“That’s your plan, then?” Baccha asked. He already knew the answer. There was a new intensity to Ysai’s gaze. She was working up to something more.
She sighed in acquiescence. “Fine, I will tell you. You’re a part of it, so I might as well. Finding a candidate for the throne is but one part of my plan. A year ago, after you left, my mother sent two spies south. They will find at least one potential Queen. The rest, well, I must depend on the discord in