Page 4 (1/2)

I do ht for this nation as one born to it!"

He nods solemnly "What you did was an important part of the whole effort" I curl ainst the condescension in his voice "But you have difficult decisions co efforts You will find that when people are tightening their belts, your heroics won’t matter They will blame you, Your Majesty, and you alone They’ll demand we hand you over to our enemy"

I knew my Quorum held little respect for me But I didn’t anticipate this And his words cut hard because he is right I a a si with s were i

Lady Jada’s gaze shifts between the general and ossip, and I wonder if Luz-Manuel invited her specifically in the hope that she would spread the idea of ency--that I can’t rule onat his close-cropped beard Finally he says, "There is another way" He leans his elbows onto the table and stares at each Quoru finally on me "My dear queen, it is tiency discussion was sie as the more palatable alternative They probably worked it out between themselves ahead of time

"Oh, yes!" says Jada "Someone whose counsel is widely respected Everyone would accept your queenship with a strong prince consort at your side, even given today’s events"

Softly Hector says, "The king has only been dead fiveperiod," Conde Eduardo says with a shrug He turns to me "I don’t mean to speak ill of the dead, but our nation suffered weak rule under Alejandro and Nicolao We were co apart at the sea you to put your people first Please choose either a regent or a strong husband, and bring the stability we so desperately need"

"You would gain thesoeneral adds "The north bore the brunt of the war"

"I’ll coibility list," Lady Jada says "We can look over it at our nextLord Liano of Altapalma comes to mind And of course Conde Tristán of Selvarica, who is a southern lord but should not be discounted Also"

I can’t bear to pay attention as Jada prattles on about every lordling in the entire kingdoood of Joya d’Arena But now, faced with the prospect, I don’t want to I want to love soain, the way I loved Humberto, or at the very least share a friendship, as Alejandro and I did in the end

And I want to be queen of this great country not because so ree to look at Lady Jada’s list at our next , because I don’t knohat else to do or say If nothing else, it buys me time to consider my options

Our conversationthe desert caravan route still lie in ruins after the ene enorh Puerto Verde is near impassable after several years of unusually bad weather The tanners’ and weavers’ guilds are close to rioting over the shortage of hide and wool, now that the seceded country of Basajuan is no longer forced to trade sheep with the capital

The nation is in shah on the war, our coffers are drained, our army weakened, our people dispirited Today’s birthday parade was supposed to inspire hope, to de to

My ridiculous crown grows unbearable as I ponder the centuries of rulers who came before me and sat in this same roo? Were any of them mere children, likeis over I rise stiffly and thank everyone for co; then Hector releases the bolt and opens the door I bask in the fresher air that hits my face

Once outside,it at Xi my hairline with a cloth and fluffs my skirt

I say, "I need to walk" Mostly, I need to think, away frohty problems

They clear a path, and Hector steps up to accoo alone"

"I’d rather you didn’t"

"I’ll just be a fewto the catacouards patrol Co forthe hour"

He reaches up as if to grasp es his mind and lowers his hand "Be wary, my queen"

I smile assurance, and then I’m off, away from the crowd

The cobblestones beneath my feet are worn so, after God scooped up our ancestors froht hand and deposited theh stone wall, taking coine the palace and its ancient capital, sprawling across its peninsula of limestone, surrounded by ocean on three sides and desert on one My new ho hes that pound it with deadly sandstorms and hurricanes for a season each year, and the rest of the time are merely fluid and forceful

The city’s salvation is its underbelly My old tutor used to tell reat sand desert was an inland sea So cataclysround Now it rushes out toplenty of fresh water for the beautiful oasis that is my capital city

The catacoe of the natural water-foruard at the entrance is not surprised to see reets me with a bow and a smile "Glad to see you back safely, Your Majesty," he says "I heard what happened"

"Thank you, Martín" But I don’t want to talk about that "How is your wife?"

He is one of the youngest a the Royal Guard, and it’s hard to believe that so a child already "Approaching her ninththe desert heat every day" He lifts a torch frorin turns sheepish "If it’s a girl, she wants to name her Elisa"

I nearly drop the torch "Oh Weller, I would be honored, of course Either way, you must promise to introduce the child to me when it coesture of a true oath "I swear it, Your Majesty"