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“That’s politics, Your Majesty,” Timbago said. “Eriste means you nothing but harm and is not to be trusted.”

“Okay.” I nodded. “Don’t trust him. Don’t trust her. That shouldn’t be hard. It seems I can’t trust most people anymore anyway. Just you two, Winston, Rhys, and Mercedes.”

“Can I give you a piece of advice, Your Majesty?” John asked as he led me back into the throne room. “You shouldn’t trust anyone. Not even us.”

I stopped, my hand going for my sword. “Why not?” I eyed him warily.

“We all have an agenda.”

“Even you?”

John lifted an eyebrow. “Even me what?”

“Do you have an agenda?”

“Yes. It involves keeping you on the throne and seeing the Fate Maker dead.” He cleared his throat. “Now come along, there’s an ambassador you need to impress with your queenliness, and it won’t help if you’re late.”

Chapter Three

I ran a shaky hand through my hair and tried to appear calm, cool, and totally confident as John and Timbago ushered me into the throne room to meet the new ambassador from Bathune—an ambassador who was also most likely a spy for my aunt. My potentially crazy aunt who might be in league with the evil wizard to kill me so they could carve up my kingdom between them. There was no way that this meeting was going to go well.

“Her Royal Majesty, by the grace of the Pleiades, ruler of all the light touches, the Golden Rose of Nerissette, Queen Alicia the First,” Timbago said loudly. “Long may she reign!”

John nodded toward Timbago and held an arm out to escort me to my throne. I went with him and took a seat, clearing my throat before I faced…well, no one.

Huh. That was a bit anticlimactic. Wasn’t there supposed to be an ambassador waiting for me? Or subjects? Someone? Anyone?

Timbago clapped his hands again and the doors at the other end of the room creaked slowly open. When they had opened all the way, Timbago stepped in front of the dais and raised his chin. “Her Majesty the Golden Rose.”

His voice echoed through the large, mostly empty chamber.

Another goblin, one I didn’t recognize, marched through the doorway at the other end of room before bowing low to me, his eyes on the floor. He was wearing a brilliant, emerald-green jacket and matching pants, the bells on his curly-toed shoes clinking against the marble floor. My aunt made her goblins dress up like court jesters with bells on their shoes? As if I needed any more proof that she was evil.

“His Grace, the ambassador of Bathune—the wizard Eriste, son of the great wizard Entalbe, grandson of the grand vizier Enselm, former apprentice of the vizian Nedras, member of the Grand Order of Dark Wizards, and knight magical of the Order of the Defenders of Bathune, begs audience with Her Majesty.”

“Wow,” I said quietly. “That’s a mouthful.”

John lips twitched upward into a tight smile before he brought a fist up to cover it, and Timbago’s shoulders shook for just a split second before he went still. “Enter, and may her wisdom shine down upon you.”

“Your Majesty.” A tall man in silver robes, his gray hair cropped close to his skull and his blue eyes piercing me from across the room, stepped forward and bowed, waving his hand in front of his body with a flourish. “I am Eriste, ambassador of the kingdom of Bathune.”

“I am Queen Alicia the First, Golden Rose of Nerissette. Welcome to my palace,” I said, trying to sound formal—more like Amidala from the Star Wars prequels and less like my normal self. I wasn’t exactly sure how I was supposed to deal with having a suspected spy in my court.

“Thank you.” He held his hand out, palm up, and the air over it shimmered for a brief moment. A picnic basket appeared in his hands, wavering into existence by his magic. “I was wondering if you would care to join me outside for a late-afternoon snack?”

“Excuse me?” He wanted to do what? Was a spy intent on helping overthrow your kingdom supposed to invite you to lunch first?

“I remember from my last visit here that your mother was quite fond of picnics. I had hoped you would be as well. Not to mention I know how long royal audiences can be—everyone is always a bit hungry after a long day of dispensing justice.”

Oh forget it, if the guy really was trying to start a civil war to steal my crown he wasn’t going to be able to do it over a plate of sandwiches. Was he? Besides, I hadn’t had lunch yet and I was starving. And he wouldn’t poison me in front of witnesses—I hoped. “That sounds…very nice. Thank you.”

“Wonderful. I seem to remember a lovely spot on a hill that allowed us to see the city of Neris below.”

“That hill is now home to the mermaid embassy,” John said. “Their labyrinth is on that land.”

“A shame.” Eriste shook his head. “You would have loved it, Your Majesty. Your grandmother always held her parties there.”

“You could go to the gardens on the western side of the palace,” Timbago said from beside my throne. “The place we’ve cleared for the memorial. I believe the first dryad plantings are starting to sprout there.”

“Right.” I swallowed as I pictured about the patch of garden we’d set aside for a statue honoring the people who had died to make our kingdom safe. The people like Heidi and Jesse who had been lost because of the Fate Maker’s hate. I’d always thought of it more like a graveyard, but it was pretty in a spooky sort of way. I glanced over at John, hoping he had some sort of advice on the matter.

“You’re building a memorial?” Eriste raised an eyebrow at me.

“Yes,” John cut in, his gray eyes fixed on mine. “The queen insisted on it. A proper tribute to all those in Nerissette who gave their lives to make sure we would no longer live under the rule of a false king or queen. A reminder of the thousands more that would be willing to die to keep this country safe again.”

“Yes.” I nodded, catching on. Picnicking at the memorial would send a very clear message that we were not going to sit back and be bullied. We weren’t going to roll over and let anyone—not wizards or giants or anyone else—come in here and take our country—or our friends—from us again.

“And you think the best way to show that is with a memorial?” Eriste asked.

“We’re putting up a statue to remind people that as long as wizards like the Fate Maker threaten us, we will never truly be safe. That we need to always be ready to fight for our survival,” I said, keeping my eyes fixed on his.

“That’s a rather grim place for a picnic.” Eriste grimaced. “Why not the front gardens instead? Your courtyard is lovely, such beautiful ember fruit trees lining the main drive.”

“The memorial has a nicer view. You’ll be able to see how well we’re rebuilding Neris. Especially the fort. We’ve done quite a bit of work to make it secure in case the giants come back.”

“Very well.” Eriste bowed his head as I stepped off the throne and walked toward him. He offered me his arm and I took it as John fell in behind us.

“I don’t think we need your royal adviser with us.” Eriste glanced behind him at John. “We won’t be discussing trade agreements just yet; this is only a get-to-know-you lunch after all.”

“The queen goes nowhere alone,” John said, his tone firm.

“Really?” Eriste looked at me in surprise.

“We’ve all become a bit jumpy.” I tried to keep my voice light. “Since the regent who ruled during my childhood tried to kill me and all.”

“By necessity we’ve all become cautious about the Golden Rose’s security,” John said.

“They even post guards outside my door when I sleep,” I said. “Plus guards around the perimeter of the castle. No one is getting in here. One of my guards will find them, and let’s just say I wouldn’t want to be the bad guy when they do.”