And that would have restarted the civil war, Cora said from beside Emeline.
Better to have a war than to live beside those who hate us, Asha said. Who have done such things to us as can never be forgiven.
Vincente put it in more measured terms, but wasnt much more helpful. This is a place where we have built a community, Emeline. This is a place where we can be sure we are safe. I have no doubt that Sophia has good intentions, but that is not the same thing as being able to change things.
Emeline had to fight back the urge to shout at them for their stupidity. Cora must have seen that, because she put a hand on Emelines arm.
It will be fine, she whispered. Theyll see sense eventually.
What you call sense, Asha snapped from the other side of the stone circle, I call a betrayal of our people. We are safe here, not out in the world.
Emeline shot her an angry glance. Asha couldnt have heard Coras whisper from there, which meant that shed read Coras mind. That was more than rude; it was dangerous, especially when Asha had been the one to teach Emeline how to pull memories out of someone.
People are free to come and go if they wish, Vincente said. If Sophia really does deliver a kingdom where our kind are free, people will come of their own accord, without the need for emissaries.
And what will it look like until then? Emeline replied. What will it look like when all those with gifts are hidden away, as if they are ashamed of them? Will it look like we are no threat, or will it give people space to claim that we are plotting in secret? For the old rumors to reappear?
The hardest part about the crowd around them was that it was impossible for Emeline to gauge what effect her words were having. With another crowd she could have reached out for the feel of their thoughts, or at least listened to them talking to one another. Here, the conversations were silent things of thoughts flickering back and forth, well directed enough that she wasnt a part of it.
Perhaps you have a point, Vincente said.
They do not, Asha replied. They are the ones who have made us less safe, by making it so that people know where we are.
We havent told anyone, Cora said.
Asha snorted. As if they couldnt have taken it from your head. If you werent sent by the queen, Id take every thought you have for that.
No, Aidan said, putting a protective hand on Coras shoulder. You wouldnt.
Vincente stood, his full height more than impressive enough to calm things. Thats enough bickering. Asha, the new defenses will be more than enough to protect us, even if people find us. As for the rest of it I suggest a seeing.
A seeing? Emeline asked.
Vincente made a gesture that encompassed the crowd around them. We join our minds together, and we see what will result from each action. It is not perfect, but it will help us to decide what we must do.
The idea of joining her mind to so many others was a worrying one, but if it would give her a chance to persuade them, Emeline wasnt going to hold back.
All right, she said. How do we do it?
Simply connect your mind to the others, Vincente sent. They are waiting.
Emeline reached out with her gift, and now she could feel the minds of those around the circle waiting for her. They were open now in a way they had not been before. She took a breath and plunged in amongst them.
She was herself, and not herself, both an individual mote of thoughts and the larger cloud of them that drifted together. With so many of them in one place, there was power here that was more than one person could ever have possessed. That power drifted into focus, and Emeline felt Vincentes hand guiding it with what she suspected was skill borne of long practice.
Concentrate on the future, he sent. On seeing what will happen if
He didnt get further than that, because in that moment, a vision overtook them with the force of a forest fire.
There was fire in the vision. It flickered over the rooftops of Ashton, consuming, destroying. Soldiers in ochre uniforms marched through the streets, killing as they went. Emeline heard women screaming from inside houses, saw men cut down as they fled in the streets. The vision seemed to float through the streets, barely giving them all enough time to take in the carnage as they headed for the palace.
Around them, the destruction of Ashton made Emeline ache to watch it. The slaughter was horrific, but strangely, the loss of the places that shed grown up around was almost as bad. Seeing barges burn on the river made her think of the one shed tried to escape the city on. Seeing the marketplace filled with corpses instead of stalls made her heart break.
They reached the palace, and the Master of Crows was waiting. There was no mistaking who he was, in his old-fashioned long coat and with his birds circling. Even in this image, the sight of him made Emeline shudder, but she couldnt look away. She watched him marching through the palace, killing with such ease that it almost seemed inconsequential to him.
The image shifted, and he was standing on a balcony, a baby in his arms. Instinctively, Emeline knew that it was Sophias child. There was a shine to her that reminded her of Sophias thoughts, and Emeline wanted to reach out to protect the child.
There was nothing she could do here, though, except watch as the Master of Crows lifted the baby, as he held her above his head. As the crows came down to feed
Emeline gasped as she snapped back into her body, her heart racing. Around the circle, she could see other people looking up, stunned or shaken. She knew theyd seen all the same things that shed seen. That had been the point of it.
We have to help them, Emeline said, as soon as she had enough breath to do it.
What? Cora asked. Whats happening?
The Master of Crows is going to burn Ashton, Emeline said. Hes going to kill Sophias baby. We saw it in a vision.
Instantly, Coras expression was set. Then we have to stop him. Emeline saw her look around the circle of people. We have to stop him.
You want more of our people to die for you? Asha demanded, from the far side of the circle. Didnt enough fall just to give your friend the throne?
I have heard of this man, Vincente said. To go against him would be dangerous. It is too much to ask.
Too much to ask that you help save a child? Emeline demanded, hearing her voice rise.
Not our child, Asha said.
Around them, the circle buzzed with thoughts. That only annoyed Emeline more, because it reminded her of just how much power there was in Stonehome.
Not yours? Emeline countered. She will be the heir to the throne. If you ever want this to be your kingdom rather than a place you hide from, shes your responsibility as much as anyone elses.
Vincente shook his head. What would you have us do? We cannot fight the whole of the New Army in Ashton.
Then bring the child here, Emeline replied. Bring everyone here. Ashton might fall, but this is a safe place. It was designed to be safe. You said yourself that there were new defenses.
Defenses for us, Asha replied. Walls of power that take great effort to maintain. Should we protect a citys worth of people who cannot contribute to that? Who have always hated us?
Cora spoke up then. When I came here, I was told that Stonehome was a place of safety for anyone who needed it, not just those with magic. Was that a lie?
Silence greeted her words, and Emeline could guess what the answer would be even before Vincente gave it.
You forced us into one fight, he said. We will not willingly choose another. We will let this pass, and we will rise from the ashes. We cannot help you.
Will not, Emeline corrected him. And if you wont, then Ill do it myself.
We will, Cora said.
Emeline nodded. If you wont help, then well go to Ashton. Well see Sophias baby safe.
Youll die, Asha said. You think you can go up against an army?
Emeline shrugged. Do you think I care?
This is madness, Asha said. We should stop you leaving for your own safety.
Emeline narrowed her eyes. Do you think you could?
Without waiting for an answer, she stood and left the circle. There was no point in debating any longer, and every moment they waited was another in which Sophias baby was in danger.
They had to get to Ashton.
CHAPTER FOUR
Sophia hadnt been able to talk anyone out of a lavish wedding party, even though it sounded like the kind of thing that the nobles before her might have thrown. Looking around the lawn of the palace, though, she was grateful that she hadnt been able to call it off. Seeing so many people there, feeling their enjoyment, only made her buzz with happiness.
There are a lot of people who want to congratulate us, Sebastian said, his arm around her.
They do know that Ill know if they mean it, right? Sophia replied. She rubbed her lower back. There was a deep ache there that made her want to sit down, but she also wanted to be able to dance with Sebastian, just a little.
They mean it, Sebastian said. He gestured to where some of the noblewomen of the court were standing, or dancing along to the music of strings and pipes. Even theyre happy for you. I think they like living in a court where they dont have to pretend all the time.
Theyre happy for us, Sophia corrected him. She took his hand, leading him out onto the patch of lawn that was serving as a dance floor. She let Sebastian take her in his arms, the musicians at the side taking their cue from the two of them and slowing the pace of the dance a little.
Around them, people whirled together, far more energetically than Sophia could manage right now. The ache from her back had spread to her belly now, and she took that as her moment to step back from the dance. Two chairs, two thrones, had been set up by the side of the lawn for her and Sebastian. Sophia took hers gladly, and Sienne ran up to curl at her feet.
It reminds me a little of the dance where we first met, she said.
There are differences, Sebastian said. Fewer masks, for one thing.
I prefer it like that, Sophia said. People shouldnt feel that they have to hide who they are just to have fun.
There were other differences too. There were ordinary people here as well as nobles, a clutch of merchants talking off to one side, a weavers daughter dancing with a soldier. There were people there who had been indentured once, now free to join in the festivities rather than having to serve there. Several girls Sophia recognized from the House of the Unclaimed were off to one side, looking happier than they ever had there.
Your majesties, a man said, approaching them and bowing low. His red and gold robe seemed to shine against the darkness of his skin, while his eyes were so pale they were almost lavender. I am High Merchant Nka of the Kingdom of Morgassa. His glorious majesty sends greetings on the occasion of your wedding, and has bid me to travel here to discuss trade with your kingdom.
Wed be happy to talk about it, Sophia said. The merchant started to say something, and a look at his thoughts suggested that he was planning to negotiate an entire treaty right then and there. After my wedding day, though?
Of course, your majesty. I will be in Ashton for some time.
For now, enjoy the celebrations, Sophia suggested.
The merchant offered a deep bow and slipped back into the crowd. As if his approach had given permission to everyone else, a dozen more people came forward, from nobles seeking advancement to merchants with goods to sell and common folk who had grievances. Each time, Sophia said the same thing shed said to the merchant, hoping that it would be enough, and that they would enjoy the rest of the evening.
One person who didnt seem to be enjoying the festivities quite so much was Lucas. He was standing in a corner with a goblet of wine, surrounded by an assortment of pretty young noblewomen, and still there was no smile on his face.
Is everything all right? Sophia sent over to him.
Lucas smiled in her direction, then spread his hands. I am happy for you and Kate, but it seems that every woman here has taken that as an indication that I should be married next, and to them.
Well, you never know, Sophia sent back, perhaps one of them will turn out to be perfect for you.
Perhaps, Lucas sent, although he didnt feel remotely convinced.
Dont worry, well be trekking after our parents across dangerous terrain soon enough, Sophia promised, and you wont have to deal with the scary business of royal celebrations.
In answer to that, Lucas said something to one of the women near him, extending a hand and leading her out onto the dance floor. Of course, he did it perfectly, dancing with the kind of elegance and grace that probably came from years of instruction. Official Ko, the man who had raised him, would have seen him trained in that as carefully as in everything else.
Kate and Will were already there, although they seemed to be so wrapped up in one another that they were mostly ignoring the music. It probably didnt help that her sister was better with a sword than she was at dancing, while Sophia doubted that Will knew many formal court dances. The two of them seemed happy enough just in one anothers arms, whispering to one another and occasionally kissing. Sophia wasnt entirely surprised when they slipped off together in the direction of the palace while no one else was looking, doing it so smoothly that Sophia doubted anyone else even noticed.
A part of her wished that she and Sebastian could do the same; this was their wedding night, after all. Unfortunately, while the new head of the army might be able to avoid peoples attention for a while, Sophia suspected that they might notice if their queen and king left the party early. The best thing was to enjoy the moment while it was there, accepting that all these people had come here because they wanted to wish her and Sebastian the best.
Sophia stood again, heading over to one of the tables where food was laid out on great platters that could have fed hundreds more. She started to pick through the partridge and the roast boar, the sugared dates and the other delights that she could never have imagined when she was a child in the House of the Unclaimed.
You know that you could have a servant bring you food? Sebastian said, although he did it with a smile that told Sophia he already knew what her answer would be.
It still feels strange commanding people to do things for me that I could do for myself, she said.
As the queen, Id say you should get used to it, Sebastian said, except I think that its probably good that you arent. Maybe the whole kingdom would be better if people remembered what its like not to be the one giving orders.