By the end of the session, Glenna put her first students in two camps. The Ceara camp consisted of those who showed at least some interest and aptitude. Then there was the Dervil camp, which not only showed neither, but a strong resistance to spending time doing something that wasn’t traditionally a woman’s task.
When they were gone, she simply sat down on the ground. Moments later, Hoyt dropped down beside her, and she had the pleasure, at least, of resting her head on his shoulder.
“I think I’m a poor teacher,” he told her.
“That makes two of us. How are we going to do this, Hoyt? How are we going to pull this together, turn these people into an army?”
“We have no choice but to do it. But gods’s truth, Glenna, I’m tired already and we’ve only begun.”
“It was different when we were in Ireland, the six of us. We knew, we understood what we’d be facing. At least you’re dealing with men, and some of them are already well trained with a sword or a bow. I’ve got a gaggle of girls here, Merlin, and most of them couldn’t fight off a blind, one-legged dwarf much less a vampire.”
“People rise when they have no choice. We did.” He turned his head to kiss her hair. “We have to believe we can do this thing, then we’ll do it.”
“Believing counts,” she agreed. “A lot of them don’t believe what we’re telling them.”
He watched two of the guards carrying iron posts, watched as they began to hammer them into the ground. “They soon will.” He got to his feet, reached for her hand. “We should see if the others are back.”
Blair didn’t know that she’d ever been sent for—unless you counted the occasional summons to the vice principal’s office in high school. She doubted Moira intended to give her detention, but it was weird, being escorted to the princess.
Moira answered the door herself, and the smile she gave Blair was quiet and serious. “Thank you for coming. That will be all, Dervil, thank you. You should go now, secure your place in the stands.”
“My lady—”
“I want you there. I want everyone there. Blair, please come in.” She stepped back to allow Blair inside, then shut the door in Dervil’s face.
“You sure come over all royal.”
“I know it must seem that way.” Moira rubbed a hand up and down Blair’s arm before she turned to walk farther into the room. “But I’m the same.”
She might have been wearing what Blair considered Moira’s training gear—the simple tunic, pants and sturdy boots—but there was something different about her.
The room might have added to it. It was, Blair assumed, a kind of sitting room, and plush for all that. Cushions of richly worked tapestries, velvet drapes, the lovely little marble hearth with its turf fire simmering all spoke of position.
“I asked you here to tell you how the demonstration will be done.”
“To tell me,” Blair repeated.
“I don’t imagine you’ll like what I’ve chosen to do, but the decision is made. There’s no other way for me.”
“Why don’t you tell me what you’ve chosen to do, then I’ll tell you if I like it or not.”
She didn’t. And she argued. She threatened and she cursed. But Moira remained both implacable and immovable.
“What have the others said about this?” Blair demanded.
“I haven’t told them. I’ve told you.” Thinking they could both use it, Moira poured them each a glass of wine. “Put yourself in my position, please. These are the monsters who killed my mother. They murdered the queen of Geall.”
“And the idea was—is—to show people they exist. What they are, how they need to be fought and destroyed.”
“Aye, that’s an essential point.” Moira sat a moment, to sip wine, to settle. All through the worries of the night, the duties of the day, she’d been gathering herself for what was to come. “In a few days, I’ll go to the stone. Again, before the people of Geall who’ve gathered there, I’ll take hold of the sword. If I lift it, I will be queen. And as queen I’ll lead my people into war—the first war in Geall. Can I send them into battle, can I send them to their deaths when I’m unproven?”
“Moira, you don’t have to prove anything to me.”
“Not to you, but to others. And to myself—do you understand? I won’t take up sword and crown until I feel worthy of both.”
“From where I’m standing you are. I wouldn’t tell you that if I thought otherwise.”
“You wouldn’t, no. That’s why I asked for you, and not one of the others. You’ll speak to me plainly, and I can speak plainly to you. It matters that you think I’m ready for the sword and the crown. It matters a great deal. But I have to feel it, don’t you see?”