The War of Two Queens (Blood and Ash 4)

Antsy and finding the woolen material of the more form-fitted tunic scratchy, I wasn’t sure if it was my clothing or just anxiety. This was the first time I’d worn the tunic trimmed with fine gold thread at its knee-length hem and along the slits on either side. It was nearly identical to the one Kieran wore. His was shorter, hitting at the thigh, but it too had the golden scrollwork at the neck and across the halves of the tunic.

I thought about what I’d had Naill create for me. Come to find out, he was rather skilled with a needle and thread. Now that would be uncomfortable to wear.

But it would serve a purpose.

“Poppy,” Kieran said from the other side of the chamber. I looked over my shoulder to see that his sister had joined him.

“They’ve arrived. Roughly two hundred thousand,” Vonetta announced as I faced the siblings. “The remaining armies are stationed at Spessa’s End in case the Blood Crown turns their attention there, along with the Guardians and the younger draken who remained. I spoke with Valyn briefly and gave him a heads-up about what happened to the draken.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, slipping the ring back behind the collar of my tunic, where it rested between my breasts. I stepped forward to leave for the receiving chamber that had been prepared for their arrival.

“Wait.” Vonetta glanced up, her gaze flicking over the thick braid lying over my shoulder. “Where is the crown?”

Brows knitting, I gestured behind me. “It’s in the chest.”

“You should wear it.”

“I don’t need to wear a crown for them to remember I’m the Queen.”

“But it serves as a good reminder,” Kieran stated. “There will be generals here you’ve never interacted with before. For many of them, this will be the first time they’ve been in your presence outside of the coronation.”

In other words, they may be like Aylard. Distrustful and standoffish. I sighed, more annoyed than bothered by the idea of so many of the upper echelon of the army most likely being cold and wary of me.

“I guess I should retrieve the crown, then.” I turned, crossing the short distance to where the chest sat on the table beside a hairbrush that had seen much better days. The container was simple with no adornments or engravings, having previously been used by Perry to store cigars. The ruby and diamond crown that had once belonged to King Jalara was being kept in a crate that sat in the corner of the bedchamber under a muddy pair of boots—a fitting place for it.

Throwing the small latch, the rich scent of tobacco still lingered, faint but oddly pleasant as I slowly opened the lid. The gold crowns sat side by side, cushioned by a mound of cloth. The twisted bones, once a bleached, dull white, now shone, even in the low light. They were identical. One for a Queen. The other for a King. I didn’t think that they should ever be apart from each other. Maybe that was why I hadn’t worn the crown since the night I’d ended King Jalara’s life. It didn’t seem right to wear it while Casteel’s remained closed away in this chest and not upon his head.

“Allow me?” Vonetta touched my arm.

I didn’t realize I hadn’t moved until then—that I was frozen, unable to touch them. I nodded.

Vonetta reached inside, picking up the crown to the left. She brushed a shorter strand of my hair back, and my chest twisted as I thought of Tawny. How many times had she helped pin back the length of my hair so it wouldn’t be visible under the veil? Hundreds? Thousands? I swallowed hard.

Gods, I couldn’t let myself think of that right now. There was so much I couldn’t let myself think about. If I did, I truly wouldn’t be okay. I wouldn’t be strong. And I needed to be fearless right now.

Vonetta placed the gilded crown on my head, the weight lighter than I expected. The thin, golden teeth along the bottom of the crown caught in my hair, helping hold it in place. “There,” she said, smiling. But I tasted the tangy bite of sadness when I looked at her. “Perfect.”

I cleared my throat to ease the stinging. “Thank you.”

Her bright eyes warmed as she clasped my hands in hers and squeezed. “They will be here any moment.”

“I don’t want anyone to know what Isbeth sent,” I reminded them.

“We know,” Kieran assured me. Of course, they knew.

I took another breath. “I’m ready.”

Vonetta’s smile was less sad now, a bit stronger as she let go of my hands. I turned back to the small box. The sight of the lone crown twisted something in my chest as I carefully closed the lid. Soon, I promised myself and smoothed a hand over the wood. Soon the crown would sit upon Casteel’s head again. He would be beside me once more.