Of Whispers and Daggers ✓ [TLRQ #2]

Chapter 18.2 - Aster

Her lips are tight. While it's nice for once to feel he respects me as much or more than Sela, it was because of a drop in opinion of her, not an increase in opinion of me. She deserved a dressing-down, though. These soldiers and wizards that she hasn't seen are dying for her, and she doesn't even register that it's her fault.

"You should visit the people at the wall."

"What?" Her anger morphs to alarm.

"You should talk to them. I'll go with you if you want."

She looks at me as if I'm insane. "Why in all of Avadel would I do that?"

Her tone grates. "To boost their morale? To encourage them? Many of their friends are dead, and they have yet to win a battle. I think seeing their leaders is good for them." And to teach you more empathy for the people you're supposed to be protecting.

She waves one hand. "Then you and Reyan should go. What if a battle started while I was there? I'm the last of the Jacquelinian line. It's not as if Mother can have another daughter."

My jaw tightens. "Reyan and I have been going. Do you not realize that Reyan is fighting alongside them?"

She frowns. "That doesn't seem like a good idea. What if he gets hurt?"

"Then he was injured doing everything he can for his people." I stab a piece of pastry with my fork. "Besides—you didn't seem so disturbed by the idea of the soldiers being hurt."

She tosses her hands into the air. "I'm not happy about it! But they're soldiers; it's what they do."

I lean forward. "No, protect the people they've sworn to protect is what they do, and they're brave enough to do it to death. They aren't just a resource. They're somebody else's brother. Somebody else is depending on them to provide for them. Does it not occur to you how many lives have been lost, Sela?"

She stares at me, angry eyes wide, but before she speaks, I do.

"Is your pride and your flawless skin too much a sacrifice for you to listen to someone that isn't a woman?" The scars that taught me the consequence of failure burn on my back.

She slams her fork down. "That is enough, Aster. Do you know why people don't listen to you and Reyan? Because self-control is a virtue that the both of you lack!"

I push up. "You mean we talk more than just when spoken to, Sela. You might have the ultimate authority, the Queen may be the law, but I am the wizards and Reyan is the soldiers. You know the courtroom. You should be able to manipulate the Table into going along with whatever you dictate. They do not dictate what Reyan and I know." I step away from the table. "If you don't start listening to the voices of the people whose men are on the wall, then you're going to end up throwing each one of their lives away. And when N'veauvia falls"—I point at her—"that will be on you." I storm out.