Passive (Volume 2) - ON HOLD

3-Grace

*Grace*

2nd of Wolf Moon, 436 A.C. Shell Palace, Land's End, Turtle Island.

"Majesty," the Lord of South Tower bowed to her. He had been the imperial governor under the Warlord, and Grace wondered if he resented her for taking control over the island. "You summoned me?"

Grace stood before her throne, a white marble bench beneath a bower of clematis and roses, and offered a hand to Lord Tam. "Rise, my lord," she said politely, her smile plastered firmly in place. Lord Tam rose, his palms resting on his thighs. He had a kind face, but his eyes–in them, Grace saw cunning awareness and a bit of curiosity. He had come to see what kind of a ruler she would be.

"I thank you for coming all this way," she said. Something made her add, "It must have been hard to leave King's City." She studied his expression carefully. He had spent a year in Elizabeth's court, and her sources told her she had considered him as a replacement for Arryn Westover on her council, after Lord Westover had crowned his son, Gavan, and Gavan's new bride, Aileanna Spicer.

Grace's spy nearest to Aileanna, Meg, reported that it was very likely that Aileanna had murdered her first husband. Grace wouldn't have been surprised if Gavan Westover keeled over as soon as Aileanna gave birth to a son.

Lord Tam's face changed, cunning replaced with shock and unbalance. She had taken him by surprise. If she'd been alone, she would probably have gloated a little. "Elizabeth is... displeased with me, at the moment. She felt I had become too close to a certain special guest of hers."

"My sister," Grace said. It wasn't a question.

Lord Tam bowed again. "Indeed. It wasn't that hard to leave when she wanted me gone. I'm surprised she didn't provide me with an escort, so eager was she to see the last of me."

Lord Tam was the latest of Turtle Island's nobles to return from the various courts of the great lords in the realm, and, to great, the most promising. He, himself, was considered a great lord, the sovereign of the duchy of Turtle Island, now its own realm. Grace was the outsider here, and she needed the support of men like him, who were respected and well-liked by her people.

He gazed upon her, now, with an expression of curiosity, so she glided down the stairs from her dais until she could take his hands. "My lord," she said. "I know you may not think much of me; I am young yet, and a stranger to this land. However, I have been hearing great things of you from His Radiance, the Warlord, for years, now, and I had hoped you would agree to advise me as part of my council."

Lord Tam was shocked speechless. Grace felt her smile widen and schooled her expression into the polite mask every noble perfected when they were children. "Majesty," he whispered, awed. Grace was pleased that one of her people had informed him of her choice to use to old style, 'Majesty,' for herself, instead of the 'Lady Queen,' that all queens had styled themselves by since Aelin had adopted it. 'Lady Queen,' was Elizabeth, to Grace. She wanted to be something more, someone else.

"Majesty," Lord Tam said again. "It is I who am honored. I never thought to stand so close to the throne, not after Elizabeth expressed her displeasure with me. Of course, I accept your kind offer, and I thank you." He bowed so low, this time, that Grace thought his bones would creak.

Grace smiled, a kind, girlish smile, this time. "Then, welcome to my court, Lord Tam," she said. "I hope you will join me tomorrow; I've a mind to visit some of the nearby towns and castles. Please, take tonight to rest from your journey, and, tomorrow, we'll talk more."

It was a dismissal, and Lord Tam knew it. He bowed and backed slowly from her presence. When he reached the massive doors at the back of the room, Grace's royal guards bowed him out.