Shadows in the Trees: Book 1

Chapter 4

"Well?" Elysia asked once they had boarded. Her hands were red, probably from wringing them, a nervous habit of hers that was usually accompanied with pacing.

"It worked," Rhiannon said, smiling despite herself. Elysia cheered, whooping and jumping. Kala joined in, while Jaida watched and laughed.

Rhiannon laughed with them, relishing the victory. Finally, that fear of being killed, usurped, or beaten to the throne had lifted from her shoulders, and she felt as though she were floating. All of her hard work, all of her disguises, all of her groveling to the common people, all of her risks, they had finally paid off. With this newfound power, her father would surely choose her to be queen, and then she could kill her two remaining siblings and claim her throne. 

"It was amazing!" Kala exclaimed, pulling off her mask. "She walked right in there, and she was so confident -- I don't know how you stayed so calm, I was shaking -- "

"I am surprised at how easily the king agreed," Jaida said, rubbing her chin.

"You heard what he said. The offer was too good to refuse," Rhiannon shrugged. She, too, was surprised. She had expected much more resistance from the king. She thought she was going to have to fight for her life in that throne room. Instead, she was going to be the queen of an empire.

"Your father will surely choose you as his heir once you tell him this!" Kala said, hugging Rhiannon fiercely.

"You're lucky Venira already killed Isolde," Jaida said. "Now you actually have a chance." Elysia frowned at Jaida.

"Why are you always so . . . so contrary?" Kala asked with her hands on her hips. "Rhiannon has worked her whole life for this! Can't you at least pretend to be happy for her?"

"It's alright," Rhiannon said. "She's right. Isolde would almost have certainly been chosen for the throne."

"All because of her stupid hair," Jaida scoffed. "What is it with Kheprians and red hair?"

"It's of Cet. It's rare," Kala said defensively.

"It is a sign of a blessed soul," Elysia explained. "Cet is depicted with long, flaming red hair. Isolde had hair that looked exactly like the paintings in the temples, so she was thought to be chosen by Cet herself. That claim is difficult to beat."

"You think I enjoy wearing this wig?" Rhiannon said, pulling the massive piece from her head with a grunt. Pins fell around her feet, and Elysia took the wig and placed it in its box. "It's all for show. Image has more power than you might think." 

"Nonsense," Jaida said. She rubbed her chin, then stopped abruptly and looked up. "Are you sure your father won't see this as treason? As selling his country to the enemy?" Elysia and Rhiannon exchanged a look.

"That was something we considered," Rhiannon said. "But if I explain it right, Father will see reason. He knows how precarious our independence is. As long as I convince him I secured it, and took over Elohine, he will see reason."

Jaida nodded. "So how long until the king-to-be is dead?"

"I have to produce an heir to secure my hold in Elohine," Rhiannon said. "So probably a year or so. Unless it is easier to use him as a puppet."

"King Wilhelm might be more of a problem than Julian," Elysia said. 

"Then I'll kill him," Rhiannon said calmly. "No one will stand in my way." 

Despite her bravado, Rhiannon was exhausted. After a few more moments of celebrating retired to her chambers. As soon as she sat on her bed, panic replaced the joy and roiled through her in waves. 

She struggled to steady her breathing. She didn't know how long she laid there, sweating and shaking, but it finally passed. Her head ached and her skin felt clammy and cold. 

She knew King Wilhelm wouldn't have her murdered right there in the throne room. Rather, he would have imprisoned her and made her execution a public affair. But still, when those guards had swarmed toward her, she suddenly felt with icy certainty that she was going to die. She thought she had completely miscalculated, misjudged the advantage she had. Until King Wilhelm had raised his hand. 

She was relieved when he had called her to the parlor. It was easier for both of them to be forthright without the entire court listening. Rhiannon remembered their conversation, the deep timbre of his voice as he glared at her, daring her to make one wrong move.

She lounged in a silk armchair and Wilhelm sat on the sofa across from her. Their guards hovered over their shoulders, eyeing each other distrustfully. 

"What are you really doing here?" King Wilhelm asked. 

She smiled. "I was honest. I want your son's hand." 

"Why?" 

Rhiannon let her smile fall and leaned forward. "I need an advantage over my siblings. Something that will guarantee me the throne. Solving Khepri and Elohine's conflict would be an unrivaled accomplishment." 

"I hardly call an uneasy union solving a centuries-long conflict." 

"A step in the right direction, then." 

"Your father will kill you for this. Unless your siblings beat him to it." 

She shrugged delicately. "Perhaps. Or perhaps I will kill them first, or, perhaps they will realize the wisdom in a truce." 

King Wilhelm chuckled. He leaned forward until she could see the fine lines carved around his eyes and smell the wine on his breath. 

"How do I know you won't kill my son the first chance you get?" 

"You don't." 

He was silent for a long time then. Finally he pulled back, scratching his beard. 

"We cannot afford any more war," he said. "And my son, the One God bless him, will need a strong queen to guide him. None of the noblewomen of age have the will required to challenge him. I think perhaps a woman with your pluck may be good for him, and for Elohine."

"You're willing to take this risk?" she asked, skeptical. She wondered if he was devising a plan to kill her, though she didn't see why he wouldn't send her back to Khepri so that her family could do it for him. 

"Elohine will be in good hands with Damon in the event you become arrogant enough to kill him," he had said. "Believe me, if you kill my son, Elohine will spare no mercy for you, queen or not." 

Rhiannon shivered, remembering his words. She wondered if she was a foolish, arrogant girl for thinking she could infiltrate the largest empire on the continent and survive. 

She sat up and wiped the tears from her cheeks. 

Arrogant, foolish, it didn't matter. She had outlived seven other siblings, including the favored choice. She had survived this long because she was willing to take risks. A little fear wasn't going to stop her from taking her throne.