—

Dragonsbane surprises me. Instead of leading me toward Archduke Etmond or the Esstenian Kings or Czar Reymer, as I expect her to, she veers toward Chief Kapil. He looks as surprised as I feel when he sees us coming toward him. He makes an effort to reach for his cane to stand, but I stop him.

“Really, no need, Chief Kapil,” I say, sitting down across from him. “I’m not very fond of curtsying, and I can do without another one.”

Relief is evident in his eyes as he takes hold of my hand, kissing the back of it.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Queen Theodosia. I’ve heard enough about you that I feel as if we know one another already.”

There’s that uncomfortable feeling again. He’s heard so much about me yet I know nothing about him apart from his name. But unlike the others, he doesn’t look at me with pity.

“You’re a brave young woman,” he says, surprising me. “And I understand that I owe you a debt of gratitude.”

It takes me a moment to understand what he’s thanking me for—interfering when the Kalovaxians went to invade Vecturia.

“I’m only sorry I couldn’t do more,” I tell him. “I heard about the burning of your country’s food stores. How are your people faring?”

His face darkens but he shakes his head. “Vecturia has faced worse than a famine; she will survive it.”

Vecturia will survive it, maybe, but not all her people will. And S?ren gave that order. I might have forgiven many of his sins, but some sins aren’t mine to forgive.

“I wish there were something I could do,” I tell him.

“Pah,” he says, leaning against the back of the sofa. “I am more concerned about what I can do for you.”

I swallow, wary of where this is going. He’s old enough to be my grandfather, and an alliance with Vecturia wouldn’t be enough to retake Astrea.

“I can’t marry you,” I tell him as gently as I can.

He laughs quietly and pats my hand with his weathered, liver-spotted one. “I know, Your Majesty,” he says. “Not all of us old men seek child brides to recapture our lost youth. My youth was well spent but it’s long gone now. I have no desire to rob you of yours.”

“Why are you here then?” Dragonsbane interrupts.

He doesn’t look at her, all of his attention focused instead on me.

“I needed to meet you,” he says. “I needed to look you in the eye and tell you how sorry I am that Vecturia didn’t help Astrea when the Kalovaxians attacked. I will spend what is left of my life atoning for that mistake. I am grateful that you were braver and kinder than I was.”

“It was the right move, strategically,” I tell him, uncomfortable with the way he’s looking at me, like I’m some sort of savior. I’m not.

“Then it was brave and kind and wise as well,” he says with a smile. “I have no desire to marry you, Queen Theodosia, but you have an alliance with Vecturia nonetheless, if you so desire it. You have our armies, however meager they may be.”

I don’t have to consult with S?ren to know that they’re meager indeed. Strong enough to beat a faction of Kalovaxian warriors while having the advantage of Vecturian soil, but not strong enough to stage an attack. Still, the gesture means more to me than I can put into words.

* * *

—

Chief Kapil takes his leave shortly after—his country can’t afford for him to spend more than one night in Sta’Crivero. I’m sorry that he had to spend any amount of money for such a short conversation, but he won’t hear any of that. We will be in touch, he promises, lifting my hand to his lips for a brief kiss.

I find that I am sad to see him go. When he does, I make my way toward Archduke Etmond, and Dragonsbane doesn’t try to steer me elsewhere. She would approve of the match, I’m sure. Etralia is a wealthy country, with a strong military presence. That his company doesn’t suffocate me is merely a bonus, I suppose.

“I was hoping to have a chance to speak with you tonight, Your Majesty,” Archduke Etmond says, his voice low. “I’m afraid this whole ordeal is…well, it’s trying for me and I’m sure it’s doubly so for you.”

I smile slightly. “It is overwhelming,” I admit.

His smile grows a little easier. “My brother sent me here,” he admits. “And I think he meant it as more of a prank than anything. I’m not…I’ve never been very good at talking to people, you know. And women…” He trails off, shaking his head. “I’m sure he believes I will come back embarrassed and rejected.”

He doesn’t say it like he’s looking for pity. He’s only stating a simple fact. Before I can say anything to soothe his mind, he continues.

“But…would I be right in surmising that you aren’t looking for a romantic partner?” he asks.

Next to me, Dragonsbane goes still. I ignore her. Instead, I move closer to the Archduke.

“Yes,” I tell him. “You are quite right. Though marriage seems to be the only way to take Astrea back, and so I will do what I must.”

For the first time since I met him, the Archduke holds my gaze, nodding once before he looks away. “I believe that we can help each other,” he says, lowering his voice. “You need an army to defeat the Kalovaxians. I have an army.”

“Your brother has an army,” Dragonsbane interjects.

The Archduke shakes his head. “My brother wears the crown, but his army listens to me. He knows this as well as anyone; he is content with the arrangement. After all, we rarely have need for our army. We’ve fought no wars in years. I can get troops to fight for you.”

“How many?” I ask him.

“Enough,” he says.

I try to keep my expectations in check, but a stupid hope works its way into my chest anyway.

“And what would you need in return?” I ask him. “Sovereignty over Astrea?”

He shakes his head. “No, no. Nothing like that. The idea that I might inherit Etralia if my brother fails to produce an heir is horror enough. No. Several years ago, the Theyn came to visit Etralia and my brother gifted him my favorite chess set. Centuries old, carved from onyx and bone.”

I remember the chess set. I saw it often when I visited Crescentia; it was kept on a shelf like a decoration, never actually used.

“My brother gave it to him to spite me,” the Archduke continues. “But I have always mourned the loss of it. I understand the Theyn is now dead.”

“You want your chess set back,” Dragonsbane says slowly, disbelief punctuating every word.

“A family heirloom,” he says. “It is more precious to me than anything.” He straightens up, a shy smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “And besides, it’s been many years since Etralia has fought a war. It sounds like it could pose quite an interesting challenge.”

I exchange a skeptical look with Dragonsbane before nodding. “I think we can agree to that partnership,” I tell him.

He smiles broadly and motions to a serving girl carrying a bottle of wine. It’s the same skittish girl who delivered the King’s message earlier. She’s even more ill at ease here, her hands shaking as she pours two glasses of rich red liquid. Dragonsbane waves her off before she pours a third, since her own glass is still half full. When the Archduke passes a glass to me, I force a smile. In truth, I know that I can’t drink anything more. I haven’t eaten all night because the dress is too restricting, and already I can feel the little wine I’ve had clouding my mind.

“To new friends,” Archduke Etmond says, lifting his glass toward me.

I lift my glass to meet his, but when he takes a sip, I only pretend to. It’s all I can do not to get to my feet and shout with joy. I want to throw my wine in King Etristo’s face and tell him exactly what I think of him. I want to dance until my feet bleed. For the first time in a long time, the hope in me is not a fragile thing. It is growing firmer, growing bolder.

I open my mouth to thank the Archduke, but before I can get the words out, a bewildered expression settles over his face. His hands rise to clutch at his throat and his eyes grow wide and panicked. He scrambles to his feet, knocking into our table and sending both of our glasses careening to the ground, then collapses beside them.

Everyone is on their feet but my mind is still a bewildered blur. Dragonsbane grabs my wrist, her fingers digging into my skin painfully as she pulls me away.

“Get back!” a voice calls, breaking through the panicked murmur. Coltania rushes toward him, moving surprisingly fast in her heavy dress. She drops gracelessly next to him, rolling him over onto his back and feeling his chest. “He isn’t breathing, I’m going to have to do it for him.”

She leans over the Archduke, fixing her lips to his in what looks at first like a kiss, but it isn’t. Her cheeks puff up, then his do before she pulls back and does it again.