‘Like you managed me?’ I hated the bitterness in my voice. Even if I’d thought he was on my side, and we were something like friends, he’d used everything Papa had taught him – everything Papa didn’t teach me because it wouldn’t help my marriage prospects – for the Queen’s benefit. When Matthias had offered to help me avenge Papa’s murder, his loyalty was still ultimately to her.
‘I wasn’t setting you up for Lia’s benefit.’ Matthias leaned against the wall. ‘I had you in mind as her Whispers for a while. But I didn’t intend to introduce you like that.’
‘You still offered to help me for your longterm goal.’
‘She needs a Whispers.’ Matthias smiled. ‘Besides, she enjoyed your first meeting. And, of course, you stopped Naruum.’
I wanted to say Anyone would have done that, but no one else had. It unnerved me how quickly I’d slipped into the Whispers mindset. And the Queen had manipulated me so easily by having me prove myself. She’d sized me up within minutes and guessed I relished a challenge.
‘You should go back. You’ll be missed.’
‘I’ll think of something,’ I said. ‘Will you be able to easily… dispose of him?’
‘I’ll think of something.’ Now Matthias looked ready to sleep for a century.
‘You don’t need to tell me death is ugly,’ I said. ‘I’m already well aware.’
Papa’s memory stretched between us.
‘I know,’ Matthias said softly. ‘I shouldn’t have said that.’
‘And if I have to embrace ugliness to prove Vigrante killed Papa, I’ll do it.’
As I turned to leave, he said, ‘Well done. This will please the Queen, and she was already impressed with you.’
I paused. ‘How is Lord Naruum?’
‘Temporarily indisposed by questions he’s unable to answer.’
I ignored Zola and Mama’s frowns when I returned. Now the Queen’s exhaustion and brittle expression painted a much different picture: someone worried about assassins when she should have been celebrating.
I thought of Naruum’s wine, and the questions I’d wanted to ask her later that night. And she’d wanted me to succeed, written a note of encouragement in the hopes she’d get to give it to me.
Perhaps for all her promises, her authority, she wanted me to tell her my decision.
Chapter Nine
Lia
The morning after my coronation, Miss Bayonn strode into my study.
I lowered my pen. ‘Good morning.’ Everyone else was still in bed, but the paperwork didn’t care that I’d just been crowned.
Her appearance was carefully neat: she’d taken her time and hadn’t rushed here. ‘I’ll do it. I’ll be your Whispers.’ Another pause, before a belated, ‘Your Majesty.’
I hadn’t expected relief, but it cascaded over my tight shoulders all the same. ‘I don’t believe it was your decision.’
Miss Bayonn raised an eyebrow. ‘No one forces a Whispers into the job. It’s the quickest way to be assassinated.’
I gestured at the empty chair. ‘Sit. There are conditions.’
She sat. ‘Of course.’
‘We will have weekly meetings,’ I said. ‘I won’t manage you, any more than I would Coin or the others. But as you’re Fifth Step, I’m willing to use all influence to help you.’
‘I’m not in a position to make requests, but I’d appreciate prior warning before being dragged into a room of politicians.’
I smiled. ‘Would you expect a Queen to openly favour her Whispers before Court or Parliament?’
‘No.’
‘With Naruum’s poison,’ I said, ‘and the assassin last night, I’m now twice in your debt.’
We fell into an uneasy silence.
‘Why are you so calm?’ Miss Bayonn finally asked. ‘They surely didn’t teach you to treat assassination like this.’
‘Not quite,’ I said. ‘But I was raised with poison-tasters. There are prices to pay for royal privilege. It’s our responsibility to accept them.’
‘That’s ridiculous,’ Miss Bayonn said. ‘At least there were more guards yesterday.’
‘Matthias insisted.’
‘Good. Prepare yourself for more if I’m your Whispers.’ She held my gaze. ‘Keeping you alive will be my responsibility. I’ll use everything that helps me – including more guards.’
‘Very well.’ I wanted to smile, but feared she might think I was belittling her. Her green dress, embroidered in yellow and white, suited her. Something flared in my chest – determination? stubbornness? – at her firm tone. I noted the sensation, then put it aside to examine later.
Miss Bayonn cleared her throat. ‘I want to go after Vigrante’s inner circle.’
Neither Lady Brenna nor Lord Hazell liked me, though they’d certainly liked the benefits of Uncle’s money through Vigrante. ‘Do you suspect they’re connected to your father’s murder?’
‘Not entirely. But attacking his power base will weaken him.’ She hesitated. ‘And the situation with Lord Naruum?’
‘He is currently my guest.’ A guest behind locked doors, with the weight of execution over his head. ‘When he’s not succumbing to hysterics, he’s not saying much, and none of it useful. It wasn’t a particularly good attempt. Even if I refused the wine and offended the Opposition, I would have eventually mended things.’
‘An assassination doomed to fail?’
‘Possibly.’ I frowned, rubbing my thumbnail over my lower lip. ‘Lord Naruum and Lady Brenna knew each other as children. There may be a link there.’ I glanced up, just as Miss Bayonn’s gaze slid away.
‘Emotions make people do foolish things,’ she said.
‘Like brandishing daggers?’
She smiled ruefully. ‘Perhaps. By becoming your Whispers, I can avenge my father. You gain little if I become your spymaster.’
A sensible observation. ‘Matthias is loyal, and we’re practically family. Now that our friendship is known, he’s too obvious a choice for Whispers.’
Miss Bayonn nodded.
‘You’re the youngest Treasury employee in decades. And Coin wouldn’t have accepted you unless he considered you an asset.’
She stayed silent.
‘Matthias loved your father more than his own. Not a day goes by that he doesn’t feel the loss.’ He’d never tell Miss Bayonn, reluctant to encroach on her grief, but she needed to know so they could work together.
‘So I’m good with budgets and need to feel sorry for Matthias more,’ Miss Bayonn said. ‘Hardly the qualities of a spymaster.’
Apart from Matthias, no one had spoken so frankly to me in years. I’d forgotten what it felt like, a spark against the stifling duty, etiquette, and pomp that had surrounded me since childhood.
‘You watch and listen,’ I said. ‘You broke into my wing through the passages. You want to avenge your father and you’re willing to be ruthless. My Whispers must be ruthless.’ Matthias called me too idealistic, but I’d grown up in a part of Edar where it was easy to die from freezing cold and starving predators. I’d always known I’d have to make brutal decisions, and so would my Whispers. ‘Matthias believes in you,’ I continued, ‘and when dangerous situations arose, you didn’t hesitate to help. That gives me faith in you.’