Magister Florimond opened her mouth to speak, then hesitated and glanced at Audric instead.
“Because,” Audric said, watching his father, “when the Gate falls and the angels return, the Sun Queen will need the support of the Celdarian people at her back. They need to see her work. They need to love her.”
The judges, the Lord of Letters and the Lady of Coin, even the queen, shifted uneasily, as did some of the guards stationed around the room.
Rielle looked to her father. At last, he returned her gaze. She wondered if he was remembering the same thing she was: secret evenings in Tal’s office after a day of lessons, Rielle on her father’s knee and slowly reading the words of Aryava’s prophecy aloud:
Two Queens will rise.
One of blood.
One of light.
She had been young enough then, and perhaps not yet frightening enough, that her father still touched her with something like affection.
“Audric,” said King Bastien tightly, “I would ask you not to speak of such things right now.”
“But it’s precisely now that we must speak of these things.” Audric’s voice was taking on that earnest, gruff quality it had whenever he went off on one of what Rielle and Ludivine called his scholarly fits.
Despite everything, Rielle glanced sidelong at Ludivine, who was stifling her own smile.
“Princess Runa’s death,” Audric continued. “The slave uprisings in Kirvaya. The unprecedented storms across the ocean, in Meridian and Ventera. The shifting mountains in the old angelic lands, displacing entire villages overnight. And now,” he said, looking back at Rielle, “there’s Lady Rielle. Maybe those assassins knew something we didn’t, and their attempt to kill me was really an attempt to draw out her power for all to see. Or maybe it was simply coincidence. Either way, we cannot ignore the timing of these events.”
Audric returned his impassioned gaze to the king. “The angel Aryava knew, centuries ago. He warned us of this time, and now it is upon us.”
King Bastien’s normally open expression was a barred door. “That’s enough, Audric.”
“Father, we ignore the signs at our peril—”
The king rose to his feet. “That’s enough!”
Audric stepped back, meeting his father’s glare for one searing moment before looking at the floor.
The Archon cleared his throat. “Perhaps there is some wisdom to the prince’s suggestions. Whether or not the prophecy’s events are unfolding before us, if Lady Rielle is forced to complete the trials in plain view of the Celdarian people—”
“Then the challenge will be even greater for me,” Rielle interrupted. “And you will know I am not to be feared.” She took Audric’s place before his father, her heart pounding fast and sure. “For I’ll be not only fighting for my life, but for theirs as well.”
“That,” said King Bastien, “is a terrible risk.”
Queen Genoveve set down her goblet with some force. “A risk we cannot take. My love, this is nonsense.”
“The city guard,” Rielle insisted, “the royal guard, the holy guard, every acolyte from the temples. All of them can be on alert, ready in case I falter.” She took a deep breath. “But I won’t falter. I’ve been taught well by my father and by Tal.”
“Taught while hidden within secrets and lies,” the Archon added.
Rielle ignored him. “They can continue my lessons, with the help of everyone on the Magisterial Council.”
She glanced at Grand Magister Florimond. The woman inclined her head. “I, for one, will be glad to help Lady Rielle in this.”
Rielle gave her a small smile. “Word will get out, my king, about the trials. About me. Too many people know what’s happening for rumors not to escape. Think about how our people will react if they find you’ve been keeping such a secret from them. Enough lies have been told, enough secrets kept. I had a part in that, and I don’t wish to any longer.”
King Bastien returned to his seat, considering her in silence.
“If we tell the people everything…” Audric added, coming to stand beside her.
“And if they can see Rielle’s power and control for themselves…” said Ludivine, on Rielle’s other side.
“Then that will show them you trust her.”
“And they, in turn, will trust her,” Ludivine added. “And you as well, Uncle.”
“And,” finished Rielle, “if there are dark turnings elsewhere in the world, perhaps they will then think twice about setting their sights on Celdaria, if they know we are united. If there are no secrets to exploit.”