“You will find within these walls many profess to know me,” he said. “You must trust what you have come to know.”
“You are asking me to trust you,” I said.
Adrian guided me back, a subtle invitation to sit, our private conversation finished. He released my hand and turned.
“Open the doors,” he said and settled himself on his throne.
Adrian’s court was already crowded against the walls of the great hall, leaving the center of the floor free for petitioners. I was not certain what to expect, but the line seemed to go on forever, from the opening of the hall out the front doors of the castle.
The first villager shuffled forward.
“Your Majesties,” she said, bowing. “My name is Andrada. I am from the village of Sosara. Our crops were destroyed by a creature we have yet to catch. Our animals have followed. We are in the middle of winter and do not have enough food to sustain our village until summer. We humbly ask for more protection and food. We are dying.”
I looked to Adrian, whose posture reminded me of someone who was bored, and yet his expression was serious. There were any number of creatures that could kill cattle and destroy crops, the rusalka, koldum, and leyah just to name a few.
“You have traveled far, Andrada,” Adrian said. “Tell me, have you brought this matter to your noblesse?”
So the noblesse of Revekka were like the lords of Lara—they represented various territories and were supposed to provide a buffer between the people and their king.
She swallowed. “I have, Your Majesty. Our pleas have gone…unanswered. Though I am sure Noblesse Ciro is very busy.”
“Is that what you would claim, Noblesse Ciro? That you are too busy to attend to your people?” Adrian asked, his attention shifting to a man with short blond hair and brows who stood just at the edge of the crowd. He wore rich robes, far more extravagant even than Adrian’s. His collar was silver with purple gems.
“Of course not, Your Majesty,” Noblesse Ciro said, casting a hardened glance at Andrada. “This is the first time I have heard of Sosara’s plight.”
“Then perhaps you should spend more time among your people,” Adrian said.
“I will take care of it,” Ciro replied, and my pulse thrummed heavily.
“Of course,” Adrian said. “Ciro will escort you back to your village. I will send members of the royal guard with food as well, and they will stay until the monster destroying your crops and slaughtering your cattle has been killed. Does that satisfy your request?”
“M-more than,” Andrada stuttered, her eyes darting to Ciro.
She feared him. I started to protest the noblesse’s return to Sosara when Adrian spoke.
“Do not fear Noblesse Ciro,” Adrian told her. “He has already failed in his duty to protect you and your people. Once more, and he will be executed.”
It was a clear promise and threat that made Ciro paler, but I was glad to see consequences for absent nobles. There was nothing more infuriating than a man or woman who did not care for their people, as I had been reminded during my father’s negotiations with Adrian.
“May good health and abundance bless your marriage, Your Majesties,” Andrada said, bowing low. As she moved to leave the great hall, she was joined by three of Adrian’s soldiers, who flanked her as if to create a barrier between her and Noblesse Ciro, who lingered farther back, following slowly.
There were a few other requests just like that, though they came from attentive noblesse. In one horrible instance, a lamia had managed its way into a home and stolen away a child. It was never found, but a trail of blood had led back to the water. Another story came from the west where men were being lured by an iara who would hypnotize them and drain them of both blood and semen.
I was surprised by the number of monsters that dared to ravish Revekka, given that vampires ruled, but hearing these complaints and concerns made me realize they were no different than the Nine Houses. Perhaps the only superior thing they had was an army of vampires to fight.
I watched the next villager approach. He was an older man who had a graying beard and short hair he kept hidden under a cap. His clothes were mostly rags, though the woman who lingered behind him, blond and beautiful, wore a far nicer gown, and I guessed they’d spent their last bit of coin on it to be here.
“Your Majesty,” the man said, addressing only Adrian as he made a sweeping exaggerated bow. “I am Cain, a farmer from Jovea. My wife and I have three daughters, but Vesna, she is the most beautiful. Do you not agree?”