Page 82 of The Moon Blessed King
‘May I speak frankly with you, Your Highness?’ She nods. ‘We are concerned that Princess Adalei’s…actions are not in the best interest of Soleb.’ Fen gently places her cup back on the table. She folds her hands in her lap and forces herself not to wring her fingers. ‘To allow travellers to go as they please, to offer no proper protection against this plague…are thesetrulythe orders she has been given by our beloved king?’
Fen does not trust Lord Hamad. She does notlikeLord Hamad. Save for his relation to Rodans, she would not think well of him at all. But Lord Hamad can be trusted in one matter and one matter alone: he likes living a life of comfort and favouritism. He looks out for himself and his family. And he always, always, looks for an opportunity to climb. He speaks now, in earnest, because he already knows the answer to his question. These are not Elician’s orders. And if Elician did not order them, then Adalei is acting on her own.
She meets Hamad’s eyes. Confirmation or denial will change the tone and tenor of this meeting. Cieli asked if she would follow her king in anything, even if everyone else disagreed. She knows his orders. Sheknowshis command. ‘No,’ Fen says. ‘No, this is not what my brother wanted.’
Hamad’s lips twitch. He keeps his grin subdued. He reaches outand touches her hand. ‘I thought not,’ he says gravely. ‘This, all of this…it is wrong. Givers heal our sick, they always have. But this plan…relying on Alelunen medicine – I’ve heard thatphysicianin Crowen is sawing off body parts.’
‘She’s lancing wounds to drain excess fluids,’ Fen tries to explain.
‘It’s horrifying.’ It is. She can’t deny that itlookshorrifying. But it does good. Even if it feels wrong.
‘And now…Reapers roaming the land, Alelunen ones at that…’ He shakes his head. ‘It flies in the face of our traditions.’
‘I have written to Wilion d’Altas,’ Fen says. ‘I asked him to help Crown Princess Adalei reconsider her position. He refused.’
‘He is to be her prince consort once she ascends, is that not true?’ Hamad asks.
‘That’s true.’
Hamad shakes his head. He looks truly remorseful. ‘And so he chooses Adalei over our present king, when his duty is to our king first and foremost.’ Fen’s lips purse. ‘I have heard reports from across the country – the death toll is mounting almost too fast for the gravediggers to manage.’
Fen nods. ‘Adalei feared that if the cities were entirely closed and all transportation halted, famine would set in.’
‘And do you believe that?’
‘I believe famine is already upon us.’
‘Exactly right, exactly right.’ Hamad nods. ‘You have reasoned this out well, of course you have. You are your father’s daughter.’
The compliment catches her off guard. She doesn’t think anyone has ever told her that before. She almost doesn’t know what to say. ‘I…King Aliamonadoptedme—’
‘Yes, but he raised you with care. Though it is not our beloved King Aliamon that I mention here but your real father.’
‘You knew my real father?’
‘Of course. Ranio Ragden – master tactician and spy. He was one of our beloved King Aliamon’s closest advisers…and a dear friend.
He served the court with distinction for many years. You have his mind.’ Her heart pounds in her chest. She struggles not to cry at the idea. She thinks of the few memories she still has of her father, of his great smile, his strong arms, his character. He was a hero from her storybooks, a champion capable of cutting down great evil. ‘It is why I come to you now. My lady…until King Elician returns, Soleb must be trusted to those who will care for herproperly.I do not doubt that Adalei has the right intentions, but her actions are bringing our people to ruin.’
‘Thereisno one else.’
‘When you abdicated your position, it was only to allow Adalei to inherit first, isn’t that right? You are still her heir?’
Fen’s mouth goes dry. ‘I…Right now I can’t lead the country. I…I need to focus onhealingpeople and – they are my priority.’
‘Yes…you’re right. Forgive me. And your dedication to this country is without question.’ He pats her hand gently, soothingly, like a father. ‘But if you will not take this chance for yourself…you could nominate a regent.’
‘Forwho? There are no other blood relatives.’
‘Elician’s child.’
‘Hiswhat?’
‘King Elician has a child.’
‘No.’ Fen shakes her head. ‘No, that’s impossible.’ Elician has never lain with a woman. He never would have risked such a thing. For Givers to engage in any kind of intercourse with someone of the opposite sex is an almost guaranteed way to start a pregnancy. They cannot help it; life starts at their touch. Elicianknowsthat. He even avoided dancing at parties, finding excuses to slip away to his room and write poems or daydream about the Moon Prince who eventually became his husband.
Hishusband, whom Elician has sworn to never betray. No mistress, that is what Elician said before all of court. And even if hedidsomehow engage in intercourse with someone…there wouldn’t beenoughtimefor a child to have been born. She bites her lip. Did someone in Alelune take advantage of him? Force him? Queen Alenée had wanted a child and she—
