Chapter 199

The queen had ordered a trio of musicians to play during dinner, a novel idea never done before, as far as Kit could recall, and she supposed it might have something to do with the fact that Rona did not wish to speak to her daughter any more than the princess wanted to speak to her mother. Except, she did. There was a question burning in Kit’s mind, and she needed to ask it before she lost the nerve or common sense caught up to her.

Conversation was possible, though it needed to be of the shouting variety, which Kit didn’t appreciate. Her luck would be to have half a sentence of private information out of her mouth just in time for the musicians to fade the song or stop playing all together. For the most part, the only words that came out of her mouth during the service were please and thank you to the servants, which meant that her mother would have no need to speak at all since she never used such polite phrases to the help.

As the final course was served, Kit realized she needed to get on with her plan if she were going to have the opportunity that night. She was fairly certain her mother intended to make some sort of announcement that Jate had won the archery contest, as the queen had always said something to the previous winners of competitions at dinner during the Choosing, but then, perhaps since she felt as if her favorite Representative had been mistreated, she may have determined to pretend there had been no such contest earlier in the day.

The queen scraped the last bit of pudding from her bowl and dropped her spoon, and Kit decided it was now or never. Leaning in so closely she could smell the concoctions Armant had made for her mother’s creaky knee, she said, “My mother, the Queen, I have an announcement to make, if it please you.”

Rona turned her head and raised her eyebrows, tapping on her ear, and Kit realized Rona hadn’t heard. “May I make an announcement?”

“What sort of announcement?”

“A Rooming and a dismissal.”

The queen had heard but her eyebrows shot up again. “Who?”

Kit drew a deep breath, knowing she was a terrible liar. She decided the more words she said the easier it would be to pretend later that the queen simply had misheard. “I would like to room Danyen. He’s certainly proven himself worthy this last week or two. I can’t imagine ever wanting to send him away. As far as dismissals are concerned, it’s difficult at this stage, but I think I should go ahead and send a few of the Representatives I have no connection with on their way, such as Iame of Erthmeet and Colart of Skiesdale. I know I haven’t been asking your specific consent to send them home the last several cuts I have made, but since we are down to so few men, I thought it best to mention it.” She smiled prettily at her mother, noting from her eye movement that the queen had only heard and understood about half of what she’d said.

The queen took a moment to try to work it out. Kit had been careful not to mention two of the names she was about to announce to her mother so she wouldn’t ask any specific questions about them, though later, if pressed, Kit would insist she had told her mother and hoped that her Aunt Nill, who was straining to hear on the queen’s other side, and her grandmother, who was seated next to Kit, would vouch for her.

After a long pause of consideration, Rona nodded. “Very well. I see no harm in those announcements, though I must remind you I am not a fan of Danyen of Farlington’s.”

“No, Mother, I know. But I think that is perhaps because you haven’t gotten to know him well enough yet. He is a scholar and a lovely dancer.”

Once again, the queen could only nod. She turned away from the princess, and Kit imagined she was making one more pass at the information, hoping she’d processed it all well enough, and then she made a signal to the musicians, who promptly stopped mid-song. The queen stood, and everyone else clambered from their chairs, bowing their heads. “You may remain in your seats,” the queen said, a few beats too late for anyone to actually have done so, purposely, of course. Everyone dropped back to their chairs, and she cleared her throat.

“Firstly, I should like to congratulate Jaterius of Rockdale for his victory in the archery contest today. He has made it clear that he is the finest shot amongst you.” There was a round of applause as Jate’s face turned crimson. “Of course, you have won your place with the princess this evening.” Jate couldn’t even lift his eyes to recognize the queen’s statement, he looked so self-conscious.

“Secondly, the princess has an announcement or two to make. I would like to remind you, if you have been cut from the Choosing, you must leave tonight. No longer are Representatives allowed to linger in the castle and make poor decisions.” It wasn’t necessary for her to remind anyone that she was speaking of the vicious attack Merek had made, one Kit was certain the queen had somehow inspired.

“Thank you, my Mother the Queen,” Kit said, standing. “As our group grows smaller, it becomes more difficult for me to make such hard decisions, but they must be made nonetheless. I thank the queen for giving me the discretion to make these decisions myself, though she is always available for consult, when I need her wisdom and guidance.” The queen, who had sat back down, took a sip of her wine and made a gesture with her wrist as if it were nothing. She was about to think otherwise.

“As far as Rooming is concerned, I shall not say too much about merit, because I think it is obvious and goes without saying why I would make the decision I have. Rather than list off accolades, I would simply like to say I would like to extend a Room to Danyen of Farlington....” There was polite clapping from everyone as Danyen tried to hide the surprise on his face. But Kit wasn’t finished. “And Eliason of Eastbury.”

The entire room inhaled as one, and next to her, the queen went rigid, nearly choking on the wine still in her throat. She sputtered a few times. Kit didn’t dare glance down at her mother’s face, nor did she skip a beat to allow everyone to catch their breath again. She needed to press on. A glance in Eli’s direction would’ve unnerved her, so she avoided him. “I would also sadly like to say I am dismissing Colart from Skiesdale, Iame of Erthmeet, and Pierce from Metfirth. Have a good evening, gentlemen, members of the council.”

Rona latched on to Kit’s wrist before she even placed her bottom in her chair, her long fingernails biting into the flesh of Kit’s arm. “What did you just do, daughter?” the queen spat as the music began to play again, no doubt signaled so as to hide the queen’s tantrum, though Kit doubted anyone who was paying attention would miss it.