Chapter 24

“Did you see anyone of interest today?” Queen Rona asked from Kit’s right, at the head of the dinner table. Her voice was low so that the other council members who were dining with them would struggle to hear, but Kit noticed everyone else grew silent in anticipation of her answer, as if they’d all been longing to ask the same question.

Giving a shy smile, Kit replied. “I did. I am interested in getting to know all of the Representatives better.”

“Some of them were quite handsome,” the Queen Mother, Junno, noted. Kit smiled at her grandmother, glad that her health had permitted her to attend the first day of arrivals. She was only in her mid-sixties, but poor eyesight and an illness she’d suffered from for years limited her health and had caused her to abdicate the throne to her daughter, Rona, when she was only in her forties. Rona had inherited the queendom right after her own Choosing. Of course, she had been eager to get on with ruling most of the world, and while Junno was a member of the council and a consultant, Queen Rona was very different than the previous ruler. Despite Junno’s wisdom, Rona rarely took heed of anything her mother suggested.

“Yes, Grandmother, I agree. There were some that are very attractive. I look forward to having the opportunity to speak to them.” Kit saw no point in listing who she thought was best looking at this point since she’d only met a quarter of the men she’d have to choose from. Besides, looks weren’t everything; this clearly hadn’t crossed the minds of all of the other women present.

“Did you recognize Pierce de Lunge?” Rona asked, a knowing smile on her face. “His mother is a good friend of mine. I was quite overjoyed to see he was selected to represent Metfirth.”

And so it had begun. Her mother was already trying to steer her in a certain direction. “I remembered Pierce from my eighteenth birthday celebration, yes. He seems to be a nice fellow.”

“He has lovely eyes,” Nilla, her mother’s sister, chimed in.

“I thought the young man from Arch Hollow was handsome. So tall and broad shouldered,” Zora mentioned.

“Are you certain you’re not thinking of the Representative from Brendrake? He had striking blue eyes,” another councilwoman, Ranka, asked.

The conversation continued around her, and Kit bit her tongue, not willing to add her own opinion about any of them at this point. She could see her mother watching her, studying her, and decided it was in her best interest not to let the queen know which young men she liked best for fear they might disappear.

“It is a shame what happened in Eastbury,” Zora mentioned, and everyone nodded along. “I do hope they are back on the road tomorrow. It’s only a few miles….”

“What happened?” Kit asked, completely unaware of what her mother’s cousin might be speaking of.

“Oh, haven’t you heard?” Junno asked, shaking her head. “The caravan was attacked by villagers on the way in. They were quite angry, saying the vote was rigged.”

Rona cleared her throat. “I believe that is all speculation, Mother.”

Junno’s eyes widened as if she was unsure why her daughter might be trying to cover up what she believed to be the truth of the matter. “At any rate, there was a problem.”

“Was anyone hurt?” Kit was alarmed, knowing Eastbury was the closest province, and many of the castle workers had family there.

“Only a couple of the footmen, I believe,” Nill answered as if that wasn’t anything to worry about.

Kit settled back in her chair a bit. “I feel sorry for the Representative. He must be worried, especially if there is more unrest.” She couldn’t imagine the villagers being upset by the voting. For all she knew, it was always carried out in a fair way so that the Representative was the man the majority of noblewomen thought had the best chance to be chosen as the duke.

“I understand it was some men who thought they should’ve had a voice,” Zora stated with a scoff. Clearly, she believed that a man’s place was in the field or the army, not in politics, just like the queen.

“We do not know that,” Rona reminded the table. “I have dispatched a detail from the army to transport them the rest of the way. I believe they will arrive tomorrow, and I’m sure they will be safe with Yewforia’s best men guarding them. Now, let us discuss the upcoming festivities.” Rona smiled broadly, and the council knew immediately the topic was closed to discussion, but Kit had a hard time paying attention to the rest of the conversation as she wondered how the Representative from Eastbury might be getting along that evening, and perhaps more importantly, she wondered, if he arrived he next day, who might be with him.