Chapter 7
As the day passed, the palace buzzed with rumors.
The doors to the throne room, where Queen Laurelin and Prince-Consort Roland were expected to hold court, remained stubbornly shut, even as the hour when they usually opened passed by. Confused courtiers milled in the great hall, asking questions that no one was able to answer.
What’s going on?
I heard that Pedloe invaded the eastern provinces, and Roland will lead the army out as soon as the queen and the council declare war.
That’s ridiculous. We’ve been at peace with Pedloe for nearly a century. I heard that Kitiara was so taken with this new admirer of hers that she has decided to abdicate in favor of Ashkelon.
Ashkelon? Are you mad? Linessa would be the better choice.
You’re all wrong. My maidservant told me she saw a
