You! Rupert said, pointing to one of the augers and minor priests who crowded around the entrance. What does this sunset portend?
Blood, your highness. A sunset like this means blood.
Rupert took a half step forward, planning to strike the man for his insolence, but Angelica was there to catch him, her hand brushing across his skin in a promise he wished there was more time to make good on.
Ignore him, she said. He knows nothing. No one knows anything, unless you tell them.
He said blood, Rupert complained. His mothers blood. The pain of that flickered through him. Hed lost his mother, the grief of it almost a surprise to him. Hed expected to feel nothing but relief at her death, or perhaps joy that the throne was finally his. Instead Rupert felt broken inside, empty and guilty in a way hed never felt before.
Of course he said blood, Angelica replied. Theres to be a battle tomorrow. Any fool could see blood in a sunset with enemy ships moored offshore.
Plenty have, Rupert said. He pointed at another man, an auger who seemed to be using some complex clockwork device to scrawl calculations on a scrap of parchment. You, tell me how the battle will go tomorrow!
The man looked up, a wild look in his eyes. The signs are not good for the kingdom, your majesty. The gears
This time, Rupert did strike out, sending the man sprawling with a booted foot. If Angelica hadnt been there to pull him back, he might have kept kicking until there was nothing left but a pile of broken bones.
Consider how it would look, doing that at the funeral, Angelica said.
It was enough to get Rupert to hold back, at least. I dont see why the priests even let the likes of those onto the steps of their temple. I thought they killed witches.
Maybe its a sign that these have no talent, Angelica suggested, and that you shouldnt listen to them.
Maybe, Rupert said, but there had been others. It seemed that everyone had an opinion on the battle to come. There had been augers enough back at the palace, both real and merely nobles who liked to guess at sunsets or the flight of birds.
Right then, though, this funeral, his mothers funeral, was the only thing that mattered.
Apparently, there were those who didnt understand that. Your highness, your highness!
Rupert spun toward the man who came running. He wore a soldiers uniform, bowing low.
The correct form of address for a king is your majesty, Rupert said.
Your majesty, forgive me, the man said. He rose from his bow. But I have an urgent message!
What is it? Rupert demanded. Cant you see that I am attending my mothers funeral?
Forgive me, your majesty, the man said, obviously only just catching himself in time. But our generals request your presence.
Of course they did. Fools who had not seen the route to defeating the New Army now wanted to gain his favor by showing how many ideas they had for dealing with the threat that had come to them.
I will come, or not, after the funeral, Rupert said.
They said to stress the importance of the threat, the man said, as if those words would somehow move Rupert to action. To some kind of obedience.
I will decide its importance, Rupert said. At the moment, nothing felt important compared to the funeral that was about to happen. Let Ashton burn for all he cared; he would bury his mother.
Yes, your majesty, but
Rupert stopped the man with a look. The generals want to pretend that everything must happen now, he said. That there is no plan without me. That Im needed if we are to defend the city. I have a reply for them: do your jobs.
Your majesty? the messenger said, in a tone that made Rupert want to punch him.
Do your jobs, soldier, he said. These men claim to be our finest generals, but they cant organize the defense of one city? Tell them that I will come to them when I am ready to. In the meantime, they will see to it. Now go, before I lose my temper.
The man hesitated a moment, then bowed again. Yes, your majesty.
He hurried off. Rupert watched him go, then turned back to Angelica.
Youre being quiet, he said. Her expression was perfectly neutral. You dont agree with me burying my mother either?
Angelica put a hand on his arm. I think that if you need to do this, you should, but we cant neglect the dangers, either.
What dangers? Rupert demanded. We have generals, dont we?
Generals from a dozen different forces stitched together to form an army, Angelica pointed out. No two of whom will agree on who is in charge without someone there to set an overall strategy. Our fleet sits too close to the city, our walls are relics rather than defenses, and our enemy is a dangerous one.
Be careful, Rupert warned her. His grief was closing around him like a fist, and the only way Rupert knew to respond to it was with anger.
Angelica moved forward to kiss him. I am being careful, my love, my king. Well take the time to do this, but soon, youll need to give them direction, so that you have a kingdom to rule.
Let it burn, Rupert said on reflex. Let it all burn.
You might mean that now, Angelica said, but soon, youll want it. And then, well, theres a danger that they wont let you have it.
Let me have my crown? Rupert said. I am king!
You are the heir, Angelica said, and we have built you support in the Assembly of Nobles, but that support could fade if you are not careful. The generals you are ignoring will wonder if one of them should rule. The nobles will ask questions about a king who puts his grief before their safety.
And you, Angelica? Rupert asked. What do you think? Are you loyal?
His fingers went to the hilt of a knife almost automatically, feeling its comforting presence. Angelicas covered them.
I think that I have chosen my place in this, she said, and it is alongside you. Ive sent someone to deal with some of the threat of the fleet. If a death can slow us, it can slow them just as easily. Afterwards, we can do everything that needs to be done, together.
Together, Rupert said, taking Angelicas hand.
Are you ready? Angelica asked him.
Rupert nodded, even though right then the ache inside him was too great to ever be subdued. He would never be ready for the moment to let his mother go.
They stepped into the temple together. It had been dressed for a state funeral with a haste that was almost unseemly, rich drapes in dark hues filling the space within, cut through here and there by the royal crest. The pews of the temple were full of mourners, every noble in Ashton and for miles around turning out, along with merchants and soldiers, clergy and more. Rupert had made sure of that.
Theyre all here, he said, looking around.
All who could come, Angelica replied.
The ones who didnt are traitors, Rupert snapped back. Ill have them killed.
Of course, Angelica said. After the invasion, though.
It was strange that hed found someone so ready to agree to all the things that needed doing. She was as ruthless as he was in her way, beautiful and intelligent. She was there for this, too, standing beside him and managing to make even funeral black look exquisite, there to support Rupert as he made his way through the temple, toward the spot where his mothers coffin sat waiting for interment, her crown set atop it.