Can You Hear Me Now?

Even seated, Queen Emira of Crestfall was tall. She sat alone at the head of the table, her body completely still. But her eyes—they were full of blue fire.

Noble could only glance at her face for a moment before being forced to avert her eyes. Emira was quite possibly the most beautiful person she had ever seen. Her alabaster skin and ruby hair gave her a fascinatingly fierce look.

'She doesn't look a day over thirty! How can she have ruled for nearly a hundred years?'

Although only an Awakened, Emira emanated raw power. The aura surrounding her was equal to the pressure she felt when beholding Saint Madoc for the first time. And even more menacing.

'How is that possible?'

Following Counsel's bow, Noble dipped a deep curtesy. Even the Symncus lowered his head in front of the imposing figure.

"Brenna." The word hung in the air.

"Your Majesty," Noble answered without raising her head.

Tense moments passed.

Finally, the Queen spoke again. "I see you brought your entourage. Counsel. Kosi."

The man rose, encouraging Noble to end her curtsey as well. 

"I must accompany Lady Brenna wherever she goes," he explained quickly. 

"I am aware of the laws and customs of our land, Counsel. I wrote many of them," Emira sharply silenced the man's explanation. 

'Never lecture someone in power about what they already know.' Noble hoped she would not make the same blunder. 

Counsel seemed duly chastised, bowing a second time. "Of course, Your Majesty. I meant no disrespect. I will wait outside..." 

"You will sit, as will the golden one. I have spoken." Emira snapped her fingers and another place setting was brought to the table. 

For Kosi, two large bowls were procured and immediately filled with raw meat and milk. Purring softly, the Symncus gratefully feasted. 

Noble and Counsel joined the Queen at the table: the former to the right and the latter to the left. Before the professor could think of anything to say, the first course was already placed in front of her. It hadn't even been part of what was already on the table. In fact, that food was quickly ushered away as soon as the soup was laid down. 

'Were those just appetizers?!' Noble's mouth hung slightly open. After facing so many hungry faces earlier that day, the thought of so much waste was beyond her comprehension.

The three humans ate in silence, each with their own thoughts. Emira took three sips before she was finished. Then the bowls were removed right as Noble placed another delicious spoonful in her mouth.

'I wasn't done!' she lamented. Her stomach rumbled and she sighed. 'I guess I will have to be quicker on the next course.'

However, as soon as the fruit was placed down, the Queen took one look at it and sent it away. "They are not yet ripe."

Noble took one of the red fruits and popped it furtively in her mouth. It was as sweet as it was succulent. 'If the Queen doesn't want them, I will take them all!' 

The next two courses yielded similar results. Emira took a bite or two and then the food was gone. It was no wonder the Queen was so thin. She hardly ate! 

When a delicious dish that tasted like whipped potatoes was whisked away, Noble released a heavy sigh. She envied Kosi. Not only had he been left alone to enjoy his meal, but the creature had also been able to splay out on the ground and snooze comfortably without being disturbed. 

Emira cut her eyes at the lady. "Is something bothering you?" 

"No, Your Majesty," Noble said quickly, her ears burning. When the Queen continued to gaze at her intently, she added. "I am just very hungry." 

"I suppose you must have worked up quite an appetite by gallivanting across the countryside in search of adventure." The monarch's blue eyes intensified. 

The room grew warmer. 

"I can explain..." Noble knew better than to deny the allegation. 

"I doubt that very much." Emira looked down her nose at her dinner guest. "Do you think I am a fool who doesn't know what you are up to?" 

"I would never think you are a fool!" The professor felt sweat form on her brow. There was no fire in the room, but the temperature continued to rise. 

"I moved you here to keep an eye on you. Most people would be willing to die to live in a palace such as this. And yet you leave your two protectors—who are supposed to be going with you everywhere–" The Queen gave Counsel a withering gaze, reminding him of his own words just a short while before. "–and defy my direct orders not to exit the city." 

"Forgive me," Noble wasn't sure what else to say. Out of self preservation, Noble tried to send some calm to the woman. It was not only, rejected, but Noble could feel it pushed away emphatically by some invisible force. 

The Queen's expression darkened. 

"You are restricted to the palace until the ceremony. You will be here to celebrate my hundred-year reign if it kills you." Emira shook her head. "No one told me having a niece would be so exhausting or I would have advised my brother against having children." 

The professor coughed. 'Did she say niece? Queen Emira...is my aunt?!' 

Suddenly things made a lot more sense. 

The lack of other guests... the missing dinner conversation...the strange tolerance the Queen had for Noble's unintentional impertinence by inviting two additional guests.

Lady Brenna was having dinner alone with the Queen not because it was some formal engagement, but because the young lady was family.

"I will try not to upset you before then," Noble promised.

"You will also be having dinner with me every night until then," Emira announced as if it were a royal decree. 

Who knows? Maybe it was. 

"As long as I can actually eat…" Noble realized her thought had been spoken aloud a second too late.

"And who is stopping you?" The Queen challenged.

Looking over Noble noticed Counsel wiping his forehead. The mundane servants along the wall looked close to passing out from the temperature.

"No one is stopping me except myself, Your Majesty," the professor lowered her head.

"Mhmm." Satisfied the Queen clapped her hands and the room cooled back to its normal state.

Relieved, the servants, who dared not come toward the source of the heat, rushed forward with a course of soft cheese, bread, and a cup of red wine.

"Only one cup?" the Queen looked at the servant with the silver tray. 

He faltered. "It is your special vintage." 

"And I will share it," Emira's eyes lit with a cold fury. "Serve that to Brenna and bring two more glasses." 

Noble had no desire to drink, but she did not want to upset the Queen again. So she allowed the goblet to be set next to her cup of water.

"Drink up. A little wine is good for the health." Emira snapped her fingers. The other two cups appeared a moment later.

Noble picked up her drink, ready to take a sip to satisfy her sovereign. The acrid smell made her nose tingle. 'How strong is this stuff?'

Holding her breath, Noble brought the cup to her mouth. Even before it touched her tongue, she could feel the icy cool of the liquid ready to burn her lips.

'A special vintage? It must be made specifically for the Queen's fiery personality…'

"I would like to propose a toast," Counsel stood a little too enthusiastically. He bumped the table, and his bulky Awakened body won against the strong wood.

The large piece of furniture hit Noble's lowered elbow, knocking her back in her chair. 

And sending the goblet crashing to the ground.

"A thousand apologies!" Counsel raced around the table to steady Noble's chair, which was still teetering on the edge of tipping. 

"It's fine. I'm fine." The professor said through gritted teeth. Her back and bottom stung from contact with the seat, but she was otherwise unharmed. 

The same could not be said for the wine.

Red liquid rained down. It poured out on the ground accompanied by the loud clang of the goblet on the stone. 

Woken from his nap, Kosi rose, stretched, and then lapped up the frosty wine with a happy sigh. No one dared to stop the large animal except Counsel, who tried to mop up as much of the spilled liquid as he could with a cloth. The Queen looked on the scene with indignation. 

"This is not the slave yards," Emira arched her brow. "We do not throw food or drink in the banquet hall."

Mortified, Counsel set down the cloth and returned to his seat without another word. 

Noble wanted to point out that it was an accident.

But she could sense that the Queen already held Noble responsible for everything that her trusted advisor did. "I prefer the most delicious water. Thank you for providing it," Noble answered instead.

"What is behind your ear? A new piece of jewelry?" Emira changed the subject, ignoring her niece's attempt to smooth things over.

Reaching up to her head, the professor felt her heart skip a beat. Half of [The Other's Voice] was still tucked snugly around her right ear! She had been using it to talk to Captain Styss when she was pulled into the Nightmare. Now half of the Memory was here while the other was lost in the waking world. What a strange thought!

"Do you like it, Your Majesty?" The professor deflected.

"I do not hate it." The Queen allowed another course to be set at their seats.

Thankfully this time she seemed less inclined to rip the plates away from her hungry diners.

Not that Noble noticed. She was too focused on the special jewelry behind her ear.

With all of her concentration, the professor sent a tentative message out into the world through the Memory.

'Can anybody hear me?'