More Decisions

How long had Emira been watching her? And why hadn't Noble sensed her approach? 

At home, Noble could feel her children coming from anywhere in the house. Yet somehow Her Majesty had evaded her. Was Noble so engrossed in her study that she had blocked out the world? 

It seemed so. 

And now the Queen was glaring at her for the offhanded remark. How was she supposed to know that the woman would be petty enough to write in a book? 

'Me and my big mouth...' Noble lamented. 

Standing, Noble dipped a deep curtsy. "Your Majesty! I had no idea it was your writing. Of course, you may do whatever you like in your library."

"Hm." The Queen's ire lessened slightly. She glanced down at the books. "What are you looking for?" 

Noble picked up one of the stories and held it up. "I want to learn more about the kingdom. I thought that the library might be a good place to study our history." 

Emira raised one eyebrow. "You have never shown any interest before." 

Forcing a smile, Noble lowered her eyes. "I have never been confined to the palace before. I thought I should make the best of the opportunity." 

"Hm," Emira hummed for the second time in as many minutes. "Well, then. That rubbish is not what you should be reading." She indicated the defaced volume still in front of Noble's seat. 

"Why not, if I may ask?" Noble exchanged the tome in her hand for the offending book. 

Emira's nose curled in disdain as a small fire lit in her eyes. "It is a work of fiction! The author claims the start of the war was at the beginning of my reign. That is the common belief. But that is only because people have short memories. The war against the corruption goes back much further than even my father's father's father could remember!"

She took the book from Noble. The tips of the Queen's fingers began to glow and the book smoked. A moment later the pages were barely ash in her hand. There had been no flame. 

"There. That is better." Emira pulled a cloth from somewhere in her gown and wiped off her hands. "Truly the easiest way to deal with a problem."

Emira gave a pointed look toward the professor, sending a chill down the woman's spine. 

 "It is quite effective," Noble agreed, trying to hide her look of shock.

"Here you are, Your Majesty!" The head librarian entered and bowed. "My assistant said you were looking for me." 

"Yes, Drune." From inside her wide sleeve, Emira pulled two journals. "These are full. Please place them with the others. Have new ones delivered to my suite by this evening." 

"Of course, Your Majesty. Right away." Drune bowed away with the books in hand. 

"You write?" Noble thought that the lettering matched the handwriting she had seen before. 

"I record," Emira responded icily. "As should you. Unless you trust Counsel for that as well. Where are your protectors?" 

"They went to fetch food." Noble smiled. "They will be right back."

"And why didn't they just ask for a servant to complete the task?" The red-haired woman tilted her chin up defiantly. 

 Noble nodded quickly. "That is a very good question. We are not used to having the castle staff at our disposal. I will be more mindful next time." 

The Queen clicked her tongue and walked around the table. Noble became suddenly nervous. The tome she had held up was a generic history, but others spoke more specifically about the Tyrant and the war. 

"What were you looking for again?" Emira leaned down to study the table. Her aura became oppressive, much more than an Awakened should possess.

Holding power for a hundred years had certainly given her a superior air, but this was something more. Much more. 

Noble's eyes began to swirl. Sweat formed on her brow. It was getting very hot in the room.

"I was looking for anything and everything to do with the kingdom," she answered. 

"Everything, hm?" Emira picked up one of the books on the table.

It was one that she and Counsel had yet to search. The yellow cover was old and dogeared. The Queen tucked it into her sleeve where the journals had been.

The full force of her gaze fell on her niece. Emira's voice was eerily quiet.

"There are things better left buried, niece. Some knowledge should be forgotten. Do not meddle in things beyond your understanding. Was Counsel behind this sudden thirst for knowledge?" The Queen barely tolerated saying the man's name.

Noble's eyes opened wide. "What? No! The idea was completely mine."

The Queen tucked a ruby strand behind her ear with a tolerant smile. "Do you know the penalty for lying to me?" 

"Yes." 'I have a decent idea.' Noble pressed her lips together.

If General Regel, who had argued with her honestly, was—if not killed outright— at least left to die by the Queen's willful neglect, then how much more would she be opposed to someone trying to deceive her?

"I do not tolerate dishonesty. I ask you again. Whose idea was it to come and read history in the library?" The Queen questioned with an unreadable expression. Her emotions were a mix of anger, disdain, fear, hope, and something Noble could not quite identify. 

The professor swallowed unconsciously. "It was mine, Your Majesty."

The Queen's countenance darkened. For a moment, Noble felt she might have to fight Emira then and there. Something told the professor that she would come out on the losing end of that battle.

Noble took a step back, "It was just some innocent research."

Just then a happy whistle drew both women's attention.

Lord Alyx came waltzing in looking as handsome and obnoxious as the night before. But Noble was glad to see him nonetheless. His entrance allowed her to move out of reach of the Queen.

Noble moved toward him and dipped her head. "Lord Alyx! What a pleasant surprise."

"Lady Brenna," the gentleman bowed over her hand. He was more subdued, probably because he hadn't been drinking.

"Alyx," Emira allowed him to approach. "I did not think we had any business today."

"I was not here to see you but to get a royal record of our lineage for my father." Alyx flashed a brilliant smile.

"What a coincidence! I was just telling Her Majesty that I was trying to learn more about our kingdom's history. Perhaps you can share the record with me before you leave." Noble nodded seriously. 

"I would be honored," Alyx's smile was practically beaming.

Emira looked between them and her face changed slightly. "Alyx, perhaps you can talk some sense into her. She does not abide the words of her Queen."

"Anything for you, Your Majesty," Alyx seemed a little too pleased by the prospect. "I shall do my best."

"Make the right decision, Brenna." Emira gave the other woman a significant look.

'Great, more decisions.' Noble's stomach clenched. "I will do my best."

"Good. Otherwise…"

Emira didn't finish her thought. She didn't need to. The amount of hate pulsing from the Queen was suffocating.

The only thing worse than experiencing the monarch's anger was the moment she departed.

And Noble was left in the company of Lord Alyx…alone.