Chapter 22

A couple of days after I’d first shown Aislin and Sami around the wall, I was taken by surprise when I realised that I was looking forward to the day. I couldn’t remember the last time I did. Even though we hadn’t talked much, and I wondered if they thought I was awkward, I still enjoyed it. It had been such a long time since I had done anything other than attend meetings with Mother, and I only hope they enjoyed it too, and didn’t think they would be better off in the kitchen.

I walked over to Mother’s chamber, where our usual morning discussion would take place. Martha was already there, and I had barely sat down when Mother said,

“So you are socialising with the enemy now?”

I glanced at Martha. She must have told her.

“I-I am. I believe I can…”

“And do you not consider the effects it can have on our Kingdom?”, Mother interrupted. “She might be plotting now, under our noses, to bring their Dragon here and finish what it couldn’t do with your Father.”

I stared at the ground. I didn’t think Mother was right. Sami hadn’t spoken much, but she didn’t seem to be someone who was trying to invade our country. In any case, something must have happened because a royal guard would never have left their home to spy on another Nation. But I knew Mother would never listen to it.

“I believe we can…”

She interrupted me once again.

“I do not care for what you believe. She is the enemy, we cannot afford to give her any ground.”

Maybe Mother’s training had borne fruit after all, because I heard myself take a deep breath and say,

“These are the actions I would have taken if I were High Lady. We can learn from her. Knowledge and understanding are never wasted.”

Silence fell over the room. It was the first time I’d ever stood up to her. But she did always ask me what I would do when I became High Lady, and despite it being Martha’s suggestion, I believed it was the right decision. Mother stared at me, and I straightened my tunic and said,

“What did you have to bring for this morning’s discussion?”

She seemed too stunned to speak, and it was Martha who broke the silence.

“We have delegates….”

The rest of the meeting passed, going through the points, and when we were done, I rose and left without another word. I felt my chest fluttering. What had I done? I’d never thought I’d dare to stand up to Mother, but being given the reins to act had somehow given me the courage.