imagine what it was like to be Corrin right now. The thought sent fear through her entire body. One day would her kingdom be like Wakefin? Would war come to her doorstep? Would Queen Kadia bring her dark soldiers through the other kingdoms and ravage her own? She shivered in the cold night air. “If I were him it would break my heart.”
CHAPTER 5
“W ord has arrived, Lady Queen.” Toma handed her a letter. The red Calisan seal was unbroken.
“Thank you, Toma,” Haven said, graciously accepting it.
The young queen sat in her study with her many advisers. Several days after the secret meeting, it was back to paperwork for her. The hospitals seemed to need less and less of her help, which she appreciated, but secretly wished to do again. Unfortunately, there was no injury she could feign that would take her there. Breaking the seal, Haven opened the note and read on. The letter was very brief, but it held only good news. Such good news filled her with hope.
“Dessa has been retaken,” Haven exhaled loudly.
Several sets of eyes rose from their work, smiles evident on their faces.
“That is wonderful news, Lady Queen,” Toma exclaimed, standing from his desk. “Does Evander mention the casualties?”
Haven nodded. “Next to none.”
“Brilliant! I’m sure a great celebration will be held in Wakefin tonight.”
“I’m sure it will,” Haven smiled.
It had been so long since she’d heard good news in this war. Person after person had been taken from her, so having such low casualties seemed like a great blessing. It seemed almost difficult to believe, so much so that Haven found herself in deep internal conflict over what to do next. With Wakefin back in the hands of Corrin, it meant perhaps, Corrin’s great scheme against Dagan’s capital was warranted. She could hardly imagine sending in her own soldiers, but this could be the push for Eris or Calisa to lend their aid. Perhaps this war would be over sooner than she had hoped. If only things had gone quite so well when her family was still alive.
Rereading the message, Haven thought harder about Evander’s words. There were reported to be only about a dozen casualties, even though hundreds of soldiers had invaded Dessa to retake it. Surely, there should have been more deaths. Worry creased her brow. The more she thought of it, the less sense it made. If Kadia wanted to take Dessa so badly, surely she would have guarded it better than this. From the sounds of things, there may have only been fifty to a hundred men guarding the capital city. Though this was good news, Haven found it difficult to accept. In the past, her worrisome nature had always bothered her, but trusting her instincts had always been advantageous. The bad feeling that rose inside her hadn’t yet left. She had no way to explain this to Toma, but suddenly she wished for the company of her guard friends.
“What is it, My Queen?” Toma asked. “You look troubled.”
“It is nothing, Toma,” she said quickly.
“You don’t seem quite as pleased by this news as a moment ago.”
Haven said nothing, only stared at the letter. She knew what she had to do. Turning to Malka, who guarded the door today, she locked eyes. The girls had known each other for so long it was obvious when something was amiss. With this simple look, Malka understood and nodded. Haven needed out of this room now .
“I’m going to take a walk, Toma,” Haven said, rising from her seat.
Her advisers rose out of respect, but she quickly motioned them back to work.
“Can I help, Lady Queen?” Always the empathetic one, Toma sensed her unease. He would be good to speak with in most cases, but in this she feared he would find her paranoid. She needed reassurance from her friends before she brought such matters to her most trusted adviser.
“Don’t worry, Toma. It is nothing,” she said, smiling to reassure him. “I will speak with you later.”
Toma nodded and Haven took her leave. Malka led the way and
CHAPTER 5
“W ord has arrived, Lady Queen.” Toma handed her a letter. The red Calisan seal was unbroken.
“Thank you, Toma,” Haven said, graciously accepting it.
The young queen sat in her study with her many advisers. Several days after the secret meeting, it was back to paperwork for her. The hospitals seemed to need less and less of her help, which she appreciated, but secretly wished to do again. Unfortunately, there was no injury she could feign that would take her there. Breaking the seal, Haven opened the note and read on. The letter was very brief, but it held only good news. Such good news filled her with hope.
“Dessa has been retaken,” Haven exhaled loudly.
Several sets of eyes rose from their work, smiles evident on their faces.
“That is wonderful news, Lady Queen,” Toma exclaimed, standing from his desk. “Does Evander mention the casualties?”
Haven nodded. “Next to none.”
“Brilliant! I’m sure a great celebration will be held in Wakefin tonight.”
“I’m sure it will,” Haven smiled.
It had been so long since she’d heard good news in this war. Person after person had been taken from her, so having such low casualties seemed like a great blessing. It seemed almost difficult to believe, so much so that Haven found herself in deep internal conflict over what to do next. With Wakefin back in the hands of Corrin, it meant perhaps, Corrin’s great scheme against Dagan’s capital was warranted. She could hardly imagine sending in her own soldiers, but this could be the push for Eris or Calisa to lend their aid. Perhaps this war would be over sooner than she had hoped. If only things had gone quite so well when her family was still alive.
Rereading the message, Haven thought harder about Evander’s words. There were reported to be only about a dozen casualties, even though hundreds of soldiers had invaded Dessa to retake it. Surely, there should have been more deaths. Worry creased her brow. The more she thought of it, the less sense it made. If Kadia wanted to take Dessa so badly, surely she would have guarded it better than this. From the sounds of things, there may have only been fifty to a hundred men guarding the capital city. Though this was good news, Haven found it difficult to accept. In the past, her worrisome nature had always bothered her, but trusting her instincts had always been advantageous. The bad feeling that rose inside her hadn’t yet left. She had no way to explain this to Toma, but suddenly she wished for the company of her guard friends.
“What is it, My Queen?” Toma asked. “You look troubled.”
“It is nothing, Toma,” she said quickly.
“You don’t seem quite as pleased by this news as a moment ago.”
Haven said nothing, only stared at the letter. She knew what she had to do. Turning to Malka, who guarded the door today, she locked eyes. The girls had known each other for so long it was obvious when something was amiss. With this simple look, Malka understood and nodded. Haven needed out of this room now .
“I’m going to take a walk, Toma,” Haven said, rising from her seat.
Her advisers rose out of respect, but she quickly motioned them back to work.
“Can I help, Lady Queen?” Always the empathetic one, Toma sensed her unease. He would be good to speak with in most cases, but in this she feared he would find her paranoid. She needed reassurance from her friends before she brought such matters to her most trusted adviser.
“Don’t worry, Toma. It is nothing,” she said, smiling to reassure him. “I will speak with you later.”
Toma nodded and Haven took her leave. Malka led the way and
Similar Books
