Serafina shivered at her uncle’s words.
Isabella leaned forward in her chair. “Desiderio sent a messenger with word that he’s seen nothing—no armies, no artillery, not so much as a single Ondalinian soldier. I hesitate to declare war based on such flimsy accusations and without convening the Council of the Six.”
Vallerio snorted. “You hesitate to declare war? You hesitate? Hesitate much longer, and the Council of Six will be a Council of Five!”
“I will not be pushed, Vallerio! I rule here. You would do well to remember that. I am not concerned with my life, but with the lives of my merfolk, many of which will be sacrificed if war breaks out!” Isabella shouted.
“When war breaks out!” Vallerio thundered back at her. He turned and smacked a large shell off a table in his anger. It shattered against a wall.
It was silent in the chamber. Isabella glared at Vallerio and Vallerio glared back.
Conte Bartolomeo, the oldest of Isabella’s advisers, rose from his chair. He’d been refereeing these shouting matches since Isabella and Vallerio were children. “If I may ask, Your Grace,” he said to Isabella, attempting to defuse the tension, “how are the preparations for the Dokimí progressing?”
“Very well,” Isabella replied curtly.
“And the songspell? Has the principessa mastered it?”
“Serafina will not let Miromara down.”
Bartolomeo smiled. “Is the principessa happy with the match? Is she in love with the crown prince? From what I understand, every female in Miromara is.”
“Love comes in time,” Isabella replied.
“For some. For others, it does not come at all,” Vallerio said brusquely.
Isabella’s face took on a rueful expression. “You should have married, brother. Years ago. You should have found yourself a wife.”
“I would have, if the one I wanted hadn’t been denied me. I hope Serafina finds happiness with the crown prince,” he said.
“I hope so too,” Isabella said. “And, more important, as a leader of her people.”
“It’s those very people you must think of now, Isabella. I beg you,” Vallerio said. The urgency had returned to his voice.
Serafina bit her lip. Though they fought constantly, her mother prized his advice above everyone else’s.
“What if I’m right about Ondalina?” he asked. “What if I’m right and you’re wrong?”
“Then the gods have mercy on us,” Isabella said. “Give me a few days, Vallerio. Please. We are a small realm, the smallest in all the waters. You know that. If we are to declare war, we must be sure of the Matalis.”
“Are we not sure of them? The Dokimí is tonight. When Serafina and Mahdi are united, their realms will be united. Their vows cannot be broken.”
“As I’m sure you recall, the betrothal negotiations with Bilaal were long and hard. I suspect Kolfinn may have been negotiating with him at the same time on behalf of his daughter,” Isabella said. “The Elder of Qin, too, for his granddaughter. Who knows what they offered him. Their ambassadors are here at court to witness the ceremony. For all I know, they’re still making offers. Until a thing is done, it is not done. I won’t rest easy until Sera and Mahdi have exchanged their vows.”
“And once they do, then you’ll declare war?”
“Only if by so doing, I can avoid it. If we declare war on Ondalina by ourselves, Kolfinn won’t so much as blink. If we do it with the Matalis’ support, he’ll turn tail.”
Serafina remembered her mother’s visit to her room earlier. Now it took on new meaning. That’s why she’d been so worried about her songspell, and why’d she’d said they desperately needed an alliance with Matali. They needed it to avoid a war with Ondalina. Or to win one.
Moments ago, Serafina had been desperate to see her mother. Now she was desperate to slip away without being seen.
Isabella worked tirelessly on behalf of her subjects, always putting their welfare ahead of her own, always stoically bearing the burdens and heartaches that came with wearing the crown. Sera could only imagine what her mother would have said if she’d barged into her chamber complaining that Mahdi had hurt her feelings.
She had to do it. She had to put her pain and loss aside and exchange vows with a merman she couldn’t even bear to look at, in order to save her people from a war. That’s what her mother would do, and that’s what she would do, too.
I always disappoint her, Serafina thought, but tonight I won’t. Tonight, I’ll make her proud.
“YOU’RE TUBE WORMS. Both of you. No, actually, tube worms doesn’t do you justice. Lumpsuckers would be better,” Neela hissed. “Jackwrasses. Mollusks. Total guppies.”
“Shh!” Empress Ahadi said. “Sit still and be quiet!”
Neela was quiet for all of two seconds, then she poked Mahdi in the back.
“You don’t deserve her. She’s way too good for you. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s a no-show. I wouldn’t get betrothed to you.”