“We have been compiling a report of our recommendations,” Kasper said, since it seemed clear that Lisbet was about to give us leave. “What would you like us to do with it?”
“I would like you to complete it. We will definitely be taking all your recommendations under advisement,” Lisbet said.
“But Nana, Mikko…” Linnea whined, impatient with all the talk not about her husband—which was understandable given her desperation.
“Linnea, my love, we have already gone over this many times.” Lisbet spoke sweetly, but strain was visible in her face—the tight smile, the irritation in her eyes. “The inquest will decide what happens. I know you love him, but you must wait—as I must, as the entire kingdom must—to find out the truth, and then you must learn to be satisfied with whatever that may be.”
“But this isn’t fair! It’s not right!” Linnea shouted with tears in her eyes, then turned to me. “Bryn! Tell her!”
At first, I said nothing, caught off guard at being put in such a position, but I finally came up with, “My Queen, you know my thoughts on this won’t affect the outcome.”
“She is right, Linnea,” Lisbet said. “You must learn to be patient.”
Linnea pushed back her platinum ringlets and tried to stay collected, but she’d only had the most tenuous grasp on composure all morning. It all became too much for her, and she burst out sobbing. Her grandmother reached out to comfort her, but Linnea pushed Lisbet off. Mumbling apologies, she ran into the adjoining bathroom and slammed the door shut behind her.
“I’m sorry for her outburst,” Lisbet said. “She’s still very young, and the past few weeks have been very hard on her.”
“No need for apologies,” I assured her. “But it sounds as if you’re saying our time here is done.”
Lisbet walked over to the bed and put on her suit jacket, a large sapphire brooch already pinned to the front. “I do think you’ve helped as much as you can.”
“What of the Queen’s safety? And your own?” I asked.
In the back of my mind was Konstantin’s warning that my life was in danger in Storvatten—assuming he had actually visited me in a lysa, and it wasn’t simply a stress dream. Either way, it didn’t matter. If I felt that Linnea wasn’t safe or that I had a job to do here, I would argue to stay.
“I am looking into it, off the radar of the guard, and I will get to the bottom of things. And I can assure you that I value Linnea’s life more than my own,” Lisbet told me emphatically. “Her safety will be my utmost priority.”
“Marksinna, I know how much you love your granddaughter, but with all due respect, the kingdom has already been falling down around you,” I said. “And I fear the both of you will continue to be in danger. At least as long as Bayle Lundeen is in charge.”
“Today, I will attend a meeting where the acting monarch is declared in Mikko’s absence,” Lisbet said. “I am going to do all I can to ensure that I get the position, and my very first act will be removing Bayle.” She stared down at me severely. “This kingdom will not fall apart as long as I’m around.”
I wanted to argue with her, but the truth was that Lisbet had far more power than I did. She was much better equipped to handle the heft of the Skojare problems than I was. By removing Cyrano Moen, and by convincing Lisbet to remove Bayle, I had done all I could to keep Linnea safe.
“I’m sorry I don’t have more time to talk to you, but as you can imagine, it’s a crazy time here in our kingdom,” Lisbet said. “Once you complete the report, deliver it to me. Then you are free to head back to Doldastam.”
THIRTY-TWO
valediction
In the week since Kasper and I had left, Doldastam had warmed up some, but it was still buried under snow, which was typical even for May. I’d gotten so used to looking out the windows of the Skojare palace and seeing the dark water surrounding us, it was a strange relief to see the overcast sky and snow-covered landscape.
After Marksinna Lisbet had told us our time was done, Kasper and I had spent the better part of the day perfecting our extensive list of recommendations. I wanted to be certain I wasn’t leaving Linnea defenseless, and when I handed the list to Lisbet, I reiterated that they could call upon us should they need anything again.
My goodbyes with Linnea had been short and bittersweet. She didn’t say much, instead preferring to sit with her head down and mumble her gratitude. I thought that would be it, but when I turned to go she lunged at me and hugged me fiercely as she cried against my shoulder.
“You mustn’t forget about me, Bryn,” she said between sobs.
I wasn’t sure what to do, so I awkwardly patted her back and said, “Of course I won’t.”
“And you will come back, right?” She let go of me and wiped her eyes, trying to collect herself again. “If I need you?”