“What do you think that was about?” Andreus asked. “Elder Ulrich isn’t the type to help others unless there is something in it for him.”
“I don’t know.” Carys shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. “But we must go inside and find out. I have a feeling Elder Ulrich is right. We don’t want to be late.”
They hurried inside and down the wide corridors that led to the Hall of Virtues. The corridors were brightly lit and strangely empty, but as they drew closer to the throne room Andreus noticed there were more guards stationed inside the castle than he remembered seeing for years.
They were almost to the Hall when Carys said, “Dreus, I need to collect myself before going in to deal with the Council.”
“Of course.” He stopped walking and put a hand on her shoulder. Under the cloak, he could feel his sister tremble. “Carys, are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She stepped away from him and nodded. “I just need a minute to settle myself . . . alone. I’ll meet you in the antechamber in a moment.”
Andreus studied her flushed face and thought about the ominous tone to Elder Ulrich’s words. “I’d rather not leave you by yourself.”
“You had no trouble leaving me alone two days ago.”
He frowned at the bitterness in the words. “Look, I told you—”
“A minute alone, Andreus,” she said, shoving her hands in the pockets of her cloak despite the warmth inside the castle. “You owe me that.”
“One minute,” he said, irritated. “I’ll be around the corner in case anything strange happens.”
“That’s fine.”
He strode down the corridor alone. As he was turning the corner that led to the Hall of Virtues, he glanced back at his sister, who had moved so she was now standing near the wall with her back to him. Carys lifted her arm. Her head tilted back and he knew exactly why she’d needed the moment.
He said nothing about the drug when she reappeared. They’d deal with that later. For now, he put his arm out for her to take and together they walked into the brightly lit throne room.
“Dreus, whatever they say or do, I want you to know one thing has not changed.” They walked the long length of the Hall toward the five members of the Council of Elders, who stood not far from the steps that led to the gold-and-sapphire throne. “We are a team. I promise to protect you as I always have.”
Andreus put his hand on hers. “And I you, to whatever degree I am capable.”
“Prince Andreus. Princess Carys.” Elder Jacobs said their names in the soft voice that used to annoy Andreus’s father. Father used to say Elder Jacobs reminded him of a snake that wasn’t poisonous enough to kill with one bite and instead had to sting its prey and wait around for hours, hoping another creature did not come along and claim the prize as its own. Watching the man move as though he was gliding across the floor confirmed that observation. Andreus vowed to keep his father’s words close as the man said, “The Council of Elders did not expect you at such a fraught time. Are you certain your mother is in good care? Perhaps you should see to her.”
“Our mother is tired, my lord,” Carys said in a steady voice. “She’s had a hard time sleeping since learning of the King and Prince Micah’s death.”
“Yes,” Andreus said. “The Queen will be rested and ready to rule in time for her coronation tomorrow.”
Elder Jacobs grinned. “The Council is glad to see the same affliction that struck your mother has not befallen either of you. And while we all wish for the Queen’s complete recovery, her words have presented us with a problem. Tomorrow’s coronation will not go forward. The Queen cannot rule Eden.”
“What?” Andreus asked as his sister’s fingers tightened on his arm.
“Elder Jacobs is right. By publicly denouncing the crown the Queen has legally removed herself from royal succession.” Elder Ulrich sighed and shook his head. “Your mother cannot take the throne.”
“The Queen was overwhelmed by her loss,” Andreus said quickly. “No one can hold her to what she said outside the castle walls.”
Andreus spun around as Chief Elder Cestrum and Elder Ulrich crossed the white stone floor with two pages behind them, each clutching books and scrolls.
“The Queen publicly renounced her claim to the throne,” Chief Elder Cestrum said. “Unfortunately, according to the laws of Eden—the laws your father, King Ulron, took an oath to uphold—we must hold your mother to her word to prevent the kingdom from faltering.”
His sister’s eyes narrowed at Elder Jacobs as she strode toward him. “Elder Jacobs, as I recall it was you who asked my mother the question about her intent. Was it your desire to push her, in such a fragile state, to forfeit her authority as Queen?”
Elder Jacobs was about to respond when Chief Elder Cestrum cut him off. “It matters not.” He looked at each of the other Elders before turning back to her. “We all heard your mother’s words.”
“Which were only said because Elder Jacobs pushed her into it,” Andreus snapped back.
“None of us could have seen this coming, but now that it has we are bound by our duty to deal with it under the laws of Eden.” Elder Cestrum looked at Andreus and then at Carys, then stepped in front of the other members of the Council of Elders. “The coldest months are almost upon us. A war is being fought and Eden has no ruler. We must see a monarch crowned as quickly as possible in order to safeguard the country and its citizens.”
Carys looked over at Andreus, then back at the Chief Elder. “My brother and I are ready to do whatever is necessary to see that Eden remains safe. It is our duty and our right.”
And something his sister never wanted. Neither had he. Not with the curse hanging over his head. But, if he must rule, perhaps he could do it alongside Carys. Perhaps, as always, they could share the burden.
“Sadly the Council of Elders has made a study of the laws of succession in recent days,” Elder Ulrich broke in. “It appears that the circumstances of your birth make it legally impossible for us to install either one of you on the throne.”
“That makes no sense.” Andreus looked at his sister, who was staring intently at Elder Ulrich, trying to hear what was unsaid. “Our blood is no less royal than Micah’s and he was the acknowledged heir to the throne. How is it that the Council of Elders believes I am less acceptable than my brother?”