But her sisters were right there beside her. Across the rooftop, she saw all the nobles she’d met over the past couple of weeks, whose concerns she’d listened to and handled as best she could. Even the sight of Lord Rueno and Ambassador Ghoush reassured her. She’d faced their ire in council meetings and lived.

She could handle this.

Akeylah drew the bloodletter across her arm. The tithe overwhelmed her, as it always did when the Arts hit her bloodstream, but only for an instant. Find the truth. She focused on that command.

When she opened her eyes, a faint steam appeared in the air around her body.

Every eye on the rooftop fixed on her. The whole kingdom held its breath.

“D’Andros Akeylah, daughter of King D’Daryn Andros, in sight of the gods and all those gathered here tonight, make your oath to this kingdom,” the acolyte said.

She gritted her teeth against the heat in her veins. Took a slow, steadying breath.

“I, D’Andros Akeylah, do hereby accept this throne, and all the rights and responsibilities that come with doing so. I swear to govern to the best of my abilities, to exercise wisdom, justice, and above all, mercy, in every decision I make.”

As she spoke, her nerves faded. Her voice grew steadier. Stronger.

She raised her head high and smiled at everyone in turn, from the servants up to the highest nobles. “I pledge my life to each of you. I am your servant, and I will do everything in my power to create a brighter future for you all.”

The heat of the blood oath made sweat prick her brow, but it didn’t even bother her now.

“Today, I humbly accept the title of Queen of the Reaches. I pledge to fairly govern the Central Reach, Kolonya, as well as the Eastern Reach, my homeland, Tarik.” She noticed a murmur pass across the rooftop at the name. Tarik was a forbidden word. Banned ever since the country had been renamed the Eastern Reach.

This was the first line they’d rewritten, a departure from the oaths her father, and his father, and every king and queen before, had spoken.

But she wasn’t finished.

“I promise to protect the Southern Reach, once known as Ananses. I will guard the Northern Reach, formerly the country of Harenae; and the Western Reach, which was founded as Oonkip. So, too, will I nurture and aid the Sixth Reach, the Traveling Reach.”

Whispers shot through the crowd. Jaws dropped. None of those country names had been spoken at court in centuries. Most people wouldn’t even dare whisper them at home.

Now the queen herself spoke them aloud.