My sister Elena.

If I was not wrong, that was an olive branch, as best Serena could extend it.

“Serena, we must—” I began.

She turned back to the view and stated, “I know she has named you queen. She told me.”

“And I know it is soon after she’s joined the veil, but perhaps, before feelings can dig in, we should talk about it.”

She again gave me her attention. “Why?”

I blinked at her. “Why?”

“It is her wish. And there is one thing I am certain you know about me. I can follow orders.”

“Are you disappointed?” I asked.

She shook her head. “No. I plan to sail to the Southlands. I liked the look of that warrior from there, and if there are more of them as such, they would be an appealing challenge to me, as both a warrior and a woman.”

“I, well…yes,” I stammered. “It is my understanding that they are all like that there.”

“Hmm,” she hummed, again looking away.

“There is much change in you,” I whispered.

“Yes,” she agreed.

I braved leaning an inch her way and saying under my breath, “Who are the gnomes?”

“They are my friends,” she told the view.

Friends?

“What about Darma, and Heloise and Genia?” I asked.

“They have sent me ravens. They have returned from Firenze to The Enchantments. I have ordered them to stay there. It still needs guarding and patrolling, especially on the Airenzian border.”

“Of course,” I muttered.

She looked at me. “If you wish, while this is happening, with your marriage, and the Beast, I will act in your stead in The Enchantments,” she offered.

I had intended to ask Lucinda to do that.

“Right,” she mumbled, reading my face.

“Serena—”

“Then I would wish to be at your side.”

My chin jerked in my neck at the shock of this.

She thought she read that too.

“As you do not wish that either, I will need your orders, my queen.”

“I will always be your sister,” I corrected her.

“Then I will need your orders, my sister.”

“I meant sister sister.”

“So did I.”

I could not continue to be startled by everything she said, thus I quickly moved beyond that one.

“Cassius fears there is going to be a war,” I informed her.

She nodded shortly. “There will be. They will not accept a Nadirii as their queen. Not without a fight.”

“Then if he and you are correct, we will need all the skilled warriors and experienced generals we can have.”

Serena did not move or speak.

I did.

“And when it is over, if you wish to travel to the Southlands, so be it. If that is what you want, I want it for you. But in the meantime, I will need your help. I will need your counsel. And I might continue to need your sword.”

“I have behaved—” she started softly.

But I couldn’t bear it.

I couldn’t bear my Serena soft.

She was the hard edge of stone breaking through my dirt.