Instead, he murmured, “Come, I have a feeling there is much you wish to share with me.”

Tedrey went to his friend.

For he was right.

74

The New Advisor

Queen Mercy

The Queen’s Solar, Birchlire Castle, Notting Thicket

WODELL

Mercy was standing at the window, looking down from the great height of her solar at Notting Thicket.

She had traveled widely with her husband, but Melisse had been correct those many weeks ago.

Her city was the most beautiful of all.

By far.

The Great Wohd River and the delicate River Fae meeting under that very castle—a grand, turreted bridge spanning the junction—was the magnificent focal point to a rich abundance of charm and even whimsy.

The expansive, regal castle rising upon its hill in the center of the capital was the heart. Its many high spires and towers reaching to the skies. Its arched windows, carved stone, bold balconies, regal entries and elegant fancies, all of which climbed high and spread wide, was in and of itself something out of a fantasy.

Then there was the city with its cobbled streets, mellow-stoned buildings and moss-covered tiled roofs spread out over gently rolling rises or hugging the shores of the rivers.

And beyond that, spreading as far as the eye could see, vast forests now in a riot of autumn color mixed with fields of brilliant green and cut by the calmly flowing rivers that ran through the city.

It was, all of it, every inch, not just the Thicket, but all of it—from the cliffs at the Seil Sea to the north, to the border with Firenze in the south, to the beaches of the Triton Sea to the west, to the border with Airen to the east— property of the king. And it had been, by royal edict, after centuries ago, Wilmer’s many-times great grandfather battled his two brothers and two cousins in the Quinate War.

And won.

Now, it would be her son’s.

“My queen.”

She turned at the deep voice and saw Bram at the door with Wallace.

Her son’s lieutenants were all nearly as handsome as True.

Bram was tall, quite muscular and dark-headed.

Wallace had dark blond hair, was shorter, stockier, but no less appealing of visage.

If she could have hand selected her son’s men, she would have.

True would never allow that.

However, in the end, it didn’t matter.

She would have selected the men he had.

In fact, she had considered these very choices indication that not only had she taught him well, he had learned well.

Although, Wallace seemed a little bedraggled at the present.

Then again, he’d been traveling.

“Come,” she invited.

They moved in and her gaze remained fixed on Wallace as they did.

He bowed when he arrived, straightened and announced, “I rode ahead to share the news in order that you could be prepared. True, Farah and their party are an hour out of the Thicket.”