“A toast to Murreneir and the King and Queen of the Northern Court.” She lifted her goblet, her voice easily carrying over the cheers. Despite her drunken movements, she spoke with the clear, lyrical tone of the royalty.

Bri cocked her head at the Queen as she lifted her cigarette to her lips and puffed on it. Sickly white smoke rose into the air all around her and her eyelids drooped further. Bri’s stomach turned, thinking of the many nights in Saxbridge with Hale smoking the mind-altering herb that was so common in the South.

“A new age is dawning in Okrith.” Queen Emberspear braced her hand on the table to keep from tipping over and Neelo shrunk an inch further in their chair, not looking up from their book. “I knew all of your parents.” She glanced down the table, eyeing Remy, Hale, Rua, Renwick, and Lina in turn. Her gaze lingered on Lina, a flash of sorrow on her face. “And one by one, I’ve watched them fall.”

The crowd murmured, whispers skittering through the vast hall. As the voices trailed off, the Queen spoke again.

“I have decided it is time to step down and let my child take their rightful throne,” she said, her voice rising to a shout to be heard over the frantic murmurs and whispered gossip. “But my last act as Queen will be to see that the Heir of Saxbridge doesn’t have to rule alone.”

Neelo’s shoulders tensed. Their eyes stopped scanning the letters on the page. It was the only indication of surprise that they gave.

“This room is filled with the best stock in all of Okrith,” Queen Emberspear called out to the jeering crowd as if she were selecting a new horse. Remy and Hale exchanged worried glances, Rua and Renwick doing the same. “A duel! Any contender who wishes to compete for my child’s hand, step forward now.”

Casting wide-eyed looks down the table, the friends all stared at each other with worried, bemused expressions, even as the crowd laughed and applauded at the Queen’s antics. What was she doing?

Carys leaned into Neelo, muttering, “Should we stop her?”

“That’ll only make it worse,” Neelo whispered back, their lips barely moving. “This isn’t the first time she’s done this. Just let her play her game, and I’ll shoot down whoever she picks later.”

Carys blinked at Neelo for a moment before bobbing her head. How many times had the Queen tried to sell off their hand in marriage? How many drunken bets or misguided games had almost cost Neelo their future?

A few cheers rang out as one by one people began stepping out onto the open dance floor and bowing to the Queen. Bri glanced to Talhan on her right, his face an unseemly shade of scarlet as he clenched his napkin in his hand.