As they advanced up the line, she watched the thick black trail of smoke drift long into the horizon instead of up into the ether, as if the Queen’s soul strained toward the ocean waves. By the time they reached Lina, her arm holding her torch aloft was shaking but her face was hard. She gave Carys the barest of acknowledgments, and then her brow dropped heavy over her eyes as she glared at Bri. A whole conversation seemed to flash between them as they stared at each other—Lina’s eyes had the same hard, pained look from the night before. The decisions of rulers are never easy.

Bri wished she hadn’t let Carys convince her to attend. Not paying her respects to the fallen Queen would be dishonorable, and she’d sworn to protect Lina, but showing up and laying leaves on the pyre of the Queen she was prophesied to usurp felt like an insult as well. There was no winning. With Delta hobbling off to the castle, Bri needed to stay here with Lina until she returned to her rooms, protected in the palace. Delta’s pleas to protect her cousin wouldn’t be in vain, even if Lina hated Bri for it, especially at that delicate moment.

Bri didn’t say anything as she lit her leaf, the papery golden palm catching fire instantly. Flames licked high into the air as she set it on top of the pile. The structural wood of the fire was now well-fed and the body of the Queen wrapped in white was invisible through the flames.

Carys and Bri retreated a few steps and studied the constellation of embers scattering toward the sky. Carys watched through watery eyes, and when she sniffed, Bri slung her arm around her friend and pulled her into a side hug. Carys knew the Western Court better than the rest of them. She’d probably visited Swifthill often as a child. Even if she hadn’t known the Queen well, the sight of the royal pyre, burning on the ledge of the steep cliffs, was enough to move even the darkest souls. Carys wrapped her arm around Bri’s back and gave her a tight squeeze then released her—a silent thanks.

The Princess finally stepped forward, placing her torch through the soaring flames to where her mother’s body would be. She took a few steps away from the fire, keeping her back to the rest of them, and just stared, motionless as the fire burned. Even from several paces away, the heat blanketed Bri’s skin. Lina must have been sweltering.