Raisa smiled to herself. Amon was speaking up more in these conferences, growing into the counselor role his father had held. He’d come a long way from the solemn, quiet boy who’d returned from Oden’s Ford.

His voice broke into Raisa’s thoughts. “Your Majesty. I think it’s time we discussed evacuating you to a safer place—if that’s still possible.”

Raisa stiffened. Amon had raised this subject in private two nights before, and hadn’t liked her answer. Now he was bringing it up in public, hoping to find allies on the council. He was becoming downright devious, for a Byrne.

She brought her chin up. “You are suggesting that I run away?”

“I prefer to call it a strategic retreat, Your Majesty,” Amon said. He was Your Majestying her, meaning he was trying to keep emotion out of the conversation. But she noticed he was clenching and unclenching his right fist. “Nightwalker believes there is still time to get you and Mellony through the lines via the river. Once in the mountains, you can take refuge with Lord Averill at Demonai Camp and establish your government there. That’s the most impregnable place in the Fells. If Montaigne reaches those sanctuaries, it’s all over anyway. But even if that happens, you could escape via Westgate and the Fens.”

Nightwalker came and knelt next to Raisa’s chair, looking into her eyes. “Please consider leaving the city before the southerners arrive, Your Majesty,” he said. “I have shadowcloaks that will conceal us. I promise that this seeming exile is only temporary. We will return you to the throne, I swear it. The flatlanders will regret they ever set foot here.”

Raisa stood and walked to the window, leaning on the sill, trying to formulate an acceptable answer. She couldn’t say, I don’t want to be under the control of the Demonai. They were her family, after all.

She turned around, leaning back against the sill. “And what would you be doing in the meantime, Captain Byrne?” she asked. She could Captain to his Your Majesty any time.

Amon shifted his shoulders. “I would do what was best for queen and queendom,” he said. “Which is staying here to defend Fellsmarch Castle. If I come with you, it’s too likely we’ll be seen. We may still prevail in the end. But if you wait until Montaigne arrives, it will be more difficult to leave if you change your mind.”

“What happens to the rest of us, then, when King Gerard realizes that the queen has fled?” Hakkam protested.

“Lord Hakkam is right,” Raisa said, astounded to be allied with him. “I ran away before, and the Fells is still paying a price for it. How can I expect my people to suffer in my stead?”