“I’m going to fix that,” Raisa said to herself.

“Your Highness,” Lord Bayar said, with an indulgent smile, “with reference to the mercenary issue, perhaps it is wise to listen to your counselors. We are here to help, after all.”

“I know you are kindhearted, Your Highness,” Lord Hakkam said, patting Raisa’s hand. “But you are as yet unschooled in military matters. Although the mercenaries are expensive, it is dangerous to make so radical a change during this transition period. Above all, we want to keep you safe.” Hakkam served as her financial minister as well as chair of the Queen’s Council.

“The Guard keeps me safe, uncle,” Raisa said, firmly withdrawing her hand. “And the good will of my people, which I mean to earn.”

Amon Byrne cleared his throat. As Captain of the Queen’s Guard, he was an ex-officio member of the council, but he didn’t speak out often. “We use only native borns in the Queen’s Guard, and it has worked well for us. Until recently, our army was native born as well.”

“And we lost Queen Marianna despite her native-born Guard,” Lord Bayar said.

“Are you suggesting it was murder?” Byrne asked, looking the High Wizard in the eyes.

Bayar backed off. “I am only raising the possibility, nothing more,” he said. “I am saying I still have questions about how she died.”

“Really? I thought perhaps you had the answers,” Averill said.

I did too, Han thought. Why is Lord Bayar raising questions about Queen Marianna’s death when he’s likely the one who did her?

“That’s enough!” Raisa said. Into the silence that followed, she said, “Anyone who has solid information about my mother’s death should speak to Captain Byrne. We will not sling accusations here in this council.”

This is like a rival gang standoff, Han thought. With Raisa trying to be streetlord over all of them.

Raisa waited, and when nobody said anything, went on. “Regarding the reshaping of the army, I thank you for your advice, but I have made my decision. This is not an impulsive move. I have been looking at this issue for some time. I will rely on you, General Klemath, to provide proper training to our new recruits.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” General Klemath said, bowing his head. “As you wish. But with so many other pressing obligations, I hope you realize that it can’t be done overnight.”

This change will be so gradual as to be unnoticeable, Han thought. In a year, we’ll have no more than a handful of native borns in the army, and Klemath will still have his mercenaries.