THANKFULLY, THE AWKWARD silence didn’t last long as the king clapped his hands suddenly in excitement. Heads turned to the left to see what Bert assumed was the new warship promised. Bert’s position with the servants meant he would have to wait quite a while for the ship to be visible to him.

  “It is quite a strange looking vessel, Rowan,” Cat began. “Looks like a two-sailed cog from this distance. Is it a warship or meant to haul wheat?”

  Bert smiled to himself as he saw Grahame Eel break his perfect stillness for a moment. The man seemed to bite his tongue as Cat insulted the vessel.

  “Oh, not at all!” the king laughed. “It’s a ship Mr. Eel here has designed to protect us against dragon attack. The contraption in the middle there can shoot a large arrow as far as the eye can see! And the pumps on the side…” he was cut off.

  “Don’t bore the princess with all the details, my lord,” Eel broke in. “Surely the Fleetmaster can take her on a ride tomorrow when the queen blesses the vessel.”

  The king smiled widely. “A brilliant idea!” He looked to Cat for confirmation.

  She nodded quickly, but it was clear to Bert she had hoped to get more information freely. “Are you particularly afraid of a dragon attack here by the sea?” she asked quickly.

  “Oh, I suppose not…” the king replied, looking at his wife to take over. When she didn’t he continued. “We were tasked to help build these vessels for the capital. Elric here won’t even actually command but one of the ships once they’re complete.”

  Cat nodded and said nothing.

  The mood of the group seemed to sour. To Bert, it seemed as if everyone was out of sorts. The king wanted a celebration for the new ship, hoping the people behind them would roar and cheer in amazement. The queen was cold and distant, saying nothing. It was clear the court behind them followed her lead. Cat was asking probing questions that angered Grahame Eel and Elric seemed to seethe in quiet frustration at having his role of Fleetmaster stripped for five of the six ships. It was a strange deal Keelwick had made.

  “Do you think…” Cat began, but stopped when the queen finally turned to her. Rather than seem upset, Bert noticed Cat cracking a smile at the corner of her mouth. She had gotten what she wanted somehow from the queen.

  “Oh, shall we stop with the games, Catrin?” she began, rolling her eyes. “I’ve become too old and jaded for this in my own castle. You were always a much better card player than Darian. Shall we show our hands now and get to the next stage of the game?”

  “Certainly, Mother.” The reply earned a smirk from Queen Aldera, as if she already understood more about Cat and Darian’s potential fracture than she was letting on.

  “Well, Daughter, we have enough of the court of Keelwick here to reach consensus, assuming that’s our goal. I have paid as much attention to the rumors as anyone, and I’d prefer to set them straight before we continue. If you can be frank with me, the king and I will set the role of Keelwick for what comes next.”

  Bert smiled as Grahame Eel looked shocked, his eyes going wide. He stepped off to the side slowly, hoping no one would notice. Everyone else was looking at the queen and Cat. Many exchanged glances with others in their seats, but said nothing. Not even a whisper.

  “I have nothing to hide,” Cat replied simply.

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  “Where is my son?”

  As promised, Cat answered quickly and honestly. “He remains at Wyrmgate, with my father and Garrick Crowe.”

  At this, the court gasped.

  The queen gave them a quick look before asking her next question. “Did you fight with or against the people from the north and their dragons outside of Wyrmgate?”

  “Ah, one for me first,” Cat replied, earning a nod from the queen. “Who told you to build these ships and what price did they pay?”

  “Grahame Eel came many moons back,” the queen began. “The same time as your Garrick Crowe, I imagine. Each of our communities, it seems, received an…emissary from the church. They work under the high king’s orders, but not his direct supervision, it seems.”

  Cat nodded and moved to the question the queen had asked. “I fought with the Wyrm People from the north against Garrick Crowe, but for Wyrmgate. Your son fought with us.”

  Bert was again amazed at the control the queen had over her people. He saw wide eyes and exchanged glances, but didn’t hear a peep.

  “I wish he was here to explain his thinking,” the queen said. “Was it love for you that drove him or a desire to do what is just? Or was he just itching to fight and would go on whatever side would have him?”

  “What do you think of this plan to take war to the dragons who have held their end of the peace for as long as anyone can remember?” Cat countered without answering.

  The queen finally smiled fully. “I forget you are more than you look at times,” she said. “Not one to be played with. Fierce.” She nodded, considering what to say.

  Cat waited, then spoke when it was clear the queen wasn’t going to go question for question anymore. She turned slightly, addressing the court along with the queen and king. “Darian did what he thought was just. Garrick Crowe acted on his own, forcing the people of Wyrmgate to an unneeded war with the dragons. I went north looking for answers and instead found allies. Thousands of people live there in harmony with the dragons, wanting nothing but to keep the peace as it has been for hundreds of years. They have no desire to take our lands or harm our people. However, just as we would do in their position, they will fight back when pushed. Crowe sent poisoned food and traps to their land. Others in his group used a drug to control one of their communities and steal their resources for some dark purpose. These men are not interested in helping us, they are interested in starting a war for their own gain. I understand the fear one can feel when forced to act in a way they don’t wish. I will never forgive myself for allowing Garrick Crowe to corrupt my grandfather and take control of the people that were my responsibility as a Wyrmblessed. So, yes, we fought Crowe, and we won!”

  Someone in the crowd actually clapped briefly at this before earning a glare from the queen.

  “We sent that rat running with his tail between his legs,” Cat smiled at the memory. “Then we went to Wyrmgate, and the Wyrm People returned home as promised. As I told you, they only want to be left in peace, not take what is ours. My father, Leoric, returned with Crowe and took control of Wyrmgate once more. Whatever is just and right, I will not fight my father. The crown is his by rights.”

  King Rowan took both Cat’s hands at this, and seemed to be crying. “Oh, Catrin! What a decision to make!”

  “There was no choice to be made, gentle king,” she continued. “But, be clear! I am not done. My mission is still to bring about peace. I have no doubt I will convince my father to join our just cause in time. I just need to get to him without Crowe bleating in his ear. I know the good people of Wyrmgate are with me, as your son be when I can speak to him once more. I have the backing of the Wyrm People who right now are prepared to do what it takes to protect their dragons and their land. I hope the people of Keelwick will join us, and the cities and towns all over. I hope to raise enough allies that the high king himself must take notice and tell us all what exactly is going on in our own country. Why, in the name of all that is scared, would we possibly want to war with dragons? Why do we allow dark men to enter our communities and take over leadership? Why do we let them waste our resources building weapons of war? Even here, I see they work your good people to illness building these ships at all hours of the day and night, not even reveling for Preserve Day.” She raised her hands at her side. “Why any of this madness?” She was practically shouting it. She looked to the queen, panting with exhaustion. “Why?” she finished quietly.

  The queen raised her head high and simply stared at Catrin. Bert watched as Grahame Eel had gotten as far from the group as possible while still being able to hear the conversation. No one else noticed. All eyes were on the two women.

  The queen began to nod slowly. “Why indeed?” she said quietly.