The Queen's Tower

Eddy was only 5 years old, but Edward still insisted on taking him to court every day, seating him between the two of us to watch the proceedings so that he could learn how he would one day rule Tordi. I knew he didn’t pay attention, that he just sat there looking at the wall above the petitioners’ heads, counting down the minutes until he could leave, but I never argued with my husband on that matter. I wanted to keep him where I could see him.

But on that one day, Eddy somehow managed to sneak out in the middle of it, in front of all those courtiers crowded together in that throne room. Perhaps they all just assumed that Edward had allowed him to leave. My cousin, Lady Philema, would have noticed and said something, but I had sent her to the City to see if she could hear any rumors about an attack on the City by the rebels. So I wasn’t sure when exactly he had left, or how long he had been gone, when I glanced over and saw his seat was empty.

I leaned over and whispered in Edward’s ear, and he looked over and saw it too. He frowned, more annoyed than worried. “Aron, go find the prince and bring him back here.”

Aron was Marcon, one of Edward’s men. In this matter that made him more trustworthy than one of the native Tordians, who had served my father before me and called me a traitor behind my back. Or the False Queen- that was what the rebels called me. They hated me more than Edward, the foreign invader from the North.

Aron rolled his eyes as he walked out of the room, off to do a task a nursemaid would be better suited for, and I turned back to the petitioners, trying to focus on what they were saying. I kept my face smooth, the way I had learned to when I was very young at my father’s court. But I couldn’t shake the growing sense of unease. I wished Philema was here- then I could send her to go look for Eddy. 

When I had gone to Edward’s camp that winter night, sneaking through the passageway under the stairs, barely feeling the freezing cold, he had promised me that when I gave him the City, we would rule it together, as equals. I had had no way to hold him to any of his promises, but he had kept them all, in his twisted way. On paper, my word carried the same weight as his. In practice, he had an entire army that was loyal to him and I had almost no one.

If I left now, I doubted I would miss much- it was a slow day at court- but then everyone would know that I had walked away from actually ruling the City to go chasing after a child. My father’s voice echoed in my mind- A strong male heir, a soldier, and I took a deep breath. When I let his ghost get in my head, I usually did something stupid.

I stood, giving the petitioners a practiced smile. “I need to do something, you can continue without me.” I couldn’t imagine it would take me that long to find Eddy.

Every day after I finished holding Court, I would bring Eddy to the Queen’s Tower, so I went to check there first. The highest tower in the castle, every time I had to go back to my apartment I had to climb flight after flight of steps for what felt like forever. I had heard that the first Harold had built it for his wife, Rosalba, out of love for her, but it wasn’t a very good gift, and not just because of the climb. Though the actual apartments were luxurious and the view beautiful, there was only one way to ever get in and out. That combined with the unpleasant fates of some of the tower’s previous occupants meant that I had never felt particularly comfortable living there- but it was the Queen’s Tower, and I was the Queen.

During this time of the day, there was only ever one person in the Queen’s Tower- my stepmother, my lady-in-waiting, my prisoner, Rachel. But when I finally came into the living room, it was empty. I checked the bedroom, also no sign of her. Now beginning to panic, I climbed back downstairs and saw that, despite the pouring rain, the door leading out to the balcony was open.

The already tall tower was on the part of the castle next to a cliff overlooking the ocean, which made for an intimidating view even when the weather was dry. Now, the rain coming down made it hard to find the difference between the sea and the sky. Rachel was standing there, holding Eddy in her arms, so that the safety railing only came up to about his hips.

My stomach dropped. “What are you doing here?” I asked Eddy, trying to sound calm. “You’re supposed to be at court.”

Rachel turned, which made me feel a little better- now she was between Eddy and the edge. “I don’t like Court,” Eddy said, scowling, big drops of water running from his hair down his little face.

“I know. But you need to learn.” Lightning flashed above us. “And it’s not safe to be on the balcony in a storm like this.”

Rachel watched me for a few moments, then put Eddy down on the stone floor of the balcony. I let out a breath before I could stop myself. “Go inside, I’ll come in to take you back in a minute.”

“But-”

“Now.”

Eddy turned, and scampered back into the living room. I closed the door behind him, and turned back to Rachel.

“Are you sure you want to be out here in such a dangerous storm, your majesty?” Rachel asked.

“How long has he been here?” I asked.

“I have difficulty keeping track of time these days, I’m afraid I can’t tell you.”

“Next time he comes, summon a servant to take him back to Court.”

“Must I?” she sighed. “He seems so lonely. Does he have any friends his age?”

The words struck a nerve. Did I have any friends when I was his age? I didn’t remember well enough to know for sure. “That’s not your concern.”

“My grandson’s well-being isn’t my concern?”

“He’s not your grandson.” Once, I had thought of Rachel as the closest thing I had had to a mother, except for Philema- but I couldn’t let her replace my actual mother, any more than she could forget what I had done.

The night I helped Edward take the City- and kill my father- Rachel had wept and raged at me, right in the living room behind us, unafraid of what Edward might do to her. But ever since that night, she had never so much as raised her voice at me, playing the strange role she occupied- former queen, lady, prisoner- perfectly. But I would be a fool to think that she had truly forgiven me.

“Be that as it may, I imagine he’ll keep running away if you and your husband keep treating him the way you do,” she said.

“You forget yourself.”

I swore I saw her cheek twitch, the flash of something like a smirk, before she lowered her eyes. “My apologies, your majesty.”

I waited until I was sure I could keep my composure, then said, “Edward and I don’t need to keep you up here. We could lock you in the dungeons if you want. Or worse.”

“Oh? I thought that serving you was my punishment.” Her words were mocking, but her tone was cool and courteous. I gritted my teeth. You know I just said that to protect you.

I gritted my teeth. “Next time my son comes to you alone,” I repeated, “You will summon a servant and have them bring him to me.”

She inclined her head. “Yes, your majesty.”