Page 10 of To Save a Kingdom

She managed a faint nod.

With a long inhale, Thane Hedul stood, pushing his chair back with a screech. “Well, that seems to be all the business the dwarves have for the moment. If you will excuse me?”

He didn’t wait for an acknowledgement before heading to the exit.

Aliya watched him go, a sense of emptiness opening in her gut. She didn’t know the thane well, had only met him a couple of times, but his departure was one cornerstone removed from the already-shaky foundation of her power.

Her gaze danced across Zadé’s and Elessan’s faces as the heavy doors slammed closed behind Hedul. The loss she was experiencing now would be ripped wide open when the elves departed, too.

She needed to implement a plan of action in that regard. But every time she and Elessan were alone, the last thing she wanted to do was discuss his leaving.

Clenching her jaw, she shoved that thought into a back corner in her mind. She’d deal with her insecurity and too-tender heart later.

Clearing her throat, she lifted the next document as she met Havenash’s gaze. Dark brown hair with cool red undertones framed his stark green eyes. His lands to the south were used for farming. He would have the appropriate connections with the knowledge to make sure the kingdom produced enough variety of food to make it through the winter. “Lord Havenash, I’ve decided to delegate the allocation of crops to you, or one of your choosing.”

He leaned forward, spine ramrod straight. “Your Majesty?”

She could see the drool at the political clout the position offered. Suppressing the sigh, she nodded. “I’ll be the first to admit I have little understanding of the economics of agriculture, and thus, I’m not the best one to manage the details. Please allocate our seed crop resources appropriately.”

“Now wait just a minute!” Macherall shoved to his feet. “He can’t be in charge of that for the entire kingdom! What about my farms? He’ll give us the dregs and keep all the profitable crops for himself!”

The other human nobles started muttering.

Aliya’s father, seated to her right, cleared his throat. “Daughter…”

No doubt he intended to offer his opinion on how wrong her decision regarding Havenash was, and she wasn’t interested in hearing it at the moment. Or ever.

Ignoring his attempts to claim her attention, Aliya pressed her lips together as she exhaled. Now, perhaps, she understood why Malkov micromanaged using fear and force.

The noblemen’s whispers and accusations raised to a crescendo.

Aliya eyed Zadé and Tsara. The general was lounging in her chair, arms crossed over her chest and one foot plopped on the table like she didn’t have a care in the world. Tsara, on the other hand, was sitting upright with her fingers intertwined in front of her. For all appearances, she was the epitome of grace and patience. Her gaze caught Aliya as she winced.

It felt like a sympathetic apology.

As the princess of the sun elves, Tsara had likely sat through far more than her fair share of council meetings, and had watched the elven nobles bicker just as pointlessly.

Aliya cleared her throat, watching as the humans jostled and took sides. It would be interesting, to be sure, to see who ended up siding with who. Her father was no doubt making copious mental notes in that regard.

At least she could count on him for that. He was nothing if not motivated to keep her, and thus himself, in power.

“I hope you know what you’re doing, daughter,” he said, keeping his voice low so it wouldn’t carry to the others.

Clearing her throat a second time, louder, to catch their attention she slid the next document on the stack to Macherall.

The hall quieted.

“If you would allow me to finish,” Aliya said, spearing the purple-robed man with what she hoped was an intimidating glare, “if Lord Havenash is myopic enough to shaft you with the crops, you can do the same to him with the waterways.”

It was comical, how Macherall’s jaw flapped open and shut like a fish that suddenly found itself on land.

“The majority of our rivers pass through the Macherall estates at one point or another. It makes sense to have you be responsible for sorting out the water rights.”

A slow smile creeped up one side of Macherall’s mouth as he peered at Havenash from the corner of his eyes. “Your Majesty is wise beyond her age.” He bowed.

Well, technically, she wasn’t. The idea to make sure she delegated something important to each noble house had been Elessan’s. She’d naively assumed the nobles would work together for the good of the kingdom under her direction. But he’d been right—they were going to squabble for every bit of advantage and power they could grab. At least, until things settled down.

She caught Alinac’s attention and slid a document over to him. Alinac land was pastoral, at the foothills of the mountains that ran along the eastern edge of the realm. “I charge you with managing the realm’s logging rights.” She flicked her gaze to Macherall “I suggest you negotiate for use of the rivers for transportation.” It was much easier to float logs to the capital for manufacturing than to move them by road.