The Traitor Queen

Aren attends dinner with Silas. Zarrah, who is seated beside Prince Keris, rises and presses her hand to her heart when Aren enters the room. Keris, who is reading a book, frowns at what he reads but does not further acknowledge Zarrah’s action. Aren sits next to an older woman who introduces herself as Coralyn Veliant, one of the former king’s harem of wives. She reminds him of his own grandmother, who, during her time as a spy, became one of the former king’s wives. He wonders if Carolyn ever met her.

The kingdoms of Harendell and Amarid have ambassadors at the dinner, and the Harendellian ambassador does not seem to support Silas’s control over the bridge. Zarrah speaks on Valcotta’s behalf when she states that Valcottan merchants will refuse to trade through the bridge until Maridrina withdraws from Ithicana and Aren is released. In response, Silas threatens Zarrah’s life, at last provoking a reaction from Keris, whose fingers go white around his wineglass.

Aren is given a wooden spoon for dinner because it’s more difficult to turn into a weapon, but Carolyn “accidentally” drops her silver fork into his lap. Aren notices exchanged glances between Carolyn and another wife. Guards have been seated near Aren to eavesdrop on his conversations, but the wife distracts them long enough for Carolyn to have an unfiltered conversation with him.