The throne room was crowded. Courtiers filled the benches. Guards stood along the walls. Dorian sat on the high seat in a white-and-gold robe. Lyrisa stood at his right, smiling at anyone who looked her way.
Rain entered with two guards ahead of her and two behind. Kale walked to her left, one step back. He gave a short signal to his men. They shifted, making a clean path to the throne.
Rain stopped at the foot of the steps and bowed her head a fraction. Dorian watched her the way a bored man watches a performance he did not choose.
"Queen Rain," he said. "Your first court."
"Yes," she answered.
"Try not to make it dull," Dorian said, and leaned on the armrest.
A herald announced, "Duke Merel of Westbay."
A heavy man in bright clothes stepped forward. His rings flashed. He bowed to Dorian, deep. He turned to Rain and dipped his head only a little.
"Majesty," Merel said to Dorian first, loud enough for the room. "Your choice has brought us a fine alliance."
Dorian smiled at the praise. "Of course."
Merel faced Rain. "Frostthorne is far. Some of us have never seen your mountains. We hear of riders and disciplined warriors. Will your people truly stand when we call? Or are we only trading gifts?"
Rain kept her hands still at her sides. "Frostthorne keeps its word," she said. "When we say we stand, we stand."
Merel flicked a look at Dorian before pressing again. "How many riders?"
Rain did not pause. "Five thousand ready. Three thousand more within a month. Our horses can carry armor across rock. They do not panic in tight ground."
A ripple of talk moved through the benches. Dorian waved a hand like he was swatting a fly. "Numbers, numbers," he said. "Very well. Duke Merel, are you satisfied?"
Merel smiled. "For now, Majesty."
He stepped back. The herald called, "Lord Halver of the North Road."
A young lord with a smooth face and careful smile came forward. He bowed to Dorian, then to Lyrisa, then to Rain. His eyes lingered a moment longer on Lyrisa's jewels.
"Your Majesty," Halver said to Dorian. "My king." Then he looked at Rain. "Your Grace, I bring greetings from my house. My mother asked a question I could not answer."
"Ask," Rain said.
"Why did Frostthorne send a queen?" Halver asked. He spoke it lightly, but it carried. "Most lands send a prince for war and a princess for peace. It seems reversed. Did your king have no son to send?"
Kale's head turned a fraction. His eyes narrowed. Lyrisa smiled a little wider.
Rain answered in the same tone. "Frostthorne does not have kings. We do not need them."
Halver's brows rose. "No kings at all?"
"No," Rain said. "In Frostthorne the queen rules. The queen is the ruler. Queens are trained from childhood to lead."
Dorian laughed softly under his breath. "Trained to drink and scowl," he murmured, not low enough to miss.
Rain glanced at him once, then back to Halver. "If your mother wants more detail, I can provide a list of duties and terms."
Halver bowed again. "I will tell her. She will be... surprised."
"People often are," Rain said.
Halver stepped back. The herald called, "Lady Sera of Riversend."
A slim woman in a plain gray dress came forward. She bowed to Dorian, then to Rain with the same depth.
"Majesties," she said. Her voice was even. "Welcome to our court, Queen Rain. If you allow, I have a small question about customs."
"Ask," Rain said.
"In Dawnspire, the queen hosts a winter feast for the guild leaders to hear their needs," Lady Sera said. "In your land, who speaks for the makers and traders?"
"The queen hears them herself," Rain said. "One week each winter. One week each spring."
Lady Sera nodded. "And if they lie?"
"Then they do not speak again," Rain said.
A few people shifted. Dorian smirked. "So harsh," he said. "Our guilds prefer to talk forever."
Lyrisa put a hand on his arm. "It keeps the halls lively," she said.
Rain looked at Lady Sera. "Do you have another question?"
"One more," Sera said. "If a noble insults you in open court, what happens then?"
The room quieted. Some eyes turned to the noble who had collapsed at the wedding. He made a point of looking at his shoes.
"In Frostthorne," Rain said, "we close the door and speak in private. If it happens again, we do not speak in private the second time."
Lady Sera held her gaze for a long second, then bowed. "Clear answer. Thank you."
She stepped back.
Dorian waved to a servant for more wine. He did not look at Rain when he spoke. "Enough questions about cold horses and cold hills and mountain warriors. We have business. Reports, taxes, petitions. Let the queen learn and listen."
The steward began reading petitions. Grain disputes. A bridge fee. A request for repairs after a storm. Dorian nodded through some, sent others to "later," and tossed one complaint back to a merchant with a joke about "counting better."
Rain listened without moving. She asked two brief questions that made the steward check his notes. He gave the answers. Dorian lifted a brow at her and then pretended to yawn.
When the formal part ended, Dorian stood to dismiss the court. Before he could speak, a small commotion at the back made heads turn. Kale had moved without sound to block a man trying to edge closer with a folded paper. Kale took the paper himself, read it, kept his face blank, and signaled a guard to escort the man out. He stepped back to Rain's side and handed her nothing, just a small nod that said: handled.
Lyrisa leaned toward Dorian. "Your captain is very careful," she said.
"He is paid to be," Dorian said.
Dorian lifted a hand. "Court is closed."
People bowed and began to file out. The room thinned. Rain did not look at Dorian again. She turned to leave with Kale.
Lyrisa's voice followed, sweet. "Queen Rain? A moment."
Rain stopped. Kale did too.
Lyrisa walked down two steps and smiled like a kind sister. "I hope the morning was not too heavy. Our halls can be loud."
"Noise does not trouble me," Rain said.
"I sent you an invitation," Lyrisa said. "A private tea in my garden after court. Did you receive it?"
"I did," Rain said.
"I'm so pleased," Lyrisa said. "I have a rare tea. His Majesty brought it to me himself from across the sea. It is the finest I have tasted. I would love to share it with you. We women must help each other."
Dorian smiled, pleased with himself. "A good gift," he said.
Rain did not change expression. "I prefer hot water. But I will sit with you."
"Of course," Lyrisa said too smoothly. "We will make sure you have what you like."
She turned and glided back to Dorian's side, resting her hand on his sleeve.
Kale leaned just enough for Rain to hear. "You want me near?"
"No, captain," Rain said. "You can stay outside."
Kale gave a tiny nod.
They left the hall.
Lyrisa's garden sat inside a walled square. The pathways were neat. Vines climbed trellises. Small trees made pockets of shade. Chairs and a low table waited in a stone circle at the center.
Lyrisa stood to greet Rain when she entered. Two of Lyrisa's maids hovered by the table. One held a silver kettle. Another held a small lacquered box.
"Welcome," Lyrisa said lightly. "Please sit. This set was a gift from the king last summer." She touched the cups. "And the tea, a gift from him last month. Personally delivered. It crossed the sea to reach me."
She smiled when she said "me."
Rain sat with her back to a wall. Kathy, her maid, stood at a distance. Kale was not in the garden, but Rain knew he would be close.
A maid poured clear hot water into a cup and set it in front of Rain. Another maid opened the lacquered box and measured out dark leaves into a separate pot. The smell was strong and unfamiliar.
Lyrisa watched Rain's cup. "You are sure you won't try even a sip?" she asked. "It is very rare. The king wanted me to have only the best."
"Water is enough," Rain said.
Lyrisa laughed as if that were charming. "So simple. It must be peaceful to need so little." She nodded to her maid. "Pour."
The maid poured the rare tea into Lyrisa's cup. Lyrisa lifted it and inhaled. "Perfect," she said. "So fragrant. The king was so thoughtful, you agree; it is so nice to feel such love and devotion."
She let the sentence sit between them.
Rain did not react. She lifted her own cup, then, while Lyrisa watched her face, Rain shifted the saucer a finger's width. Kathy saw the small movement and spoke at once.
"Your Majesty, that cup has cooled too fast," Kathy said. "I will bring fresh water."
Rain set the cup down. "Do so."
Kathy lifted the cup and took it away. Lyrisa's smile did not falter, but her eyes cut to the maid for a second.
"So cautious," Lyrisa said. "Our kitchens are careful."
"Careful is good," Rain said. "It keeps people alive."
Lyrisa took a slow sip of her tea. "You must miss your mountains," she said. "This is a warm city. So many people. So many eyes."
"I miss the quiet," Rain said. "I do not miss the cold."
"You looked very calm in court," Lyrisa said. "Not many people can stare down Duke Merel. He enjoys himself too much."
"I noticed," Rain said.
"Lord Halver enjoys himself in other ways," Lyrisa added. "He has a habit of asking questions that sound simple and are not. Be careful with him."
"I am careful with everyone," Rain said.
Lyrisa smiled wider. "Even with me?"
"Yes," Rain said.
Lyrisa tilted her head as if amused. "I'm only here to be a friend," she said. "Truly. A court can be hard on a new queen. There are rules. There are ways to do things. I can help."
"I listen," Rain said. "I do not need help."
"Everyone needs help," Lyrisa said softly. "Even kings."
She let her fingers trace the rim of her cup. "His Majesty trusts me. He tells me things when he is tired. He tells me what he wants. I make it simple for him."
Rain said nothing.
Lyrisa leaned in a fraction. "If you want something from him, I can tell you how to ask. I can show you what he likes."
"No," Rain said.
Lyrisa blinked at the blunt word, then recovered. "You prefer to do it alone. I see."
"I prefer to do it right," Rain said.
Lyrisa set her cup down. "Very well. Then let me offer one small piece of advice. Do not make enemies you do not need. Some nobles here are proud. They do not like to be... moved." She smiled at the memory of the wedding toast. "Be gentle with them."
"If they are honest, I am gentle," Rain said.
"And if they are not?" Lyrisa asked.
"Then they are not my concern for long," Rain said.
Lyrisa looked at her for a beat, trying to read what sat behind the flat tone. She changed the subject with a light laugh.
"I forgot to ask," she said. "How is your hand after the ceremony? You moved so quickly with those cups. It was almost a trick."
"Almost," Rain said.
Lyrisa waited for more. Rain gave nothing.
Lyrisa lifted her cup again. "Try at least a taste," she urged. "It would please me. The king's gift to me. You should know what he considers worthy."
Rain looked at the pot. "If it would please you so much," she said evenly, "then drink mine."
Lyrisa froze for a heartbeat. Her smile returned. "You are funny," she said. "I like a queen with humor."
Kathy returned with fresh hot water for Rain. She set it down on a small white cloth. Rain wrapped her fingers around the cup. It was hot enough to be safe.
Rain reached to the table and touched the edge of the rare tea pot. "What do you call this?" she asked.
Lyrisa answered quickly. "Star-rose. From the islands. Very rare."
Rain's eyes were on the spout. "Your maid should strain it longer," she said. "There is residue on the lip."
Lyrisa glanced, then covered it with her hand. "The leaves stain," she said in a smooth voice.
"Of course," Rain said.
One of Lyrisa's maids shifted her feet. The other kept her eyes on the ground. Lyrisa's smile sharpened.
"Tell me about Frostthorne," Lyrisa said. "Is it true your people train girls to ride cliffs?"
"Yes," Rain said.
"And the boys?" Lyrisa asked.
"They ride the same cliffs," Rain said.
"How equal," Lyrisa said, amused. "We do it differently here. We play our parts."
"I have noticed," Rain said.
Footsteps sounded beyond the garden wall. Kale's voice was low with a guard. Rain did not turn. She lifted her cup and took a slow drink of hot water. Lyrisa lifted her own cup again, watching Rain over the rim.
Rain set her cup down and, as if it were a simple fidget, drew a thin silver pin from her sleeve. Kale's pin. The twin to the one she had given him. She rested it beside her cup.
Lyrisa's eyes narrowed a fraction. "A pretty thing," she said. "For hair?"
"For many things," Rain said.
Lyrisa smiled again. "We truly must help each other," she said. "The court can eat people who do not know how to stand."
"I am not easy to eat," Rain said.
The maid reached to pour more rare tea. Rain lifted two fingers from the table, the smallest signal. Kathy stepped forward at once.
"My lady," Kathy said to Lyrisa with a small bow, "the queen's water is still hot. She will not take more."
Lyrisa's smile did not change. "Of course," she said. She leaned back and waved her maid away.
They sat in a short, careful silence.
"Tell me," Lyrisa said at last, "did you enjoy the wedding feast?"
"I enjoyed seeing the hall," Rain said.
"And the king?" Lyrisa asked with open sweetness. "Do you enjoy his company?"
Rain looked at her. "He enjoys his own company enough for both of us."
Lyrisa's laugh was real at that. "True," she said. She glanced toward the garden gate as if checking something. "He is not an easy man. But he is the king. One learns how to keep him pleased."
"That is your work," Rain said. "I have other work."
"To judge us?" Lyrisa asked lightly.
"To judge everything," Rain said.
Another small silence. Lyrisa studied her face for a long time. Then she set her cup down and stood.
"This has been pleasant," she said. "We will do it again. Perhaps next time you will try the tea. I promise you, there is nothing in it but leaves."
"Leaves can be many things," Rain said.
Lyrisa's smile did not move. "Good day, Queen Rain."
"Good day," Rain said.
Lyrisa walked away with her maids. At the corner of the path, she spoke to one very quietly. The maid nodded once and disappeared through a side gate.
Rain waited. She lifted her own cup and took another drink of hot water. Then she stood. Kathy fell in beside her.
At the archway, Kale appeared. His face was steady. His eyes moved, quick and sharp.
Rain moved to step away. Kale shifted to let her pass. For a second, they were close. His eyes met hers, steady and unblinking.
He held her gaze longer than she wanted. There was no smile, only a quiet intensity, a trace of worry that unsettled her more than open words would have.
Rain looked away first.
"Captain," she said.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Bring me the runner that delivered that message in regard to my wedding gift before dark."
"I will."
Rain walked on. Kathy followed at her side. Kale stayed behind, his eyes on her until she turned the corner and was gone.