33 Unmasked (1/2)

”For spring,” the Queen answered, sounding amused. Her humor must have been in anticipation for Hilde's reaction.

She didn't fail to deliver. ”For… spring.”

Queen Heloise nodded. ”It'll soon be the season of harvest, and after that comes winter. The sheer expense of it if we launch a campaign during these times – unless I have no choice, I will not take that loss. Not on top of everything else.”

Hilde could not believe her ears.

Money? The problem was money? But the Queendom had a deep pocket. Everyone knew that. Not to mention how most citizens would only need to be asked once before agreeing to a raise in taxes.

Unable to comprehend the line of reasoning she'd been given, Hilde set this matter aside for the moment.

”What if the enemy attacks first?” she asked instead.

”Our defenses are all set, aren't they?” replied the Queen. She still sounded amused, but now there was also a thick layer of impatience in her tone. ”If the enemy decides to move first, we're already prepared for it. You might say I'm merely waiting for them as well – for them to show their hand, as it were, except I know they won't. So we will wait.” The woman paused, her eyes losing focus as she stared inwardly. When she continued, her voice was harder than before. ”I do not want to give them the satisfaction of giving answer to their mad provocation. Can you not see, Hilde?” She turned her focused stare on her younger sister. ”That is what they want.”

As it happened, Hilde did see, but it didn't make her worry ease. It made it worse.

”Sister, the enemy's opinions are not what you need to worry about. Not when our own people are calling you spineless.”

The Queen's eyes flashed. ”They are still in shock. They are grieving, they still cannot see past their anger. What does it matter what they think in these turbulent days? They'll soon calm down and see reason.”

Hilde hesitated. Her elder sister had a point – a sound one. Unfortunately, it was not the only valid perspective around. What if her dissenters grow to outnumber her supporters before spring arrives? What if they choose not to wait – not for spring, and not for enough numbers?

She moistened her throat and said, ”I understand, Queen.” The other woman's expression changed into satisfaction. Hilde swallowed again. ”But we cannot just stay silent after what they'd done. It'll be like we are admitting the northerners were right: we are weak.”

Once more, she watched as Queen Heloise's eyes became glaciers.

”What does it matter?” she repeated. ”We are not – didn't you say so yourself?” Hilde blinked at this sudden turn in the conversation, for a moment unable to tell what it was about. The Queen narrowed her flinty eyes in amusement. ”I heard what happened at the outlying village. This time tomorrow, news will have spread far and wide that 'we fight'.” She shook her head. ”You should not have been so hasty. And the time you foolishly spent among our western enemies? That should not have happened. I'm afraid news of that will spread too.”

A chill crept from Hilde's chest down to her extremities, though she maintained a neutral mask. It was not so much the words, the contents of which were true enough – it was the manner in which they were said.

What was there for her sister to sound so gleeful about? It was so subtle that the old Hilde might have dismissed it, if she doesn't MISS it entirely.

But the veteran actress within the new Hilde noted it loud and clear. This time around, she didn't try to rationalize or explain it away. She catalogued it in her mind, along with earlier incidences, in case she ever needed to examine them all closely in the future.

”We cannot play into the northerners' game, Hilde,” the Queen continued, drawing her attention back into the present concern. ”As soon as we do, we lose.”

Though nearly sapped of strength by her renewed suspicions, the young woman tried again.

”What if THIS is their game, Sister?” she asked pointblank. ”What if they are banking on your reputation for carefulness – what if their silence while waiting for you to move is another ploy to destabilize us?”