I approached the dining room doors. I wasn't sure what Baria wanted with me since she kept me imprisoned. Perhaps she wanted to congratulate me on not dying once more. I pushed aside my thoughts and opened the door.

The woman sitting at the end of the long table was not the same one I met before. Her honey hair grayed, pale skin dulling as it wrinkled. The only thing familiar about Baria was she was wearing white. Though with her decrepit appearance, the dress looked like it didn't belong to her anymore. She was old and frail. No longer powerful.

A platter was set before her but her plate remained empty. She waved a shaky hand. "Come in," she said, her voice fading as she coughed. "Join my side."

I walked forward, sweat on my brow. The air was heavy and cold. Like my skin had been these past few days.

"Help yourself," she said with a smile full of yellowed and rotting teeth. She waved a wrinkled hand over the platter. "Take part in this feast." Her voice no longer held power, it was a broken whisper.

Baria acted as if she had not imprisoned me.

"Why?" I asked, walking around the table toward her.

"I feel I need to speak to you," she whispered. "And it would be best to do things this way."

"I don't understand."

Baria's laugh was forced and fake. "You will know why you were here today in time."

I took a seat next to her. The back of it was hard against my spine. Even though I was glad to rest on something other than the hay bed.

"I wanted to begin with an apology," she whispered. "For my behavior, and my warrior's. We both were out of line."

My knee ached as Jonga smashed his foot downward. I winced. Even though the pain was no longer existent, it was like a phantom.

"Who?"

"Jonga," she sighed. "He has always been such a reckless soul. Ever since he entered my kingdom, he's always had a certain manner about him. I thought he would change with age but he never did. It's always been one for violence."

My teeth clacked as she rambled. "I see."

His words echoed through my mind.

Filthy Kaijan.

"His actions were out of line," she continued. "And for that, I apologize on his behalf."

"You gave the order," I grunted. "You told him to hurt me."

She picked up the glass of wine in front of her. "I did," she agreed with a nod. "And I apologize for that as well."

She apologized even though every part of my being broke. I felt like my mind was no longer my own. The itch that swarmed through my body was killing me. All she could do was give me a worthless apology.

"Your apology is empty," I spat. Nothing Baria would say would mend the wounds of all those who were hurt because of her. "It means nothing to me."

"You healed fine."

"I was maimed."

"It was unfortunate it came to those extremes, Mara, but it had to be done." This was the first time she used my appointed name and not called me 'Kaijan'. It was strange to hear, almost foreign.

My blood boiled. "Even though I was greatly injured, he pushed me toward death."

She waved a hand as she set the wine glass down. "And again, I extend my apology."

"I believe you called for torture because you knew I knew the truth about the iron and what you use the money for."

She raised a brow. "Perhaps."

"Tell me why I am sitting here in this room with you. I know it is not for apologies. I have not known you long, Baria, but I know you are a cruel woman who would never apologize meaningfully."

She tilted her head to the side. "You are repulsed by my words?"

"I am sickened!" I shouted.

She smacked her lips. "I sicken most."

"Do you plan to kill me?" I questioned. "Is that why you have isolated me?"

"No," she replied.

"Then why?"

"I spoke with Hona," she started. "He claims I am acting out of anger. You remind me of his lover."

His lover. The one Baria killed out of envy.

"Unfortunately for me you are jealous."

"I was and am," she continued. "He sees something in you that he doesn't in me."

"I can't understand what he would see in you if he did see anything but I know what I see in you."

She tutted. "Humor me."
"Your people are mistreated! When I first arrived I saw their homes. Torn down, small, nothing compared to the castle you live in. The children playing in the streets were dressed in rags, their bones showing under their flesh."

"Hmph." She appeared amused by my words.

"They suffer under your hand."

"They make themselves suffer," she argued with a smile. "They can live any way they desire, but they chose to live here."

I stood. I would make a stand for those who could not make a stand for themselves. "They are dying."

"Not today."

"They will in time," I hissed. "You have allowed one person to join you in gluttony."

"You refused to partake. I have extended my kindness and as for people, I have paid my price. I offer them protection no one could give them. If they are unhappy, they may leave. I do not hold chains on their wrists. They have their own freewill as I have my own."

"Like me?" I asked. "I am allowed to leave at any time, correct?"

"Not until proven innocent."

I tutted. "Then I find it hard to believe you would let your people leave."

"Watch your tongue," she spat. "Know what you speak before you talk, Kaijan."

The name made the fire inside of me burn brighter. "You are a witch."

"I am queen of this land. I am your chance at life. In seconds, by my word alone, death could reach out and take hold of you again."

"You are no queen!" I shouted, moving toward her. "If you were, you would do something for your kind. You are blinded by yourself and greed, not seeing the pain of others!"

"They created their own pain," she hissed. "How dare you judge me."

"I judge you not as a queen but as a fraud."

"At least I know who I am, girl," she spat. My eyes widened. "You think Hona would not tell me? That you have no memory of yourself. I know everything that happens in this kingdom. I know my enemies too, Kaijan."

My gaze shifted, staring at the table. The silver knife shined. The itch once in my body was coming alive. I looked down, violet veins were fluctuating. The driving desire to spill blood arose.

Silence fell.

"You don't deserve to wear that crown," I whispered, cutting through the silence. "Your body even agrees. You are dying and in time, you will leave Udan with no queen. Your kingdom would fall and be left with no monarch."

She smiled.

"Amused by the thought of your people being left for dead?" I taunted. No response. "How awful."

I grabbed the knife from the table and stalked forward. The itch built like intoxication, blurring my mind. The knife in my hand warmed my flesh. "Someone must fix your mistakes. Someone must stand up against your tyranny."

She smiled wider. "One who slays me will inherit the burdens of the divine," she whispered. "I hope you know that."

"You will pay for your crimes," I murmured. "You will pay for harming Qia and Tiroa. For taking the only part of Hona he had left, and for hurting your own people. You will pay for every scar on my body and every scream I've made. You will pay it with blood."

She closed her eyes. "I will meet my fate then."

The itch from before surfacing, climbing through my body. I leaned in, slicing the blade across her throat. Baria's eyes flew open in shock. The silver lightened against the white of her eyes. She sputtered, the blood dripped down her neck in ruvelts onto her white gown. Baria reached out a desperate hand toward me before her hands climbed her throat, soaking her fingers and wrists in her blood. There was desperation in her eyes as she crashed backward, her back cracking against the chair.

"You, cruel queen—" I heaved as I swung the knife down again into her chest "—are no more."