“Have you met the Queen, Huw?” Arkady asked. “I am sure she would treat you respectfully. She is married to my brother Jacq. Do you know of her role in saving the City? I felt a little afraid of her when I was younger, because she used to be the winged Avatar of Lalluna.”
Huw stared at him, shaking his head. “For a man with such high born family, Arkadios, you are very humble.”
Arkady smiled inwardly at this, thinking back on his impoverished childhood. His whole family would have starved if his brother Jacq had not gotten a blacksmithing apprenticeship at the Citadel. Arkady had not even owned a pair of shoes until his father, Nicholas, became Prime Minister.
Huw’s voice interrupted his thoughts, “I did get to meet the Queen, at a trading fair. She came looking for a replacement for he
