After a poisonous sideways glance at The Why, Olaf tilted his head toward Nor in seeming sincerity and deference. “My Queen, you misunderstand me,” he said. “I am not complacent. I have come to believe that this will pass, so I optimistically plan for the day after the accursed constellation.”
Queen Nor studied the chancellor’s face, but he was once again unreadable. There was honesty in Olaf’s eyes, but even that left the queen feeling uncertain. She could not find reason to refute his statement, so she had to take him at his word, as glib as his position seemed to be. She had caught him out once. She doubted he would allow her to do that again. At the very least, she could make sure he knew his place.
“Well, then, in the meantime, Olaf, perhaps you should concern yourself with calmly c
