The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air, #3)

by Holly Black

“I believe it was meant to be an ambush,” he informs me with a twist of his mouth. “As you know, they are very nosy and hate the idea of being kept out of anything important, including royal convalescing.”

ok wtf

Soon, I am re-creating the naval maps I saw and making lists of every faction fighting on his side. I explain what I saw in Grimsen’s forge; Cardan chimes in with a few items he recalls.

but like what if he changes his plans or something

“This is my room,” he points out, affronted. “And that’s my wife.” “So you keep telling everyone,” the Bomb says. “But I am going to take out her stitches, and I don’t think you want to watch that.”

OOOOOH HES POSSESSIVE

“Oh, I don’t know,” I say. “Maybe he’d like to hear me scream.” “I would,” Cardan says, standing. “And perhaps one day I will.” On the way out, his hand goes to my hair. A light touch, barely there, and then gone.

OH. MY. GOD.

Once the Bomb is finished with me, I ignore her excellent counsel and head toward Lady Asha’s chamber.

as expected

And with that, he walks on, leaving me scowling after him.

Who would I be without any of that?

She makes a pout. “Cardan was not an easy child to love, and he’s only grown worse with time. He would scream to be held, and then once picked up he would bite and kick his way out of my arms. He would find a game and obsess over it until it was conquered, then burn all the pieces. Once you’re no longer a challenge, he will despise you.”

o h !

She smiles. “I am giving you this warning because it doesn’t matter. You’re already doomed, Queen of Elfhame. You already love him. You already loved him when you questioned me about him instead of your own mother. And you will still love him, mortal girl, long after his feelings evaporate like morning dew.”

SHUT UP WOMAN

Even if he has changed, he could change again.

I hate being a fool. I hate the idea of my emotions getting the better of me, of making me weak. But my fear of being a fool turned me into one.

Maybe it isn’t the worst thing to want to be loved, even if you’re not. Even if it hurts. Maybe being human isn’t always being weak. Maybe it was the shame that was the problem.

it’s always the shame

“Is that why you intercepted the letters he sent? To protect me? Or was it because you’re afraid that he won’t tire of me? Because, my lady, I will always be a challenge.”

YEAH YOU ARE GIRLLLLL CLOCK IT 😜

And I don’t think Lady Asha likes me very much.

you think

“And next time, I will expect your curtsy.”

YEEEPPP EXERT YOUR POWER

She looks at me as though surprised at being remembered, although it wasn’t very long ago.

i relate to this too much

Nicasia stands in front of them, in armor of iridescent scales, her hair dressed with shark teeth, clasping Cardan’s hands in hers.

NOT THIS BITCH AGAIN SMFH

His dark head is bent toward hers, and I am reminded that they were once lovers.

how abt you don’t remind me, her name already has pissed me off ENOUGH

“I’m so sorry.” It’s an utterly human thing to say and utterly useless, but I blurt it out anyway.

awww jude 🥲

“We are your allies, Nicasia,” Cardan reminds her. “Should you need us.”

ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY NOT

The High King makes a nonchalant gesture. “Jude likes to suppose the worst of both her enemies and her allies. Her reward is occasionally being wrong about us.” “Hard to remember an occasion of that,” I say to him under my breath. He lifts a single brow.

😏

Taryn is a careful person, mindful of proprieties. She is fond neither of cryptic messages nor sinister meeting places. If she wants me to come to Hollow Hall, something is very wrong.

oh no…

“I will accompany you,” Cardan says, rising. I open my mouth to explain all the reasons that he can’t go. The problem is that as I look up into his gold-rimmed eyes and he blinks mock-innocently down at me, I can’t think of a single one that will actually stop him.

🤭🙈🙈🙈

“Ah,” he says. “Then I am already proven useful. You will need me to sweet-talk the door.”

not the door

I wonder at Taryn’s message. What possible reason could she have for bringing me to Balekin’s estate? Could it have something to do with Locke’s death? Could it be another betrayal?

man it might just be a betrayal 😐😐

I am not used to being royalty and worry that I will not get used to it.

make ur own rules queen

I rub my thumb over the stub of my missing finger top, bitten off by one of Madoc’s guards, and realize abruptly that if I told Cardan about it, he might understand. Maybe more than anyone, he’d comprehend the odd mingling of fear and shame I feel—even now—when I think of it. For all our conflicts, there are moments when we understand each other entirely too well.

AWWWWWWW SHE FEELS UNDERSTOOD 😭😭😭💔🥹

“Yes,” says the door. “Very like. She’s below, with the other.”

WITH THE OTHER??

“He would visit Locke sometimes. But he didn’t have anything to do with Locke’s death, if that’s what you’re thinking.” “I wasn’t thinking that,” Cardan says. “Not at all.”

LMFAO

Cardan calls for the guard and draws a wicked-looking knife from inside his doublet, surprising me. That’s got to be the Roach’s influence.

oooh myyyy

“Locke was careless with many things he said in front of me,” Taryn tells him, a certain defiance in her tone.

wow what a shocker!!

“I will not go to my husband’s house until I am sure Jude isn’t in any danger,” she says. “Jude and I had a misunderstanding,” Cardan says carefully. “But we’re not enemies. And I am not your enemy, either, Taryn.”

interesting…

“Unlike Locke, I never thought love was a game,” he says. “You may accuse me of much, but not that.”

O H ?

I don’t believe Madoc knows I am the queen. I don’t think he even knows I am alive. That’s got to be worth something.

can’t wait to see how he reacts to that

“Jude, you ought to rest.”

aw he caresssss 💞💓❣️💘💝

She gives me a sympathetic look. “He was nice in the carriage. I didn’t know he knew how to be nice.”

pffffffttttt

That makes me laugh. At the door to my chambers, she puts her hand on my arm. “He was trying to impress you, you know. Talking to me.” I frown. “I think he just wanted to hear about weird candy.”

OOOOH HES TRYING TO IMPRESS YOU JUDIE

“He wants you to like him. But just because he wants you to doesn’t mean you should.”

did locke teach you this

I borrow another of Cardan’s ridiculous ruffly shirts and put it on, then I climb into the big bed.

😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏

Our marriage is an alliance. It is a bargain. I tell myself that it doesn’t have to be more than that.

asdfghjkl

But I can more easily imagine him in the great hall, overseeing the last dregs of the night’s revelry and swilling gallons of wine, all to avoid lying beside me in bed.

i’m ripping my hair out

I can’t help recalling the Bomb’s words: You’re the High Queen of Elfhame. Act like it. It is difficult, though, not to be shamed by being nearly undressed, with bed hair and bad breath.

kick him out girl WHY IS HE BARGING IN

The Bomb would probably say I should throw him out on his ear.

YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY DO THAT

Never having had my own guard before, I find myself a little bit at a loss with what to do with her now.

LMAO just have her there for decoration

He goes on. “There has never been a mortal Queen of Elfhame. And there should not be one now.”

GO AWAY LOSER

“You were a good seneschal,” Randalin says, surprising me. “You care about Elfhame. That’s why I implore you to relinquish your title.”

how abt no

“We did not send for you, and we do not need you!” Randalin begins, clearly intending to give some servant—probably Fand—the tongue-lashing he wishes he could bestow on my person. Then he blanches and lurches to his feet. The High King stands in the doorway. His eyebrows rise, and a malicious smile pulls at the corners of his mouth. “Many think that, but few are bold enough to say it to my face.”

lmao dumbass

Cardan turns to me, and some of the heat of his anger is still in his eyes. “Jude, would you give me and the councilor a moment alone? I have a few things I would like to urge him to consider. And Grima Mog has brought you soup.”

🫦🫦🫦

“I don’t need anyone to help me tell Randalin that this is my home and my land and that I am going nowhere and relinquishing nothing.”

YESS QUEEENNNN

“And yet,” Cardan says, clamping his hand on the back of the councilor’s throat, “there are still some things I would say to him.”

choke him