Ash stepped out of the council chamber.
The doors closed behind him.
He stood there for a moment, staring at them.
His hands slowly tightened into fists.
They had been afraid.
He could see it in their faces.
But they still wouldn't fight her.
Ash sighed and started walking.
The halls of the City of Lost Hopes were quieter than usual. People passed him without saying much, most keeping their heads down.
Ash looked around.
He had only been in the city for a short time, but he'd already seen enough to know something was wrong.
He remembered the man he'd stopped from robbing a woman.
The desperation in his eyes.
The way he'd been willing to risk everything for something as simple as getting through another day.
Ash looked away.
Then he heard footsteps behind him.
"Leaving already?"
He turned.
Beatrice was walking toward him.
Ash raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you were going to stay on the floor."
Beatrice rolled her eyes.
"You're funny."
"I wasn't joking."
"I know."
She stopped a few feet away.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Beatrice looked toward the council chamber.
"They didn't listen, did they?"
Ash shook his head.
"Not really."
"They rarely do."
Ash looked at her.
"Why are they so afraid of her?"
Beatrice hesitated.
Ash noticed immediately.
"You know."
"I know enough."
"Then tell me."
Beatrice crossed her arms.
"You already fought her. You should know how dangerous she is."
"I know she's strong."
Ash looked down at his hand.
"I thought I could beat her."
His voice became quieter.
"I was wrong."
Beatrice didn't make a joke this time.
Ash continued walking.
She followed.
"You really want her gone?"
"Yes."
"Even after what happened?"
Ash stopped.
"Especially after what happened."
Beatrice looked at him.
Ash looked toward the mountain.
"I can't stay here if she's always going to be there."
"You could leave."
Ash shook his head.
"I don't know where I'd go."
Beatrice didn't answer.
They continued walking.
Eventually, they reached a section of the city overlooking the streets below.
Ash stopped at the railing.
People were moving through the streets.
Some carried supplies.
Others stood outside shops, waiting.
Ash watched them carefully.
"How long has it been like this?"
Beatrice looked at the city.
"Long enough."
Ash frowned.
"That isn't an answer."
"I know."
He looked at her.
She sighed.
"The Queen has been controlling things for a long time."
"What things?"
Beatrice hesitated again.
"Things the city needs."
Ash's eyes narrowed.
"Food?"
"Among other things."
Ash looked back toward the streets.
Suddenly, the scene he'd witnessed before made more sense.
The man he'd stopped.
The desperation.
The way everyone seemed exhausted.
Ash's expression changed.
"So she's not just sitting on that mountain."
"No."
"She controls what comes down from it."
Beatrice nodded.
Ash was quiet.
He had been thinking about the problem completely wrong.
He'd been thinking about defeating the Queen.
But defeating someone like her wasn't just about strength.
It was about understanding what gave her control.
Ash looked toward the mountain again.
"When I fought her…"
Beatrice waited.
Ash's expression hardened as he remembered.
"I kept trying to overpower her."
"And?"
"She overwhelmed me."
He paused.
"I couldn't keep up."
Beatrice looked at him.
"So what are you going to do?"
Ash looked at the mountain.
"I don't know yet."
For once, he didn't pretend he had an answer.
"But I'm not fighting her like that again."
Beatrice raised an eyebrow.
"Then how?"
Ash turned toward her.
"That's what I need to figure out."
He started walking.
"Where are you going?"
"To the council."
Beatrice blinked.
"You just left them."
"I know."
"Why go back?"
Ash glanced over his shoulder.
"Because I asked them to fight her."
He paused.
"That was the wrong question."
Beatrice followed him.
"What are you going to ask?"
Ash thought for a moment.
"What would make them willing to?"
Beatrice stared at him.
Ash continued toward the council chamber.
He wasn't going back to demand anything.
He wasn't going back to threaten them.
He was going back to understand them.
Because if the council was too afraid to fight the Queen, there had to be a reason.
And if Ash could understand that reason…
Maybe he could find a way around it.