“Andthe worse news?”
“Heexpects you to be his escort during his visit.”Thewave hit me, andIcouldn’t breathe.Itwas just like the carriage ride, as if a great weight sat upon my chest, andIcouldn’t fill my lungs.Ifelt my knees meet the carpet, and my head buzzed.Icould just make outAvlynandCiaraholding me up,Avlyntelling me to breathe.IfeltCiara’ssoft hands rubbing along my back, cooing soft noises at me.Aneternity seemed to pass, but the weight lifted, andIcould hear again.Iwas still on the floor,AvlynandCiarastill around me.
“Avlyn,Ican’t—Ican’t be with him— he’s the one—”
“Iknow what he’s done.”Avlyn’sface was the darkestIhad ever seen it. “ButIalso know what you can do.Youcan handle this,Tori.It’sonly for a night.”Avlyn’sfaith eased a very fundamental part of me that hadn’t seen kindness in quite some time.IfeltCiara’shand on my back and couldn’t remember the last timeIhad felt a gentle touch like that.Ishook both off before they overwhelmed me, standing quickly.
“Beingable to fight has nothing to do with being able to play nice at court.”
“Yeah, butI’veseen you do both, and don’t forget,Imay be the most beautifully rugged warrior you have ever seen, butI’vedone my time at court as well.Iknow how similar the two skill sets can be.Bothjust a dance, reading and anticipating your opponent.”Ithought about the memoriesIhad seen.Avlynwas there when theWorldBreakerattacked.Ihad never really thought about how old they were, but they had to be at least five centuries.I’dspent so much time withAvlynthese last few weeks, but how much didIreally know about them?
Theyinterrupted my chain of thought, “Actually, that gives me an idea.Iknow exactly what you need to boost your confidence.Yes, this will be good for the both of you.”Theywore a grin so mischievous it putAbraxas’ to shame, andIcouldn’t help but worry.
“Avlyn…what are you planning?”Thegrin showed every single one of their teeth now, “Oh, you’ll see,Princess.Butuntil then,IbroughtCiarato measure you for a new gown.”Iglanced over to my closet full of garmentsIhadn’t worn, as none of them really suited sword-play on the beach.
“Ihave plenty, why doIneed a new one?”
“King’sordersI’mafraid.I’llleave you lovely ladies to it.”Theyexcused themselves and were out the door.
Iturned toCiara, “Ireally don’t need a new gown.”
“Nonsense, if the king wants to spoil you,Isay let him.”Hergrin was so genuine, thatIstayed silent.Shehad me stand then, taking out a cord tied with knots at even intervals to take measurements of my body.
Shewhipped around me, placing the chord over me in every direction, “Youknow,YourHighness,Ihave heard a rumor.Thereis a betting pool among the servants over when you and the king will announce your engagement.”Ichoked on nothing. “Oh, no need to be coy,YourHighness.Iam not one of the women who wept for days knowing they had missed their chance at the long-term bachelor.”Shecame around my front, and her eyes were twinkling.
“Ciara, are you teasing me?”
“Notat all,YourHighness,Iam simply hoping that you will help me place my money on the correct date.I’vehad my eye on a set of earrings outside my price range for some time now.”Wasshe serious?Howcould anyone think thatI, a princess—one of two currently in existence due to the low birthrate of fae royals—would be getting engaged to a king who had long resisted producing an heir to his bloodline, asIstayed as a ward in his kingdom?Alright, perhapsIcould see how this rumor had started.
“Ciara,Ihate to disappoint the gossips, but the king andIare not to be engaged.Iam here merely to improve relations withNiata.”
“Oh, of course,YourHighness.”Butthat cheeky grin never left her face.Iscowled, and she laughed.Ihad to change the trajectory of this conversation.
“Thankyou, for your kindness before.”Herface fell immediately.
“Ofcourse,YourHighness.”
“Tori.”Shesmiled but did not give in.
“Iknow better than most the cruelties that the emperor possesses.Iwas lucky thatIwas able to flee here, to theDragonKingdom.Igrew up inKoron, my mother was a human slave in the palace there.Whoknows who my father was, but as half-fae,Iwas lucky enough to not be born into slavery as well.”Herface told me she didn’t feel lucky at all. “Iactually metAvlynwhen they were there with the king, and they helped me move here, and set me up with a job in the palace.”Shegave me a melancholy smile thatIknew all too well, “Iowe them quite a lot.”
“Ihad always heard of him as theGreatHero, the savior of the world.Howcould it be that he has been allowed to rule like this?Heseems to possess nothing but cruelty.”
“Moston the continent don’t see this, only the acts of a generous emperor, who provides protection and peace.Besides, who would stand against him?I’msure you saw it,YourHighness.Hispower can decimate entire armies, and withKingAbraxasat his side…” she trailed off.Yes,Abraxashad been the enforcer, the darkDragonKingwho haunted nightmares.Theman who had murdered his father for power.Howeasy it must have been forHadeonto seem the benevolent overlord, whileAbraxastook the blame.
Iworried my lip, then shook my head.No,Abraxaswasto blame.Everyuprising, every threat toHadeon’speace these past centuries,Abraxasand his soldiers had been there to enforce, to terrify.Thosehad been his actions, there was no excuse.
Ciarasurveyed me with worried eyes, “Peopledo the best they can to adjust their lives to their circumstances.Wewould rather slowly boil than rise up out of the flames.”
Butit seemed this conversation had become too heavy, for she flitted back around me and pulled her smile back on.
“Butenough about that, you need to be ready for a gala fit for an emperor.Withyour eyes,I’mthinking something dark blue.”Shemoved to a box full of fabric samples, butIbarely paid attention, my eyes instead taking in this brave woman, who still had the courage to smile through it all.
Chapter24
Tori
Somethingwas different about today’s training.Icould hear the troops hollering from across the beach, various jeers and shouts breaking loose, and instead of standing in formation, they were all gathered around in a circle asAvlynandIapproached.
