Page 112 of Blood Curse

He went still.

“You could have demanded obedience the moment the court woke,” she continued. “You didn’t. You opened the gate when we asked. That’s enough for tonight.”

“It doesn’t have to be enough tomorrow,” Stellan said.

“I know.”

Another voice came from the crowd. “Harrowmere was my home before Adrian made it his trap. I’m not letting the Crown chase me out of it again.”

“Nor me,” somebody said.

A woman near the wall wanted the south room with the blue tiles. Mara warned her that the roof still leaked. The woman had lived there long enough to remember where to put the bucket.

More voices rose, not together and not in agreement over everything. Some wanted the Crown dead. Some wanted their home. A few wanted to stay until their injured friends could travel. One man simply said he was curious, which seemed like a bloody terrible reason to remain near murderous royal magic, but it was his reason.

Nobody tried to improve another person’s answer. That was the strange part. Courts in stories were built from vows and tests and people proving they deserved a place. This court was being built from damp socks, bad roofs and the freedom to make a choice Stellan disliked.

It felt stronger for it.

The Crown waited for their choice to become an oath.

It didn’t.

People drifted back towards the buildings in twos and threes. Nobody knelt. Nobody asked permission.

The pressure inside my skull thinned until only a hard red ache remained.

The court’s loyalty had survived the open gate.

The Crown couldn’t feed on it because it hadn’t commanded any of it. There was nothing for it to twist into surrender. Every person who remained could still look at the road and change their mind.

Mara took the right side of the arch and folded her arms.

Elias stopped beside her. “What are you doing?”

“Taking the gate post.”

“With bruised wrists.”

“My eyes still work.”

Stellan released the gate and faced her. “Stop standing guard.”

“I know.”

“Mara.”

“This was my post long before Adrian took Harrowmere. I’m taking it back because I choose it. If I change my mind, I walk away.”

Stellan held her gaze. “All right.”

“That’s it?”

“Were you hoping for a speech?”

“I was hoping you’d try to order me to bed so I could enjoy ignoring you.”

“Elias can do that.”