AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m so sorry. I can’t believe she dismissed you for that. I’m to blame.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “She didn’t pay me well enough anyway.”
“We need to leave.” Patrick joined us at the bottom of the steps beside the carriage, raising a judgmental eyebrow at me. “Who’s this?”
Graham looked nervous. “Patrick, this is Miss Yarrow. Miss Yarrow, this is my cousin, Patrick Donovan.”
I knew that name. The Donovans were Immovables from the Eighth House. I didn’t put out my hand. And neither did he.
Patrick looked me up and down, then turned to Graham. “Why do you associate with people who are so far beneath you?”
“Watch your manners, Patrick,” Graham muttered.
“But you aren’tsofar beneath the Brennins,” I said in a gentle tone, watching Patrick’s pride turn to confusion. “Only, what, six Houses?”
His eyes narrowed and he stepped toward me.
“Time to go,” said Graham, grabbing Patrick’s arm and pulling him toward the carriage. Then he jumped inside and shut the door.
Patrick climbed into the driver’s seat, his face red with fury.
I moved out of the way before he could run me over with the carriage, as I’m sure he would’ve happily done. I watched them go, then headed up the curving path toward the center of the city. I didn’t dare miss the king’s address.
ChapterTen
Chaotic urgency filled the streets.Horse-drawn carriages passed me, their windows full of feathered hats and shimmering fabric. Mid-ranked citizens were also permitted to attend, but no one from Class D was allowed into the Academy’s grounds, where Immortals spent their lives debating Cambrian grammar and writing verbal constraints into binding laws.
I looked down reflexively whenever I caught a glimpse of a black and white uniform. Law Enforcers were everywhere this evening, quieting citizens’ conversations as they passed.
I flinched when Cael stepped next to me, his clothing blending in with the rest of the Enforcers.
“I’d hate for you to think I wasn’t enjoying my time alone,” I said, “but where have you been?”
He kept his gaze ahead. “Around.”
I pushed ahead. It wasn’t worth trying to get a solid answer, not if it slowed me down.
A cloudy slate blue enveloped the sky as it began to rain. I took my raincoat from my bag and pulled it on. If the rain fell any harder, it could drown out the king’s words, even if I made it in time. I wrapped the coat around my shoulders and picked up my pace.
* * *
A long walk later,I arrived at the enormous Academy Square, where Enforcers checked citizens’ rank cards as they filed through the gates. I showed mine and went in, pushing my way up, as close as I could get to the center of the Academy. The majestic building curved around both sides of the crowd, its tall Corinthian pillars propped between the lower and upper balconies. Enforcers lined the perimeter of the building, their pistols drawn.
Graham wasn’t on the upper balcony yet. Neither were the king and queen.
Most of the nobles’ seats were occupied, other than a few empty ones here and there. I took note of the Immovable Houses represented: the Byrnes from the Fourth House, the Eiders from the Fifth, the Shannons from the Sixth, and so on. Two of the ten surviving Houses weren’t here. The Strouds’ seats were empty, as well as the Ruskins,’ the unlucky Eleventh House at the tail end of the line of inheritance.
On the left and right balconies were the Immortals, with their embroidered laurel leaves and stuffy high-collared tailcoats. Most upper-ranked citizens saw them as heroes, protectors of the language, defenders of purity. Not enough saw them for what they really were: a pompous bunch of zealots with no grasp of the reality around them.
The crowd waited with their eyes fixed on the balcony. Umbrellas nearly blocked my view, but I stood on my toes and peered around them.
All at once, a hush fell over the square.
The queen, escorted by Graham, emerged from the doors and walked toward the center of the balcony, her arm raised in a flourishing wave. After the tiniest delay, the onlookers greeted them with applause.
Where was the king?
The applause continued until the queen took her seat in a throne-like chair. Graham sat beside her, his mouth set in a line as straight as his eyebrows. He didn’t smile or wave. His mood had changed dramatically in the past hour and I was afraid to know why.
