AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She had expected him to taunt her, but she had not expected that. “Excuse me?” she questioned.
“Wesley said it was you who advocated for Mary to come here.”
There was little doubt who Mary was. “Everyone deserves a choice,” she said simply.
Richard’s face so often caught in a mischievous smile or amusement fell. “I’m sorry for that day, Wren. I hate that I tricked you and I hate knowing what could have happened.”
There weren’t words for how she felt about his apology. There was pain in the memory of that day. Pain when she thought of how she had believed she could go home. Pain in the thought of what fate had awaited her if Malaki hadn’t stopped her. Pain in the knowledge that home was worlds away.
Richard seemed to accept her silence as punishment. As soon as the music ended he pressed a kiss to her hand and left the hall.
“Gods, what did you do to him?” said Sophie, appearing next to her.
Wren looked at the direction the younger prince had gone in and said, “I think he realized that some mistakes can’t be undone.”
Sophie turned to her, obviously wanting to question her more, but Wren shook her head.
“Have you fulfilled your obligations? I am suddenly quite ready to be done with this evening.” Sophie nodded and they made their way from the ballroom.
Wren turned her head, sparing a glance for Malaki who watched them go.
When they were free, Sophie growled. “I am going to burn this cursed dress. Will you be okay?”
Wren laughed and agreed that she would. They separated, and she was grateful that there were no guards to follow her. Apparently, the king thought her well and truly imprisoned now. As she settled into her bed, well and truly exhausted, a knock came from her door.
Wren opened the door, revealing Sophie in her nightclothes. “Sophie?”
Sophie only pushed past her and said, “Oh, I’m sorry. Did you think I was going to leave you alone after last night? I rather think not.”
Wren smiled at her haughty friend and embraced her. In truth, Wren was anxious about sleeping alone, and she had taken the key and locked the door leading to Malaki’s room which helped to alleviate one anxiety only to elevate another.
The women giggled as they got into the bed and as they curled up under the sheets they laughed at the spectacle of the court and at the gossip of the night. As Wren finally fell asleep she realized that she was happy.
Chapter 17
Dreamsofbeinglostand trapped plagued her sleep, but she did not wake in the night. When Wren awoke, it was to sheets and blankets strewn about and sweat dampening her skin. She sat up and looked around the room, feeling the weight of the unknown on her.
Wren felt burdened by the knowledge that something was happening to her, but she didn’t know what it was. Having enough of the unknown, Wren decided that she would go against Malaki’s express orders. There was one person who knew why she was here and he was the one who had brought her here. She knew that she needed to speak with the Bishop, for better or worse.
Sophie had already woken up and left to do whatever it was that she did during the day. Wren put on a pale blue silk dress that covered her mark and left her hair undone in loose curls. She went to Lady Daugherty’s lesson and impatiently waited through each lecture and reprimand. Wren bit the inside of her cheek when Lady Daugherty chastised her for being too open and easily read at the previous night’s dinner.
As much as Wren needed to learn how to survive in the court, she didn’t want to become one of them. Being genuine wasn’t a fault; it was something to be proud of.
When she was finally free of the lessons, she made her way to the palace chapel where she was told she would find the Bishop. When she got to the chapel, she was struck by how large and beautiful it was. It had rows of pews that led to a dais where there were many candles lit that illuminated an elaborate stained glass window.
She walked down the aisle, needing to see the window up close. It depicted five people, one man, set aside from the rest. One woman and two men together on the right side of the window and in the middle a young woman standing alone. Below her were rolling fields with houses and people going about their daily lives.
“The story of Valmere,” said a nasally voice behind her.
Wren whirled around to see a man she had only seen twice before. Fear and hatred fought for control of her as memories crashed against her. She saw Cara’s face so full of life rendered lifeless. Her breath seemed to rush out of her and there wasn’t enough air, but she fought down the panic against the need that brought her here. She tried to quiet the part of her mind that told her to run from him, that screamed murderer. She had come here to get answers and she would endure whatever pain she had to in order to get them. She pushed down the screaming in her mind and forced all the decorum and grace Lady Daugherty had taught her to the surface.
“The story of the five gods,” she replied with more calm than she felt
He raised an eyebrow. “Indeed. Lucius, our creator, and his siblings Adrius, Lera, Agratious, and Serephina.”
“Do you worship them here?” She held back the mountain of questions she had.
He lifted his hands to his waist with his palms forward. “We recognize the worth of all the gods, but recognize their grace and goodwill differs in where they bestow it.”
