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She pulled back, her smile still in place, until she said in a slightly scolding tone, “But, you also agreed to replenish all of our crops in a sealed bargain?”
I cringed, knowing her disapproval was coming next.
Sure enough, she let out a frustrated sigh. “Although I’m happy that you’ve finally bloomed, that was a very foolish decision, Ilara. How could anyone possibly fulfill that? It’s one thing to revive a small garden but another thing entirely to replenish a continent’s land mass.”
“I know.” I shook my head, still feeling sluggish from the unconsciousness I’d awoken from. “I did it in hopes that he’d be forced to let me go and leave me to live in peace.”
“Yet, it still requires you fulfilling the bargain in order for that to occur.”
I winced. “Right, well...in my defense, I was drunk when I did it.”
Her jaw dropped, and I wanted to smack a pillow over my head.
“If it’s any consolation,” I added in a rush, “the prince is convinced I’m capable of replenishing the continent’sorem, even though I’ve spent the past week trying to revive a field in Harrivee with nothing to show for it.”
“And if he’s wrong and youcan’t, you’re bound to him indefinitely.”
This time, I did smack a pillow over my face.
“So, not only did he kill Tormesh for speaking the truth last season about the dying crops, and then our parents when they came to the court to ask what became of him, but now Prince Norivun is demanding thatyoufix our continent’s dying crops after finally admitting thereisa problem?” She let out a disgusted sound. “What a load of hypocritical domal dung.”
I pulled the pillow from my face to see Cailis scowling. And witnessing her righteous anger stirred the flame inside me, the fire that had raged so hotly when I’d first met the crown prince of the Court of Winter over a month ago. I’d forgotten...no, not forgotten...I’d temporarily dismissed what he’d done to our family, letting him charm me over the past week, but he was a murderer.
How did I forget that?
“I’m an imbecile,” I said with a groan.
Cailis’s expression softened. “I suppose what’s done is done. We’ll have to deal with it now.” She patted my hand. “Enough of all of that, though. How are you feeling? You scared the daylights out of me last night when they brought you back to this room unconscious.”
“I’m okay. I guess.” I laid a hand on my stomach where that ever-present sensation rumbled. And to think all along what I’d been feeling were my affinities, not indigestion. “It’s a lot to take in, though. I’m still coming to terms with it.”
So much had happened since the prince’s Betrothed Ball last evening. I still couldn’t believe that I’d shared a scorching encounter with the murderer of my family on the throne room’s balcony, only to then be attacked by Vorl and be entered into the Rising Queen Trial.
I shivered when I recalled how my village’s archon had nearly choked the life from me.
Tilting my neck, I ran a finger against my skin.
Cailis frowned. “Does your throat still hurt?”
“It’s tender, which I suppose shouldn’t be surprising considering Vorl nearly crushed my windpipe.”
“Bastard.” She seethed. “At least he’s been arrested. That’s the only good thing that’s come out of this.”
“Agreed.”
“Now, we just need to get you out of that Trial.”
Another knock came on the door, and then Sandus, the prince’s personal guard who he’d assigned to me, peeked in.
He wore traditional colored clothing—blue, black, and silver. As always, two swords peeked out from beneath his wings, one on either side of him in a crisscross pattern, and his beard looked freshly trimmed.
“There’s someone here to see you, love.”
My spine stiffened. I could only imagine it would be Prince Norivun striding into the room.
Sandus opened the door wider, and my heart thumped painfully, but it was Sir Featherton, the Rising Queen Trial archon, who sauntered into my chambers.
Sir Featherton had introduced the other three females in the Trial just last night—Lady Meegana Ockson, Lady Georgyanna Endalaver, and Lady Beatrice Leafton.
