AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I did not say he had also been my instructor in all subjects except divination. My parents could not have afforded different instructors for different subjects, nor could they afford a better tutor for me.
“I don’t think it’s your teacher’s fault,” Aislinn said. “That part of history is not common knowledge.”
“How do you know this, then?” I asked.
We were nearing our dorms. Perhaps that was why Aislinn made us stop. She turned and faced me.
“There are certain historians who are not afraid to tell the truth,” she replied. “They are lost for that reason, but their work remains with the ones seeking the truth.”
“Why would they be afraid?” I asked.
Aislinn smiled.
“Don’t worry about that,” she replied. “Just know this. The ruler of the Seelie was chosen by the diviners for centuries. The history books no longer mention that, but the older generations remember. They are not allowed to talk about it, but the knowledge did not die. Anyone who wants to replace the queen would know that it is impossible. So, no, the queen does not have enemies inside the palace. Master Leo’s murderers cannot be among the queen’s enemies.”
She gave me a look as though she thought I knew the answer that was hanging in the air.
I did not.
“So Master Leo had his own enemies?” I asked.
Aislinn’s expression tightened.
“No, Feremir,” she snapped. “You deny the obvious. You saw a crown being broken. The queen told you not to tell anyone about your prophecy. I told Master Leo about it. Master Leo wanted to talk to you. He was agitated and looked scared when he took you back to his office. And then, before he could talk to you, he was killed. Think about it. Who wanted him to keep silent? There is only one answer.”
My chest tightened. Before he had been killed, Master Leo had said that my prophecy could mean the queen was going to be replaced by someone else. He was suspicious that I’d foreseen the end of her reign. I wanted to tell Aislinn that, but she was looking me in a way that made me want to hide from her.
Could she be saying what I thought she was saying? The words would not come, but Aislinn did not let go.
“The queen,” she whispered. “She wanted to keep the prophecy a secret. And Master Leo was talking.”
The air between us was thick as I stared at her with a new gaze.
Aislinn, the girl I liked, was accusing the queen of killing Master Leo. My mind could not wrap around that. It was...
“That’s treason,” I whispered. “And why would she? She is...”
Good. Kind. Compassionate. Loving...
There were many words that I could come up with to describe the Queen of Light. What Aislinn said next was not among them.
“A tyrant...”
“No!” I raised my voice. “You cannot say that. She is kind and... She loves us all. She would not. You are...”
I did not want to blame Aislinn. We both knew what I was going to say. Traitor. Aislinn was a traitor. But just like the queen, Aislinn had a special place in my heart, and I could not brand her as such.
The words did not come.
Still, her eyes widened with shock.
“You lost your sister,” she mumbled. “She was... The queen sent her to the trials. She is dead because of her. And yet, you defend the queen?”
“My sister is not lost,” I told her and saw the shock on her face. Her lips quivered as if she could not believe it. “The Unseelie have her.”
I would not tell Aislinn that Jasmine might be working with the enemy. I would not suggest that to anyone.
“She lives?” Aislinn asked excitedly. “How do you know?”
