by AE Watson
“Firstly, I’m not an ordinary lady, Egar. I’m a lady with a dragon. My plan will work. And secondly, that is exactly why I am giving you Ettelbruck, under Michael’s orders. You do not wish for the power, and therefore it is yours.” It was my turn to stare into his eyes and measure him by his reaction.
“Michael wishes this?” He was surprised again.
“With all his heart. I was to come here directly after Midland and arrange it. But Maddox ran off and I delayed my trip to find him first. Chance and the trail brought me here. I believe he in the city, though I have had no luck in finding him.”
“Will the wolf lord be a steward as well then?”
“Midland. I’d like for him to take over there.”
“Midland?” He scowled. “No surprise the king’s entire family there has ended up on your list then? Rotten bunch they were.”
“I haven’t killed him. Though I ought to have, the King of Midland left his people in complete squalor and disrepute and the citizens of Midland are crying for his head. The king and his family are hiding in Watergate City, they haven’t surfaced since,” I snarled.
“Why Maddox then?”
“Because Maddox is the most honorable man I’ve ever met. He will be a good steward for them. He’s strong and smart and hardworking. He won’t ask a single man to do something he wouldn’t himself do first. And he has honor. Something they have been short on for some time.”
“And if anyone misbehaves, he can shift and eat them.” Egar winked.
“You’re terrible.” I groaned, turning to view the street we were on. “We’re here.”
“Good. I’m starving. I suppose you’re stuffed from the pie?”
“I could manage to put away something.” I smiled and rubbed my stomach.
“Of course you could.” He let me climb out first when the carriage stopped. “Just don’t compare the pies to Colleen’s.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I said and followed him into the palace, noting it hadn’t changed in the years I’d been away.
It was one of the things I was most fond of in the North, everything was as you recalled it. A little bigger and maybe fancier, but the heart was the same. Predictable and safe. As if the world hadn’t changed. I wasn’t an assassin. And my family wasn’t dead. I was here visiting.
This was the sort of place you could hide away and pretend.
And some small part of me wanted to do just that.
Chapter 3
Dinner had been nearly as good as the pies at my inn, and finally, I was filled to the brim. Though that didn’t stop Egar from ordering more wine for us.
“Your Grace,” a servant girl offered me mulled wine in what I assumed was the finest goblet in the castle. Her deep bow and trembling fingers confirmed all sorts of rumors had reached the North.
“Thank you,” I said and took the fine golden chalice. “When did you have rubies added to your mother’s glasses, Cousin?” I teased Egar as she scurried away from the fire where we sat.
“Gods, she didn’t bring out that old relic, did she?” he groaned and rolled his eyes. “You have them all running scared, Amillia. Half of them think you’ll murder us all in the night. The other half think you’ll enlist them into some army of vengeance where they’ll fight alongside the fiercest vulkodlak.”
“How do you know I won’t do either?” I raised my eyebrows and sipped the perfectly brewed wine. It was spiced to remind me of the muffins Cook always made with apples and currants. They’d tasted more like a pie than a bread.
“I’m not as surprised by your role of assassin as I am by the manners with which you speak now. I can almost hear your mother in your tone. You’re different.” He challenged me, “Where is the precocious brat of a cousin I so fondly recall?”
I lowered my gaze, feeling the sting of his words though unintentional. “She has died I’m afraid. When I told you there would be just enough of me left to live a quiet life, I didn’t mean that girl.”
“I miss her. She was my favorite version of you. Always running around, wild and free and careless. You are quiet now. Reserved and still in a troubling way.”
“I miss her as well.” I sipped the wine and let it soothe me. “I used to daydream about living in the woods with Artan and leaving the royal life behind. I never imagined everything I would have to do to earn that life would shape me into something unrecognizable. It’s funny, the naivety of childhood and the stories we tell ourselves. I assumed with all those older brothers I could be free. Now I worry I will never find my freedom.”
“We cannot help but change. Especially in dark times. The fingers of crisis and tragedy seem to mold one with more strength than times of peace and beauty. I’d wager you have some new stories to tell from the last year. The lost Princess of Ettelbruck.” He sat back, his voice lowering so it no longer echoed over the great stone hall. “I’d like a full account, if you have it in you.”
Our conversation had taken the dark turn I’d hoped to avoid, but I couldn’t spare him the details. He needed to know it all. “A full account,” I whispered, dreading it. I hadn’t told the story to a single person. Not in its entirety. I almost didn’t know where to begin. But I knew what I would leave out. Michael and Ed’s lineage was their own business. If they wanted anything confirmed or denied, they could do that themselves.
“I’m sure it’s hard, but I need an idea of how this happened.” He must have noticed my struggle.
“Of course.” I took a larger gulp of wine, trying not to shudder with the size of it. My mind drifted over the details, pausing at some of the more gruesome moments. “It all started when Herrick came to visit us with his mother, a wretched woman.” I halted as a thought occurred. “No, I must go back further.”
He winced, no doubt seeing the agony on my face.
“Long before any of our parents were married, Herrick’s wicked mother was in love with my father. When they were younger, they had an affair of sorts. He didn’t marry her, though I think he loved her. In his way.” I sipped the wine, quite aware of how my father’s love was given in such a way that it kept you wanting more.
“She was a woman scorned then. Barrel’s wife?” Egar kept up though I imagined my words were missing important facts.
“Indeed. And then of course my father married my mother. It was early in the marriage when Barrel came to the castle to visit, raping my mother and impregnating her with Roland.”
He clenched his jaw, quite bothered by this part of the story. I knew that feeling too well.
“Knowing Barrel’s child was the heir to the throne, theirs was a waiting game. Slowly, over the years, he built his plan to take over all of the kingdoms. He poisoned everyone he could against my father, allowing them to mount the attack we suffered. Herrick and his mother had come to visit us, intent on marrying me to him.” The night of the assault would haunt my memories forever. It tainted my words, breaking up my voice as I spoke, “Herrick tried to force me in the horse barn.” My eyes flickered to his.
A grimace crept across Egar’s lips. “How’d he fare?”
“I beat him within an inch of his life and avoided the feast that night because of it. My grandmother hid me away, drugging me. I woke at Maddox’s house the next day. The fighting started then. They took Mother, Michael, Ed, and Grandmother as prisoners. Killed Father. And Roland took what he chose as his rightful place on the throne.”
“Though it was not and he knew it.”
“Precisely. He was aware of his lineage and disregarded it. I fled with Artan, my dragon,” I lowered my voice for that part. It was odd admitting after having spent so much time hiding him.
“And where did the dragon come from?” He smiled with the question.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” I beamed back, taking another sip of the wine.
The warmth of the flames flickering in the enormous fireplace danced in his eyes. “I suppose not. And how did you end up like this?” he asked, waving his hand at me.
“A specific way?” He puzzled.
I lifted my wrist. “This locket shows me the face of my next target. It’s how I know who to kill. When you said my actions seemed calculated, you were correct. With this locket and the years of training I have had, I set out for vengeance.”
“That all seems so premeditated. All of it. Not just the revenge but the assaults and betrayals.” He lifted his wooly eyebrows. “As if the gods themselves wanted this to happen.”
“I have wondered about that.” I kept the prophecy to myself.
“And the elf king, how does he fit into it all?” he asked with a hearty chuckle, clearly more aware of the details than I gave him credit for.
“My mother. She had arranged the marriage before she died. Unaware he was a weak man with a lust for the death of the—others. Wolves and such.” I didn’t elaborate. Grayson was hard enough to explain. “She wanted me to have the elven army to crush Barrel in case he ever acted on his placement of Roland as the heir.”
“Is it true you saw bears and fanged devils and wolves?”
My lips pressed into a tight grin. “You are well informed, Cousin.”
“Remarkable. I should like to see a bear before I die.” He finished off his goblet of wine and sat up, leaning forward. “You killed the elven king?”
“No. His sister killed him. She was the rightful ruler all along.”
“That sounds familiar.” He winked. “But you will forgo the throne and align the kingdoms under Michael?” We didn’t discuss my brother’s being wolves, but clearly he knew.
“Indeed. He is the best choice.”
“That he might be,” he said, his eyes dancing with the firelight and something else. Mischief perhaps. “But I can tell you now, there are those who will not follow him—”
“They have no—”
“Let me finish.” He leaned closer, not an easy feat for his size. “There are those who have been tainted by Barrel and Herrick. And there are those who believe Roland was the rightful heir. And then there are those, perhaps the largest group, who cannot imagine sending a woman to do a man’s job. Either that makes the woman special or the man weak.”
My cheeks heated with that, quite aware of what he spoke of.
“Michael and Ed didn’t fight for their lands. They let their little sister do it.”
“That’s not fair. I escaped that night. No one missed the little princess from the party—”
“I believe you, Cousin. I’ve seen Michael in battle. He is a skilled fighter who never shies away.” Egar shook his head slowly, struggling with the words. “But allowing you to seek the vengeance for your family’s betrayal and murders has weakened his claim to the throne. Not just that, but many people have seen him shift into the wolf.”
“That could be all lies and speculation. Michael is a brilliant ruler with the head of a king!” The conversation burned me.
“It’s not me you have to convince. And you are the wrong person to do the convincing. Everyone I know would bend the knee to you in a heartbeat. I have not heard a single person speak ill of you. Every little girl wants to be you when they grow up. Every woman wishes she had your spirit and strength and bravery. And the men respect you.” His words were stab wounds in my guts knowing I was the true heir.
I sat on my reply for a moment, mustering all the reserve and strength in me to not shout. “You and I know I am not fit. There isn’t a single noble bone in my body. My father always wanted Michael.”
He sat back again, his eyes dancing with the light but he offered no retort.
“What?” I asked.
“I think you give yourself too little credit.” He offered it off handedly. “You have grown into a formidable woman. You even sit properly now. No slouching.”
“And I think you give me too much credit. I am still prone to talking with my hands.”
“Perhaps, I do. Maybe it is because I am buttering you up for the ball tomorrow night.” He winked.
“Ball! I thought you were joking.” I burst. “I don’t have time for this.”
“Oh aye, Cousin. You have created nothing but tension with your little stunt coming here.” He scoffed but I could tell he was lighthearted. “You will be attending the ball. You owe me that in the very least.”
My want to argue and plead that I had to be on my way dissolved in the desperation in his stare. A warmth settled over me as I saw some of my father. The resemblance tugged at my heart and I knew I had to do this to protect him. “Of course I should be delighted to stay. What is the cause for the celebration?”
“Yule, of course. The first night.” He chuckled. “You have no idea what day it is, do you?”
“Yule? Already? I suppose I don’t.” I winced, realizing that if it was the first night of the celebration of lights tomorrow, I’d been gone much longer than I had intended. “I will be quite pleased to celebrate with you.” I lied and paused, realizing how much time had slipped away in my search for Maddox. “Though if I could beg of a favor of you to send word I am seeking Maddox, and if anyone finds him in the city, could they let you know. I would be forever grateful.”
“You might have stood a better chance of finding him had you asked me from the start. Lurking about the city has done nothing but waste your valuable time.”
“Yes, well, I see that now. Can you send word to Michael I am here and well?”
“It’s already done. The ravens flew the moment you arrived here. I told him you would be staying for the holiday.”
“Excellent.” I finished my wine and placed the goblet down. “But on that note, I should retire. I haven’t slept anywhere I consider home in ages and am exhausted.”
“Well, I hope you can rest easily here. Your room will be guarded. As will the hallway. This is your home and I will take no chances with your safety. My guards are loyal to you.” He scoffed. “More so than they are me.” He laughed but I knew it was a lie. “The infamous assassin princess under my roof.”
“Goodnight, Cousin.” I rolled my eyes and walked to the grand staircase, greeting each guard along the way. Notably, the amount of them had doubled since the last time I was here. Some blushed when they saw me. Others bowed so deeply they nearly tipped over, even in their armor.
When I got to my room, I locked the door and glanced about the dimly lit space. It was enormous. The room my parents normally occupied whenever we came to visit. I hurried to the window and opened it wide, listening for him. But there were no claws scraping roof tiles or bursts of hot breath in the air. Artan was clearly comfortable with my being here.
I turned back to the room and scanned it, searching for anything out of place. The dark corners and shadows seemed to move. But it was my mind playing tricks on me. There was nothing here but me and the gloriously large bed calling my name.
I stripped and hurried to the washbasin, cleaning quickly and climbing into the soft sheets. It was lush and indulgent, something I’d missed being in inns and on the road. Only the elves had a comfier bed than this, but I wouldn’t go back there. Not even with Clarabelle in charge.
My mind drifted and thoughts moved in waves and before long I was asleep. Contently asleep.
Chapter 4
The lights of the long, wide hallway glistened with the candles and gilded mirrors as I made my way to the grand staircase. I paused in a mirror, ignoring the guards pretending not to stare, and checked my reflection. The ladies had done my hair and makeup perfectly. I glowed with a sheen I hadn’t worn in ages and my hair was twisted up into a stunning knot on my head with soft curls falling in a couple of places.
/> The pale yellow gown, which was once my late aunt’s, fit like a glove, though it ought to after I spent the day being fitted into it and prepared for the ball. An occurrence that reminded me too much of my childhood. My mother and her gowns and events. A day of preparation only to be locked in my room to prevent me from getting dirty. How I used to hate her for that. And so much else. And now I would give everything in me to have her here, nagging and reminding and scolding. What I had once thought was cruelty was preparation.
The memories tugged at my soul, but I pushed them down and continued to the stairs, my stomach tight with nerves. As I drew closer to the party, the music filled the air, as did the scent of the many candles. I paused on the balcony, staring down at them all. Hundreds of ladies and gentlemen filled the great ballroom, dressed finely, mingling with rosy cheeks and sparkling stares. The smell of the feast wafted up with the warm air, making my stomach grumble. Artan had been noticeably absent since my arrival to the castle, but I suspected the roasted meats would bring him back tonight.
Eyes drifted up to the mezzanine where I stood, faces lit with smiles and delight. There was no fear or apprehension visible, though I was certain it lurked in there somewhere. Particularly after the heart pie story.
Egar beamed as he made his way to the stairs. I walked carefully, hating that every eye in the massive room was on me. My mother’s whispered warnings of the dangers of tripping and falling on one’s gown in a moment such as this crept around my mind. I focused and stopped when I reached Egar’s expectant arm, placing my gloved hand on his strong forearm.
“Good evening, Cousin,” he said quietly.
“Good evening.”
“You look lovely.”
“As do you,” I replied, beaming. “Is there a special lady you would like to introduce me to?”
“Absolutely not,” he muttered.
Cheeks lifted as the smiles widened and Egar led me through the crowd where everyone bowed and nodded as we made our way past.