by T. K. Perry
“Tell everyone you made a mistake. That you can smell me; it’s just faint.”
“Why would I do that?” he demanded, once again meeting her eyes.
“Because I’ll pay you.” Lexi evaluated his perturbed frown, her shoulders slumping as she released her breath. “Because my very kind father asked me to keep this secret, and he would be so upset if it got out,” she pleaded, allowing her emotions to show on her face.
“That’s a better reason, but still a lousy one.”
“The assembly is in less than an hour. Then you’ll know I am who I say I am. We can talk again afterwards,” Lexi said, regaining her reserve.
“When you’re the first female governor?” Ryp snickered.
“Yes,” Lexi said, wishing she had waited to confront him.
“Sounds good to me. Can I go now, Your Highness?”
Lexi fought a cringe at the title and wondered again what she was doing. “Of course,” she said coldly, opening the door herself. She was relieved to see the girl with the unpleasant laugh had disappeared, but the conversation weighed on her. As he stepped out behind her, she turned to face him.
“I require your silence,” she said stonily.
Ryp snorted. “I think I liked it better when you were pretending I smelled like manure.”
With a carefully blank expression, Lexi walked away.
Chapter Fifteen
Both guards were outside her room, greeting her with discreet nods as she caught a tidbit of the heated argument within. Squaring her shoulders, she pushed open the door.
“Your Highness,” Anna said, jumping to her feet to bob a little curtsy. “Please help me reason with Van; he’s being completely obstinate,” she accused, dropping back to her stool with a vindictive pout.
Van unfolded himself from the little stool with an uncomfortable laugh, gave Lexi a slow bow, and offered her his hand. Lexi dismissed it with a polite shake of her head and remained standing in the doorway.
“Don’t embarrass yourself, Anna,” Van replied, still standing and smiling awkwardly. “This is a family matter. We’ll take our discussion elsewhere so we don’t bother you, Your Highness.”
“I’ve hardly eaten,” Anna protested, gesturing at her full plate. Van quickly swallowed his perturbed expression and let out another uncomfortable laugh.
“Please, remain and finish your meal,” Lexi soothed. "Limen will be leaving the mountain this evening if you’re up to traveling with him. If not, I am certain, Anna, that your brother will fulfill his family obligation and escort you to the palace in your father’s absence.”
“Limen is leaving? The Governor is leaving?” Anna clarified as Van stared, his large mouth agape.
“Yes. I’ve relieved him of his post and will remain here in his place.” Lexi wanted to laugh at their expressions, she had never seen either one of them so stripped of the social varnish they usually wore.
“You relieved him,” Anna repeated, waiting for Lexi’s nod before continuing. “And you’re not marrying Van, and you’re ordering him to take me to the palace?” A gleam of jubilation lit Anna’s eyes as she spoke.
“Surely I needn’t order your brother to accompany you. A male relative always accompanies an in-season noble to the palace. Your father is still away, is he not?”
Anna nodded, her triumphant grin enveloping her face.
“Then the duty falls to Van,” Lexi concluded with a superficial smile.
Van let out another uncomfortable laugh as he scrubbed his forehead with the palm of his hand. Absently, he rubbed his brows vigorously, his face increasingly serious. “We should travel with Limen,” he finally asserted, brows wild as he dared his sister to defy him.
She gave him a little sniff of assent that poorly disguised her delight. “And Talan will remain here with you?” Anna asked, a hint of regret in her voice.
Lexi’s hesitation was slight as she chose her words carefully. “I will encourage him to leave as well.”
“Then you’ll release him?” Anna confirmed happily.
Another slight pause accompanied her response. “If he agrees to leave.”
“But wasn’t it Limen who locked him up?”
“Yes,” Lexi answered, her lips tight in her courteous smile.
Furrowing her brow, Anna glanced questioningly at her dazed brother. “I think I have been misinformed. What is the charge against Talan?”
Lexi glanced at Van's guilty expression, then squared her shoulders. “Fighting.”
Lady’s Anna’s brows rose in evident surprise. “With Limen?”
Lexi stood taller as her words flowed in an authoritative stream. “I will release Talan now so he may accompany you or bid you farewell.” She nodded and turned away, then realized how much she must look and sound like her mother. Inwardly groaning, she turned back to give them a brief smile before she stepped back into the hallway. Both guards glanced at her, awaiting orders.
“Remain with Anna,” she directed the guard with spotted white wings.
The gray-winged guard lifted his eyebrows in question and she nodded, pleased that he fell into step behind her without her having to ask. She had considered ordering him down to the dungeon to fetch Talan, but she desperately needed to speak to Tiger as well, and she doubted he would leave his cell at her command. When she approached the steps down to the dungeon, the guard's heavy footfalls stopped, and Lexi turned to look at his hesitant face.
“Yes, I must,” she said, answering his unspoken question. Without a word, he once more fell into step behind her.
At the gate, Pol stood and gave her an awkward bow, his hands fidgeting with the keys. “What prisoner can I bring to you?” he asked politely.
“One that won’t come,” she answered simply, pointing to the gate’s lock.
Pol fingered the proper key and spoke in an undertone. “Word of the fight has already spread.” He shook his head uncomfortably. “It’s not safe.”
Lexi swallowed. “Then tell Tiger Swallowtail that you’re moving him to a different cell for his own safety, then bring him to the gate.”
Pol shrugged, absently scratching the back of his neck. “Well, he’s not in any danger. Do you want me to drag him out?”
“Tell him he has two minutes to come out or I’m going in,” Lexi said, her voice betraying irritation.
Poll nodded and unlocked the gate, slipped through quickly, and carefully locked it behind him. “Policy,” he explained with an uncomfortable grin, then hurried away.
Lexi held her breath, listening to the cacophony of disgruntled inmates as she waited.
Tiger scowled as he turned the corner, Pol tailing behind him. “I’m not leaving,” he announced, his swelling eye now pitifully swollen shut.
Lexi felt ridiculous tears well up in her eyes at the sight of him. She blinked rapidly and turned to face her guard. “Wait for me on the stairs, please.” As she turned back to Pol, she prayed the tears were gone. “Pol, we’ll need a moment.”
The old graying guard nodded and retreated back into the dungeon, jingling the ring of keys against his thigh.
As soon as she met Tiger’s irritable gaze, her eyes began to swim again, and she quickly looked away.
“What did you do, Lex?” Tiger asked, his voice soft with dread.
“I sent Limen away. I’m the governor,” she announced, laughing weakly as she dashed away her tears with an impatient hand.
“Oh, Lex,” he said quietly, unconsciously stepping closer to the bars. “Why?”
“He was unhappy. Mona’s unhappy. I can’t go home.”
“But you haven’t announced it yet?” Tiger asked, gripping the bars.
“No,” she said, glancing at him quickly, then looking away. “But it’s done.”
“Tell Limen you made a crazy mistake. Tell him you were kidding. Just take it back,” Tiger urged, his grip on the bars tightening.
“No! It was the right thing to do,” she declared, her tears suddenly drying up. “It was the only thing to do.”
Tiger let his head thunk against the bars. “Of all the moth-brained declarations...”
“What would you have me do, Tiger?” she demanded, glaring at him until he met her gaze.
“Well, I think I just told you.”
She balled her hands into fists, her nails digging into her palms. “Marry me,” she commanded.
Tiger stumbled backwards with a surprised guffaw. “Are you kidding?”
“No. Marry me right now.”
Tiger dropped his gaze, his jaw shifting sideways as he smiled. “You really—”
“No joking, please,” Lexi interrupted.
“How did you know I was going to?”
“You have a tell. Now,” Lexi took a big breath that hurt her lungs. “Will you marry me or not?”
Tiger let out a deflated sigh. “Lex, I can’t just abandon my mother to be punished for my actions.”
Lexi bobbed a nod. “That’s a good point,” she conceded, avoiding his gaze. “So you won’t?”
“I can’t.”
Lexi nodded again, then looked past him. “Pol!”
Tiger fell back another step at this sudden dismissal. “Lex...”
“Pol, release Talan,” she commanded, her shoulders squared and her face carefully blank.
“What?!” Tiger demanded, returning to the bars in agitation.
“And return Mr. Swallowtail to his cell, please,” Lexi commanded, still not meeting Tiger’s gaze.
“Lex, this is stupid. Don’t release him. Don’t do any of it. Lex, you can’t!” Tiger pleaded angrily.
Lexi turned steely eyes on him, her voice emotionless. “Yes, I can.” Turning, she walked briskly to the stairs where her guard waited.
“Lex don’t do this! Lex!” Tiger called, his face still pressed against the bars despite Pol’s dutiful grasp on his arm.
Lexi stiffly ascended the stairs, not looking back. At the top, she waited, watching the crowds exit the ballroom for the assembly. The inevitable hickory and cloves hit her senses before she saw him.
“You changed your mind,” Talan grinned, possessively reaching for her arm.
Lexi stepped away and put her guard between them. “I haven’t changed my mind. I am releasing you so that you can say goodbye to Van and Anna or, preferably, join them. They’re leaving tonight with Limen.”
“Anna is here? And Limen is leaving?” He shook his head incredulously. “Why is Limen leaving? Did the King send a new governor?”
“I am the new governor,” Lexi answered coolly, nodding when her guard looked aghast. “Limen will announce it in a few minutes. I suggest you find Van and Anna.”
Talan laughed incredulously, searched her face, then laughed again before suddenly sobering. “You’re staying? Here?”
“Yes.”
Talan shook his head. “What about my estate? I can’t stay here.” He frowned at the wall before making eye contact again. “Are you getting married?”
“No,” she answered, her voice faltering slightly.
Talan gave a little snort of mirth. “Then why are you doing this?” He shook his head. “You’re ruining my life.”
“The feeling is mutual,” Lexi answered in an undertone as she moved away.
“Just marry me and leave,” Talan pleaded, following her. “I’ll let you have your maid. You’ll be comfortable on my estate. You can see your father. You can be around horses. You’ll have your own room. Don’t send Limen home. It will take forever to get another governor here, and my season might not last that long. Princess, please.” At his last words, he grasped her hand, but she pulled it away and turned to face him.
“I am very sorry things have not turned out well for you, but much of that was your own doing. I have to go.”
Lexi numbly followed her guard into a huge amphitheater that was already three-quarters full with more people streaming in at every moment. She noticed several perturbed glares on the faces of strangers, and drew herself taller, her weary expression tightening into a careful smile. The irony felt thick enough to choke on. She had left home to avoid her position, and now she would willingly assume another. Mentally she calculated how long it would be before her parents found out what she had done, appointed a new governor (assuming Limen’s season ended before they could make him return), and sent the replacement with flying guardsmen to force her home. No more than a month, she decided. She could bear that. No point in staying longer if she couldn’t have Tiger. Ridiculous how it all came down to that, she thought, mentally chiding herself. Limen was at her side now, his face fraught with excitement and insecurity.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Limen asked. “It’s not too late to change your mind.”
“Make the announcement,” Lexi commanded, her throat thick with the words. She stood in the wings of the stage and watched Limen walk out to the center, raising his hands for attention. The deafening sound of the crowd slowly dropped to a murmur.
“I, Limen Viceroy, have served as your governor for nearly a year.” Limen began, his sonorous voice carrying well. “But this evening I have been relieved of my duties. My sister-in-law, the Princess Lexi Monarch, now assumes my position. Please welcome your new governor. Your Highness?” Limen held out one hand, waiting for Lexi to join him on stage.
With palpable dread, she forced herself forward, gracefully taking his hand and smiling out to the crowd, then releasing it as she turned to face them. For a moment, the shocked silence was complete.
“I have hidden my identity since I arrived here. Thus, some of you may know me as Raven Fritillary.” Lexi scanned the audience for familiar faces, but the solar lanterns at her feet obscured the murmuring audience. “But I am the third-born of the triplet princesses. My sister, Princess Mona, greatly misses her husband, your governor. So tonight, I send him home to her. I shall remain in his place with two officiants who are authorized to perform marriages.” Lexi hesitated only a second, unsure if she should say more. “Please join me in thanking Limen Viceroy for his service,” she finished smoothly, beginning the applause.
Limen nodded acknowledgment of the perfunctory clapping, but his lips thinned into a tight line as the lackluster applause began to peter out.
“Time to go, Limen,” Lexi prodded in an undertone, still clapping with a warm smile plastered to her face.
Limen nodded and exited the stage with Lexi close on his heels, the applause quickly giving way to an uproar of shocked conversation.
“Niiice speeches,” Beck drawled, opening a backstage door for them to exit.
“I should brief you,” Limen said without attempting to look back and see her. His enormous yellow and black wings so filled the narrow corridor that it would have been nearly impossible to make eye contact.
“Your officiants can do so. Anna and Van will be departing with you. Have you chosen your escorts?” Lexi responded to Limen’s wings.
“Yes. I promised to pay them when I reached home.”
“Surely they needn’t travel so far with you. I’ll pay them to take you to Scio, and you can gather agents of the crown to take you the rest of the way.” Lexi waited for his answer, watching his wings twitch with irritation.
“I would prefer to fly with my escort as long as possible,” Limen finally responded, the sound coming through gritted teeth.
“And if their seasons end in your service?” Lexi let the question hang in the air before continuing. “Once you make it down the mountain, delay is in your favor. If you’re still in season when you reach home, Mother will send you right back.”
“Then I won’t go directly home.”
Lexi caught the guilty tone in his voice. “Where is it you want to go, Limen?”
Limen had reached the top of the stairs and stepped out into the corridor, murmuring something to his guards that caused them to back away. He turned to face her, glaring at Beck until he retreated back down the stairs behind her. When Limen felt he had sufficient privacy, he leaned forward confidentially. “It’s best if I communicate w
ith the...others in person.”
“Oh no, it isn’t. You will go right home to my sister and beg her forgiveness,” Lexi commanded in clipped tones reminiscent of her mother.
“And if they hear I’m home, and show up on our doorstep?” Limen demanded, too loudly. He glanced at Beck, who turned away whistling. “I have to make sure they will stay away.”
Lexi turned her face away to hide the expression of perfect loathing that adorned it. After a deep breath, she turned back expressionless. “When you are begging my sister’s forgiveness, wouldn’t it be simpler if you didn’t also have to confess where you stopped on the way home?”
“Mona needn’t know...” he began.
“I’ll tell her. That, I will tell her,” Lexi promised as she marched past him.
Limen’s expression turned sullen, making him look like a spoiled child as he followed her. He opened his mouth to speak, then thought better of it, and simply nodded. “We should hurry,” he said resignedly, "before we’re overrun by the masses.”
“Too late,” Beck said cheerfully as the crowds began to press at the guards behind them.
“Hey, Viceroy!” someone shouted angrily.
Limen paled, then renewed his hurried pace down the corridor. “Erid!” he called urgently, flying the last few paces to the cluster of guards before him. “Shut the doors and guard the balconies. No one else leaves tonight,” he commanded. Erid ran to execute his commands while the other guards hurried alongside Limen just ahead of the crowds.
Beck snorted at Lexi's side as they followed closely behind. “He better run.”
Lexi gave him a questioning glance, wondering if she ought to fear the crowds as well.
“The man has a lot of enemies, and no title to protect him,” Beck explained, quickening his pace as the rear guard caught up with them and the crowds merged from the two hallways.
“They can’t think I won’t punish them if they try to hurt Limen,” Lexi argued.
Beck glanced back at the teeming crowd. “You’d best make some quick examples so they know.”
Lexi followed his gaze, noting the angry determination on the faces of several. She stopped abruptly and turned to face the growing mob. The rear guardsmen nearly collided with her before spinning to face the crowd, batons drawn.