Glass Kingdom

by M. Lynn

  Glass Kingdom © 2019 M. Lynn

  * * *

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Edited by Melissa Craven

  Proofread by Patrick Hodges

  Cover by Covers by Combs

  Contents

  The Six Kingdoms

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  What’s Next?

  Glass Princess

  About M. Lynn

  For Bri,

  the first person who told me I should publish all those years ago. Your support and friendship has pushed me. We’ve come a long way together and we have a long way yet to go.

  Chapter One

  One day, when trying to remember the first time she’d seen him, Helena would think of the energy sparking in the air around him.

  The unknown boy should have been no match for the broad man before him, yet the crowd cheered as if the fight would go on forever.

  Boxing was a revered sport on the coast of Madra. Not that her parents had ever allowed Helena to attend a match.

  But this wasn’t an organized fight. There was no arena surrounding them, only a circle of onlookers. Their noise had drawn the small-framed girl dressed in her brother’s clothing.

  Helena pulled the cap on her head down over her ears to further hide the ebony locks pinned underneath.

  There were two rules in Madran boxing. Never step out of bounds and never use the heel of your hand. Everything else was fair game.

  The boy with lively blue eyes ducked an oncoming punch, but didn’t move quickly enough and his opponent’s fist grazed the side of his head. He reeled back, stumbling before dropping to his knees.

  The bigger man moved to strike again, and the boy fell sideways only to receive a kick to the abdomen.

  Helena’s stomach roiled. She wanted to scream, to tell them to stop, but a hand clenched around her arm.

  “Princess,” a low voice said in her ear. “Do not say a word.”

  Fear ripped into her until the man holding her pushed back his hood, revealing a head of blonde hair and a scowl only reserved for her.

  “Let me go, Edmund.”

  “I will release you, but you aren’t to leave.” He lifted his hand, watching her for any sign she’d bolt. When she stayed, he turned his attention to the oversized man who continued to brutalize the smaller man.

  Edmund walked forward and pushed aside his cloak, revealing a sword. The attacker froze.

  “Orlo.” Edmund’s voice was calm, but Helena detected the ice in his words. “Challenging children to fights now?”

  Helena winced at the children remark. The boy looked no younger than her eighteen years. When Edmund first arrived at their shores, she’d been smitten with him. Then she got to know the oaf, and he became just another one of her brothers.

  Orlo grunted and wiped his bloody knuckles on his pants. “This ‘kid’ needs to learn respect.”

  Edmund made a sound in the back of his throat. “You know as well as I that whatever Dell did won’t be anywhere near your punishment for fighting outside a proper match.” He jerked his head. “Go, and I won’t report this incident to the king… or the priesthood.”

  Fear sparked in Orlo’s eyes at the mention of the order. No one in Madra wanted to face the white-cloaked lawmakers and their prison cells. Orlo didn’t hesitate to run once given the chance.

  “How do you expect to keep this from father?” Helena asked. “They were in the middle of the city.” She threw a nervous look over her shoulder. “You know as well as I the priesthood has eyes everywhere.”

  Edmund walked toward the boy who must have been Dell and bent down. “Your father and his dogs will hear of this alright. But you don’t understand this city, Len. There isn’t a single person who will turn Orlo or Dell over for questioning.” He placed two fingers against the boy’s neck. “Well, he’s alive, so there’s that at least.” Blowing the hair out of his face, he straightened and glanced around at the gathering crowd. “Don’t you have better things to do?”

  He shook his head as they scattered and then turned to Helena. “You and I will have words once Dell is tended to.” He hefted Dell onto his shoulder as if he weighed nothing. “Come.”

  She ran to keep up with Edmund’s long strides. He led her through the crowded city as if he’d lived there his entire life. In reality, he’d only been in Madra for the past two years, serving as the ambassador from Bela. There were rumors winding their way through the palace about Edmund and his relationship to the queen and king of Bela. Some said they were close, others spoke of imprisonments. Each story ended with Edmund requesting an assignment far from the kingdom he’d fought a war to save.

  Helena wasn’t complaining though. She had four brothers, but none understood her as much as Edmund.

  “Edmund,” she started. She needed to explain her presence in the city. It was forbidden by the laws and traditions of Madra for a princess to leave the walls of the palace unaccompanied and unmasked.

  “Not here.” He turned into a narrow alley running between two pale-brick buildings, leading to a busy street.

  Curious Madran eyes followed them, but Edmund was well known, and most feared to be in his presence. Those stories from the palace? They also spoke of his magic. Something Helena had never seen and had trouble believing existed.

  Two years ago, Madran troops were sent to aid the Belaen queen in her war against La Dame. Persinette Basile took her kingdom back and those Madran troops who fought by her side came home with the most marvelous tales of magic. The minstrels, fascinated with their tall tales of magic and spells, turned the soldiers’ stories of the Belaen queen into epic songs.

  Even the mercenaries who’d fought with Dracon against the royal Madran forces had their share of tales for anyone brave enough to approach them.

  Belaens. Draconians. They were all feared for what they could do. Madran mercenaries were feared for who they were. Righteous bastards with loyalty to no crown. They pledged allegiance to one thing: gold. Was this Dell one of them? One of those causing trouble in the streets of Madra?

  The priesthood worked to expel all mercenaries from the city, but occasionally a few would appear in the taverns or among the seedier shops on the outskirts of the city. Helena scanned her surroundings
as Edmund led her between those shops.

  Edmund ducked into a doorway at the end of the square and ushered Helena in before closing the heavy wooden door, shutting out all sunlight.

  Small candles along one wall gave the only hint of light. If it weren’t for the tendrils of cinnamon floating through the air, Helena would have suspected he’d led her into a tomb.

  Edmund lifted a hand and the flames on the candles grew larger.

  “Did you do that?” Her eyes rounded, fear gripping her chest as she took a step back.

  Edmund ignored her. “Mari,” he called, charging toward an open door. “Mari, we need you and Corban.”

  A middle-aged woman with deep lines in her face appeared in the doorway, took one look at Dell, and pointed to a bed on the far wall.

  Edmund set him down as a young boy skipped into the room. He froze when he saw them.

  Mari’s warm eyes gazed at the child. “We need you, Corban.”

  Corban shook his head and glanced at Helena.

  Edmund stepped forward. “It’s okay. He’s a friend.”

  It took Helena a moment to realize he meant her. She was still disguised in her brother’s clothes. These people couldn’t find out who she was no matter how much Edmund trusted them.

  She only nodded, deciding that speaking would give her away.

  Corban sighed.

  Mari ran a hand over the top of the boy’s head. “He’s worried. Magic might not be outlawed in Madra as it once was in Gaule, but the fear still exists within the city. If word got out… we don’t know what would happen to him.”

  Helena wanted to ask what Mari meant, but couldn’t find the right words. Edmund seemed to sense the question and mouthed ‘later’ before crouching in front of Corban. “How many times have I come to you, Corban?”

  The boy shrugged.

  Edmund smiled fondly. “A lot. You and I are bonded by magic. Mari too. In this city that’s very rare. You can trust me. I won’t lead you into danger.”

  Corban nodded. “I trust you.”

  Edmund smiled and straightened before gripping Corban’s shoulder and guiding him to the bed.

  Dell murmured something unintelligible as the young boy placed his palms against the unconscious man’s chest.

  Nothing happened.

  Helena looked to Edmund, but he focused on Dell’s face.

  As she glanced back to Dell, the bruises receded and Helena sucked in a breath. Dell’s cut lip stitched itself back together. Helena stumbled back until her butt hit the wall.

  Every scratch, every blemish faded away, leaving unmarked bronze skin. Crimson blood still streaked through his jaw length, sun-bleached hair.

  He was older than she’d thought him to be during the fight. Dell.

  She shook her head vigorously. “This isn’t possible.”

  Mari, who had yet to speak a word to Helena, watched her out of the corner of her eye. The princess pulled her cap down further under the scrutinizing gaze. She knew, didn’t she?

  Did she know?

  Panic clawed at her throat.

  Edmund crossed toward her and dropped his voice. “We have a lot to talk about.”

  “Aw, Edmund.” A rich voice called from the bed. “Not going to stay to make sure Corban’s mojo is still working?”

  Edmund rounded on him. “Five. The number of times I’ve had to bring you here in the last three months. Do you have a death wish, Dell?”

  Dell’s vibrant eyes darkened. “Those weren’t all my fault and you know it.”

  “Darn it, Dell.” Edmund pulled at the ends of his hair. “If you die…”

  Helena didn’t know what they were talking about, but curiosity had her moving closer.

  “I’m not going to die,” Dell said simply.

  “The illegal fights. Stealing. Do you even have a head on those shoulders?”

  An angry flush rose in the young man’s face as if he was about to explode. Helena grabbed Edmund’s arm. “Edmund, leave him be.”

  Dell’s anger snapped away in an instant as his eyes fixed on Helena, seeing her for the first time. “Who do we have here?” He sat up to peer closer. “You don’t think you’re fooling anyone in that getup, do you, miss?”

  Helena ripped the hat from her head. Her dark curls spilled out, and she turned to Edmund. “Am I that obvious?”

  Edmund bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling. “Only to scoundrels and deceivers themselves, my dear.” His eyes flicked to each person in the room. “Mari, Corban, I am once again in your debt. I’ll pay for this idiot’s care. Don’t let him return home for a few days. The news of the fight will have spread and we must prevent questions should the king hear.”

  He turned to Dell with a scowl. “The next time I see you in an illegal boxing match, I’m leaving you in the bloody dirt. Fool. Orlo should have gutted you.”

  Dell flashed a smile that spoke of no cares. “But then who would you yell at every day?”

  Edmund grunted.

  “You’d miss this pretty face. Go on, Edmund. Admit it. You care about me.”

  Edmund’s stern facade cracked, and a laugh slipped through. “Okay, Dell. We’re leaving.”

  “Have fun!” He waggled his eyebrows.

  They stepped into the front room and Edmund pointed to her hat. “Don’t listen to Dell. Put that back on. It’s better no one knows you’re a woman and puts any of the pieces together.”

  “Did he think we were—”

  “Yep.”

  She turned. “Shouldn’t we tell him that’s not—”

  “Helena.” His stern voice stopped her. “Dell will not speak of anything that happened here. It doesn’t matter what he thinks. But you and I need to have a discussion.”

  As soon as he pulled her onto the street, all sound ceased. A cart passed by, but the wheels made no rumble. Helena turned around to stare wide-eyed at Edmund.

  He sighed. “You already know I’m Belaen. Every person with Belaen blood carries magic. Mine is the ability to shift the winds. I’m pushing them away from us. We cannot hear anything. At the same time, I’m pushing a stream of air toward us to trap our own words.”

  Helena was so lost in her thoughts of magic and the man she thought she’d known, she didn’t see the rock in the road. Edmund’s hand guided her around it before she fell, bringing her back to their current reality and what she knew was coming.

  Edmund’s voice was low when he spoke again. “Tell me what you were thinking.”

  She shrugged. She knew the answer, but he wouldn’t understand. How could he?

  “Princess.”

  He only called her princess in formal situations, letting her know he wasn’t asking as her friend, but as a member of the royal council.

  “Helena,” he tried again. “You know the laws.”

  She did. And she hated them. Tears pricked the corner of her eyes.

  “If your father found out, they could take you from the line of succession,” he went on. “If the priests found out… Your birthday ball would be canceled.”

  They both knew the priesthood would do something far worse to her.

  To some, the ball seemed silly. Who cared about a party when freedom was on the line? But that ball was supposed to be where her father made his final decision in who her husband would be.

  “I wanted to see my kingdom.” The words were small, but she felt every one. She was second in line to the throne. She would one day run the merchant guild.

  But she was a princess of Madra, meant to be hidden away like a precious jewel. The law of Madra said few had the privilege to look upon a princess’ face until her wedding day. She wasn’t allowed outside the palace. When she attended balls and ceremonies, she wore a mask to cover all but her mouth.

  It was a terrible law, but a sacred one in the eyes of the priests. The common man’s eyes defiled a princess just by gazing upon her. Those were the words of the priesthood.

  Edmund only knew her face because his position as ambassador al
lowed him that privilege.

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know how to do this, Helena. I grew up in Gaule where men like me who prefer men over women were put to death. Here in Madra, we live openly. Yet in Gaule, a woman has every freedom. They are now ruled by a queen. My best friend is the queen of Bela. But we aren’t in either of those countries. I want you to have those same freedoms, but I don’t want you to lose everything… I don’t want to lose you.”

  He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I lost everything once. A king I loved imprisoned me for my deception. I don’t want that for you.” He squeezed her tighter to his side as they walked. “Please, wear the mask. Stay in the palace. You’ve done it for eighteen years. It’s only a few weeks until the ball.”

  She didn’t argue, but she made no promises either. She’d finally gotten a taste of freedom and that memory wasn’t going anywhere.

  They would reveal her face soon enough, but then all of Madra would know her on sight. She had precious little time left to explore her kingdom as one of its loyal subjects.

  They reached Edmund’s home. “Where’d you leave your horse?” he asked.

  “I walked.”

  He raised a brow. “You just walked out of the palace?”

  “When you’re going for stealth, you don’t steal a horse and thunder out the gates.”

  He laughed. “Guess not. How’d you get out?”

  She pressed her lips together, not wanting to reveal one of Madra’s biggest secrets to the Belaen. She trusted Edmund, but…

  Did she have a choice?

  “The catacombs under the place lead to a network of tunnels throughout the city.”