There was a long silence as the women and men present seemed to look to each other for agreement, and then a loud cheer broke out, and Kit realized they were chanting, “Mercy!”
A smile threatened to spill across her face, but at the risk of angering her mother, she fought it. A glance at the friendly faces before her showed they all thought she had done well, though she didn’t dare shift her eyes to Eli for fear her mother would notice and lose any semblance of grace she may have gained from the crowd. She did look at Jecob, and he mouthed, “Thank you,” to her, but Kit had to look away, still not sure if it had been enough or what the punishment might be if he was not to lose his head.
Her mother took hold of her arm again, but this time, she did not squeeze. She tilted her head slightly, and in a quiet voice said, “Well played, Katrinetta.”
Kit cleared her throat but said nothing. All of her words had been used up
Eli rushed his men along, fearful that one of the Queen’s Guards or someone else would realize what they had done. With his handkerchief over Jecob’s private area, there was little he could do to stop the bleeding from his own hand, and since he’d sliced a little more deeply than he’d intended, the blood was continuing to flow down his pant leg as he tried to conceal the wound. He just hoped no one would notice that either. Perhaps if anyone did, they would assume he’d been sprayed by the severed appendage, though it would be easy to see that couldn’t be the case with even a quick inspection of what lay beneath the covering over Jecob.His men had served him well, stepping in to shield his duplicity, and Jowl had even seemed grateful when he’d whispered his plan since hacking off a penis and scrotum with an ax would be anything other than easy. Now, they rushed Jecob inside, and Armant would carry through with the queen’s demand
The princess was standing so close to Eli, and the scent of her, lavender and honey, mixed with a tinge of her own unique perspiration, made him want to move closer to her still. He watched quietly as she worked, trying to keep his thoughts as wholesome as possible but failing miserably.“The light is poor over here,” she said, bringing him back to reality. “Maybe if I….” She moved so that she was standing between his legs, leaning over the table, her neck hovering just in front of his face, and it took every bit of will power he had within him not to reach over and gently place his lips on that warm alabaster skin. “That’s better.”His breath must’ve been tickling her because she giggled, looked over at him out of the corner of her eye, and then stretched her neck away. “Pardon me, princess” he said, hearing the huskiness in his own voice. “It’s only… you smell lovely.&
Eli wanted to protest, to leap down from the table and leave before he could no longer find the resolve to do so, but he was already unable to find the will to make his feet move, so he waited for Kit to return with a small jar in her hand.She scooped up a generous portion and rubbed it gently over the cut, her stitches having done the job of completely stopping the bleeding. “Will you see your mother or your sister? Can one of them treat this for you, or shall I send this jar with you?”“I will see them,” he assured her, thinking she shouldn’t send the entire jar with him when Armant might need it for something else.Kit nodded and set the jar aside, wiping her finger on a rag before finding a clean one and tearing it into a strip. “Let me wrap it up.” She went about making sure it was covered. “Be careful not to use it if you can help it. At least it wasn’t your right hand.”“I did think
Once Eli had faded from her sight, Kit took a deep breath and reminded herself that he was gone—that he’d never been hers to begin with—and went to check on Jecob. He was losing a lot of blood, even though Armant seemed to be taking his time and cutting carefully, suturing up every blood vessel as he sliced through. It was slow going, and Kit had no idea how many hours it might take him, but she had a feeling he would be there a long time.“Is there anything I can get you?” she asked the physician, peering over his shoulder in fascination. She’d always admired medical work even though she knew she’d never be allowed to practice because of her station.Armant didn’t recognize she was speaking to him at first. When he did, he looked up and said, “Oh, no, thank you, Princess. It’s tedious work, but I’m hoping to spare his life.”Kit nodded and decided she should go. If her mother were to find h
“Your tub is full, Princess,” Avinia announced as the guards took the buckets and disappeared out into the hallway.Kit bit her lip on the word “finally” that wanted to shoot out of her mouth. She stood so that her ladies could help her out of her gown, Avinia mumbling about getting out the stain. As soon as she could, Kit scurried into the adjoining room, happy to be alone in the tub at last.She sank in up to her chin, letting the fragrant smell of roses fill her lungs, glad her cousin had thought to scent it so heavily. The water was still hot, and it seemed to melt the knots in her muscles away as she leaned back into its open arms.How many times had she come here during her Exploration, seeking refuge from the pressure of simply being herself, or to cry over her mother dismissing yet another one of the men who made her happy? She had spent countless hours here, letting her mind wander to what it would be like during her Choosing, or
Cassius knew her. Somehow, in just the few days that he’d been there, in the few times they’d spoken, he’d come to understand her. Kit wanted to confide everything to him but didn’t think standing in the hallway in front of her guards was the right place. With a deep breath, she asked, “Would you like to come inside for a bit?”A wicked grin spread across his face, and his green eyes twinkled. “Would I?” he asked, his hands already on her upper arms before he finished speaking.Kit let out a quiet giggle. “You know we are bound by law not to do anything… impulsive.”“Oh, I’ve given it enough thought there would be no impulsivity involved.”She snickered. “All right—immodest then. Inappropriate?”“Sexual?”“That, too.” Kit felt her face heat up.“I promise I shall mind my manners.” He looked at the
The barn was still one of her favorite places to visit, though Kit didn’t spend nearly as much time there as she used to. Still, as she walked along on Reeve’s arm, inhaling the scent of the horses, hay, and early summer day, she was happy to have the opportunity to show him around. She wore a deep green gown made of lighter fabric since the day had turned out to be warm. The change in seasons was certainly upon them, though the weather never got extremely hot at Wrenbrook, and the rains had not come as they usually did this time of year. Some of the councilwomen were betting on later inclement weather. Kit had never shown too much interest in what the clouds chose to do, but she would be disappointed if poor weather ruined many of the events her mother had planned for the next few weeks.Reeve looked handsome in the dark red and silver of his land, Erast Hollow. He was quite a bit taller than her, his shoulders not nearly as broad as Cassius’s but still wel
The ballroom was decorated more elaborately than Kit had ever remembered seeing it. Her mother had truly outdone herself this time with the amount of towering flower vases and blooms to the ceiling. The colors were purple and gold, the two shades best associated with the crown, and the fabrics that ran from the ceiling to the walls and then down to the floor were majestic and sparkling. The orchestra was so large, the music could be heard far down the hall, and the banquet table was overflowing with all kinds of desserts and other delicacies that could be easily eaten with one’s fingers. Perfect fare for a ball after a large meal in the dining hall. It truly was an impressive sight, and when Kit turned to her mother, she could tell she was well pleased with how her design had been carried out.The queen stepped to the middle of the dais in the center of the room along one wall, where she usually spent most of these sorts of festivities since she refused to dance with he
Eventually, Kit stepped back, signaling she was done, and her party faded into the hallway. Eli was right, there was much to be done, and Kit wasn’t even sure where to begin with the task of restoring the realm to its former glory. But there was no doubt her first appointment with the council would be to approve the new law that would allow her to rule before the end of her Choosing, one that would allow her to keep all seven of the men who stood around her now.As if reading her mind, Zora, her great-aunt and a distinguished member of the council stepped forward. “Queen Katrinetta, I would like to present to you a new law, passed by the council earlier this day. All it needs is your signature.”Confused, Kit took the sheet of parchment and began to read. When her eyes reached the bottom of the paper, she looked up. “How did you know...?”“Junno explained everything to us,” Nil said, stepping forward. “And we agree
“We love you, Kit. We’ll always be here for you,” Jate said to her right.“Even when we’re broken,” Danyen added, getting a giggle out of her and the others.“It’s our privilege to be with you,” Drake said in his deep, steady voice.Reeve took her hand. “Your belief in us has shaped us into who we are.”“And given us the confidence to stand with you as you become queen,” Landon said in her ear.“It’s all been well-worth it, Kit, to see you take the throne.” Cassius was still battered, but he looked much better now, with a smile on his face, than he had since Kit had found him in the dungeon.Kit shifted her eyes to Eli, assuming he would also say something. His eyes darted around several times, and she could tell he was attempting to come up with something no one else had said, but they’d all expressed themselves so well, it was a difficult
No longer frightened of the woman who used to terrorize her, Kit raised her arms between her mother’s bringing them down to the sides quickly so as to prevent her mother from ever making contact with her neck. Rona’s arms snapped down and she winced in pain. Her eyes bulged in surprise at her daughter’s strength. Kit took advantage of her mother’s stunned expression long enough to plant her fist in Rona’s right eye. Her mother rocked backward, grabbing at her face as Kit felt Eli’s familiar hand on her shoulder, seeking to calm her. Clearly, the older woman was no physical threat to Kit or anyone else.The bejeweled, golden crown atop Rona’s head wobbled as the queen staggered from the blow. It slid free, tumbling toward the floor. Kit reached out a hand and plucked it from the air. “The goddess have spoken!” she declared, ignoring the fact that it was the force of her own strike that had dislodged the crown. Nearly everyo
Watching the battle take place from the hallway had been unsettling for Kit, especially when she saw Eli faltering. For a moment, it had looked as if Vin might be victorious. Her attention had been pulled away when she learned Danyen was injured. Despite Galter’s best efforts to stop her, the princess insisted on going in and tending to him, and she had been there, placing pressure on the wound when Armant arrived. Danyen apologized for not being as handy with a sword as he was a quill, but Kit had only kissed him and assured him he was perfect in her sight.And then she’d seen hesitancy in Cassius and Eli as they considered mercy for Vin, the monster who had hurt and tortured so many. Ending him seemed like the right thing to do for all of the people of Yewforia, though she could never fault her men for weighing the costs of taking a life, even when that life was as worthless as scar face’s.She’d been stunned to see Jecob standing on the dais,
Across the room, Eli heard a shout and a roar of laughter. He could hardly let the situation distract him, but his head flickered in that direction for a moment, and he saw Danyen on the ground, grasping his middle. Drake was there and ended the laughing soldier who’d stabbed Danyen, but the Representative looked seriously wounded. Looking around the room, as he saw Vin trying to take advantage of his distraction, out of the corner of his eye, Eli spotted a member of his own guard who had just finished a man off. “Nen! Go to the infirmary and fetch Armant, as quickly as you can!”Eli hardly had time to see the guardsman nod in understanding before Vin’s persistence paid off, and his sword caught Eli in the left shoulder. It was a glancing blow as Eli dodged to his right, but this wound was deeper than the last and hurt more. It was not enough to slow him, though. Eli came flying back at Vin with a vengeance, thinking of his comments about Kit, how he h
The scene in the throne room was chaotic at best. Looking around, Eli quickly ascertained the situation. While the revolutionaries and several members of the Princess’s Guard had the upper hand, there were still twenty or thirty members of the Queen’s Guard and military doing their best to defend the door to the queen’s chambers.Across the room, Eli caught sight of a familiar set of dark eyes grimacing in his direction, and the Commander narrowed his focus as he stared him down. Scar face didn’t take his eyes off of Eli as he began to work his way through assailants, cutting them down easily as he moved toward his target. As he advanced, the aura of pure evil shifted the room such that darkness seemed to blot out everything around them until only Eli and the man who’d tried to end him remained. One of them would not walk out of this room.His concentration was broken when he heard another recognizable voice shout, “Goedwig! You&rsqu
The door to the castle was nearly nonexistent. Shards of wood hung from the upper posts, a few clung to the doorjambs, but for the most part, what had been an elegant entryway was now reduced to nothing but splinters and flecks of gold paint, thanks to the battering ram Eli had mentioned earlier.Realizing the only weapon she had was the small dagger, Kit scoured the ground for a sword. She saw one lying on the floor just inside of the castle entrance and picked it up, certain the poor fellow reposing nearby would no longer need it. She turned to tell her ladies they should do the same but noted they were already armed. Seph and Isla both had swords, though not as large and cumbersome as the one Kit had just procured, and Avinia had a bow she must’ve been carrying on her saddle, a quiver strung to her back.Armant and the other men who had come along with him stepped forward. “This is where we must leave you. We’ll head to the infirmary and check on t
“Are the two of you at peace now?” Kit asked Eli and Cassius.“I suppose so,” Eli began. “If he wants to go off and get himself killed, there will be one less person to share you with.” He smiled at Cassius, a mischievous twinkle in his eye, and the larger man reached around Kit and popped him in the arm.“You’d better not get yourself killed. Any of you.” Kit looked around and saw all seven of the men she’d chosen nearby, five of them already saddled and ready to go, the other two done arguing. While she hadn’t made Drake’s appointment official, she would, as soon as she knew the outcome of the battle at hand.Kit’s hip was still aching from where she cut it on the door earlier. Normally, she’d be able to mount Belle by herself, but with her leg torn up, she decided it would be easier to ask for help. Turning to Eli, she asked, “Will you give me a boost?”&ldq
Avinia had quite an entourage with her, including several wagons’ worth of food and water, clean clothes, a few weapons, and Armant with medical supplies. She’d enlisted some castle servants to drive the wagons, and as soon as they reached the remaining prisoners, they also helped the physician as he began to assess wounds and care for the sick and injured. Bea, his nurse who was also a faithful member of the revolt, was there to help as well.Kit wasn’t sure who to go to first. Both of her cousins, along with their husbands, dropped down from their horses, and Kit could see Avinia’s eyes searching for her through the crowd. But she also wanted to run to Drake and Danyen, who were bringing up the end of the line, along with Gavin, Asher, and a few of the other remaining Representatives.The men would have to wait. Avinia rushed over, embracing Kit quickly before she backed up. “You smell terrible.”“Thank you. I just sli