Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 120974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
I wish I still had the key I used to unlock Valen’s magical chains—but I doubt it would fit my own, regular iron manacles. And besides, even if I had it—how would I reach to unlock myself? My arms are held wide by the chains—I couldn’t reach one hand with the other even if I tried.
So I’m stuck…chained here and waiting to see what might happen next. Whatever it is, I’m sure it won’t be good.
My fears are answered an unknowable time later when I finally hear footsteps echoing in the dungeon. I stiffen, pushing myself back against the cold, slimy stones behind me as though I could melt into them and hide myself away.
But there’s no hiding from my fate—it’s coming towards me, which I realize as the footsteps grow louder and louder.
At last a light grows in the cell and a torch comes around the corner. My cell door is unlocked and two familiar faces come into view.
“Well, well, my dear Princess—and how are you feeling?” the Head Healer asks, as he puts his torch in a nearby bracket and comes over to me.
“Yes, little sister—how are you?” my big brother asks—or rather snarls—he looks angry and unhappy. I hope that’s a sign that Sir Horace is keeping his word to guard my mother against everyone—including Kellis and the Head Healer.
“How’s Mother?” I ask in reply.
“Oh, on the mend, to be sure,” Kellis snaps. “Some of the guards spread the word and the whole Court is already rejoicing! And it’s all thanks to you.”
“You ought to be rejoicing too. She’s our mother,” I say to him. I look at the Head Healer. “And you—you promised to safeguard the Queen’s person and health—you swore an oath to serve her!”
“I swore to protect the Monarch of our kingdom—and your brother would be a far better ruler than the Queen,” he says calmly.
“Why, because he’s a man?” I demand.
“Exactly,” he says, with complete certainty. “Women don’t have the intelligence or capacity to lead a country.”
“My mother was doing fine before you started poisoning her!” I snap.
“You may think that, but there was much she wasn’t attending to,” the Healer says. “For instance, your brother wants to extend our territory but she refuses to go to war with Verdelia.”
“What? But Verdelia is our ally!” I protest. “They’ve stood beside us through wars of aggression by foreign invaders for years. Why would you want to make war on them?
“We need their lands,” my brother says firmly. “For the defense of our own country.”
“No, we don’t! That’s ridiculous!” I protest. “Besides, if you attack Verdelia, our other allies won’t trust us anymore. We’ll be cut off and friendless as a country. No one will come to our aid if a larger kingdom attacks!”
“Now you sound like Mother,” my brother snarls. He looks at the Healer. “Women are so stupid about these things—never wanting to go to war because they’re afraid of hurting someone’s feelings.”
“I’m afraid of destabilizing our entire country and economy!” I shout, my voice echoing in the dungeon. “What do you think will happen if we can no longer trade with our allies? We’re not self-sufficient, you know—we import a lot of goods from them and they from us! You’ll ruin our peace, stability, and prosperity just because you’ve convinced yourself you need to own land that belongs to a friendly ally who has never threatened us in any way and has done nothing but support us! That is madness.”
My brother’s face twists with anger.
“This is what comes of letting a woman get educated! I knew those tutors Mother allowed you to see were filling your head with foolishness.”
“It’s not foolishness—it’s common sense!” I protest. “And if you don’t listen—”
“Enough!” my brother shouts. “I refuse to hear any more of this—my mind is made up!” He turns to the Head Healer. “I do believe you said you had a potion that would do my sister good, did you not?”
“I have two potions in fact,” the Healer says, coming forward. “One will make her sleep…and the other will make her sleep forever. Which one does Your Majesty wish me to administer?”
He holds up two identical vials of bright green liquid, glinting in the flickering torchlight.
My stomach does a slow, forward roll. Oh Goddess, no! They’re going to kill me—I know they are.
“You can’t do this to me,” I protest, shrinking back against the stones. “If you kill me, Mother will know. She’s seen me already—she knows I’m somewhere in the castle.”
“I do believe your mother thinks you were a figment of a dream,” the Healer says, smirking. “She woke once, asking about you, but I told her you were still away.”
“But Sir Horace has seen me too—and some of his guards!” I protest.
“Yes, well…everyone can be silenced one way or another,” my brother says dismissively. “The important thing is to get rid of dissenters so we can get on with our war.”