“Did you see anyone of interest today?” Queen Rona asked from Kit’s right, at the head of the dinner table. Her voice was low so that the other council members who were dining with them would struggle to hear, but Kit noticed everyone else grew silent in anticipation of her answer, as if they’d all been longing to ask the same question.
Giving a shy smile, Kit replied. “I did. I am interested in getting to know all of the Representatives better.”
“Some of them were quite handsome,” the Queen Mother, Junno, noted. Kit smiled at her grandmother, glad that her health had permitted her to attend the first day of arrivals. She was only in her mid-sixties, but poor eyesight and an illness she’d suffered from for years limited her health and had caused her to abdicate the throne to her daughter, Rona, when she was only in her forties. Rona had inherited the queendom right after her own Choosing. Of course, she had been eag
Even the most sensible shoes she owned were no match for standing on the stone dais for hours, and by mid-afternoon, Kit’s feet ached, even though they had taken an hour to dine not that long ago. So far, she’d met a few interesting candidates, but when the delegation from Warchester Keep arrived, the day suddenly became more interesting.A full foot taller than the man before him, the one she assumed would be doing the introductions once they passed through the security line, Kit caught the Representative’s easy smile and instantly remembered him from her eighteenth birthday celebration. His green eyes sparkled and his curly mop of dark hair caught the breeze. His eyes never strayed from her face, and for the first time on what was becoming the longest day she could remember, she was intrigued.“Your Majesty,” the stooped older man began, addressing her mother first, “may I present the representative from Warchester Keep, Cassius of
Jaterius of Rockdale was presented to her a moment later. She didn’t catch his family name as she’d been distracted, but he had lovely hazel eyes and a kindness about him Kit had yet to encounter in any of the other Representatives. “It’s lovely to meet you, my Princess,” he said, bowing low to her. His smile was warm and affectionate but there was something unassuming about him, as if he were unsure of himself.“You as well,” Kit replied, offering her hand, which he took and planted a soft kiss near her knuckles. “I trust your trip was comfortable enough?” She felt as if she was always asking the same question, but then, none of the delegates would know that unless they had a discussion about her later, something she doubted would be happening just yet.“Comfortable enough, my Princess,” he replied with a nod. He wasn’t much taller than she was, which also struck her as different. Most of the Repr
“Your Majesty, Queen Rona, I am Lita of Noblewood. May I present to you my grandson, Jecobian of the family Noblewood of Eastbury.”“How do you do?” Rona asked, and Kit noted this was the most pleasant her mother and been all morning. In fact, she greeted them with a smile much wider and more genuine than any of the others Kit had seen since the welcoming ceremony had begun. “I heard of your difficulties, and I am pleased to see you’ve made it through unscathed.”“Yes, it was quite the hardship,” Lita said, making a tsking sound with her tongue. “We are happy to be alive, aren’t we Jecob?”Startled by the question, the Representative asked, “What’s that, Grandmother?” Kit did her best to hold back a giggle, but she knew why he hadn’t been listening to the older woman. His eyes had been locked on hers the entire time.“I said we are
The rest of the line of people came by, but Jecobian’s dazzling smile stayed in Kit’s mind’s eye, and once the next delegation came into view, down the road quite a ways, Kit thought she might not make it through another meeting such as that one. She needed a fan, some water, and a place to lie down.“You liked that one, didn’t you, darling daughter?” her mother asked, a hint of excitement in her tone.“I did,” Kit admitted. “He has been one of my favorites thus far.”“Good,” was all her mother said in response, and Kit wondered what it was about Jecobian that made her mother so pleased. She doubted she’d ever find out. Questions about what really happened in the attack lingered, but she knew she’d not get answers from her mother whose lips were sealed tight on that matter—and most others.It took an hour for the next delegation, presenting Owin from the province Ald
The scent of Wrenbrook was unique, like the castle itself, and as Eli made his way through the towering metal infused doors on the west side of the castle, the odor washed over him, triggering a flood of memories. It seemed odd to him that mustiness, the scent of stone, carved wood, and sweat from thousands of bodies, could all mingle together to create such a distinctive, all encapsulating experience, but there it was nonetheless, and for part of him, it was as if he’d never left.Dozens of greetings were flung his way as he made his way down the long hall that led to the army bunkers. A member of the Queen’s Guards had caught up with him as he was dismounting and ordered him to go there until Her Majesty sent for him. He wasn’t surprised. Apparently, he was a threat to the queen, despite the fact he’d proven himself incapable of completing even the first step that would’ve been necessary for him to thwart her, and despite all of her apprehensio
Two more guards opened the doors to the queen’s private throne room. Her essence filled the space, even though she was seated a great distance from the door. Something about her presence overpowered the other dozen or so women who sat near her, as if their authorities combined couldn’t begin to compare with that of the queen, but Eli was glad they were here. At least, if Queen Rona tried to send him to his own execution for no reason, he’d have witnesses to the injustice, not that anyone would likely dare to interfere.He bowed low, and she offered her ring, which he kissed, though he was certain the idea of his lips anywhere near her was almost as repulsive to her as it was to him. Nevertheless, that was custom, and she left him staring at the red and gold carpet for much longer than necessary before she finally gave him the command to rise, likely just to show him she was still in charge. He hadn’t forgotten.When he met her eyes, he noted she
Rona watched Eliason leave the room, her eyes staying on him as if he were an insect, and she might need to squash him at any moment. Thoughts from her past intermingled with the present for a moment, and she narrowed her eyes even further. Why she had allowed him to stay in her castle for so long momentarily escaped her, and part of her wanted to fling him out into the world, sending him as far away as he could go.“It’s a shame,” Zora said quietly. Rona’s head swiveled slowly to face her cousin. The queen did not speak, only waited. “I know he hasn’t spent much time in his home province, but Katrinetta has always been fond of him.”A chirp escaped the queen’s lips. “You can’t actually be suggesting Eliason Goedwig would’ve been a good choice for my daughter?”Zora shrugged. She was one of the few council members who never seemed to care if she raised the queen’s ire. “I’m
Three long days of standing in the heat, greeting guests, meeting many attractive, and a few not-so-attractive, men had Kit exhausted, and she was beginning to wonder why she’d ever consented to this ridiculous Choosing in the first place. Of course, then she remembered she hadn’t. She’d been born to it, and whether or not her aching feet approved, she was bound to continue.“Don’t worry. Today will be much easier,” Avinia assured her as she brushed out her long hair. “You’ve already received all but ten of the Representatives, and according to the scouts your mother sent out, only four or five of the remainder will arrive today.”“Which means you may sit in your chambers until you are called for,” Isla noted.Her mother had explained the situation the day before, but Kit was fairly certain that the closest delegation would arrive within the hour, so she would still have to trek all the way out to