Page 60 of A Rose Among Snakes

Regalla resumed chanting, and then broke off saying, “You need a royal nudge.”

Her head snapped back and the light from the candles blazed, and for a moment I was worried the room was catching on fire. Regalla inhaled sharply and dropped my hands, the candles returning to their normal flickering as she brought her head up and looked at me.

My entire body trembled, making my voice shake as I asked, “A royal nudge? What does that mean?”

“I’m afraid I do not know. I just relay the messages, I do not interpret them.”

“Messages from whom?”

Regalla raised one eyebrow and smiled, flourishing a hand. “The spirits, of course.”

A chill skittered down my spine. I didn’t expect anything different but the words were still unnerving. “How did you know about my father?”

Regalla frowned. “Your father?”

That was enough for me. My frazzled mind couldn’t handle the idea of spirits, or whatever else was at work, knowing my innermost thoughts. I stood up, shoving away from the table.

“I’m sorry if you are upset, darling, but you still need to pay.” Regalla jiggled the jar next to her, and I fished the coins out of the pouch around my wrist, dropping them into the jar with a clink. I rushed out of the room, slamming the door behind me, sucking in all the salty, fresh air my lungs would allow.

My mind buzzed as I processed what I’d learned while I leaned against the wall trying to catch my breath. One thing I was certain of—my gut feeling about Kezara was right. I didn’t know what exactly had happened, but I owed it to her to try and find out. Pressing my hand to my chest, I stayed there until my heart rate returned to normal. I knew what I had to do next. I had to push aside my reservations toward Velian and bring him my concerns.

I marched through the town and trudged up the hill back to Blaise Manor, using my emotions to motivate me. If I stopped to think about how exhausted I was, I would never make it to the top. The last rays of the sun bled into the sky, and I paused at the top of the hill, organizing my thoughts. With a renewed intensity,I hurried down the driveway and through the front door, hoping Velian was in his study. I knocked twice and pushed the door open.

Velian stood behind his desk, a burlap sack resting in front of him. It was full of small linen pouches, one of which Velian held in his hand, pouring the contents into an open palm. His head whipped up to mine, his eyes round with surprise as he tried to hide his hand from sight. But it was too late; I’d already seen the bright blue crystals.

“Mihrra,” he said, but I slammed the door shut and ran out of the manor.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Kezara

It was day twenty-two and I knew I was wearing Enverro down. Restlessness scratched at me, my body begging for fresh air and warm sun. Our routine was the same every day; Enverro would make us porridge and sit in the chair in front of my cell as I provoked him with questions. My favorite time was when I’d asked him why he was making the porridge sweeter and he’d blushed, saying, “I don’t know, I thought you would like it that way.”

This morning was no different.

“What are you so afraid of?” I pushed.

“Who said I’m afraid?” Enverro sat with his ankle crossed over his knee, smirking at me. It wasn’t just the porridge that had sweetened lately, and I decided to use it to my advantage.

“If you’re not afraid, why won’t you take me outside? I’m only asking for a few minutes.” I batted my eyelashes. “I promise to behave.”

Enverro snorted. “Pardon me, Your Majesty, but I don’t believe you.”

Apparently, his heart wasn’t soft enough. Frustration tightened my chest, hardening my tone as I said, “I might die in hereand you are going to deprive me of the simple joy of fresh air? I don’t deserve to be locked up!”

Enverro dropped his spoon into his empty bowl. “Look, I just follow orders. I don’t make judgments on the king’s decisions.”

I let my chin fall to my chest, whispering, “Please.”

Enverro sighed and closed his eyes. He groaned, mumbling, “Fine.”

“What?” I sat up straighter.

“I said,fine.Five minutes.”

I scrambled to my feet as he grabbed the keyring connected to his belt. He unlocked the cell and wrapped a hand around my slim wrist as he opened the door.

“One condition, though,” he said, leading me over to a set of shackles sitting in the corner. They locked around my ankles with a click, but I was so elated to be going outside I didn’t complain. He led me to the door, and I made a mental note of which key he used to unlock it, tucking the information away for later. The door opened and we walked out only to be met with blinding sunlight.

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