Page 31 of The Twisted Throne

As the man left the room, James unfolded the page.

Ninth hour. Don’t be late.

“Have you learned anything?” Ahnnaasked when her friends met in her room after dinner, having not been willing to bring up the topic with so many servants listening.

“Not about new markets, no,” Taryn said, and then met Bronwyn’s gaze for a moment, the pair silently communicating. “There’s more resentment toward Ithicana than I realized. I’m not sure if the spies are missing it, or if this shift is recent. Either way, there is a sourness toward Aren and the bridge.” Her jaw worked side-to-side. “And you.”

Not at all the news Ahnna had hoped for.

Bronwyn sighed. “The grievances are much the same flavor as what the Magpie used to convince us Ithicana was the villain. That you exercise near-total control over trade between the northern and southern continents and use that control to extort punitive taxes and tolls. There’s a lot of resentment among the staff, especially given they are unaware of the true state of Ithicana. They think Aren sits on his throne of gold and feasts while he abuses hispower, and I think the only reason they said as much is because they believe a Maridrinian is sure to be like-minded.” Bronwyn made a face. “Which is honestly a possibility. The Maridrinians pay even higher tolls.”

Ahnna rubbed at her temple. “I’d thought the rumors of Ithicanian wealth had been put to bed by the Maridrinians when they discovered we don’t actually have hidden stockpiles of gold.”

“Times are tough, and that always fosters strife.” Bronwyn thought for a moment. “There may be more to learn, but servants will say only so much to a lady.” Her friend rolled her eyes, and it occurred to Ahnna that this was probably the first time Bronwyn had been treated like the princess she was, for surely that had not been the case on the compound in the desert, and it definitely hadn’t been the case in Ithicana. Her words suggested that she found it all an inconvenience, and yet she slipped into the gowns and jewels of rank with the ease of someone who’d worn them all her life.

Ahnna went to the window and looked out into the darkness. “We’re leaving in the morning, so there might be more to learn as we travel.”

The butler had told her that James was in the city making arrangements, and that was why he’d missed dinner. She’d seen him through the glass walls of the orangery, dressed in black trousers and coat, throat concealed by a perfectly knotted cravat, and boots polished to a shine. He wore one of the strange flat-top hats that wealthy Harendellians wore, yet rather than foolish, he looked…Well, Ahnna wasn’t willing to put words to what she thought of James’s appearance, only thatfoolishwas not at all the word she’d use.

Attractive,the rebellious part of her soul whispered.And formidable.

Annoyed at herself, she responded,How about arrogant, condescending, and uptight?

“Pardon?” Taryn asked, and Ahnna realized she’d said the words aloud. “Nothing. We should all get some rest. From the sound of it, we have a full day in a carriage tomorrow, with another to follow.”

“Not the luxurious riverboat that was promised,” Bronwyn said, then linked arms with Taryn, giving her a slow grin. “Come sing me a song so that I sleep like a babe.”

Taryn’s cheeks turned pink, and Ahnna hid a smile at her cousin’s reaction. “See you in the morning.”

As they left, Hazel came inside with folded white fabric in her hands. “Are you ready to undress, my lady?”

It felt as though she was being treated like a child who could not manage her own buttons, but Ahnna understood that this was how things were done in Harendell. And she was not quite stubborn enough to die on every hill. “Thank you.”

Hazel unfolded one of the white garments, revealing a nightgown that laced high on the neck and would reach down to Ahnna’s ankles. “Your maid neglected to pack sleeping garments, my lady, so I secured something appropriate.”

Given how hot Ithicana always was, Ahnna preferred to sleep nude, but she kept that to herself as she kicked off her boots and unfastened her belt. Her tunic and trousers followed, but as she lifted her undershirt, Hazel’s face blanched. “My lady! Why didn’t you mention you were injured?”

Ahnna glanced down at her side, her ribs marked with virulent purple bruises from where she’d hit the ship’s rail. “Just bruises, nothing broken.”

“How are you moving about?” Hazel clutched Ahnna’s clothes to her chest, eyes wide. “You should be in bed!”

“That would make it worse.” Ahnna picked up the nightgown and pulled it over her head, feeling rather silly in all the frills and lace. “I know from experience.”

“It’s horrible that you’ve been made to fight all your life.” Hazel shook her head. “It should be the responsibility of the men. It’s terrible that you’ve had to endure so much violence.”

Ahnna started to laugh at the idiocy of that statement, then reconsidered. “Do you have family, Hazel?”

“In Verwyrd, my lady. My parents and two elder sisters, who have eight children between them.”

“Imagine, if you would, that every single day, Verwyrd risked attack from those who would gladly kill everyone they found.” When Hazel stiffened, Ahnna added, “That is what it is like in Ithicana, with the only freedom found during the typhoons, which bring their own variety of pain.”

“It sounds horrible.”

“Sometimes.” Ahnna fastened the laces at her throat, then sat as Hazel retrieved a comb. “But it’s far worse if you don’t know how to take care of yourself. Imagine being in such a situation and relying on the men in your family as your only form of protection. Imagine being caught by enemies while you are without those men, and you cannot protect your nieces and nephews because women are not taught to wield a blade. Imagine watching them die because you cared more about propriety and a man’s vision of femininity than the skills it took to face reality. Would you thank them for protecting you then, or would you curse them for limiting you?”

Hazel drew in a shaky breath. “I would curse them, my lady.”

“I know you think poorly of me for not wearing beautiful gowns,” Ahnna said. “Except all my life, I’ve been fighting to protect those I care about, and I can’t do that if I’m trussed in yards ofsilk and satin. I have no wish to be disrespectful, but I need to be able to move, which means compromises must be made.” And to herself, Ahnna added,I need to remember who I am and why I’m here.

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