Page 67 of The Twisted Throne

“He is. But Aren said there aren’t many people he’d rather have at his back than Keris, and that is a significant endorsement of character.”

“Shame he’s wed.”

“A love for the ages,” Ahnna said. “If they’d been unable to rescue Zarrah as they did, I suspect he’d have set the world on fire to win her free. She consumes him to the exclusion of all else.”

“Love like that can be dangerous,” Virginia replied, causing Ahnna to look sharply at her. But Virginia was already facing Elizabeth. “Lizzie, dearest, would you play something for us? You sing so beautifully.”

“Of course, my lady.” Elizabeth set down her tea, then went to the pianoforte, her voluminous skirts making soft swishing sounds. Sitting, she began to play competently, then cleared her throat and sang.

Loudly.

Ahnna turned back to the window so that the woman wouldn’t see her grimace.

“We applaud effort as much as skill in this house,” Virginia murmured. “You’ve made a tremendous impression on my father, by the way. You were all he talked about at dinner last night.” She was quiet for a moment, then said, “He was also kinder to William than he’s been in longer than I can remember, despite Will being somewhat drunk. I think my father sees a better future for Harendell with you in it, and that makes him more forgiving that Will doesn’t possess the strengths he admires. It made me very happy.”

“I’m glad,” Ahnna said. “I’ve not seen William since the night of the banquet.”

“Oh, that’s probably for the best. Let him come to you, is my advice. Will has had enough pushed upon him in life.”

“I understand.” Eyes drawn out the window again, Ahnna watched James clasp hands with his opponents, the contest over, and he victorious. He strode to where his coat lay discarded, but then looked up. Through the glass and the distance, their eyes locked. James stopped in his tracks. Ahnna was flooded with the sensation of his hands on her body. His lips on hers, claiming her. Her heart skipped, then whispered,He’s what I want.

Only for logic and loyalty and good sense to shriek,And you’re a selfish fool for it!

Twisting away, Ahnna rested her shoulders against the glass. “What advice would you give in approaching the queen?”

“The same.” Virginia’s tone was flat. “Let my mother come to you.”

One of the servants came in and began announcing the names of the ladies who had arrived. The time for private conversation was over, and Ahnna felt she’d learned nothing at all.

An hour later, the wound on her back itched and exhaustion pressed down upon her as she answered the questions the women posed to her about Ithicana, knowing her voice was numb and mechanical. But this had been a waste of her time. None of the conversations she’d been privy to had given her any information helpful to the puzzles before her, and Ahnna half wondered if she’d be better off having slept the day away.

But more than that, she felt stifled and contained. The air in the room was overheated and stank of an awful mix of perfumes. She desperately wanted to be outside. To be near the sea. To hear the waves that had lulled her to sleep every day of her life.

Her heart ached, the deepest sense of loneliness that she’d ever felt crushing down on her, and Ahnna was about to rise, to claim lingering illness from the poison, when the door opened and a beautiful woman entered. Her hair was such a pale blond that it bordered on silver, cheekbones high, lips painted a glossy pink. Her gown was cut in the same style as those of many of the other women present, but the eyes that stared back at her were the same amber as James’s. Cardiffian eyes. There was no doubt in Ahnna’s mind who the woman was.

Lestara.

“Oh God,” Virginia said, ignoring Lestara as she bobbed a curtsy at the group. “Everyone check your shoes. It smells like dog shit.”

All the ladies giggled and pretended to check their shoes, but Lestara offered no reaction, only sat on a chair in the corner and began work on a half-finished needlework piece.

Ahnna eyed the woman who’d caused the destruction of Vencia and then asked, “Why is she having tea with us?”

“Lestara was exiled from Maridrina for treason,” Virginia answered. “We took on her care as a favor to Keris Veliant. I would have thought you were aware of her.”

“I know who she is and why she’s in Harendell,” Ahnna said. “My question is: Why is she in this room?”

“Ah.” Virginia sighed. “A fair question. I, too, thought she was better housed in a cage in the kennels, but Father insists she be treated with the courtesy befitting her rank.”

“The mongrel princess,” Elizabeth snickered. “Fair warning, you do not want to look too long into those eyes, lest she cast a spell on you. Their women are all witches.”

“Bark for us, Lestara,” one of the other women said, and Virginia laughed. “Be a good bitch.”

The Cardiffian princess did not respond, only continued to stitch a pattern of flowers around the border of her piece. But it was Virginia’s behavior that struck Ahnna, because she had not thought the princess in possession of such a mean streak.

“Want a piece of cake, doggy?” another woman said, placing a slice on a plate. Rising, she set it on the floor by Lestara’s feet. “Be a good girl and eat it.”

Lestara kept stitching, but like sharks scenting blood in the water, all the women were watching, expressions vicious.

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