Page 37 of Kingdom of Tomorrow
“I don’t know what that means. But for whatever it’s worth, I don’t think you’ll be flogged, imprisoned or kicked out.” Guided by a mapprovided by a new wristband, she rushed me through hallways, up staircases and elevators, and through common areas filled with knights who’d graduated to different levels within the academy. She used the chip in her palm to key us past locked doors and bypass checkpoints.
After we cleared a heavily armed door, the building’s interior changed from prison chic to total fantasyland. Elaborately carved tables and chairs occupied a lobby, set up strategically to allow easy viewing of an array of statues covered in gemstones. Unlike the statues in my province, these had no human parts, only creatures of myth. Dragons, winged horses and monsters of mysterious origins.
Countless pritis beamed from the ceiling, illuminating crystals that shimmered from within. Wow. I’d never seen the stones up close or so many in one place. Pretty!
“Spectacular, isn’t it?” she asked.
We entered a large chamber, the thick, heavy door closing behind us, and—I gasped. A piece of the Rock. It divided the otherwise empty room. I lurched back to press against the wall.
“No, no.” Mykal clasped my hand and yanked me onward. “It’s only a replica used for study. There’s no danger.”
“But—”
“There’s no faster way to reach the HP.”
Okay. All right. Boiling tension downgraded to a low simmer, allowing movement from my limbs. Still. I kept my eyes averted until we exited into a wide hallway.
Mykal released me as soon as we reached a red door. She knocked twice before entering without awaiting a response. I hadn’t yet screwed my head on tight enough when I noticed the HP. He stood in front of his desk, leaning against the edge, speaking with his father.
I skidded to an abrupt halt. King Tagin Dolion, leader of the armed forces. The be-all and end-all, whose word was law. Here. In person. His presence added weight to the air, as if the force of gravity had intensified.
Breath sawed between my lips. “Leave, fear,” I whispered for my ears alone.
Maybe they heard. The pair looked my way, but neither displayed a reaction. Was that good? Bad?
Mykal saluted, and I followed suit.
“Wait in the hall, Miss Ellison,” the HP said, pushing the command through his scabbed lips. A scab I’d given him. I gulped.
Off she trucked. Should I leave too?
The king nodded a greeting at me. “It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Roosa.”
My eyes widened. “It is? I mean, thank you. Sir.”
He chuckled. “It is indeed. My wife read your paper on the Soil and Seed Anomaly. It impressed her so much, we asked Cyrus to watch over you.” He patted the high prince’s shoulder. “I hope you don’t mind.”
Excitement burned my trepidation to ash. The HP’s mother had read my paper. And liked it! There was no reason for Shiloh to investigate what he’d overheard. This explained so many things. Why the HP and the king had focused on me upon my arrival. Why the HP first offered me the job as his assistant. Even why he might, hopefully, spare me from a punishment he felt I deserved.
Wait. I hadn’t responded out loud. I should speak. “I don’t mind at all,” I burst out. My cheeks heated as my exuberance registered. “I’m the one who’s honored, sir.” This man’s dedicated guidance had prevented many other Great Regrets from occurring.
The high prince was right. A leader could make or break a team.
“I didn’t know your mother is a grower,” I told him. The fact that his parents were married blew my mind. With an astronomical marriage tax, few couples took the plunge. My parents certainly hadn’t. Plus, most people were afraid of creating permanent ties in case either party broke with the Madness.
“Ah. You assume his wife is my mother,” was his response as he straightened, his posture as rigid as the rest of him.
Oops. I had. The heat in my cheeks reached the blistering point. At least he’d sounded amused by my blunder.
Before I could stumble out an apology, the king moved the conversation along, saying, “I’ll leave you to your meeting. BeCured, Lady Roosa.”
“BeCured, King Dolion.”
He gave his son’s shoulder another pat before striding from the room. The door shut behind him, but gravity didn’t right itself.
Rather than refocus on the sole other occupant, I occupied myself with a study of his spacious office. It was as luxurious as the rest of the palace portion of the building. The walls, though, were gold, not crystal. A conference table with legs carved to resemble those of a lion complemented four chairs reminiscent of the animal’s head. But there were no personal items anywhere. No doodads on the desk. No portraits, photos, or holograms providing a peek into the HP’s favorite people, places, or things. No plants.
“You need flowers,” I stated before I could think better of it. “And plants. Lots of plants.”
