Page 9 of A Touch of Iron
By dinner last night, word had already spread about my upcoming trial. I could barely walk two steps before someone stopped me to offer their best wishes. I dreaded going down to breakfast and reliving the same thing, but I didn’t know if I’d have a chance to eat later so I figured I’d better get a meal in while I could.
With Rosemary’s help, I showered and dressed and got ready to face the day. Rook escorted me to the dining hall.
“I feel like everyone’s staring at me,” I whispered as we walked the halls of the castle.
“Ignore them, Lady Violet,” Rook said as he walked beside me. “Focus on your trial.”
I peered up at the big guy. “Have you ever gone to the human realm for a trial before?”
Rook nodded. “Once.” He shivered. “I’ll never go through that again.”
“It can’t bethatbad,” I mumbled, taking in his visceral reaction. Humans endured those things all the time and survived. How bad could it truly be?
Rook stopped walking, which made me stop. We faced each other. “Fae are different from humans,” he started. “We feel things more deeply than they do. So when we love, it’s magnified. When we die, it’s earth shattering. I don’t know how it will be for you since you’re a halfling, but I can tell you what it’s like for a full blooded fae. Though we go in with no expectations, once the trial ends, we remember everything. All those emotions rush toward you in a wave that can be heartbreaking. Some fae never recover.”
I wrung my hands and dropped my gaze to the floor. “I was sheltered most of my life,” I mumbled. “I don’t know what it’s like to experience any of those things.”
I knew the sharp cut of betrayal after Ansel turned on me and brought my mother to the Fae realm. That felt like a trial, though I couldn’t really explain how. Was that what Rook was trying to tell me?
Rook placed one of his big palms on my shoulder. “You’ll do fine, Lady Violet. You are strong in every sense of the word. Both as a fae, and as a human. You will survive this trial. I have no doubt.”
I blew out a breath and looked up at him with a faltering smile. “Thank you.”
He nodded. “Let’s get you something to eat before it’s time to leave.”
After breakfast, it felt as if I was doing the walk of shame to the throne room. Everyone I passed offered their condolences as I left the dining hall, which sent my shaky resolve plummeting to the floor. Rook and I headed toward the throne room where the King, Kazimir, Alec, and Calypso were waiting for me.
When the doors opened, Rook stayed behind. I turned, giving him one last look. He nodded reassuringly before closing the doors. Releasing a breath, I hurried toward the front where the others were waiting. I didn’t bow to the King, which everyone noted. I stood stubbornly defiant, my gaze locked on the wall in front of me.
“Well,” Alec cut into the awkwardness, “since we’re all here, let’s get started.”
“Some ground rules first.” Kazimir approached me with an iron bracelet. “Your wrist, Lady Violet.”
I narrowed my gaze at him, then at the bracelet. I didn’t relish being chained again. How did I know they wouldn’t keep me shackled after the trial ended?
Kazimir saw my hesitation. “Don’t worry, Lady Violet. I promise to release you once the trial is over,” he said reassuringly.
Since fae didn’t lie, I held out my wrist and he snapped the bracelet around it, the chill of iron seeping through my skin. The bracelet would lock away my elemental powers, leaving me only with air. A power I had yet to master.
Kazimir turned to Alec. “Secondly, Alec, this rule is for you. “You are not to interfere with Lady Violet’s trial.”
Alec snorted and then smirked. “IfI’mnot allowed to interfere, then neither is anybody else. And that includes the King.”
My eyes widened. I’d never seen Alec so … disobedient before. It was kinda hot.
Kazimir jerked back in shock, then grinned. “Of course not. No one will interfere in Lady Violet’s trial.”
“Very well,” Alec agreed.
“And last,” Kazimir pulled a vial from his pocket and turned to me, “the amnesia potion.”
My eyes went as wide as saucers, even though I tried to act cool. Before I accepted it, I reached for Alec’s hand and searched his eyes. “Promise to protect my mother no matter what happens.”
“I promise,” Alec said. “Promise to stay alive.”
“I promise,” I whispered. He squeezed my hand, offering comfort the only way he could in a room of potential enemies. For a couple of seconds, we didn’t let go. But finally, we released our hands and I reached for the vial.
“There’s no turning back,” Kazimir warned. “Make sure you really want to do this.”
