Page 30 of Arise the Queen
At the moment, she felt like that wretched goat—rudely placed on display, only waiting for a blade to her throat. Tears pricked at her eyes.
It was impossible not to consider how oft her mother had questioned her humanity. How little time they’d spent together. All her favor awarded to Ely—and not unrequited because no matter how much Ely had loved Gwendolyn, she had also thrived under the Queen’s tutelage.
And really, though Ely had never wished to join thedawnsio, she’d adored the Queen’s attention, as well as the gowns and jewels.
Ely would find herself giddy attending this gala, Gwendolyn realized bitterly. All- too easily, she could imagine her good friend dancing alongside these guests, pointing at this Fae, or that, marveling over this and that.
But this wasnotwhere Gwendolyn thrived.
She had spent nearly every day of her waking life practicing at some manner of defense, and still she’d not mastered her skills—not compared to Ely, who danced divinely without even trying.
This contrast made Gwendolyn’s heart hurt.
How long could these Fae dance?
Forever, she feared.
Forever and ever and ever and ever…
After all, they had forever to do so, she thought angrily, and her life, in comparison, would pass within a handful of breaths.
Gwendolyn blew a sigh, remembering the night of her Promise Ceremony.
In so many ways, that was the beginning of the end…
Gwendolyn was a silly fool for trusting Locrinus—a “Stupid Girl,” indeed, longing for the attention of a man she ought to have reviled.
Hadn’t she also committed the same sin as was perpetrated against her—judging a man by his face, instead of by the dictates of his actions?
No doubt, Gwendolyn had been blinded by Loc’s too glamorous smile. But in the end, Brutus’ son was only a greedy, murderous fiend—a man with so little concern for his own family that he would slay his own father.
In retrospect, even that merchant with the goat wasn’t so mean.
What of Loc’s son?Given the chance, what would you do with the child?Gwendolynstilldidn’t know. But she knew this: She felt awful for Habren, not only for having Locrinus as a father, but to have a mother such as Estrildis. And despite this, Gwendolyn couldn’t allow either the father or the son to sit upon her throne.
And this brought her full circle to Ely, who was, even now, safe at home, wedded to a man she loved. Would Gwendolyn return only to find her heavy with child, and Caradoc refusing entry to her city?
Was Gwendolyn no better than Estrildis, with so much envy in her heart that she could dare harm an innocent child?
That she would resent Ely’s joy?
Right now—gods forgive her—she did.
Everything was too easy for Ely.
Why was it so difficult for Gwendolyn?
All those months she’d spent locked away in Locrinus’ palace… unbearable. But even that was better than this. Thesedancers—every one—gazed beyond her, ignoring her as no one had ever done.
“Halloo! Pardon,” she said desperately, losing her mind. She waved a hand outside her cage at a horned Fae who passed. “Halloo! I only wonder if you will take a message to your King?” Right now, she would promise himanythingto be free of this cage, including the Sword of Light!
How long could she endure here without victuals or personal care? The question filled her with panic because, considering that she hadn’t eaten in so long and she still wasn’t hungry, and the Druids in the village had lived seven hundred years!
Another couple waltzed by, their gowns aswirl—his more voluminous than hers!—and Gwendolyn nearly screamed. “Hallooo! Hallooo! Hallooo!”
But as swiftly as they’d appeared, they, too, were gone, whirling and twirling away before she could finish her request.
Blood and bloody bones!This was the most horrible of revelries because no one ever stopped to rest, no one ever went home. The dancing went on so long that if Gwendolyn had been a man, she would have grown a beard!
