Page 40 of Rook of Ruin
“I do not believe I have had the pleasure.” Simon smiles at her, ignoring the hatred pouring off my body as Clairene offers her hand. Hekissesit. I watch in fascination to see if his mouth petrifies. It does not. She begins a conversation with Simon that I want no part of.
Instead, I turn to see the auburn-haired guard and his friend place Alec carefully on a stretcher. “Please take him to my room.” I give them the directions and ask them to find another healer as well.
“How scandalous of you to have a grown man in your room without a chaperone, especially with you coming out for the season,” Clairene practically shouts. The two guards pause a few paces away from us. “I believe the Spider has his own accommodations at the castle, and you know the queen is so generous. Especially since he is the hero who saved Wesson.” She smiles too sweetly.
I adjust my body to show my lack of fucks for anything she says. Before I can move away, she grabs my arm and squeezes hard, trying to intimidate me. I glance down at her hand and then back at her.
In a low, harsh voice, I growl, “Fucking. Let. Go.”
She grips tighter and smiles brightly, because to everyone else, it looks like a friend is offering me support. She plays the game well.
“Lady Whistble, I appreciate your concern for my first season. You would have the knowledge and experience since this is your . . . second? No,thirdseason. And without any offers.” I click my tongue. “The queen has entrusted these two gentlemen”—I nod to Alec and Simon—“with my safety. Are you questioning their honor? If you are, then you are also questioning our generous queen.” I smile sickly sweet. “Takeyour disgusting hand off me, or I will cut it off.” Clairene lets go of my bloody arm and stalks past me to find another victim. I tilt my head to the guards. “Please continue taking the Rook up to my room.”
Simon gives me a dimpled grin, and I glower at him. Turning away from the she-demon and Simon, I spot Jon making his way towards us, standing tall among the crowd.
“She is a pretty thing.” Jon leans down slightly, still keeping a respectable distance.
I glance over to Clairene, who is pouting. “She’s athingalright.”
He raises an eyebrow and shrugs when I do not comment further. Simon turns towards us. “See you soon, O. Have a great adventure.” Jon smiles and takes my hand, putting it to his lips. Brave, since it is still bloody. A corner of his mouth tilts up with the knowledge he got under Simon’s skin.
“See you soon, Jon. Have a great adventure,” I return with a blush.
Ravens line the corridor to the reception hall, and they open the doors, where we are met with an audience and the queen. Simon and I give our formal greetings to Queen Inara and her advisors. A few of the men leer while the women whisper at my appearance.
“Very well done, Lady Verlan.” The queen smiles, though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “You would have made a fine warrior, but a Rook suited you just as well. Sir Caddel sent a messenger with notice that you had survived, but I did not realize in what poor condition we would find you.” She looks me over and frowns. “Please approach.”
Quiet murmurs circulate the hall as I move to her, walking tall, looking the queen in her ice-blue eyes. She holds out her hand, and I accept it with my bloody one, then she takes me into her private alcove, away from prying ears.
“Tell me everything.”
I do, and when I finish, she gives me a genuine smile.
“Thank you. Ralin was very worried. She has taken to her bed—the stress, I think, has gotten to her. You must see her after you have had some rest. I heard that you had the Rook placed in your chambers?”
I try not to allow the warm feeling in my chest to reach my face. “Yes, he needs healing, and I owe it to him.”
She nods in understanding. “Until he can walk on his own, you may keep him there. I will quash any rumors since you are a healer and also served with him as a Rook.”
It is not lost on me that she used the past tense for the word “serve.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I want him well.”
“As do I. Thanks to your bravery today and your willingness to marry for your kingdom, I am holding a ball in one week for you.”Willingness. The word grates on my nerves. But I am willing to do this for my people, not because I actually want a husband—not one I have no full choice in marrying—but because it is a sacrifice I must make to keep our kingdom safe. The queen continues, “I am sending my personal stylists. I expect other royalty and dignitaries to join us.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty, that is very generous of you.”
The queen looks at me thoughtfully. “My dear girl, of course I only want the best for you.” Something flashes across her face, but I can’t pinpoint it. Her blue eyes assess me as she changes the subject. “You have had quite a few bids for marriage already, and I know more will come, especially after you saved Wesson.” She smiles. “I would like you to have love like your parents and sister, but we do not always have that luxury, Orlaith.” I search my mind, trying to remember my parents. Only echoes of their voices emerge. I wish I would have known them like the queenand Patsy did. “I will take your opinion into consideration. I’m not so cruel I would make you wed the future Duke Borlo.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I would really like to not marry him.” For the first timeever, I consider using any influence I have to help him. “Would the Spider . . . would he be considered for knighthood due to his actions?”
She straightens. “I believe that is between him and me. Shall we?”
We re-emerge, not a hint of what was spoken on our faces. I curtsy to the queen one last time and make my excuses to take my leave.
Aservant meets me outside my chambers with a note from Simon, stating that he would meet me in my chambers after he took care of some business. The servant gives me a hesitant look before bowing, and I open my door to find chaos. Alec’s two friends are arguing with a female Rook healer, and the smaller of the two guards lowers his head.
He pleads, “Try again. He’s my family.”
