Page 76 of The Princess of Nothing
The truth was I just couldn’t bring myself to kiss or cuddle with him after what I just did. He pushed the door open and walked inside. I looked back, wondering if Blaise was okay. My mind shouldn’t have been with him, but it was. Bringing myself back to the present, I followed Cedric.
***
Silk banners of blueand gray covered the banquet room. Glamours portrayed snow drifting to the ground but never landing. I twirled around, and my Gothic-style, midnight-blue dress swished around my knees. I reached over the table and grabbed some bread, slices of apple, and blueberry jam. Settling down at the table with my plate, I looked Lord Abor in the eyes. “I assume you have news; else you wouldn’t have called me here.”
Cedric picked at a slice of pie next to me.
“Yes.” Abor cleared his throat, looking between Cedric and me. “King Edgar has agreed to meet you, but not at the border.”
“Then where?”
“Ash court.”
“I can’t go there!” I slammed my fist onto the table. “He will have me killed. It’s obviously a trap.”
“He’s promised you will not be harmed, although we both know you sorcerers like to lie.”
My mouth twisted. “Not all of us. Anyway, Edgar’s word means nothing. I won’t go.”
Abor shrugged my response.
He nodded in agreement. “I already sent word that we have declined his request.”
My eyebrows pinched downward. “Good, but you didn’t even wait to ask me.”
“Blaise gave the order. He reads all communications from Magaelor first.”
I ground my teeth. “It’s almost like I’m not a queen.” My nose wrinkled. Cedric squeezed my hand, snapping me out of my rage.
“However, there is another matter I wish to discuss,” Abor stated. “An odd woman has appeared at court, claiming to be your friend.”
Cedric smirked. “But Winter doesn’t have any friends—”
“Who?” I asked, interrupting him. “What’s her name?”
“Morgana Emberlash. She says she is your seer. Oh—”
I stood, sending my chair screeching back. “Where is she?” My wild eyes searched his. “Tell me now!”
“She’s being kept in the dungeons. We must do it with all sorcerers because of the—Your Highness, please, wait!” he called as I ran from the table.
I grabbed a guard at the door by his purple collar. “You’re coming with me.”
Morgana’s orb-like brown eyes widened when she saw me. The guard unlocked the door and swung it open. I pulled her into my arms, tears streaming down my cheeks.
“I came as soon as I heard. How did you get here? You know, it doesn’t matter. I’m just so glad you are!” My thoughts raced. “Are you okay? Did Edgar hurt you? I’ll kill him!”
She patted my back, then pulled me at arm’s length. Sadness wrinkled her eyes, and her bony fingers were shaking. “Calm down. I’m okay.” She steadied her tone, although I could tell she was shaken. It was unusual for her. “I escaped. Edgar released me from the dungeons on Prince Kiros’s orders. I’ll presume I have you to thank for that.” Her bottom lip trembled. “With me no longer facing execution, Edgar put me to work. He had me making staffs nonstop.” She showed me her cut-up, bloodied fingers. “Edgar is building an army under Xenos’s nose. He’s afraid. The forest nymph escaped though, after your father died.” She smiled. “Which is good news. There are, of course, other weaker ways to predict the future, but don’t worry though.” She handed me a necklace with a small blue rune. “I had it spelled to protect you from any foresight.”
I pulled it over my head. It hung around my neck. “You’re always ten steps ahead.”
“We must act fast. Things are bad back home. The kingdom is more divided than ever.”
“Our magic?”
“Your cousin agrees to using the magic for now, only because he doesn’t have any choice, but he calls it necromancy,” she spat. “When it’s no such thing. He’s extremely ignorant to our religion. He knows there will be an uproar if he tries to take it away, but he has banned rituals and mass prayer to the ancestors. He’s threatening the ones who live in Ash Forest, calling them murderers. He’s having new prisons built to bring new law and order. He’s in over his head and knows it. He plans on eventually transitioning lunas to using elemental magic. He has Berovians in high-ranking positions at court.”
“That must have been the deal he made with Xenos. To turn Magaelor to their magic system.” I growled under my breath. “He is a mark on our family name, a treacherous, vile...”
