Page 11 of The Princess of Nothing
“Of course I want to change the way he did things, but I’m never going to be Edgar. I’m proud to be a Mangalorean and a luna. King Xenos would have us all swear to practice elemental magic. Our connection to our ancestors is the most sacred part of our rule.” I scowled. “Edgar does not practice our beliefs; he doesn’t use ancestral magic.” My mouth twisted in disgust. “He has made who knows what deal with Xenos in exchange for peace. I saw in the newspapers. I have to return before the end of the month before he can make any real changes.”
“You have no army.”
“I...” I hesitated. “I don’t need one... Do I?”
He nodded slowly. “Absolutely. I doubt your cousin will just hand over his crown to you, especially with you saying he doesn’t believe the same things you and your people do. He will want to change things and do what he believes is right.”
I raised my eyebrows. “I want to do what’s right too, and that includes keeping our connection with our ancestors."
He fell silent. “Trust my words, Winter. You will need backup.”
“Where am I going to find one of those?”
“Surely you have people you can rely on back home.”
I thought of Morgana. I could trust her, but she was imprisoned for treason. There was Adius, head guard and loyal to my family. So was Ashur. He’d been my father’s right-hand man. Could I get close enough to persuade them to use their power to back me? Even so, there were only two of them. “I might need a different plan.” I felt like the world was weighing on my shoulders, slowly crushing my spirit.
“You have me.” His lips curved at the corners. “I’ll help you.”
Warmth rushed through me. “It’s dangerous. I can’t ask that of you.”
He shrugged. “I’ve always gone against the grain. My loyalty lies with people, not titles.”
I secretly envied his outlook. Perhaps if I were a sunnier person like him, more carefree, then I would have more people to rely on in moments of need. “There’s something you should know first.” My stomach dipped. I felt the color drain from my face. “No secrets.”
“What is it?”
“You’re not going to like me for this next part.” I fumbled my fingers and crossed my legs. “I told my father where the elves’ village was and how they were hiding forest nymphs. He always wanted one. So, he sent in a small army of assassins. I’ve been nervous to go back to the forest and find them. To know if my friend is...” I trailed off.
He rubbed his temples, then looked at me flatly. “I don’t know what to say. I mean, at least you were honest with me.” He curled his bottom lip between his teeth.
“Like I said before, I trust you,” I said simply. “You could have given me away when you found out who I was, but you didn’t.”
“Perhaps I should have.”
I ran cold. “What?”
He looked at me incredulously. “You told them where to find the elves and nymphs. People could have died, or got hurt.”
I pressed my lips together. A tear escaped my eyes. I brushed it away. “Yes.”
“Why betray them? You told me they helped you.”
“My father made me believe it was for the good of Magaelor, acquiring a forest nymph, and he promised he wouldn’t hurt them.”
“Did you truly believe that?”
I looked down at the patterns in the wood. “At the time, yes.”
He clenched his jaw. “Were you so desperate for his attention?”
I swallowed thickly. “I made a mistake. One I deeply regret and will never happen again.”
He shook his head slowly. “No one knows for sure if they are dead. They’re so far out and hide from outsiders, mostly.”
I cast my eyes downward.
He shook his head. “You must be careful not to be so easily manipulated in future. What about loyalty to the people who have been friends to you? Is that how you repay them? Because if so, then I may rethink my position on helping you.”
