Page 77 of The Princess of Nothing
“I know.” She breathed quickly, placing her hands on mine. “Do not meet him, Winter. He will not give you the crown. He despises you. He believes this is his chance to change things. He wants a show of force against the dark fae, wanting the feral fae rounded up and killed. Blaise has refused to kill them. Instead, he’s been trying to rehabilitate them.” She looked around at the guards cautiously. “Edgar knows Xenos will dethrone him if he doesn’t do as asked to, and Berovia wants Niferum as much as they want Magaelor.”
“Yes. They want everything,” I said grouchily. “I am certain it will be the death of them.”
“On this, we are agreed.”
“You were cloaked at the castle, Winter. Xenos was paranoid a seer or someone may have seen you were at his castle. As soon as you were captured, they spelled you. There is no other explanation for why I couldn’t see you. Before you were captured, you still had the rune I gave you, which protected you. But then I assumed it was taken. I couldn’t see if you were safe or had made it out of the kingdom. I hated not knowing if you were dead or alive. Then, when Edgar told me of Kiros’s kindness, I knew something was amiss. Then I saw you”—she clasped her hands together—“briefly, when you crossed the waters and had escaped. Destiny showed you to me and I knew you were alive.”
“They tortured me,” I cried. “I asked Prince Kiros to get you out of the dungeons for treason. Now you know, I’ll assume, of the engagement.”
“Yes. I saw the papers from Berovia. Edgar was furious when news reached court.”
I scoffed a laugh. “At least something good came of it all then.”
“Tell me everything, Winter, all I don’t know, and don’t miss a detail.”
I rubbed my hands together. “First, let’s get you out of the cold.” I walked with her to the castle. A guard followed us. “Before I delve into everything, I must ask, do the people want me back? Are they unhappy with Edgar’s reign?”
“Yes!” she exclaimed, relaxing me instantly. “They’ve been protesting outside the gates, demanding you back, but then there are others, as you had to have known there would be, who want to see Edgar stay king. Some of the lords too. Ashur has switched sides. He is Edgar’s right-hand man now.”
“A betrayal he will pay for,” I stated, thinking of the man who had counseled my father. “Does anyone suspect me?” I lowered my voice to a whisper. “Of my father’s death?”
“No. They’re not sure what happened, and I didn’t say anything, no matter what they did to me.” She shuddered. “The Ring of Immortalem,” she said, reminding me. “Do you still have it?”
I shook my head. “Xenos does.”
“I presumed. It’s okay. We can figure this all out. First, we must get you ready, make you queen. It is our only focus for now.”
“How?”
“We need an army.”
“From where? I have you.” I counted on my fingers. “Cedric and possibly Blaise. We’ll just go storm the gates.”
“We can get organized,” she said as we walked under the arch. “Bring people together. If Blaise allows sorcerers into the kingdom, we can build one here, those who would be loyal to you.”
“It would invite spies. People have already made attempts at Blaise with poison, to weaken him so he could be killed with the Sword of Impervius. Blaise won’t allow more lunas at the castle.”
A thin, watery smile curled her lips. “Winter, I saw glimpses of you both the times you’ve been at court. I’m almost certain he would do anything for you.”
I waggled my finger. “You’re wrong, but I will ask anyway.”
