Page 17 of Blood Arrow

“Oh, no sire!” I didn’t deserve a reward. “I actually wanted to ask you about the Bruralians. I saw—"

“Lady Arrow. You were distraught, finding your cousin in such a way, it’s understandable, your lady sensibilities being what they are,” the king interrupted again, that time with a knowing smile.

What? My head began spinning with all the twists our conversation had taken. And why did the King look so smug? “Sire, I’m certain of what I saw. It was definitely—"

“Silence!”

The word reverberated in my head and throughout the room. This conversation had taken a turn that I had not been expecting.

He looked down at me from his raised seat, and I did my best not to meet his gaze. Then, as suddenly as clouds were blown from the face of the sun, the King’s anger was swept away from his face, and he took a deep breath. “I am sorry I have to be so stern, but I will have no more of such talk about our guests. I’ve worked too hard for this peaceful arrangement to have it fall apart now.”

Having no idea what I could say to push the issue without raising his ire, I dipped my head. Was the King truly being willfully ignorant? Refusing to hear of anything the Bruralians did while here? The implications began to sink in, and Little John’s words returned to my mind.

“I’m sorry if I upset you, Lady Arrow. I wished to ask you a favor, but instead, I think it wise to wait for all the ladies to gather. Please, do not be late. You may go.” With those words, he waved at the door.

With a bow of my head, I numbly turned and walked to the door being opened by Secretary Lorel. The door closed with a thud, and I stood there a moment, refusing to let the sound be the end of this.

What in the name of Nidar had just happened? My cousin was attacked and left for dead.

Baffled and angry, I trudged to the waiting room where the other eleven ladies were gathering. My mind whirled with the implications.

I didn’t have to wait long before Secretary Lorel entered, announcing the King was ready to see us. We entered the room and I felt like I was outside of my body, being controlled by someone else. I tried to shake it off, but it was the same feeling being in this place. A puppet made to follow and never deviate. My fists clenched at my sides, and I shuffled, using my skirts to hide the evidence of my annoyance.

“I have received glowing reports from our guests of your excellent hostess skills, and I am proud of how well you have entertained them. You are a credit to Thimmaria!” The king paused, hands outstretched, and looked over us all, almost as if expecting a ‘thank you’. When we remained quiet, blinking at him, he continued. “As part of our peace agreement, twelve Thimmarian ladies will be sent to Brural, just as we have received twelve Bruralian ladies….”

A nervous feeling entered my belly at the King’s words, and I had a haunting suspicion I already knew his next statement.

“I have chosen you twelve to be the Thimmarian delegation! Lady Arrow will be the leading emissary, so please look to her for courage and bravery. She’s shown remarkable poise in the face of uncertainty.” With a last enigmatic look toward me, the King clapped his congratulations while the other girls tittered and whispered excitedly.

As soon as the doors shut behind the King, the murmur and press of the other ladies was oppressive. “Ladies!” I raised my voice to be heard. “I know that this is shocking news—" Nidar knew it was a shock to me, but if I was honest, not completely unexpected— “but all will be explained shortly.” And by that, I meant as soon as I knew what in hellfire was happening. “Please be patient.”

That last comment was meant to assuage any who might seek me out for an explanation. Looking around at my fellow court ladies, I was struck with malicious murmurs. We had all been given an incredible opportunity, and I couldn’t blame them for questioning my appointment.

It was an honor, and if I were like them, I’d be ecstatic to be in this position. Yet, after everything that had happened, everything I had discovered, it was everything but desired. Not to mention, my interaction with Captain Rekker the prior day. The situation had become sinister, and regardless of my feelings, the King had put the lives of eleven ladies on my shoulders. I’d be damned if I would let us walk into the Bruralian kingdom as martyrs.

Panic threatened to choke me, but I managed to fight it off until I got to my bedchamber and could collapse out of the public eye. How could the King ‘reward’ me in such a way? My actions to save my cousin were out of desperation for the only kin I have. To burden me with the responsibility of so many lives was cruel, especially knowing what I did.

The Bruralians weren’t here for peace. They were here for something more menacing proven by their actions and their words. How could I possibly protect them all when we were being sent directly to the enemy? I had no allies except for Will, Brex, and Little John, who straddled the line of helpful. What could I do to ensure the safety of the ladies and my cousin?

In court your reputation was everything. Mine was formidable to the point that the others left me well enough alone, but if a scandal was forthcoming, having me in their corner was a good strategy. No one questioned me, and if they did, they received every ounce of blackmail I had, which was considerable. My standing was all thanks to Brex, who gossiped and spied better than most soldiers in the army. She could dig up dirt on anyone, and we’d learned to wield it like a weapon. That sort of warfare wasn’t my favorite but like the situation I was facing now, you adapted or die.

The latter wasn’t an option, so I needed to learn all I could about the Bruralians. Dig up dirt if I could and use it against them. My saving grace was that the King had not specified when we would be leaving for the Bruralian Kingdom, which allowed time for digging.

A plan formed vividly, and I pushed the door of my chamber open then shut it quickly. Glancing around revealed that Brex wasn’t present. I bustled to my writing desk and took up quill, ink, and parchment. I wrote four letters, all saying basically the same thing but intended for different people.

Slipping them into envelopes, I sealed them with wax just as Brex swung the door open wide, leading Will into my room. I waved them in but didn’t stop until all the letters were safely tucked and closed.

Brex guided Will to my bed and helped him onto the mattress, fusing with the blankets and plumping the pillows she then arranged behind his back. They both shot curious glances at me, but I ignored them, too focused on my current task to say anything.

When I was finally satisfied, I put away my supplies and turned to find both Brex and Will watching me with identical looks of concern.

“What’s happened?” Will asked first, but I made a slashing motion with my hand warning him not to speak. I wouldn’t put it past the Bruralians to be listening to my conversations, so I needed to be extremely cautious.

“How are you feeling?” I asked instead, pulling out two letters and handing one to each of them.

“Better, though I have dizzy spells that come quite often, but Epione said they would fade in time,” he answered, taking the letter and looking at it confusedly.

With silent gestures, I encouraged him to read it while I engaged Brex in meaningless conversation about what clothing of mine needed to be mended. I also told her that I would need to commission several new gowns but refused to give an explanation as to why.

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