Page 26 of A Curse of Breath and Blood (The Mind Breaker #1)

25 AELIA

Ernie’s deep voice echoed through the quiet townhome, “She is in the parlor. I will escort you.”

My heart jumped at the thought of Tharan standing in the doorway.I quickly fixed my hair, straightened my simple smock dress, and neatly placed my tea next to the book I was reading.

Ernie approached, bowing his head. “Lady Aelia, there are some messengers here for you.”

I cleared my throat. “Let them in.”

Three Woodland Realm soldiers entered the parlor. Their armor of golden leaves laid atop one another to form a chain mail. Their helmets crowned with cascading ferns resembled a living crown camouflaging them amidst the lush foliage. Thin vines adorned with tiny blossoms crisscrossed their armor, providing additional protection and a touch of natural elegance. The soldiers moved with quiet grace, their leafy attire rustling softly, a symphony harmonizing with the whispers of the wind through ancient trees. Elegant, long swords fell at their sides.

My mouth fell open as the middle soldier kneeled before me, extending a velvet pillow on which an invitation sat.

I picked up the letter, breaking the green wax seal of the Alder King with my nail. My eyes flitted to the doorway, where Caiden, Lucius, and Amolie stood, jaws gaping at the three soldiers.

The letter read:

To the Traitorous Queen Aelia,

You are cordially invited to the Alder King’s Yule Revelry, which begins on the night of Winter Solstice and lasts through the new year. Your companions are welcome to attend as well.

Your Friend,

The Lord of Nothing.

“Thank you,” I said, trying to steady my voice.

The soldiers bowed and then left.

Lucius, Caiden, and Amolie came rushing into the room. I held up the invitation for Caiden to inspect.

His eyes darted back and forth across the parchment. “Excellent.”

“Good work, Springborn,” Lucius said.

“And you all thought I couldn’t be charming.” A satisfied smile crossed my lips.

“Well, given your past, you could see how we would have reservations…” Caiden said.

I needed fresh air and some time to think. Arion had been cooped up in the stable for too long and would also want a run.

“Amolie, do you want to go for a ride with me?” I asked as I buttoned my wool cloak .

“You don’t have to ask me twice,” she said, grabbing her cloak.

The streets of Ruska bustled with people gathering supplies for their own Yule celebrations. As one of the few holidays celebrated throughout Moriana, the merchants usually made a killing.

Arion bobbed his head up and down in excitement when he saw me.

“Hello, boy, I’ve missed you.” I ran a gloved hand down his muscular neck, taking in his distinct smell.

He mouthed my hands, looking for treats.

“Okay, here you go.” I flattened my palm, placing a carrot on it.

Arion lovingly nibbled it.

The stiff leather saddle sent a chill through my bones, but I needed to escape.

The Tower of Fate loomed behind us as we made our way to the open fields.

“I can’t believe your mother is in there,” Amolie said, staring at the twisted stone tower rising into the heavens.

“It’s her prison.” I didn’t look back—I couldn’t.

“Don’t you wonder about her at all, Aelia?” Amolie rode beside me.

I bit my nail. “I wonder why she allowed me to be sent to my own personal hell.”

“At least she’s alive, Aelia.”

My chest tightened. Amolie’s mother had been burned alive by Gideon’s father during the witch hunts twenty years ago.

“I’m sorry.”

Those stupid words again.

Amolie waved me off. “Those things can’t hurt me anymore. I couldn’t have saved my mother.”

“Still. I should not have been so thoughtless with my words. ”

“It’s fine.”

The horses plodded along happily through the snow.

“I’m afraid to see Gideon again,” I said. My words were shaky like my nerves.

“I would be too. He’s so charming. I wonder how long he’d been courting her.”

“It doesn’t take long to fall for him. He’s great at love-dumping.” I fought the memories of our sweet beginning rising to the surface. He swept me off my feet like no one had before, showering me with affection, making me believe he was my soul’s mate.

“He’s going to put on a show for the Alder King, of that we can be sure.” Amolie’s normally cheerful demeanor darkened. “And likely, Erissa will be with him.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Let’s talk about something more exciting like… the forest boy.”

I straightened in my saddle. “Yes?”

A coy smile tugged at her mouth. “He seems nice.”

“We’re just friends.” My heart skipped a beat at the memory of our night together.

“I didn’t imply you were anything more. I think it’s interesting he would send you such an intimate invitation. You must have charmed him… or you planted something in his mind.”

I scoffed. “Why does everyone believe I can’t be charming? I am charming, for Trinity’s sake.”

Amolie laughed. “You can be prickly.”

I thrust my hands up into the air, startling the horses. “Prickly? I was a queen and an emissary.”

“That was a long time ago, Aelia.”

“For Trinities sake—it wasn’t that long ago.”

“Fine, fine, you’re still charming.”

“Thank you.” I held my head high like the queen I was.

Amolie sighed as our horses plodded along. “I miss Roderick.” Sadness filled her voice. “I know he’s doing his duty, but my bed feels so cold without him.”

“You can always sleep with me, Amolie.”

She smiled at me.

I patted Arion’s neck. “Care to tell me how you and Roderick…”

“Became a couple?” She finished my sentence for me.

“Yes. I didn’t think there was anything between you.”

“There wasn’t at first. We were just friends. Lucius would sometimes send him to rendezvous with me. One day he caught me reading a poetry book and he let it slip that he too loved poetry…” She stroked her pony’s silken mane, her cheeks flushing at the memory. “And we bonded over it. He’d leave me little poems in my tack box or have a bouquet of roses sent from the royal florist.”

My eyes widened at the thought of Roderick, hero of the sylph, writing poetry and buying flowers. “Are we talking about the same Roderick who used to wear the ears of his kills around his neck?”

Amolie nodded, her curls bouncing like springs. “The very same one.”

“Huh… I guess people can change.”

“We are not our labels, Aelia. You should know that by now. Sometimes it is easier to live in the armor we build for ourselves than let the world see who we really are.”

I sucked in a breath, ashamed of my ignorance. “You’re right, Amolie. I’m happy for you.”

“That means the world to me, Aelia.” She reached out and squeezed my hand.