Page 35

Chapter twenty-two

Adelyna

“ Y ou may go now,” Adelyna said to the small fleet of courtiers who had followed her through the palace hall.

High Maid Maribelle shuffled forward. “Lady—”

“All of you. Now.” She didn’t need an audience for this nighttime meeting. The courtiers reluctantly shuffled away, giving Adelyna a few moments to gather her thoughts. One never went to the R?ll unprepared.

Weeks had passed since Qiana left court, and while the fall season steadily turned to frigid winter and the swell of war continued unabated, the R?ll had yet to announce which of his children was to be the R?ll’s Voice at the army, someone to represent him against Cerdoran’s brutality.

His silence was…unnerving. And now he wanted to meet in private. Why?

Adelyna bit her lip and entered the private hall where her father waited.

This was one of the rare times she saw him without so much as a servant, such as when he had told her that her mother died.

There was similarly as little pity on his face now as there had been that night.

Unfortunately, he had really aged in the years since then, his skin taking on the texture of caper-laden curdled milk. 128

“You wanted to see me, Highest?” Adelyna swept into a low bow. One could not curtsey in breeches and maintain dignity. Private audience or not, informality wasn’t an option with the ruler.

“Rise, Daughter,” the R?ll said. “We need not bother with such things.”

…Or not. Adelyna swallowed nervously. “Of course…Father.”

The R?ll took a few steps along the hall, which had uncovered windows on one side, and a set of portraits of long-dead royals on the other.

Alina the First, the Mad. 129 Abnar the First, the Great.

130 Aherin III, the Forgotten. 131 Those and many more hung on the wall, a witness to their heirs’ words and indiscretions.

The sky had long turned to night and the bright moon, a rusty yellow, was visible through the distant treetops, which laid beyond the expansive, groomed gardens that were now put to rest for winter.

Empty, the gardens’ hollowness leered back at them, as if the ghosts of the day’s occupants remained—and watched.

Now, what did her father want?

“I wanted to tell you something in private,” the R?ll said.

“Of course. I appreciate the consideration.”

The R?ll nodded at her polite response. “Aherin is going to go to the army as my Voice.”

“Wha—Father?”

“I know you were expecting to be sent as you are Kor’yitz, but it will not be you.”

There it was. Her heart pounded and head rushed, and she took a step back before she caught her balance. Was her position as heir going to be taken away next? All for—

“ Aherin ?” Adelyna scowled. “He’s barely a man—I wouldn’t trust him to care for my dogs. I’ve trained for this. Studied for this. You made sure I had the best tutors, learned under our best generals.”

“Adelyna, don’t make this difficult. Your position requires dignity—no matter what.”

“I don’t understand why. Why not me? Because I’m a woman?”

“No.” The R?ll scoffed. “If only that were the issue.”

“Truly?”

“Yes.” The R?ll smiled. It was not warm. “You’ve done everything one can expect of an heir. Even a male heir. If it were merely a matter of sex the role would be yours. But things are more complicated.”

“How so?”

“You don’t have the sight.”

There it was. She was to be rejected because she, out of all of her family, was the only one without the Gods’ blessing. 132

“Why make this decree now? I’ve never had the sight.” Adelyna pushed her bruised feelings aside—they would be dealt with later. Interacting with the R?ll required focus. “Are you removing me as Kor’yitz? If so, you could have done it long ago.”

“No,” the R?ll said with a sigh. “I’m not disinheriting you. Not yet.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re right.” The R?ll paused, letting his words wash over her.

“Aherin seems to think the only point of being royal is to arrange the court to one’s pleasure.

He doesn’t understand the work, the sacrifice.

Then again, he never had to. Not when he had an older sibling who was more than capable. ”

Adelyna’s mind whirled, picking for a way to salvage this. “If you aren’t going to disinherit me, and you aren’t going to send me to the army, what are you going to do?”

The R?ll put his hands behind his back and stepped towards her, his expression hard.

“First and foremost, Ca’mail needs strength.

You and I both know that the people—even the ones who don’t follow the Dahlk—will not accept a ruler without magic.

They won’t. Half the country is made up of preening snobs and the other half is superstitious, afraid of every shadow—and often those two overlap.

Because you have been an admirable Kor’yitz, and for the affection I bear you, I’ll give you one year.

If you can make the sight appear within a year, any talk of your brother designated as the future R?ll will end. ”

Adelyna’s heart plummeted. That wasn’t nearly enough time—though she knew better than to argue.

Though, gratitude was warranted at the chance, such as it was.

Could she do it? No one had made their sight appear before on demand.

Was it even possible? But there was a first time for everything.

And this was better than being sent away by her father to the countryside for her “health.” Like what happened to Mother.

All was not lost—much could change at court within a year, and one way or another Adelyna would make the most of that time.

Not like she had a choice.

Adelyna stood straighter and bowed her head. “Alright, father. I will do as you ask. I will find a way to obtain the sight.” The R?ll nodded, obviously pleased. At least one of them was.

Adelyna took leave of the R?ll and hid her anger behind her placid court mask as she endured the courtiers’ curious stares.

Most women cried when upset. Hell, most people cried.

But not Adelyna. Not the Kor’yitz. Even when her entire life was in danger of being upended—disinherited heirs were not known for living long—she was able to do nothing other than march along, a perfect princess.

Unfortunately, the one person at court she could speak to, the one who had a chance of keeping his mouth shut and influence their father, was also the one person who stood to gain from her disgrace—Aherin.

Did he even want to be Kor’yitz? Doubtful, since Aherin loved the pleasures of court life more than the responsibility.

But royal siblings had been known to hide their true intentions.

Pleasure-absorbed royal siblings were ignored. Ambitious ones were executed.

Then again, it was better to find out now rather than later. She should speak to him. Maybe he would help her after all.

When she came to the fork in the hallway, Adelyna turned right towards her brother’s chambers.

At this time of night, the halls of the royal family’s residences were quiet.

Most of the court was gambling and socializing, and it would not be time for Adelyna’s formal “putting to bed” for some time yet.

It was the best chance to speak to her brother without it being a literal show.

Adelyna turned down the hall to her brother’s room and abruptly stopped when she found the last person she wanted to see, given the location—Nerine. Nerine with her hair slightly mussed, her shawl clutched around her.

“What are you doing here?” Adelyna asked, not bothering with any formalities.

“Just taking a walk.” Nerine looked at Adelyna intently. Too intently. That tone….

“‘Just taking a walk.’ Here ? By Aherin’s rooms.”

“Yes.”

Adelyna crossed her arms. The tears she held back after the exchange with her father threatened to rush forth. And Nerine—Nerine looked at her with such a blank expression. A stupid expression.

This couldn’t be happening. There weren’t many reasons Nerine would be here, and none of them were ones Adelyna wanted to countenance. There was nothing down this hall other than Aherin’s rooms, those belonging to a stodgy bedridden uncle, and a dead end.

“ Why were you in Aherin’s rooms?” Adelyna asked sternly. It was too much to hope that Nerine had decided to play nursemaid to the uncle.

“I wasn’t—”

“Stop.” Adelyna the Kor’yitz—not the lover—spoke now. As if sensing the change, Nerine tensed, keeping her eyes downcast. Coward. “There’s no other reason for you to be here. If I ask my brother—and I will—do you really think he’ll deny it?”

Nerine bit her lip. “I didn’t mean—”

Adelyna shook. “Didn’t mean what? To lay with him? To betray me? Well, you managed to do both. Why, Nerine?” Adelyna took an assertive step forward. Nerine flinched. “Why?”

“Because…because…”

Adelyna shook her head, disgusted. This was a nightmare.

This had to be a nightmare. Not Nerine…not her too…

“Because you heard that he might be Kor’yitz sooner rather than later, and you thought you’d get in his good graces.

” Nerine remained staring at the floor, her shoulders slumped, deflated.

“Well, I have some unfortunate news for you . My brother wanted you only to hurt me. You’re nothing to him, and never will be.

Unfortunately for you, you’ll be without us both. ”

“Adi—”

“Stop.” Adelyna held out a hand. “Do not presume to address me in that manner again.”

With one swift movement, Adelyna whipped around and strode back the way she came, not caring who saw or heard their exchange. There was no point in confronting Aherin—it would only make him excited. And the last thing she wanted was to craft another scene for the gossips.

A few halls later and Adelyna had managed to collect her thoughts from the swirling miasma of hurt and anger. She ought to thank Nerine, really. For one, she was kind enough to show Adelyna who she really was. And for another, she now knew her brother was more than prepared to take what was hers.