“And you’d bet your life on that?”
The sounds of swords leaving their scabbards filled the air. A buzzing burn coursed through her skin and she welcomed it this time.
She was sick of being at the whim of men.
“Please!” Sonah shouted, lurching between Terena and the commander. Terena’s eyes widened in alarm. “Please, stay your swords! We will come!”
She turned beseeching eyes to Terena. Sonah stepped closer and whispered, “We need to see him either way. Why are you being like this?”
Terena shut her eyes and counted to five. When she opened them again, she shot a look at the commander over Sonah’s shoulder. “Because I had a horrible night, Sonah, and I’ve barely slept. I’m hungover and I’ve got a lot on my mind and the last thing I needed was to be dragged before the king by this overbearing?—”
“Terena,” Sonah begged, laying her hands on Terena’s shoulders. “The only way we get out of here with whatever he has that’s yours, is by seeing the king. We can leave directly after, if that is your wish. But you said it yourself. We need to see him. Come,” she added, grabbing hold of Terena’s hand. “We’ll walk together.”
Terena stood still a few seconds more, then walked. As she passed the commander, she shot him a venomous look.
She didn’t miss the grateful look he shot at Sonah.
Two Liodari preceded them up the other path winding around and up toward the main entrance: a large, curved entry surrounded by stone pillars.
Before they entered, Terena was disarmed, forced to remove her sword belt and daggers. She stared mutinously at Daris Antonius as she did so.
The doors opened as if by their proximity alone and Sonah’s other hand settled over their clasped hands. The commander strode forward, no longer worried about whether they’d follow. They had nowhere else to go.
The foyer was as grand as she’d expected, with gleaming marble floors and a high, domed glass ceiling. There were courtiers, nobles, merchants and servants all milling about or—in the case of the servants—remaining as unobtrusive as they could while going about their duties.
Terena turned back to the commander as he made his way to the left and down a series of wide hallways filled with more people, then right to a set of doors guarded by four men wearing uniforms different from the Liodari.
Armored in bronze and leather, with red and gold capes and helmets bearing red plumes, Terena eyed the guards warily as Daris Antonius strode forward.
They did not bother to glance at Terena and Sonah. Without a word, the men on either side of the doorway reached out, opening the heavy gilt doors. The commander marched through. Terena hesitated a moment before following him inside.
The room was large and windowless. Two walls on either side looked to be whitewashed stone adorned with tapestries and paintings. The back of the room was rounded, and it was there the king’s throne sat at the center of a large marble dais. Two guards flanked King Altos with two more at the foot of the dais.
King Altos sat forward, one arm resting on the side with his chin propped on his hand as he watched their progress through the room.
Terena had a moment’s surprise as they neared. The king wasyounger than she’d expected, around the commander’s age, with a short beard complementing his full lips and firm jaw. He wore his brown hair short like the Liodari and had bright brown eyes, watching her with curiosity.
The commander motioned for Terena to stop while he continued on, pausing before the king to bow, then turned and clasped his hands behind him, his back stiff as he looked at the space behind Terena and Sonah.
Terena did not bow.
The silence gathered while Terena stared back at the king, her face hard. She hoped he saw her displeasure. She also wondered what he’d heard about her. Terena assumed he’d heard the rumors of her being a god. His enemy had, after all, arrested her and had been about to execute her, not only for the Crown Prince’s murder, but for being a god.
“I thought you’d be taller,” the king said at last, his voice unnaturally loud in the cavernous chamber.
Terena cocked her head and narrowed her eyes.
“And older,” he mused, seeming unbothered by her silence.
He rose abruptly, taking the two steps off the dais and sauntering over to stop a foot away from her and Sonah. Terena saw the commander shift and look at her. She slid her gaze back to the king.
King Altos pursed his lips, his eyes searching her face before turning to Sonah.
“You must be Prince Lerek’s Royal Taster,” he said, and Terena stiffened. She saw Sonah’s lips part and Terena squeezed her hand, hoping she’d keep quiet. She did, a tremor passing through her at the king’s regard.
“Do neither of you speak?” The king asked in a light tone with a slight lift of his lips.
“You have something of mine,” Terena replied. Her voice was harsher than she’d intended and she cursed herself for showing any emotion.
