“But there may be a way to bring a little piece of the tradition back to the people,” he says.
“Really?”
“I’ll send my legion with bags of grain for each citizen,” he says. “They’ll deliver them the week before Darkfall. A gift of celebration on behalf of our new princess.”
“That’s not necessary. It can be from you,” I say.
“Nonsense. It was your idea. And why shouldn’t the people love their new princess?” He stands. “Now, I have a meeting to prepare for. You can see your way out?”
“Yes.” I stand, then curtsy again. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
He nods, then turns and walks back to his bedroom. My stomach twists as I catch sight of the bed again. I was not mistaken. I know exactly where he sleeps. And it’s very easy to find thanks to the dragon skull.
I try to linger to take in more details, but Brevan rushes me out. The door closes behind us just as alarm bells sound. Something explodes with a boom, and dust and debris fly across the hall. Panic rises in me, and I look over at Brevan, wide-eyed.
He quickly presses the wall near the skull, but the entry remains sealed. He runs to the ballroom’s double door. It’s also locked. “Fuck.”
Legionnaires sprint past us. Seconds later, there’s screaming, and more explosions shake the castle walls. Dust falls from overhead, and I shield my eyes.
“Stay behind me.” Brevan isn’t in his armor, but he’s pulled two daggers from holsters on his thighs.
He backs up so we’re moving against the wall. I think he’s trying to hide me, but there’s not any place to hide. We’re in a dead end at the dragon skull. The hallway in front of us leads to the main entrance of the castle and extends beyond to connect to the rest of the castle.
More legionnaires race by. There’s the clashing of metal on metal, grunts and cries, then another explosion. I press against the wall and cover my mouth to keep from crying out. My hands shake and my heart races.
I manage to steady myself when I remember that this has happened before. That the rebels are always met with a swift response. That there’s usually only a few of them.
That’s when a whole mass of people wearing blue and green and red march down the hall, right past our hallway.
Brevan blocks my view, but I can still hear people chanting and shouting and laughing. I can’t make out what they’resaying, but they’re in good spirits. Probably because I watched legionnaires head to attack them but not return.
This isn’t a little group.
“Fuck,” Brevan says.
I move enough so that I can see around him, and my heart drops into my stomach. Six armed men are heading our way.
Brevan doesn’t hesitate to rush toward the group, daggers at his sides. There’s something dangerous about the tensing of his muscles and the way he carries himself. How he doesn’t even so much as flinch as the men surround him. He radiates power.
“What do we have here, boys? A noble playing warrior?” one of the men sneers.
“And a little treat over there,” another says, eyeing me hungrily.
A few others leer at me, their expressions revealing everything they hope to do to me.
“Tell you what, big guy,” the first man drawls, “you give us that little morsel and we’ll let you go.”
A man with a knife in his grip leers at me. “I think that’s the Iskvalandian girl.”
“Look at that hair,” another says. “I wonder if it feels different than ours.”
“I wonder if it’s that color everywhere.” The first man strokes his chin while his gaze travels up and down my body.
Nausea rolls through me. I tighten my hands into fists and glare at the rebels. If they come any closer to me, I will do whatever necessary to defend myself.
For the first time, I understand why the real Sabina took her life. I’d rather die than let these men have me.
“I’m going to give you one chance to turn and run,” Brevan threatens.
