“Yes, but he’s five and ten, as I recall. He’s old enough to serve in the war,” Hellveig said. “And she’s not in season. Thismustbe punished.”
“Punished?” His Majesty asked, rolling his eyes. “What should I do to him? Hang him?”
“I would never suggesthanginga man over a kiss,” Hellveig said, but before anything else, she added, “But it was more than a kiss. They were practicallyfornicatingin the stables, Your Majesty.”
“That’s not true!” I cried.
She went on. “And this is an offense that continues to happen.”
“That’s not true!” I yelled. “We only kissed the once!”
“I wonder,” she added. “I wonder if the King does not address this slight against his only heir’s virtue, when we should expect her to lose it? Sooner rather than later, of course. That’s a theory, yes.”
I gasped. “Howdareyou!”
She shook her head. “How dare I? It's a horrible thought, isn’t it, Your Highness? But, then again, I did see it quite often when I was at the school. More than I should have for so many ladies of worth.”
My father steepled his hands.“Explain your rationale.”
Her tongue took another sharp click as she motioned between us.
“A young stable buck gets away withtouchingthe Princess. No matter how slight, mind you, how soon will it be before he tells his friends back in town? How soon before those conniving little whisperers on Ísfjall’s streets learn of the Princess’s soft spot for poor boys who don’t respect her rank? It may not bethis onethat mounts her like a common filly, but someone will, and she has proven that she will take the hit toward her reputation, and yours, of course, at first chance. Just look at her, pleading for him with such an audience. Very befitting, yes?”
“Elías,” Father summoned him.
The Sword left my side and approached the King. “Aye?”
“What do you believe?” he asked.
His shoulders danced. “I believe they’re kids, Nikolai.”
Hellveig narrowed her eyes at that. “If there is noconsequencefor the sin, Svana will, at best, burn in Hell for whatever else she commits.”
“Hell?”Elías croaked. Father pressed his hand to his shoulder to calm him down.
“No,” I said, rocking my head. “No, that isn’t true.”
“If it doesn’t hurt, she won’t learn,” Hellveig said.
“That’s not true!” I whined. “I promise! I have learned my lesson. I’ve learned it!”
She offered me an ingenuine pout.
Father said, “It’s no lie that you came highly recommended, Miss Hellveig. I am unsure of what should happen here.”
Elías leaned over. Whatever exchange they shared resulted in a clash of responses. Father glared back at him; Elías didn’t say anything else.
“I come so very praised because I take my own ability as seriously as I do the women I am raising,” Hellveig said. “Astrong woman does not tolerate rumors. Do you want a Queen or pawn?”
“It’s not a rumor,” I told her. “I confessed. A Queen is honest and–”
“Svana,” Father said to silence me. “Do as you see fit,” he said. His hand swept once forward and then once back in a command to proceed.
Ser Elías spun on his boot and collected me, trying to remove me from the yard. I fought it, kicking and screaming at him– clawing at his arm.
“What?No! Father! Please!” I strained, trying to escape. “Stop it!” I yelled. “Release me! Father! Father!”
Miss Hellveig was very glad of her victory. She was triumphant, and my father wasindifferent.He stalked past us back into the Castle; he didn’t even look at me.
