My lips part, everything I’ve learned about magic and what I’ve overheard from Iywan set to tumble free.
Don’t, says a voice in my head.Patience.
I snap my mouth shut, wincing as the amulet burns against my skin.
“You know exactly what I speak of,” I say.
Iywan sneers and my heart jumps. “They’ll never believe a thing you say,” he says. “They’ll never believe the princess who has always been volatile and unstable, coddled by her royal parents and protected like a fragile gem within the castle walls. Who do you think they trust more? The fickle, pampered royal who drinks in excess and beds anything with two legs, who has hardly ever taken the time to listen to citizens in Audience? Orme, the queen’s loyal advisorwho has beenthere for them when you refused? Wake up, Princess. You are nothing without me bolstering your credibility.”
A tremor starts from within me and spreads to my limbs until my arms start to tingle. My eyes prickle, a knot tangling my insides. Turning, I practically run toward the door.
“By all means, Princess, tell everyone what youknow.” Iywan’s voice sounds far too amused before the door shuts behind Callum and me.
“Princess?” Callum calls, keeping up with my panicked steps.
“We’re going to my mother.”
He nods. My mind is reeling as we hurry toward my mother’s bedchamber. It does nothing to help chase away the dizziness that’s slowly creeping up on me. I’m too overcome. I need to head back to my bedchamber and just lie down for a while. But first, I need to figure things out. When my mother was awake and lucid, she claimed she’d taken away my memories. What sort of powers does my mother have that she could take my memories away?
“Princess?” Callum calls again.
I stand rooted to the spot, unable to move as piles of information flood my mind. Maybe my mother’s a Mind Whisperer … Though I’ve never heard her speak into my mind, unless I was… dreaming.
I have no clue how any of this all works, but I’m grasping at straws. I need one last moment with my mother. I need her advice. I needher.
“Carys.”
I blink at Callum, then gesture in the direction that we had been going.
He couldn’t look more confused or worried, but I don’t have time to put his mind at ease. Soon, we approach my mother’s bedchamber where more maroon-clad guards than usual stand directly in front ofher door. I wait, expecting them to step aside as they always do, but no one makes even the slightest shift.
“Step aside.” The command in my voice is deceptive.
“Apologies, Your Highness. We’ve been given instructions not to let anyone through,” one of the guards speaks up.
“I am Princess Carys Meredyth fa Rhodri, daughter of Morwenna, heir to the throne.” Gods, when last did I have to drop my entire title. It’s so exuberant, so unnecessary.
“The command came from Queen Morwenna, the Good, Your Highness.”
I bark out a laugh. “Lord Iywan does not speak for the queen.Ido.” This has his name written all over it.
“Your Highness, it was not Lord Iywan. It’s the queen’s request.”
What in Rhianu’s name?
He bows deeply, as if that would make me forget everything. As I’m about to demand they let me in, there’s a knock on the door from the inside, and Briony steps out. The guards close the gap again as soon as she’s through.
“Oh!” Briony holds a hand over her chest as though I’ve surprised her. The other hand clutches a bowl. “I didn’t see you there, Princess. My apologies. The queen is not in the condition to have visitors.”
I glower at the bowl of leeches. “Whatever you and Iywan have planned is not going to work. Now get out of my way, all of you.” I sound less regal by the moment, but my patience is hanging by a thread.
“I don’t know what you’re referring to, Your Highness.” Her sugary voice makes me want to slap her across her plain face and break her little upturned nose.
“Don’t play the fool with me, Briony. Get out of my way.” I shove past her and start to shove past the door. Something changes in Briony’s eyes.
“Sir Callum,” she says. “Escort the princess back to her bedchamber.”
My head snaps to Callum, and I burst out laughing. “Callum does not take orders from you. Who do you think you are?”
