My heart races as he clips it on and opens the door. I turn back to the comfort woman with one last frantic look. She catches my gaze, clearly confused, before I am taken outside.
The sun is brighter than it was yesterday, and it is still morning. I reach my hands up to shield my eyes as a sharp yank forward has me stumbling and coughing. Rholker turns around abruptly.
“Are you well?” he asks, seeming worried as if he hadn’t considered how disorienting aneck leashmight be.
I glare at him, hacking one last cough into the crook of my arm. His red hair and yellow eyes seem harsher in the wintry light, but he doesn’t wait for more than a few moments before we continue on.
We pass the fields and make it to the palace. White marble pillars are everywhere, a stark contrast to the woodland cabins and cottages in Zlosa, and a testament to the elevation of the royalty. A depiction of Khuohr, the god of war, is painted across the ceiling, and his consorts line the outer walls. Each holds a gold basin, as if offering some gift to him above.
We are quick to make it into the throne room, which is at least ten times larger than I remember. A long row of furs is laid on the ground for us to walk upon, while rows of giant lords and their wives fill both pews and carefully carved chairs.
Earthy tones are everywhere, along with mountains of brown and auburn hair. A few stray yellow eyes turn to glance at us, but most of the conversations continue as normal. They are a dull roar in my ears as the royal giant warriors congregate around us.
One of the warriors steps into the hall first and pounds his spear against the stone with a loud crack. All speaking ceases.
My eyes move to the end of the walkway to see a giant figure seated next to the throne, and a blue head is hung above where Rholker will place his flat ass.
An Enduar head.
I suck in a breath. My heart pumps loudly and my fingers go numb. That has to be the one who sacrificed himself and let Teo kill him.
Rholker stoops down to whisper, “Remember, if you wish to see Mikal, you will behave today.”
I look up at him, feeling raw and anxious, but I nod.
The entirety of the court stands, then bows. When every head is cast downward, Rholker starts to walk in.
I take in the men from afar. A part of me knows that this is my chance to get information that would be precious to the Enduares—but I hardly know where to start. I wasn’t raised to understand politics.
Right now, with their enormous heads bowed, even if not explicitly to me, something new stirs in my bones. The Fuegorra in my chest hums.
A snippet of a vision. A promise—they would all pay.
I am a queen. Perhaps not one that they recognize, but that kind of endowment comes from within.
My thoughts trail off when I get a good look at the wooden throne at the end of the walkway. There are cushions on either side of the carved seat. One is already occupied by a young giant woman, wearing a white dress similar to my own. She also has a collar on, but in place of being pulled by Rholker’s firm hand, she is attached to the throne. Her head is also bowed into submission, showing off her reddened eyelids and scarred forehead.
She looks like a high-bred giant. Her auburn curls seem healthy, and her skin is otherwise unmarked by the sun, as many giants prefer for their women.
I recognize the gems on the thrones instantly because they call to me from the other side of the room. They don’t sing, they weep. If the others hear, they don’t show it. Liana once told me that the songs are louder to those with stones, but only Teo and I could hear our song.
A few of the giants angle their heads to see what is happening and Rholker gives my leash a tug, causing the Fuegorra’s light to sputter out as I choke.
When we reach the seat, the new king pauses and gestures to the cushion on his right side. I look up at him for a mere moment before I take my place, remembering the way he usedMikal to threaten me moments ago. It just makes me more angry.
No sooner have I lowered myself than he sits on his throne—the one no doubt carved by the bloody hands of slaves past. We gaze out at the audience, and I see others who look vaguely like Rholker—his bastard brothers, from the decree when every royal lord would gift his wife to High King Erdaraj to sire a son.
I’m surprised they let theTerksatsinto the court.
Unlike the general friendliness that Teo conducted his entire court with, Rholker is aloof and full of rules of conduct I couldn’t begin to guess.
One of the royal court members sitting on a gilded chair at the front of the room stands and opens a book. He clears his throat.
“Gentlemen and members of the court, this session is prepared to begin. Long live High King Rholker!”
Not every member of the court repeats the sentiment. Rholker stiffens at my side, and the silence feels much wider and more ominous than it should. It almost shocks me to see how much dissent there is, despite its not being openly declared.
“We have come to discuss the mid-winter feast. High King Rholker’s official coronation is of utmost importance to each and every one of us.”
