“I presume you have eyes,” the copper-haired girl drawls, and the rest of the group giggles and fans themselves.
“And since the council believes he is ill-equipped to rule, they havealways made it clear that Alaric’s wife will be instrumental in ruling Vanzador—something many of us found appealing,” a girl in a frilly white gown explains.
“He isn’t ill-equipped,” I argue.
But the girl continues as if I didn’t speak, smiling with all the sweetness of a snake. “Thenyoucame.”
The hairs prickle down the back of my neck. “You mean Rowenna came,” I correct her. “Shewas Alaric’s first bride.”
The first to strip these girls’ of their ambitions.
Any one of them could have killed my sister. Just like any one of them would leap at the chance to use Alaric. And I can’t stand to be in their company a moment longer.
“Queen Tessa!” I say with an exuberant wave. “Excuse me, my mother-in-law is calling,” I tell the gaggle of monstrous girls as I flit away with a forced smile.
The queen is not, in fact, calling for me. She’s sitting on her usual settee, her eyes hazy and her smile vacant, but I make a beeline toward her anyway. I refuse to believe that no one on this mountain keeps their prized possessions in a secure location. Particularly the royal jewels. Sorenmustkeep them under lock and key after the incident with Alaric and Besnik. The courtiers just don’t know where they’re hidden and are too proud to admit they’re not in the king’s innermost circle of trust.
“Your Majesty, you look lovely today,” I say, sweeping into a low curtsy that would make Mother and Rowenna proud.
Queen Tessa slowly turns to face me. For a second, it seems as though she’s looking through me, and I wonder, yet again, how the Vanzadorians can possibly believe their bagrava tea has no ill effects. But then she shakes herself and squints at me—with curiosity or suspicion, I can’t tell.
“Indira, you’ve returned to my salon. Does that mean you’ve decided to accept ourlifestyle?”
I will never accept their abhorrent tea—it’s an insult to EarthMother and destroying my country—but I lower my chin demurely. “Of course you’re able to do as you see fit with our tributes. I’m sorry I reacted so defensively before. I was exhausted and overwhelmed by so much change.”
“And now?” A bemused smile flits across my mother-in-law’s lips. “Have you settled into life on the mountain?”
“Yes, I believe I have—for the most part. One thing’s still troubling me, though. It’s actually what I came here to discuss with you.”
Queen Tessa quirks a brow.
“I’ve been meaning to ask about your jewelry,” I say shyly. “It’s all so lovely. And the other ladies at court are always adorned in gemstones too. I’d very much like to wear some—to fit in among you—but I’m afraid I don’t own any. We don’t have such luxuries in Tashir.”
The queen’s face immediately softens into a smile. “Of course you should wear jewels. You’re Vanzadorian now. Join me before dinner, and I’ll select a few pieces from my own collection.”
“That would be wonderful, Your Majesty.” I lower into another curtsy. “Shall I meet you at the royal coffers? I’m afraid I don’t know where they’re located.”
Queen Tessa cocks her head and frowns. “I keep my jewelry with me, in my personal chamber. Come there. And bring my delinquent son. He goes to such great lengths to avoid me, I’m beginning to think he’s allergic to my presence.”
“It isn’t you he’s allergic to, Your Majesty,” the waspish old councilor, who seems to be Alaric’s most vocal opponent, proclaims loudly. “Prince Alaric has always been allergic to a good time!”
More than half the crowd snickers, and I want to shout at them all:He’s clearly allergic to failure, you idiots.And grief! He avoids this salon to spare himself the headache of interacting with vapid courtiers and judgmental councilors, and because he can’t bear to see his mother reduced to this empty husk. Can’t bear to lose another person he loves.
I can’t imagine being forced to stand face-to-face with the bafflingversion of Rowenna who lived on this mountain. I don’t know how I’d cope if that was all that remained of her. If she was technically present but gone in all the ways that mattered.
If anyone is ‘gone in all the ways that matter’ it’s you, Rowenna grumbles.I hardly recognize you, fretting over the feelings of an entitled prince. He doesn’t deserve your pity. Don’t let him play the oppressor and the victim.
But after witnessing his living memory, I don’t think Alaric Alaverdi has ever been anything but a victim, and it’s all so infuriating and unfair, I don’t realize I’m shouting until the words have tumbled from my lips.
“Or perhaps Alaric isallergicto all this useless idle chatter. If he wasted more time among you, I fear Vanzador would cease to function!”
The hum of laughter and clinking of teacups immediately ceases, and every eye in the salon blinks at me with shock.
Strangely, this doesn’t bother me. I stare brazenly back at them, even Queen Tessa, until I feel a hand slip through the crook of my arm and squeeze my elbow tight.
“Indira! You’re always such a comedian!” Elodie says with a loud laugh. “Forgive the princess; she gets this way when she’s hungry. Never come between a gardener and their next meal.” She laughs gaily, playing to the crowd, and the tension in the room instantly dissipates—order restored now that I am, once again, the butt of their jokes.
“Let’s get you some refreshments.” Elodie pulls me toward a banquet table laden with meat pies. As I watch her trembling hands make a plate for me, waves of gratitude and unexpected fondness course through me.
