A faint smile rests on Elowynn’s lips. “She does, my Queen.”
Still speaking to Elowynn, Queen Karasi continues. “Dusana should have all the attention, yes? Elowynn, give Dusana all the attention she deserves.”
“Yes, my Queen.”
Karasi steps back while Elowynn strides forward.
Dusana gives Elowynn a triumphant smile, holding out her hand, as if she expects Elowynn to take it.
Elowynn’s fist lashes out, so fast that I can barely follow it, smacking across Dusana’s cheek with acrack!
I flinch at the sound of breaking bone, finding myself on my feet, as are my brother, Thaden, and also Erik.
Dusana lands hard on the floor, her scream echoing around us. Elowynn follows her down without respite and Dusana’s reflexes aren’t quick enough to avoid the second punch that smacks across her forehead and knocks her head into the floor.
I can’t see her face and I’m glad for it.
Blood has sprayed across the marble.
Elowynn wrenches Dusana up by her hair, crushing the flowers in it as she snarls. “You struck the Blacksmith when you knew Queen Karasi had granted her amnesty. You disobeyed your Queen.”
Dusana’s jaw must still be working because she screams, “How was I supposed to know it was her? Her hair isn’t silver like that of the rest of her family. I thought she was a dark witch.”
A dangerously calm expression falls across Elowynn’s face. Instead of countering Dusana’s claim or refuting her defense, Elowynn whispers, “Did you just speak back to me?”
There’s a pause, but in the silence that follows, I hear Dusana’s gasped breath. “No, Commander, I would never?—”
Elowynn’s hand snaps across Dusana’s face. Not a punch, but the sound is just as awful.Crack!
She drops Dusana an instant later and the blonde-haired fae falls back to the floor, clutching her head in both hands.
Elowynn remains crouched, blood dripping from her hand. “Be grateful that’s the worst of your punishment,” she says. “You laid hands on the Blacksmith, who has our Queen’s protection. That is akin to laying hands on our Queen, a sin punishable by death.”
Elowynn grabs Dusana’s chin, forcing her to look up.
The champion’s voice is dangerously soft as she asks, “Do you wish for death, Dusana of the Dusk?”
“No, Commander Dawn,” Dusana replies, her voice slurring now. “I apologize, Commander.”
“You will be removed from the Queen’s Guard. You will not be recommended to challenge me at the Winter Ascending. As for your family…”
Elowynn looks to the Queen, who stands like stone for a long moment before she replies.
“Let it be known that I am merciful,” Karasi says. “Dusana’s family will not be shunned. In fact, I will do them an even greater mercy. I will excise Dusana from them. She is no longer their daughter. She is cut out, and therefore, they bear none of her shame.”
On the floor, Dusana gasps. “Please… no…”
“Take her away.”
At the Queen’s command, Elowynn takes hold of Dusana’s arm and drags her to the door, where the guards take over and Dusana disappears from sight.
Queen Karasi takes a deep breath and turns a bright smile on the rest of us.
“Well, now that’s over,” she says. “Let’s eat.”
At the clap of her hands, a stream of men carrying platters enters the room. The scent of vanilla is overtaken by the smell of roasted vegetables, several men stop to clean the floor, and the fae resume their conversation.
Moments later, Elowynn returns to her position at the Queen’s back as if nothing happened.
