“Kill her!” her mother roared, shoving the centaur closest to her toward Gisela.
Gisela froze as she realized this might not have been the brightest plan. Her heart pounded as she glanced toward her allies. She was a far cry from Dash’s army, and she had no way to cast a portal and escape.
I’m an idiot.
Gisela stepped back and felt a strong hand on her spine.
I’m with you, love, to the bitter end. You’re not alone. I’m right here, by your side.Xaydin’s words meant more to her than she could even begin to express. This was more than she’d ever expected or could hope for.
“I don’t want to hurt your soldiers, Mother. You need to answer for all you’ve done.”
Instead of attacking Gisela, the soldiers glanced about nervously.
“Did you not hear my orders?” Meara roared. “Kill her or die in her stead.”
That didn’t have the effect Meara had hoped. Instead of prompting them to do her bidding, they turned their swords on their queen.
Obviously, they were as tired of taking her threats and orders as everyone else.
“What is this?” Meara roared. “I’m your queen!”
“Are you really her daughter?” the soldier closest to Gisela asked.
“She is,” Xaydin said. “It’s why Meara has kept her in secret. Unlike her brothers, Gisela is fair-minded and decent.”
There was suspicion in their eyes, not that she blamed them, given all the decades of torment they’d suffered under hermother’s brutal fist. She couldn’t blame them for thinking she’d be the same.
“I may be of my mother’s blood, but I’m not of her ilk. Detain her for King Dash, and I’ll establish an elder council of noblemen and generals to vote in the next ruler of Thassalia…as they did in the old days.”
That swayed their minds instantly.
Her mother started to run, but her own soldiers kept her in place. “I’ll have all your heads!”
Gisela snorted. “Your days of threatening others are over.” She looked to the highest-ranking soldier, a colonel. “Tell the centaurs to retreat before we lose any more lives.”
He ran to obey.
Two soldiers took her mother by the arms.
She saw the defiance in Meara’s gaze, but she knew better than to try anything. Her army had betrayed her.
So had her daughter.
Queen Meara was finished.
“You did it, my love.” Xaydin gave her a hug that meant everything to her.
It was over, and as word spread to the army, the centaurs withdrew from battle.
As soon as their retreat was seen by Dash, he recalled his own warriors from the field. The two dragons circled over their heads, eyeing everyone below.
With Xaydin by her side, Gisela and the guards walked her mother through the army, toward Dash.
To her mother’s credit, she held herself with every bit of regal dignity she possessed. Even with her hands tied before her, she walked through the bedraggled army as if it were a grand ballroom.
The saddest part was that she knew her mother would never allow someone she’d defeated to be allowed this much dignity.Rather, she’d make a show of belittling them with every step. Of dragging them through the mud just to shame them.
I’m not my mother.
