CHAPTER 50
Arie
NOT ALONE. MY GAZEshot toward the woman. Lady Eiena. Tall, blonde, and formidable, she studied me solemnly.
Before I could acknowledge her somehow, another optimistic thought surfaced across the room.Another Gifted woman. If they accept her, maybe they’ll accept me too.
As more and more of these Gifted women revealed themselves, intentionally or not, I blinked at the overwhelming strength and numbers.
Before I could search them out, Amir yelled over the murmurs, “She’s a criminal! Stealing our thoughts—she should be put to death!”
I backed away from his fierce screams, unable to stop the trickle of fear as a wave of agreement crossed the room.
“If you kill her for her Gifts,” a strong female voice rose above the confusion, “then you’ll have to kill me too.” It was Lady Eiena. She stepped out of her row and made her way toward us, stopping beside me to face the onlookers.
Was she truly declaring herself in front of all these people? Didn’t she realize she couldn’t take it back? I felt torn between thanking her and telling her to sit back down. They could easily take her up on her offer. But a slow smirk curved her lips as she added, “If you do choose that route, I guarantee you, it will not be easy.”
My eyes widened. What was her Gift?
King Amir glared but didn’t move as he wondered the same thing. The threat had silenced him.
The pause after her declaration stretched on for what felt like an eternity, before a small, dark-haired woman from the village stepped forward, trembling. “I have a Gift as well,” she whispered. Her shaking increased, but she clenched her fists, determined. A Gifted commoner? The Jinni-blood was said to only run in royal veins, but this proved all those assumptions false. Similar thoughts floated around me.
Three of us. Enough to make people pause and King Amir reconsider his plans. But when the fourth woman stood, I could actuallyfeelthe shift in the room.
Her long white braid hung over her hunched back, but she tottered down the aisle toward us without help.
Recognition spread—the village healer.
Children had grown up learning from her. At least half this room had known her their entire lives. Someone like her—someone that everyone knew and loved—was far more difficult to hate. She stopped beside me.
I stepped forward, standing between the elderly woman and Lady Eiena, blocking Amir from their view. “We are not to be feared,” I declared, with confidence I didn’t fully feel. “Not any more than Gifted men. The same rules that apply to the princes will apply to us.” I spread my hands, gesturing across the Great Hall. Their thoughts had revealed at least three other Gifted women who’d yet to reveal themselves, maybe more. “Clearly, we’ve existed among you for years. I believe it’s time to recognize that anyone can be Gifted.”
Thoughts shifted, almost painfully, as they mulled over my words.
“Guards, seize King Amir and keep his mouth shut. He will be held accountable for his actions today.”
They obeyed, hands clapping over his mouth as they dragged him down from the platform.
Using the momentum of the moment, I declared a bold proclamation in my father’s absence, “From now on, the Kingdom of Hodafez will no longer require a Gifted woman to go on trial or sever her Gifts. They will be given all the same rights and privileges—along with all the boundaries and discipline—as the law allows Gifted men.”
The same? Truly the same?No one knew how to respond. The whispers and shuffling made it hard to distinguish any one person’s opinion unless I focused on them. My Gift threatened to overwhelm me, and I let the thoughts go out-of-focus, becoming one loud hum to find relief.
Lady Eiena spoke up, “My kingdom as well.”
The floodgates opened as rulers across the room declared themselves supportive of Gifted women.
Kadin’s gaze grew more focused, taking it all in, but staying seated, still under the Persuasion. I tried to listen for his thoughts, but there were too many washing over me to single one out.
“Not in Keshdi,” a man snapped as he stood, whipping his cloak out of his way. “I won’t have it!” It was King Zhubin. His kingdom nestled just below ours, and I’d passed through it during my escape, not to mention spent multiple courtship tours under his roof, dining at his table. Despite all that, his hatred was palpable.
I started to back up, but caught myself and stood even taller, meeting his gaze without flinching. “You will abide by our laws as long as you are visiting Hodafez,” I commanded. “Anyone who abuses the rights of a Gifted woman in Hodafez will be brought before the royal courts for punishment.”
To stand before the courts often meant imprisonment or worse. The threat was clear. Respect my wishes, or leave.
His face twisted in a snarl. Pushing his way past those still seated, King Zhubin stormed out of the room.
Gideon returned then, holding my father’s limp form in his arms.
