Silas stopped massaging the hinges of his clenched jaw, and turned an apologetic shrug on his daughter.
“I just… would have preferred to hear about this rather than see it.”
“Me too,” Adeline muttered.
He pressed his lips together, but then nodded at her with softer eyes. “How’s your shoulder?”
She rotated it subconsciously. “It’s alright. Smarted just a bit at the time though.”
Silas glowered.
“Yes, well,” Selma said. “The Cold Council will open an investigation into Captain Doran’s actions. The tournament is designed to showcase your abilities, and that can be rather vicious, but even so. Doran is too used to fighting Gards and initiates, men and women who enter this Tourney to prove themselves worthy of the Queen’s Gard. His method of victory against a potential Heir to the throne was… questionable.”
“Questionable,” Silas muttered, and the Queen shot him a withering stare.
“Look, I’m entirely onboard with the investigation – I look forward to it, really – but I feel fine. A good night’s sleep and I’ll be in fighting shape by morning.”
The others swapped significant looks; disbelief and surprise from her parents, mild discomfort from Kai.
“I hadn’t told her yet,” he said.
“Told me what?”
Selma sighed. “The tournament is over. Your final battle is to be postponed. Likely for several months, while your sister recovers from an injury.”
Adeline rose. “What? Is she alright?”
She hadn’t realised she was moving toward the exit until Selma lifted a hand to halt her.
“Mareda will be fine, my love. She broke her leg, but she’s with the Healers now. They believe she may need to see a surgeon too, so we’re unsure how long it will take to heal.”
“It was not a clean break,” Silas winced.
He looked positively green.Goddess almighty.
“What happened?”
When Silas glanced away and Selma’s lip puckered, Kai answered for them. “They rushed each other at the same time. Mareda went one way; Gerard and her leg went the other.”
Adeline squirmed. “That’s horrific.”
“This was a particularly gory round, all things told,” said Silas. “I think we’ll all be glad for a reprieve.”
“A reprieve from the tournament, yes,” said the Queen. “However, tomorrow’s ball will go ahead as planned.”
Adeline blanched. “Seriously?”
“Selma, is that wise?”
“I am both serious and wise, yes. We have other victories to celebrate. Dignitaries visiting from afar, gentry travelling from the countryside, and preparations are in full swing within the castle. It’s far too late to cancel.”
She rose unassisted, bolstered by just a few minutes of rest. That was promising, at least.
“We shall celebrate the new additions to my Queen’s Gard – your lovely Gerard among them, Adeline. And, instead of announcing a victory, we’ll revel in the declaration of mytwoprospective heirs.” She grinned then, a familiar glimmer of mischief that Adeline couldn’t quite place. “And our alliance with the Merrow – apparently now stronger than ever.”
Chapter 37
Kai
