Nadiyah appeared by my side, concern lining her face.Desmond?she mouthed.
My gaze flit around the room.Faint light infiltrated the sky outside our window, indicating daybreak.I must have dozed.Desmond had not returned.I rolled my eyes at the thought of him getting himself into trouble.I motioned to the far wall and Nadiyah hid out of sight.I transformed my face into sleepy surprise and flung open the door.
The soldier knocking nearly fell inward as the resistance from the door suddenly vanished.With a grunt and a perturbed expression, he threw back his shoulders, straightening his guard jacket.Hisroyalguard jacket marked with a captain’s rank.
“We request the presence of Analleia Kallistar.”
Oh, my brother had done it now.
Swords hung from each of the guards’ leather belts, but no aggression marked their faces.Their relaxed stances emanated boredom with a hint of irritation.Annoyance lined the captain’s eyes, this visit appearing to be inconsequential and beneath him.
“Speaking,” I said.
He frowned, eyes flicking into the room behind me as if wishing for someone else.With the laziest movement I had ever seen, he pulled a folded piece of parchment from his inner pocket, reciting the written message like it was an inventory list.
“Analleia Kallistar, you are hereby expelled from the Seven Royal Balls of Paravellia and all other outlying activities.You are to gather your things and to be escorted from the city immediately.If escorted willingly, no charges will be pressed and all will be at peace.If unwillingly, well...”He trailed off as if the latter wasn’t possible.
Whatever I had been expecting, it wasn’t that.
The captain turned the document around for me to inspect, and I took note of the seal at the bottom.
The seal of the royal house of Paravellia, with freshly dried wax.
I held in my scream and roar of frustration.
That stupid prince.
It had to be.
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep quiet.That selfish, spoiled prince.
“And what, may I ask, are the crimes so severely laid against me?”
The captain opened his mouth to respond but then frowned and turned the document back over in his hands, reading over it again.He hesitated at the bottom, but tucked it back in his pocket and shrugged.He had no idea why I was being so unceremoniously thrown out.No doubt he suspected I was one of the prince’s escapades being kicked out to avoid any embarrassment.
“Miss Kallistar, if you would kindly gather your things, we will escort you and your servants from the city.”
His voice sounded far away as my mind raced.This had to be played out carefully or they would throw me in prison.Well,tryto throw me in prison.
“Just a moment.”
I shut the door, motioning for Nadiyah to stay hidden as I dug through the trunks.Once I found what I was looking for, I strode back to the door and held out the golden card for the captain to read.
“I believe this should clear up any misunderstandings,” I said, lacing my voice with sweetness.
He leaned forward, eyes narrowing at the expensive paper.
“Uh, er—” He stumbled over his words.
The soldiers all broke protocol, glancing at one another in surprise.
“I’m afraid—”
“I’m afraid I’m above the prince’s jurisdiction,” I interrupted.“But if you would like to return with a higher authority, I would be more than willing to listen to your concerns at that time.”
I shut the door in his face, not waiting for a response.
I didn’t care to hear one.
