by Ivy Clyde
31
Moira
An unusual guest came into my chambers the very next evening. I recognized the nervous-looking young woman as soon as she stepped before me.
“What are you doing here, Poppy?” I asked, staring at the girl who’d been my handmaiden at Vishen’s manor. “Is everything okay?”
She glanced at Ebha and shook her head imperceptibly.
“Do you want us to be alone?” I asked, understanding her meaning.
“Yes, My Lady.”
“Please wait outside, Ebha,” I said. The young woman eyed Poppy with a sneer but followed my command and left the room. I looked back at my previous handmaiden. “What did you come to tell me?”
She stepped close to me and started whispering urgently. “My lord sent me to get you,” she said. “You are to be wedded to Prince Eoghan and crowned queen tomorrow at the ceremony. I must stay with you throughout the day until you are presented to the prince tomorrow.”
I shook my head. “What are you talking about? Eithna will be by the prince’s side, not me.”
“It will be you, My Lady.”
My face crumpled into a frown.
“My Lady, she is dead,” said Poppy with a fearful look in her eyes.
“Who is dead?”
“Lady Eithna,” she whispered. “She is dead.”
“What?” I gasped. “When? How?”
“She was found dead in her chambers with blood dripping from her mouth,” said Ebha in a low voice. “They say someone poisoned her.”
“How could that happen?” I asked. While I didn’t care for that flirty woman, the news of her being poisoned didn’t sit well with me. What if someone came after me too?
“Lord Vishen has already declared you to be the queen,” said Ebha. “He wants you to be taken to a secure part of the palace where you will be guarded until it is time for the ceremony. Please, come with me, Lady Violet. If my master gets impatient, he will punish both you and me.”
“Does Prince Eoghan know about this?”
“People in the palace already know,” said Poppy. “They found her body hours ago.”
A part of me wondered whether this was part of Lucia’s plans but I let go of the idea. She would have told me if she was going to murder Eithna. We weren’t her fans but she wasn’t evil enough to be murdered.
“Come, My Lady,” said Poppy, grabbing my hand. “There is nothing to think about. You have to follow Lord Vishen’s commands.”
The sound of his name sent a shiver down my spine. Our last interaction rose up in my mind. He’d tested my reaction to his command of killing the prince. Was he going to use me to kill his enemy? Suddenly, I was almost certain Vishen was the one who had Eithna poisoned. Her father failed to bring his army, so he must have done it as a payback to him.
“Lead the way,” I said. While I had no desire to follow Poppy, this really wasn’t the time to create a fuss. Vishen couldn’t be alerted to our plan. We were too close to catching him red-handed as he staged a coup. I just wished I could see Lucia before going away.
The maid led me out of the harem grounds and took me inside the main palace building. Poppy took short, fast strides. Her urgency made me feel more anxious.
Soon, I realized I was being led underground. The windows disappeared, replaced by closely constructed walls on both sides. Guards lined these passageways and stood with spears. My anxiety grew.
Poppy pushed open a heavy wooden door and gestured for me to step inside.
“What kind of place is this?” I asked in a low voice.
“We’ll stay here until it is time for the ceremony tomorrow.”
Taking a deep breath, I stepped in through the door.
A cavernous room with low, roughly carved ceiling was presented to me. The door was shut as soon as Poppy came inside. Even though the space was vast, the absence of windows made it claustrophobic. Poppy gazed around the room hesitantly, seeming as unhappy as me to be here.
“What is that?” I asked, striding to the corner where a vast canvas with an elaborate painting was propped up. Moving closer, I realized it wasn’t a painting at all but a display of the most lavish gown I’d seen in my life.
It was made of a black material, reminding me of the darkest night sky. A water dragon with a long, coiling body was depicted on the large, flaring skirt. Its body was intricately done using silver thread embroidery. Every detail was striking. Even when it was stationary, it caught the flickering light of the candles and seemed to be moving in the night sky. My hand reached out to touch the dragon and felt only the silver threads.
“You will wear this gown tomorrow, My Lady,” said Poppy. She stood beside me and stared at the gown reverently. “You should be so proud, Lady Violet. Only a queen can wear this gown.”
“Are you sure this is meant for me?”
“It was meant to be for Lady Eithna’s but the fates decided it to be yours.”
A chill shot through me at her words. When people spoke of fate here, they spoke as if it was a person or entity, truly deciding our destinies. This royal gown was truly meant for me. Was it some kind of divine justice or just Vishen’s plan to use me?
“Look, My Lady,” said Poppy, distracting me from my thoughts. “These jewels are all for you. Aren’t they gorgeous?”
Chests full of gold and jewels were displayed around the gown. I was about to pick up a necklace encrusted with quail-egg sized rubies but a sudden thought stopped me. Eithna must have touched all these things too. She must have been so happy and proud, thinking she would be their owner.
Turning away from the sight of these riches, I walked over to a couch and settled down on it.
“Bring me some tea, Poppy,” I commanded.
She came over to me and promptly started pouring tea from a silver piece. It was amazing how everything was set up here.
“Can you pass on a message to Prince Eoghan for me?” I said after a while.
“I won’t be allowed to step out of here, My Lady.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t go out. The guards won’t allow it. I must stay here with you until you are ready for the ceremony tomorrow.”
An uncomfortable silence fell between us. Even when she didn’t say it, I could hear what she was thinking. She was stuck here with me. If someone came to assassinate me, she would die alongside me.
About half an hour later, the door to our underground prison was opened from the outside. Both Poppy and I looked toward the tall figure at the threshold.
Vishen picked up the hem of his black robes and stepped into the room.
“There you are, my goddaughter,” he said, approaching me with a smile on his face. He looked like a grinning hyena with that cunning look on his face.
“My Lord,” I muttered and bowed before him.
Coming to stand before me, he stared down at me. His dark eyes looked deep into mine. I struggled not to look away from those bottomless pits.
“I am afraid, My Lord,” I whispered. “What happened to Lady Eithna could happen to me too.”
“It won’t, child,” said Vishen, patting my shoulder. “I have decided to make you the queen of this great nation. For a while, I wasn’t certain about you but you’ve proved yourself. Eithna and her father betrayed me. She couldn’t control the prince and her father never arrived with his army. I have no use for such useless people.”
“Did you have her killed?” I whispered.
“Yes.”
I swallowed. This was the great power of the Elder Statesman. The commands of a prince meant nothing to him. He would kill and place whoever he wanted by his side.
“If you fail me, you will go the same as Eithna. I won’t even spare your family.”
“I understand, My Lord.”
Vishen grinned. “Yes, you do. How else could you have stabbed the prince without a second thought? You’re the best weapon in my arsenal.” Taking my hand, he placed something on my palm.
Looking down, I saw it
was the same dagger he’d given me back in his manor when he told me to stab the fake Prince Eoghan.
“You must do it a second time when I ask it of you,” he said in a grim tone. His black eyes bore into mine. “You must take action when I tell you to. Not a moment sooner. Do you understand?”
“Yes, My Lord.”
His fingers suddenly dug into my upper arm and he pulled me against him. “I won’t tolerate any mistake, girl. Do you understand?”
“I understand, My Lord.”
He pushed me away from him. “You will stay here and be protected until it is time,” said Vishen. “Don’t make any fuss.”
I nodded.
With that, he left the room, leaving me reeling from what was about to happen. While I’d expected Vishen to ask this of me, I still felt afraid. He didn’t tell me when to kill Lucia. It would happen without warning and I would have to carry out his task or risk being killed.
Panic gripped my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. I desperately wanted Lucia or Rowan or Leon. After having them close to me for so long, I felt terribly lost and lonely.
This isn’t the time to lose your mind, a voice spoke in my head. Magic flowed through my veins, warming me up from deep within. It did so without my asking, like it was taking control of me and my emotions, comforting me in a way.
I glanced around the room and spotted Poppy hiding in a shadowy corner. She’d stayed there the whole time Vishen was here, making herself as inconspicuous as possible.
“Come on,” I said with a forced grin. “Let’s enjoy ourselves. If all goes as planned, you’d be serving a queen from tomorrow.”
Poppy didn’t smile or look happy at the prospect. She looked grim, mimicking how I was feeling at the moment. Even she knew what was about to happen.
32
Moira
The heady fragrance of roses wafted into my nostrils as I stood before a swimming pool-sized bathing tank in a linen robe. The entire thing was filled with milk. Rose petals lazily drifted across its surface, letting their scent rise up in the air.
“This is ridiculous!” I said with a chuckle. “Am I really supposed to bathe in all this milk?”
“It will make your skin smooth and flawless, My Lady,” said Poppy from beside me.
The two of us were allowed to come out of our underground prison that afternoon. Everything seemed to be going according to a schedule. My insides felt weighed down by rocks but the prospect of dipping in a pool of milk made me chuckle.
“Whatever,” I said with a sigh. “This is the last thing I should be complaining about.”
I didn’t miss the nod Poppy gave.
Keeping the robe on, I stepped into the bathing tank. Rose petals separated away as my body intruded into the milky depths. I dipped my head a few times as this was a kind of ritual before the wedding ceremony.
“You can come out now, my Lady,” said Poppy from the edge. “Or you may stay there if you’re enjoying it.”
“No, I am done.”
Anxiety kept my gut knotted up badly. I couldn’t wait to be done with these rituals so I could dress up and see Lucia.
I got out of the pool and gazed around in every corner of the bathing chamber. The last time I was here, an entire battalion of assassins had materialized before me to kill Lucia. My magic kept spiking in my veins from time to time. It could sense the dangers all around us. I took several deep breaths to calm my nerves.
“This way, My Lady.” Poppy took me to another pool-sized tank. This one was filled with water. Sprigs of lavender and rosemary floated on its steamy surface.
I stepped into the water and vigorously washed off the milk sticking to my skin and hair. The previous treatment did leave my skin softer and suppler.
After the bath, Poppy led me into an adjoining chamber where she was joined by a dozen maids. A few of them came forward to dry my body while a few others toweled my hair. They were amazingly respectful to me, allowing me to change my wet robes by myself so I could put on a fresh shift.
Hours seem to have passed as they readied me for the wedding ceremony. They combed and oiled my hair, fashioning it into an elaborate bun which they decorated with jeweled pins and strings of white pearls. It took effort to put me into the massive royal gown as well. By the end, I felt my body weighing several pounds heavier due to the massive dress as well as the jewelry they put on me.
The image reflected in the mirror before me seemed like a dream-like vision. I looked like a different creature altogether. My appearance was as alluring and otherworldly as Queen Brenna of Aelia. The royal gown separated me from the commonness of the rest of the world.
“When can we go to the ceremony?” I asked Poppy.
“They will call us,” said Poppy. “Everything must happen at the right time.”
Vishen had plans for this coronation. It would be a coup to kill Lucia in front of the gathered court, making it clear once and for all that Amaris would be his no matter what.
I couldn’t help but think of Rowan and Leon. Had they been able to return to Aelia? While Lucia assured me they had, I wanted to know for sure. No one knew the situation they faced once they went back home. Would they be able to come back to Amaris in time with an entire army?
Questions churned in my mind but no answer came. Frustration and fear pulsed through me but there was nothing I could do but wait in the heavily guarded room and keep playing the part of Vishen’s submissive niece.
Moonlight shone through the high windows of the room. It had been hours since I was brought to be dressed for the ceremony.
The door to the room was suddenly thrown open. An extravagantly dressed valet walked in and bowed low before me.
“We are ready for you, My Lady,” he said.
I looked toward Poppy. She came to my side and helped me to my feet. I truly needed her help as my lavish gown was extremely heavy, preventing me from keeping my balance steady.
Two dozen maids in beautiful blue silk dresses waited outside the room. They fell behind me and Poppy as the valet led our group to the sacred halls of the palace.
Wisps of magic mingled with mine as I stepped into the underground passageways of the sacred halls, reminding me of the first time I entered this place. The valet led me to a different part this time.
The ceremonial room was vast with a high ceiling. Crystal chandeliers hung overhead, illuminating the whole place with a soft golden glow. Even though this was an underground chamber, they made it look spacious and airy.
A crowd was already gathered before me. I didn’t recognize anyone until I was led further into the room. My gaze fell on the row of women in ostentatious gowns in the front. I recognized Alana and Boudica immediately. The two sisters, Ashlin and Caitlyn were also present. Eithna rarely accompanied the other women of the harem, so her absence didn’t make a difference at all.
I let my gaze fall on the figures that stood on the raised platform at the very front of the long rectangular room. They were dressed in black robes. Lucia, disguised as Prince Eoghan, of course, attracted the eye because of the shimmering silver dragon embroidered on her robes. It suddenly struck me how Vishen always wore black. He was always pretending to be royalty even when he wasn’t.
I was soon led onto the dais and made to stand facing Lucia. Vishen stood in between us. His dark eyes looked cold and calculating as he stared between us. My heart pounded in my chest. Waves of heat and cold crashed inside me. My fear and panic clashed with the momentary relief I felt at seeing Lucia completely unhurt.
Vishen began the ceremony, speaking of the stupid, meaningless love between Prince Eoghan and Lady Violet. These were just fictional characters. They weren’t real at all.
“Hold hands,” Vishen commanded loudly.
Lucia raised her hand and captured mine in hers. Her thumb stroked my palm gently. I glanced at her serene face. She blinked slowly, silently reassuring me. Despite that, my stomach twisted. We were getting too close to the moment when the entire truth would be revea
led to the world. Vishen could ask me to stab her at any second.
I swallowed against the bile rising in my throat.
Vishen moved closer and started tying our joined hands with a long length of white ribbon. He twisted and knotted it expertly.
“The handfasting ritual,” he said. “Seal it with a kiss.”
My insides jolted as a wave of powerful magic pulsed through me. The magic of the sacred chambers was doing something to me at that moment. Did it realize I was being bound to my true mate?
Lucia leaned in and pressed her lips to mine. The heat of her lips was like a drop of hot ginger tea on my mouth. It warmed me thoroughly even though it was a small kiss.
The crowd cheered for us and suddenly, a shower of white petals rained down on us. I looked toward the people gathered in the room, noting only the people I knew. My maids, Ebha and Poppy, smiled and clapped. Alana glared at me while Boudica smiled amusedly. Ashlin and Caitlyn clapped politely from their places, looking slightly lost.
“It is time for the coronation,” said Vishen in a loud voice that was heard over the noise.
Everyone fell silent immediately.
My heart pounded in my chest. Any moment now, I thought. Any moment I will be told to kill Lucia.
I desperately gazed down at the crowd. There was no sign that a foreign army had gathered outside the walls of the palace. These nobles wouldn’t sit so calmly if they knew Aelia’s army was at the palace gates. Did that mean Rowan and Leon hadn’t come?
The gentle pressure on my hand made me look back at Lucia. She must have seen the fear in my eyes because her eyebrows contracted slightly. I wanted to scream at her to run with me but something choked my throat from making a single sound.
Two valets appeared in the corner with dark velvet-lined pillows. Exquisite crowns made of sparkling diamonds and sapphires were nestled on them. Every pair of eyes in the underground chamber stared at them.
