Beholden (The Fairest Maidens Book 1)

by Jody Hedlund

“My speculation,” the commander continued tentatively, “is that they made their way by river to the coast and have by now left the country altogether.”

  “Commander, you know I do not like speculating.” In fact, over the years of practicing alchemy, I’d grown to despise all the speculating involved in the process.

  “I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty.” He knelt and bowed his head. “My knights and I do not deserve your mercy for our failure, but I beg you to give us another chance to search for the prince and his lady.”

  I straightened my already rigid spine and head, enjoying the swish of the diamonds studded throughout my hair. Soon I would have jewels of gold. Very soon.

  “Please, Your Majesty. We shall turn our searches to the coast and commandeer every vessel—”

  “No.” I twisted one of my pearl rings, admiring the iridescent white. I waited several long moments, allowing the soldiers as well as the other nobility present in my great hall to squirm. They needed to fear what I would do. Such fear was healthy for the people and kept them subservient.

  “As you have failed in capturing the leaders of the slave revolt,” I finally said, “I should have each of you hanged, drawn, and quartered.”

  Beads of sweat broke out on the commander’s forehead beneath his hood of chain mail. Since Midsummer’s Eve, the people had hailed Prince Vilmar and Lady Gabriella as heroes for subduing Grendel.

  However, I’d steadily undermined the two, spreading word about how they’d led a slave revolt and freed dozens of dangerous criminals who were now roaming throughout Warwick causing terror. In order to perpetuate the tale, I’d released the vilest and most violent criminals from my dungeons and given them leave to strike fear in the hearts of the people at will.

  Day by day, as more violence and crime spread throughout the land, the tide of opinion had begun to shift so people no longer praised Prince Vilmar and Lady Gabriella quite so loudly. I’d instructed my most trusted servants to plant seeds of discord, and now the people were complaining they’d been rescued from one terror only to be besieged by another.

  “I shall show you mercy this day. Instead of rightly punishing you for failing me, I shall instead give you another task by which you can atone for your mistakes.”

  “Thank you, Your Majesty.” The commander bowed his head again, but not before I caught sight of his relief. “We are most grateful. Your word shall be our command.”

  I rose from my throne, and my gown trimmed in rubies clinked against the marble floor. Anger rushed through me as it had since Grendel’s capture and the realization that I would no longer be able to continue making jewels. After all, I couldn’t simply rush out and kill beautiful maidens, not without a valid excuse. Doing so would incite the people to revolt, especially when the rumblings of rebellion were already spreading.

  Henceforth, the time had come for me to change my tactics and accomplish the one thing no one else had ever been able to do—make gold. I’d been the one to labor tirelessly with my alchemists for years to decipher the ultimate ingredient. Now history would forever remember me for my discovery. And for my power and wealth. Once I made the gold and others learned of my capability, I’d be able to command the allegiance of kings and kingdoms far and wide.

  “I shall send you on a new quest, and this time you must not fail me.”

  “Of course not, Your Majesty.” The commander rose, fresh determination pinching his noble features. I didn’t know this man’s name, nor did I care. He was only one of many who’d served me and failed. Likely he would fail me again and meet his demise, as had all the others who’d come before him.

  “Today you must leave with all haste. And do not return until you find Princess Pearl.”

  The relief that had moments ago been upon the commander’s face fell away, replaced with undisguised dismay. “How are we to find Princess Pearl, Your Majesty, when she is dead?”

  I still seethed whenever I realized Pearl had outsmarted me and escaped. Of course, I hadn’t comprehended it right away. When the huntsmen had returned with the heart as I’d requested, I’d believed we finally had the ingredient we needed to make gold—the heart of not only the fairest maiden, but also a heart beating with royal blood.

  However, the alchemy experiments had failed completely, and one of my alchemists had discovered the huntsmen had brought in the heart of a deer. Though the huntsmen all denied knowing what had happened to the princess, I’d meted out punishment, killing those privy to my plans and sending the rest to languish as slaves in the mine.

  Princess Pearl was not dead. Not in the least. And now it was time to lure her out of hiding, capture her, and finish getting what I needed from her—her heart. I had to do so before time ran out.

  “I have received word,” I said loud enough to reach the far corners of the great hall. “The princess is alive but has been hiding these many months, raising an army of dangerous dissidents and scheming how she might attack Warwick and take the throne away from me.”

  I paused, reveling in the gasps and murmurs arising. Of course, I’d heard no such things, but I had to rally the people to my side and not to Pearl’s.

  “We must find her,” I said even louder and with authority, “before she can attack.”

  “How do you suggest we locate her, Your Majesty?” the commander asked.

  I’d been mulling over how to do so all week, analyzing the princess’s weaknesses. And after much speculation, I’d figured out exactly what would cause the princess to come out of hiding.

  All I had to do was threaten to destroy the one person she cared about most—Ruby. Once I did so, Pearl would cut out her own heart and deliver it to me in order to save her younger sister. Of that I was certain.

  Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over thirty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award. She lives in central Michigan with her husband, passel of busy young adults, and five spoiled cats. Learn more at JodyHedlund.com

  Young Adult Fiction from Jody Hedlund

  The Fairest Maidens

  Beholden

  Upon the death of her wealthy father, Lady Gabriella is condemned to work in Warwick’s gem mine. As she struggles to survive the dangerous conditions, her kindness and beauty shine as brightly as the jewels the slaves excavate. While laboring, Gabriella plots how to avenge her father’s death and stop Queen Margery’s cruelty.

  Beguiled

  Princess Pearl flees for her life after her mother, Queen Margery, tries to have her killed during a hunting expedition. Pearl finds refuge on the Isle of Outcasts among criminals and misfits, disguising her face with a veil so no one recognizes her. She lives for the day when she can return to Warwick and rescue her sister, Ruby, from the queen’s clutches.

  Besotted

  Queen Aurora of Mercia has spent her entire life deep in Inglewood Forest, hiding from Warwick’s Queen Margery, who seeks her demise. As the time draws near for Aurora to take the throne, she happens upon a handsome woodcutter. Although friendship with outsiders is forbidden and dangerous, she cannot stay away from the charming stranger.

  The Lost Princesses

  Always: Prequel Novella

  On the verge of dying after giving birth to twins, the queen of Mercia pleads with Lady Felicia to save her infant daughters. With the castle overrun by King Ethelwulf’s invading army, Lady Felicia vows to do whatever she can to take the newborn princesses and their three-year-old sister to safety, even though it means sacrificing everything she holds dear, possibly her own life.

  Evermore

  Raised by a noble family, Lady Adelaide has always known she’s an orphan. Little does she realize she’s one of the lost princesses and the true heir to Mercia’s throne . . . until a visitor arrives at her family estate, reveals her birthright as queen, and thrusts her into a quest for the throne whether she’s ready or not.

  Foremost

  Raised in an isolated abbey, Lady Maribel d
esires nothing more than to become a nun and continue practicing her healing arts. She’s carefree and happy with her life . . . until a visitor comes to the abbey and reveals her true identity as one of the lost princesses.

  Hereafter

  Forced into marriage, Emmeline has one goal—to escape. But Ethelrex takes his marriage vows seriously, including his promise to love and cherish his wife, and he has no intention of letting Emmeline get away. As the battle for the throne rages, will the prince be able to win the battle for Emmeline’s heart?

  The Noble Knights

  The Vow

  Young Rosemarie finds herself drawn to Thomas, the son of the nearby baron. But just as her feelings begin to grow, a man carrying the Plague interrupts their hunting party. While in forced isolation, Rosemarie begins to contemplate her future—could it include Thomas? Could he be the perfect man to one day rule beside her and oversee her parents’ lands?

  An Uncertain Choice

  Due to her parents’ promise at her birth, Lady Rosemarie has been prepared to become a nun on the day she turns eighteen. Then, shortly before her birthday, a friend of her father’s enters the kingdom and proclaims her parents’ will left a second choice—if Rosemarie can marry before the eve of her eighteenth year, she will be exempt from the ancient vow.

  A Daring Sacrifice

  In a reverse twist on the Robin Hood story, a young medieval maiden stands up for the rights of the mistreated, stealing from the rich to give to the poor. All the while, she fights against her cruel uncle who has taken over the land that is rightfully hers.

  For Love & Honor

  Lady Sabine is harboring a skin blemish, one that if revealed could cause her to be branded as a witch, put her life in danger, and damage her chances of making a good marriage. After all, what nobleman would want to marry a woman so flawed?

  A Loyal Heart

  When Lady Olivia’s castle is besieged, she and her sister are taken captive and held for ransom by her father’s enemy, Lord Pitt. Loyalty to family means everything to Olivia. She’ll save her sister at any cost and do whatever her father asks—even if that means obeying his order to steal a sacred relic from her captor.

  A Worthy Rebel

  While fleeing an arranged betrothal to a heartless lord, Lady Isabelle becomes injured and lost. Rescued by a young peasant man, she hides her identity as a noblewoman for fear of reprisal from the peasants who are bitter and angry toward the nobility.

  A complete list of my novels can be found at jodyhedlund.com.

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