The Orphan Queen (The Orphan Queen #1)(14)
The prince stayed close to his father’s side, his hands clasped behind his back. He looked . . . resigned.
This man—this king who’d stolen not just my land, but my parents and childhood as well—was dying. Emotions thundered up inside of me: anger and disgust and a faint sort of satisfaction. He had destroyed everything I loved. Now, he was finally getting what he deserved.
Melanie touched my arm. A subtle reminder that still looked as though she was comforting me.
“I understand how important your wraith mitigation efforts are.” As I began my tale, a pair of servants moved a small table next to me and poured glasses of pale wine. A plate of crackers and cheeses appeared, as well, and at the king’s encouraging nod, we ate. “At first it seemed like the barrier might work. There’d been testing, of course, and we were told that there were pockets of unaffected land in the wraithland, thanks to smaller experimental barriers. When the wraith reached Liadia, it seemed the barrier was going to work.”
“I remember the announcement,” said King Terrell.
“It was almost a year before the barrier fell. Half the kingdom was flooded with wraith overnight. The beasts attacked. The air was—it was—” I drew a shuddering breath and slumped, allowing the Pierces to witness a moment of unguarded weakness.
Melanie reached for my hands. Everyone’s expressions softened.
“Forgive me,” I whispered, dropping my gaze to my knees. “Everything happened so quickly. So many people were killed. Even our own guards. If not for the help of two men from the kennels, we’d have perished as well.” I lowered my eyes, letting my expression fall still and grave. It was easy to show grief; all I had to do was think of my parents slaughtered in a courtyard.
“The air glowed in some places,” Melanie said. “It was difficult to breathe. Every night we heard howling, and other noises. Trees had been turned upside down, and buildings were filled with something solid; everything inside was trapped, like insects in amber. People trapped inside—” Her voice broke. “I’m sorry. I can’t. It’s too awful.”
“Father.” Tobiah’s hand rested on his father’s shoulder, and he spoke with a note of tenderness. “These ladies come to us in need of aid. We must provide.”
King Terrell reached around and patted Tobiah’s hand, and the difference between them was striking. One was strong and whole, while the other was only a wasted memory of a hand, with veins and tendons protruding. “You’re right, son. Lady Julianna, Lady Melanie, you’re both welcome in Skyvale Palace for as long as you’d like to stay. Our home is your home.”
I permitted myself the tiniest of smiles, disguised as relief and gratitude. This was it: the beginning of victory.
FIVE
WE WEREN’T TWO steps out the office door when a tall brunette and slim blonde stopped us, a duckling trail of maids at their heels.
The ladies were not much older than Melanie and me, but the brunette held herself as though she owned the palace. Her air of assurance faltered only a breath as she glanced from Melanie to me and back.
It was the blonde who spoke first, her voice warm and welcoming. “You must be the two Liadian ladies who just arrived.”
The servant escorting us stepped in to make introductions. “Lady Julianna Whitman, Lady Melanie Cole, this is Lady Meredith Corcoran, House of the Unicorn, Duchess of Lakeside, and Lady Chey Chuter, House of the Sea, Countess of Two Rivers City.”
“Pleased to meet you.” I performed a quick curtsy, and Melanie followed. “Thank you for your kind welcome.”
Lady Meredith, the blonde, stepped forward and took one of my hands in both of hers. “The pleasure is ours. We’re just so happy you were able to make it here.”
A cloyingly sweet scent, like honeysuckle, enveloped me as Lady Chey moved next to her friend and took in our dirty, weary appearances. “When we heard two Liadian ladies had arrived at the gates, I couldn’t believe it. Lady Julianna Whitman. Your presence is indeed welcome here.”
Lady Meredith cast a guileless smile. “You’ll have to attend tomorrow night’s ball, of course.”
Surprise flitted across Lady Chey’s face, but she concealed it quickly. “Of course, Your Grace. I will make arrangements. It will be good for you to meet new people, especially if you’re going to be staying in Skyvale Palace. Do you have gowns?”
I glanced pointedly at my limp bag and the filthy dress I wore. Did it look like we’d brought ball gowns?
Lady Meredith gasped. “Look at them. They’ve been through a horrible ordeal, Chey. Why would you even ask if they brought gowns?”
“Oh.” Lady Chey touched her lips. “I suppose they have nothing at all.”
Fantasies tickled the back of my mind: I could make her perfume come to life and suffocate her, or ask her dress to coil around her and constrict until she couldn’t breathe. Anything to make her stop talking.
“We’ll send a pair of gowns to your quarters,” Lady Chey said after a moment. “I think we’re all about the same size.”
“Thank you.” I pretended not to notice her curves, or the way her emerald dress was cinched to display her cleavage. Years of hard work and hunger had kept both Melanie and me from developing much in the way of feminine figures. We could—and frequently did—pass as boys. “I appreciate your generosity.”