The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology, #1)(93)

“Please, sir,” she said. “Come forward and speak to the king.” He appeared dazed with fright, but allowed Aerity to lead him forward.

“Quiet!” yelled a guard to the restless crowd.

When Aerity and the man stopped in front of her parents, she noticed Lord Alvi and his family for the first time. They were each wearing furs, their hair like spun gold, their faces fierce and warriorlike. One of the men had hair to his waist, an extraordinarily broad chest, and the most massive gold crown Aerity had ever seen—King Dagur of Ascomanni, and uncle of her betrothed. Lord Alvi moved closer to hear, his eyebrows furrowed.

“Tell us what you saw outside the castle,” Queen Leighlane said to the commoner.

The man fell to a knee and lowered his head. “A—a creature, Your Majesty. Larger than the grandest horse you’ve ever seen, but . . . but . . . its body was like . . .” He fought for composure, shaking his head against the image.

“Go on,” the king said. His face was deathly pale.

“Its neck and head were like a swamp lizard, Your Majesty. Its teeth so large. It moved fast, like a racing horse, tearing at men with its teeth as it passed, taking whole heads in its mouth!”

Great seas.

Murmurs of disbelief and fear filled the room. The king grabbed his forehead while the queen covered her mouth. Lady Ashley wrapped an arm around Wyneth, crushing her to her chest.

“You are certain of what you saw?” The king asked.

“It’s true.” Harrison stepped up, bowing at the waist. “I saw it from afar, Your Highness.”

“It was unnatural!” shouted a woman. “I saw it, too!”

Others called out their tales. Aerity felt a heavy, sour weight fill her stomach as she met Lord Alvi’s eyes. His fists flexed, causing his arms to ripple with a need to go—to hunt and kill this new foe.

A series of echoing bangs came from the arched wooden doors.

“A soldier with a message!” called the door guard. The king gave a nod for him to open it. The guard did so, taking a scroll and reclosing the door.

“He says there are more of these notices,” the guard said from the entrance, holding up the scroll. “Messages posted throughout the land.”

Donubhan dashed from the queen’s side. He weaved through the crowd, taking the scroll, and rushed back through, handing it to his father.

The king scanned the parchment. His eyelids fluttered closed and back open. His jaw set. The room went silent as the king poised to speak.

“In this time of sorrow, we must not panic. I beg you.”

“What does it say?” someone behind Aerity whispered.

The king looked to his wife. “If these parchments have been posted, word will spread.”

“Aye,” the queen said quietly. “Be forthright with the people. We must maintain order with truth and fact.”

The king took several labored breaths before composing himself. “It seems that, unbeknown to all, Rocato had a son who had a daughter.”

Voices and gasps rose up. Harrison called out, “Quiet!”

Aerity wanted to scream at her father not to read it, though she knew the notices were all over the kingdom. King Charles raised his voice. “Rozaria Rocato is her name, and she has left us a message.”

Horrified murmurs of “Rocato!” rippled through the crowd.

“What does it say?” a man called out boldly.

“Again, I beg you to remain calm,” the king said, shushing the murmurs. “It reads: ‘For each week that passes, my pets will devour seven men, one for each day . . .’” The king stopped to swallow. “‘I created them. I control them. This punishment will only cease if the laws of your land are changed, beginning with a public burning of your Lashed lists. Each kingdom will face these same requirements and same consequences. Lashed must be given equal rights and allowed to use their power without punishment, or all the lands will suffer.’”

A beat of stunned silence fell, and then a commoner woman screamed, “Never!”

A blast of voices filled the room.

“You cannot bargain with this madwoman!” bellowed the king of Ascomanni. “Do not bow to her threats, Charles. Find and kill her!”

King Charles raised his hands to quiet the crowd. He turned toward the king of Ascomanni with a steely expression. “I will do what is right for my lands. I have no intention of bowing to Rocato’s heir. She must be found and dealt with immediately—”

“Your people have proven they cannot manage to hunt or kill—”

The queen stepped forward. “How dare you!” But the king held up a hand to calm her, his steely gaze never breaking from the coldlands king.

“According to this message, ours is not the only land that must deal with such a threat. Perhaps we should consider calling off today’s ceremony so that we may each focus on the perils at hand.”

“Don’t even think of trying to worm your way out of this marriage arrangement.” Queen Agnetha lay a hand on her husband’s arm to calm him, but he flung it off, staring coldly at Aerity’s father.

“I have no plan to end our arrangement,” King Charles stated calmly. “My daughter will marry your nephew, as promised. However, given the circumstances, today’s betrothal ceremony no longer takes precedence. You may remain in my home as long as you please, but I beg your leave as I now have urgent matters to attend.” He looked out at the crowd. “To my guests, I ask you to please remain calm, in this room, until it is deemed safe for you to leave the premises. I will send message to the kitchen to bring the feast now.”