Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

“ G et up!”

Sonah Yahn gasped, springing up in bed as cold water sloshed over her head. She sputtered, then yelped when the drapes snapped open and light beamed into her dark chamber like rays from Hades’s eyes.

“What the fuck?” Sonah screeched. She wiped at her eyes as she was yanked from her bed. The sound of bedding being ripped off and dumped somewhere behind her was the only response to her query.

The grip on her forearm gave her some insight as to who had started her day so rudely, but the question remained. Sonah was sure she had two hours left of sleep before she had to wake.

“Language!” Lady Maranou, her Matron, hissed. “Prince Lerek is breakfasting early today. You are to be in the dining room by half-past five, so you are already late.”

“Why so bloody early?” she whined as two more maids set about dropping a day dress over her head and tugging at her arms and waist to fit it dangerously tight.

Sonah groaned and glared at her torturer, Lady Maranou. “Couldn’t you just bring me his dish and send it back with word I did not die? ”

Lady Maranou scowled at her as the others dropped quick curtsies and left.

“The last time you did that, I was pulled into an uncomfortable audience with His Excellency I do not wish to repeat. Now,” she said, turning Sonah by the shoulders so her back was to her, “pretend to be a young lady worthy of your family’s name and do your duty.”

Sonah rolled her eyes as the older woman pulled her hair back roughly to plait it, securing it in a bun at the nape. She followed the matron out into the corridor, making faces at her back all the way down the stone steps of the Diamond Tower and across the courtyard separating the guest chambers from the rest of the palace.

It was still dark, and Sonah had to rub her eyes to stay awake. The early morning mist still hugged the walkways and turned the topiaries in the courtyard into ghosts.

The palace was more awake than usual at this hour. As they walked, a flurry of activity surrounded them as servants rushed about.

The low buzzing of voices and occasional barks of laughter drifted out to greet them as they entered the large room where the emperor and the royal family entertained their honored guests. Today, it was Crown Prince Lerek who filled his father’s seat, laughing at something Lord Galen, the son of Duke Ravos, was saying. The firstborn sons of the realm crowded the table, chatting and laughing, and largely ignoring her entrance behind Lady Maranou. A line of ladies stood against the west wall and turned to stare at her.

Sonah’s heart plummeted as Prince Lerek looked up and, with the most beautiful smile, greeted her warmly. His coppery brown hair hung to his shoulders in soft, shiny waves and his brown eyes danced as he raised his arms.

“Ah, there she is at last! Lady Sleepy, come, please, so we may eat our fill and ready ourselves for the journey!”

The other lords thumped the table and called out, joining the prince with shouted greetings. Sonah cheeks pinkened, but she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, refusing to return any of their smiles .

Sonah looked at Lady Maranou over her shoulder. “Journey? What journey?”

The older woman pushed her forward, and Sonah tripped. She caught herself on the back of Lord Arron’s chair and the man whooped as he caught her wrist, steadying her.

A rush of blood flooded Sonah’s face and chest and she mumbled apologies while continuing toward the head of the table.

“If I’d known you’d planned a hunt at this ungodsly hour, I wouldn’t have kept you waiting, Your Highness,” she said with a deep curtsey as she reached Prince Lerek’s side.

He stood and hugged her good-naturedly, earning a frown from Lady Maranou and a deeper blush from Sonah.

His show of easy familiarity always made her feel awkward, especially in front of the other nobles, even after seven years.

“We both know you still would’ve been late, Lady Sleepy, but I’m glad you’re here.” Prince Lerek gestured to someone over her right shoulder and Sonah turned to see a servant bring a platter of meat, bread and cheese, while another came around the prince’s left side, setting down a cup of ale. The servants bowed and stepped back.

“And it’s not a hunt, Sonah,” he continued with a grin. “We’re to the north, to see the man who styles himself king of that wasteland.”

She started. Looking over at him, she furrowed her brow. “Oh.”

Lady Maranou loudly cleared her throat. Sonah shot her a sour look as she took the cup of ale. Lifting it to her lips, she noticed the expectant looks around the table.

“Bit early to be poisoned, I think, but let’s see,” she muttered and took a healthy swig of the bitter brew. She almost heaved, hating the taste—especially first thing in the morning—and set down the cup. She then selected a few bits of meat and chewed on it as she placed some cheese into a bit of the bread and stuffed it in her mouth.

Still chewing, she nodded in appreciation to the prince, motioning how wonderful and un-poisoned his breakfast was. Some snickers sounded around the table, and she saw Prince Lerek look across at the others with a small smile dimpling his left cheek as he winked .

When she was done, she lifted her skirts and moved toward the far wall where the other ladies waited.

The expectant glances from the lords bounced off her unnoticed while Prince Lerek took up his cup and sipped. There was a roar of applause when he lifted his cup toward Sonah with a small tilt of his head.

Sonah dropped her gaze and made herself appear bored. This ritual had been going on since she was ten. Being the center of attention for the short time it took to taste his food was agonizing, worse so because the other ladies always sneered at her for it, believing she relished the eyes of the prince and other lords upon her.

Quite the opposite; Sonah loathed attention of any sort. And it made her life at the palace difficult.

“When will you be ready?”

Sonah started as Lady Annalise, standing beside her, smacked her wrist. Her mouth opened when she noticed the way everyone was looking at her. Sonah turned to the prince, who was watching her as well.

“Your Highness?”

“Lady Sonah is ready whenever Your Highness is ready to depart,” Lady Maranou said, her voice carrying over Sonah’s mumbling.

Sonah threw the woman a questioning look. Of course, Lady Maranou didn’t bother to look at her charge.

“Good,” the prince said, setting down his ale. “You can ride with the Ladies Merina and Tollis.”

He must’ve seen how that news sat with her, because he gave her a wry smile. “I apologize for the inconvenience, Lady Sleepy. Blame my father. Luckily, we do not leave until midday. So, you have some hours yet to ready yourself.”

“But—”

Sonah flinched when Lady Maranou pinched her arm behind her.

“Is something amiss?” the prince asked.

Sonah’s cheeks burned as she looked at the prince, then around the table. Some lords looked at her while others spoke amongst themselves, but it was enough to make Sonah want to vanish into the marble at her feet. She cursed inwardly, knowing the comments she’d get later from the other ladies.

“Your Highness?—”

“Lerek, for goodness’ sake, Sonah.”

The heat in her face threatened to make her faint. “Lerek,” she choked out, “I appreciate the kind invitation, but I?—”

“Not exactly an invitation, Sonah,” Prince Lerek said, arching a dark eyebrow at her. “I am going, so of course you must as well. I apologize for the late notice, but this is official Imperial business and when the emperor gives an order, by the gods, we all must jump.”

“Yes, of course. But, you see?—”

“She will be waiting in the courtyard, Your Highness,” Lady Maranou said, grabbing hold of Sonah’s arm and squeezing. “We will leave you, so we may pack.”

“Your Highness,” an Imperial Guard came in then and handed Lerek a note.

Lady Maranou paused and Sonah yanked her arm free. They waited in silence as Lerek smiled down at the missive before he folded it and slid it into the inside pocket of his coat.

“You’ve been given a reprieve, Lady Sleepy,” Lerek said with a glance at her. He picked at the food on his plate and added, “We now depart on the morrow.”

Sonah perked up. Maybe she’d be able to get those extra hours of sleep after all.

She’d barely smiled at the news before Lady Maranou grabbed her arm once more and led her from the room.

“Lady Maranou, please!”

“We have plenty of work to do before the morning,” the matron responded, her grip tightening.

“Yes, of course, but I had other things planned for the day, you know. Wait. How long am I going to be gone, exactly?”

“Your duty is to the prince.”

“But he never travels outside the empire,” Sonah whined. “Why now and who is this godsdamned new king, anyway? ”

“You ask too many questions! And how many times have I warned you about your language!” Lady Maranou hissed at her, tugging her so close, some spittle hit Sonah’s cheek. “This is an important opportunity for you!”

Sonah wrenched her arm away and vigorously wiped at her cheek. She continued to stomp toward her chamber, huffing as she took the stairs with more than her usual vigor. “Perfect. Pray, enlighten me.”

“I’ve heard the emperor wishes Prince Lerek to marry from amongst the firstborn daughters of the realm. Since all of you ladies are already here in your capacity as Tasters to the firstborn lords—and prince, of course—you, being Prince Lerek’s Royal Taster, should be the one he chooses. And now you have significantly fewer competitors for who knows how many months!”

Sonah stopped so abruptly Lady Maranou slammed into her back with a squeak of surprise. Sonah turned around, gaping, and for once the color drained from her face to leave behind cold sweat.

“My nose!”

“What are you saying?” Sonah asked in horror.

Lady Maranou rubbed at her thick nose and glared up at Sonah on the step above. “My nose!”

“Oh, hang your nose, Sybil!” Sonah hissed, turning once more to stomp up the last few steps before turning toward her room. “I have no wish to marry Lerek, and I won’t be forced to perform any function other than that of Royal Taster, which is the only reason I am even here!”

Lady Maranou followed further behind, her voice nasally and muffled when she responded. “Well, I have already sent word to your father, so you’d better do all you can to gain the prince’s interest. You’ve seen how quickly the ladies are working to secure time with him. So if the Ladies Tollis and Merina are traveling with the prince’s retinue, you’d better believe they’re going to try to win his favor. And so shall you.”

Sonah stared at the matron as if she’d grown a third eye. “You wrote the—you wrote to my father? Already? ”

“Of course,” Lady Maranou said with a sniff. She strode toward the trunk at the foot of the bed and rummaged until she found the buried riding habit Sonah hadn’t worn since the hunt last autumn.

“Oh, gods above, this is filthy!” Lady Maranou said and threw a nasty look at Sonah before bundling it up in her arms. Since riding wasn’t a particular favorite pastime of hers, Sonah had forgotten all about the mud caked on her riding outfit.

“I don’t know if it’ll be ready by the morning, but I’ll have it washed and we’ll see. Remember to wear the fur lined wool cloak too. Where did you leave your gloves? You’ll need those too. It’s still cold up there.”

“We’re going by carriage. What’s it matter?”

Sighing, the matron gave her a disgruntled look in response.

Now, as Lady Maranou carried the dress out, dried mud cracked and fell to the floor, following in a sad trail after the grumbling woman.

Alone, Sonah lifted her hand to her chest, forcing deep breaths to calm herself. Of all the ridiculous, no, inconvenient , things to happen.

Prince Lerek was like an older brother to her. She had no romantic feelings toward him whatsoever and she knew from their limited conversations he had no such feelings for her, either. Besides, he was in love with the Royal Tracker, Terena Luca.

Now, she was someone Sonah admired, and not because she was that rare breed of beauty that was also kind to other women. She was also… free. Some of the greatest homes in the realm and beyond welcomed her because of her profession, and Terena Luca answered only to the emperor, traveling the continent with her brother.

Sonah sighed and rubbed at her eyes. What she wouldn’t give to be so free. To travel and see the world without men telling her what to do.

Or forcing her to taste food that could be poisonous.

Or making her pretend to be Duke Ovenno’s daughter, Sonah Yahn.

It had been some months since Terena was last in Metilai. The view of the city as she rode closer to the western gate had always been one she loved, and she often paused at the very spot she now passed to admire the ethereal beauty of the capital city of Metilai, the beating heart of the Heylisian Empire.

In the last year, however, the rain and overcast skies had cast a pall over the city. It dulled the magnificence of Metilai and the gleaming bright white of the aptly named White Palace. The stunning spires of the palace were now hidden, and the jeweled brilliance of the buildings making up the largest city on the continent lackluster.

The main gates were guarded on either side by a statue of the first Emperor of Heylisia, Alexandros, and the Heylisian hero, Calix, who—according to the historians of the empire—had gravely wounded the Olympian god, Zeus, leading to their downfall. Built by Emperor Brotis three centuries ago, the statues were well over a hundred feet tall.

Terena guided her mare to the left of the White Palace and entered through the northern gate. Dismounting, she led Nyx toward the stables, passing the training yard where a flurry of activity caught her attention.

“I got ‘er, Ren,” Ozi, the stableboy, yelled as he ran up to her. He gently took hold of the reins, cooing nonsense to Nyx.

As he led her away, Terena called out to him.

“Ozi.” She looked back out at the yard and motioned with one hand. “What’s the ruckus?”

“Emperor’s sending a convoy north to meet the new king.”

“Really?” she said, more to herself. She pulled out a coin and tossed it to the towheaded boy. He caught it and grinned at her before turning back to the mare.

Terena looked out over the bustling courtyard. She spotted an older man with long gray hair secured at the back of his head in a neat bun, calling out orders as he strode across the yard and started toward him.

“Captain!” she called out. “Captain Cortis! ”

The man turned his head but did not stop. When he saw her, his craggy face lit up with a grin. She caught up to him, matching his stride with some difficulty.

“You’re leading the convoy,” she said, more to confirm what the boy had said than anything else.

“Aye,” he said, flashing her a wink before stopping for a word with one of his men.

Terena waited until he’d finished and turned back to her before she said, “Let me go with you.”

Startled, he paused. He looked down at her with a frown. “Do you know where we journey?”

“North?” she said, “To see the new king.”

He narrowed his dark green eyes at her. They were the only attractive thing about him. “Indeed.” He turned to face her, his thick arms folding at his chest. “When did you get back?”

“Just now,” she said. She let out a deep breath and gestured to the commotion in the yard. “When do you leave?”

“The morning, most likely,” he said with a frown. He scratched at an old scar running the length of his throat. “Lucky you arrived when you did. Would’ve been gone already, but the emperor delayed us. Wanted a word with the prince.”

“Which one?”

“The eldest,” he grunted. “Prince Lerek.”

Terena couldn’t hide the spontaneous smile breaking out on her face. She nodded and dropped her gaze. “Of course. So?” she asked the captain again. “Do you have room for one more?”

He looked at her for a moment. “For my part, aye, we could use someone like you on this errand,” he said, his voice gruff. “But you must first speak with the emperor. Get his blessing.”

“Aye, of course.”

“Find me in the morning, if he allows it,” he said with a nod. Before he took off again, he placed a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll wait for you.”

Terena watched as the captain strode off. She looked around the courtyard once more before turning toward the eastern wing of the palace, wondering how quickly she could get an audience with His Excellency.