Sixteen
the way to her suite. She knew that he would want to be extra vigilant after learning of what had happened at the library, but when he offered to stand guard outside her door, she had to bite her tongue to keep in the laugh that threatened to escape.
“That’s not necessary Loth. I’ll be perfectly safe in my room. Go get some sleep; tell your commander that I’ve ordered you to rest if he tries to give you any grief.” she said.
The guard looked unconvinced, “Are you certain, Miss?”
“Completely,” she answered as she stepped inside the door.
“Alright,” he conceded, “but please promise to call for me if you need to leave, even if it’s within the palace itself.”
She smiled, “You’re a good friend to me.”
“Miss,” Lothar said.
“Okay, I’ll call for you.” she sighed.
“Thank you. I’ll be off then.”
Devyn watched Lothar walk away for a moment before shutting the door and turning the lock. As much as she tried to deny it, between what she’d experienced in the library and then last night in the forest, a sense of foreboding had wrapped itself around her heart. She’d never truly known what it felt like to fear for her life. Even the attempts Emmerich had made on the queen’s life hadn’t shaken her like this.
After washing up and changing into a long gauzy day dress, Devyn sat at her vanity and peered at her reflection in the mirror. The purplish bruises around her neck stood out starkly against her creamy skin. She noted several new scrapes in addition to the barely healed ones on her hands and knees. Her face was pale, and her eyes seemed sunken, with dark smudges beneath them.
She was tired. More tired than she had been in years. Devyn closed her eyes and took a deep breath in, holding it for a few moments before exhaling in a rush. She needed sleep. She knew that once she left the palace, she would get few chances to truly rest for a long while, but there was too much to do. She had to be ready to go before daybreak tomorrow.
Devyn groaned as she stood. She suddenly felt much older than she was. She went to a closet in her sitting room and fished a large leather backpack from a pile of items on the floor, bringing it back to her room and tossing it onto the bed. She opened her armoire and picked out several items of clothing, making sure to pack multiple pairs of leggings and even more tunics. She added one plain gown to the bag, just in case. She dumped her dagger and some gold she had stashed away inside, followed by her boots and a few pairs of stockings.
Looking around her room, she decided to toss in a handful of assorted jeweled necklaces and earrings to pawn in case they needed extra money. She wanted to get a hold of some food to pack as well, but she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to sneak it out of the kitchens. The chef, while nice enough, ran a tight ship. Slipping much past him would prove to be difficult without raising unwanted attention.
Devyn recalled the papers her mother had left for her as she prepared to cinch the bag shut and ran to her study to grab them. She knew she couldn’t risk anyone else finding them, and silently cursed at herself for almost forgetting to pack them. She retrieved the documents, wrapping everything in a spare piece of cloth, and nestled them into the bag.
The sound of the servants’ door creaking open startled Devyn and she hastily stuffed the backpack under her bed. She looked up and found Katrin watching her. Her brow was raised in question as if to ask if she was interrupting something.
“Good morning, Kat,” Devyn said cheerily, trying to appear normal even as the maid’s expression made her feel like she’d gotten caught stealing something.
“Good morning, Your Highness,” Katrin replied, “everything all right?”
“Oh yes!” Devyn said, flashing a toothy smile and turning to shut her open armoire doors. She hoped that Katrin wouldn’t notice the missing clothing. The guilt of getting Lothar involved weighed heavily on her, and the last thing she wanted to do was to include any more bystanders in the havoc that was unraveling her life.
“When did you come to bed last night? Hanne said you hadn’t yet returned for the evening when she came to turn down the lanterns around midnight.” Katrin said as she glanced around the room.
“Actually, I’m not sure. I lost track of time while I was doing some research.” Devyn hoped the lie seemed believable enough.
“In the library?” Katrin clearly wasn’t convinced.
Devyn knew she had to change the subject, “Any news on the queen’s return from Iskald? I believe she said she would be home in the next couple of days.”
Katrin cocked her head to the side, the light from the window accentuating her high cheekbones, “Her Majesty is already here; she arrived nearly an hour ago.”
“Are you serious? Why didn’t anyone come to alert me?”
A wave of panic washed over Devyn. She swallowed hard, her throat suddenly feeling like it had been sapped of all moisture. She hadn’t counted on her grandmother being here when she made her escape. The thing in the back of her mind that only woke up when danger loomed stirred, and she felt a quiver of unease race down her spine and she had to fight the urge to look down to where she had stashed her bag.
“That’s actually why I came in just now,” Katrin said, “your presence is requested in the Great Hall. Her Majesty wishes to speak with you.”
Devyn huffed a sigh, hoping to appear more frustrated than on edge, “Alright, thank you for letting me know. I’ll head downstairs now.”
She made to walk out, but Katrin stopped her with a gentle touch on her shoulder, “Be well, friend.”
Before Devyn could even open her mouth to respond, Katrin practically ran from the room, slipping out through the servants’ entrance. She didn’t know what to make of the words Katrin had spoken. The maid had never said anything like that before to her. And she had called her friend; also a first. The feeling of unease multiplied inside her and Devyn had to force her body into motion. She took a big breath in as she opened the door to her suite and stepped into the hallway.
The metallic sound of the latch clicking shut behind her echoed through Devyn’s mind with each step she took toward the hall. A bitter sense of dread settled upon her, and she swallowed against the burning sensation in the back of her throat. She trudged through the halls, regretting not calling for Lothar to escort her.
She was so distracted by the all-consuming apprehension that she nearly walked right into a man coming the other way down the hall.
She braced her hands on the man’s chest to keep from falling, “Oh, I am sorry!”
She looked up to find Rainart standing before her. He clutched her arm and was looking down at her with a mixed expression on his face.
“Devyn, where have you been? I was looking for you last night,” he asked, his eyes coming to focus on her lips.
“I had some research to do.” Devyn smiled at the duke, hoping to sidestep him quickly and get to the great hall.
He only gripped her arm harder, “You weren’t in this palace last night. Do not lie to me.”
“Let go of me, Rainart,” Devyn said firmly.
“Why won’t you trust me? I thought we were making progress.”
“I don’t have time for this. The queen has requested an audience with me, I cannot keep her waiting.”
Devyn pulled her arm free from Rainart’s grasp and shoved past him. She heard him hiss from behind her but didn’t bother to look back. If he wanted to act like some jealous child just because he didn’t know where she was for one evening, then so be it. She would deal with him later. Her gut was telling her that she had bigger things to worry about at that moment.
“Ah, there you are dear.”
Queen Valda was perched on her throne at the back of the hall. She looked as if she’d spent the last few days relaxing on a beach, not traveling to and from the frigid kingdom to the north. Something about her seemed different to Devyn; the look of softness on her face that was always there when she looked at her was nowhere to be found. The queen stared at her with an icy expression, one usually reserved for the worst of criminals. Her velveteen gown, such a deep blue that it seemed to swallow the light around her, only served to intensify her gaze, leeching the color from her already pale skin.
Devyn curtsied deeply as she arrived before her grandmother, acutely aware that the woman was watching every move she made, “Welcome home, how was your trip?”
“Quite beneficial,” the queen said, “I believe some solid alliances were forged.”
Alliances…Her stomach churned. What a dainty word to use to mask the truth. Devyn wondered just how many times in her life her grandmother had told her such pretty lies.
“That’s wonderful,” she replied.
“I heard that the closing ceremony at the festival went well. Thank you for stepping up to make it a success. Honoring the gods is such an important task.”
Devyn had to fight the urge to roll her eyes. Their gods were nothing more than a myth. Their only importance was to keep the people from asking too many questions.
“Indeed, Grandmother.”
“Now as to why I’ve summoned you,” Valda said as she straightened in her seat, “I have it on good authority that you and that guard ran off into the forest while I was away, despite my strict instructions to stay on the palace grounds. Never mind the fact that it’s not the first time you’ve gone into those damned woods without permission.”
Devyn felt heat begin to creep up her neck, “Grandmother, I–”
Valda held up a hand to silence the princess, “I do not wish to hear you attempt to lie to me, Devyn. I want to know why you so blatantly disobeyed my orders.”
Devyn sucked in a breath through her nose. What could she say that would sound believable enough? “Well, there’s been something on my mind that I’m trying to work through. My birthday is approaching, and I have not manifested any magical abilities yet, which has left me frustrated. If I don’t have magic, then I cannot be your heir. I just needed to get away from everything for a while. I have always felt most relaxed inside the forest, and I couldn’t help but go there. I am sorry, Grandma. I won’t do it again.”
Valda studied Devyn with a critical eye, “I believe you, dear.”
Devyn let out her breath and gave a weak smile, “Thank you.”
“That does not change the fact that broken rules carry punishments in my kingdom. You willingly defied me, and I can’t ignore that.”
“I will accept any punishment you deem fit, Grandma,” she said, dropping her eyes to the floor.
For Devyn, discipline usually meant being sent to the infirmary to scrub bedpans for an afternoon or being forbidden from leaving her rooms for a day or two. No punishment had ever been so severe that she had cause to worry. Nevertheless, the nagging thing in her head cried out in alarm. It didn’t matter. She would be gone by morning.
“I don’t think the usual consequences will do any good here. In addition to leaving the palace grounds on more than one occasion, I have it on good authority that you’ve been training to fight in secret with your guard for quite some time. These transgressions call for a punishment that will get through to you. I must make sure the both of you do not defy me again on such a scale.” Valda said.
Devyn’s eyes shot up to look at the queen. She still wore a cold expression—not even a hint of conflict was in her eyes.
“Lothar Roth will be flogged. Fifty lashes for his part in this disobedience, and fifty for yours.”
Devyn swore she felt her heart stop at that moment, “What?”
“While you as Crown Princess cannot be beaten in punishment, your guard certainly can. I think, given how close you’ve clearly become, this is a fitting sentence for the both of you.” Valda said matter-of-factly.
It felt as though the air had been sucked from Devyn’s lungs. Punishing her for her disobedience was fine, expected even, but to whip Lothar just to make a point? It was too cruel.
“Grandma—”
“Not another word. Go to your rooms, you will be escorted to the barracks when it is time for the flogging. Perhaps if you watch the consequences of your actions firsthand, you will think twice before being so reckless next time.” Valda waved a hand and a blank faced guard appeared next to Devyn, ready to lead her away.
“Grandma, please!” she tried again, but the guard had taken her by the elbow and was already leading her out of the hall.