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EVYNRIA HAD BEEN AWOKEN by a member of staff just before sunrise. Ferrin had stayed the night in her bed, but woke with her as she was made ready for her visit with royalty.
They split her hair in half, the top twisted and plaited into a braid that circled her head, and the bottom left to hang down her back in its natural waves. Dark kohl traced around her eyes and they adorned her in heavy gold earrings shaped like delicate hands holding flowers.
She was then dressed in tight black velvet brocade trousers that went up to her waist and a dark green silk tunic tucked into them. The trousers were secured with a belt unlike anything she’d ever seen. The entire length comprised of golden raven heads, with sparkling black gems for eyes, all linked together and clasped in the back. They finished her outfit with a pair of tall black leather riding boots that went above her knees, and a long, black coat embroidered intricately on the hems and collar in copper thread.
“Is this how one dresses to meet a South Galvan king?” she asked Ferrin, nerves finally starting to buzz through her veins.
He dismissed the staff and walked up beside her. “I’d rather they put you in a large, billowy cloak with a mask.”
She smiled. “You’re quite biased towards masks, though.”
The corner of his mouth lifted, but it fell quickly. “I don’t like this. I don’t like you being alone with him.”
Evyn reached out to hold his face and forced him to look down into her eyes. From how close they stood, she could see the difference between the dark brown of his irises and the black of his pupils. She felt his breath and knew if she only tiptoed, she could reach his lips with hers.
“I’ll be fine,” she said softly, to him, but also to herself. His hands wound beneath her coat and around her back, making her shiver pleasantly. “Trust me.”
He leaned his forehead against hers. “I trust you—It’s Wildrameth I don’t trust.”
“I promise to be careful. I have the amulet, should things go awry and I have to make a quick getaway, but more importantly, I trust my guides and my intuition, and they tell me I’ll be safe,” she said, though those voices inside her were drowned slightly by the fear pumping in her heart and nerves that swelled in her limbs.
He nodded against her forehead and then pulled her up against him, pressing their lips softly against each other’s. It started gentle, but then he began to kiss her more and more fervently, as if telling her how much he wanted to keep her safe. She kissed him back just as fiercely, confidently, telling him that all would be well. Even if she didn’t know for sure. Even if secretly, she was terrified.
“Don’t go,” he said as soon as he pulled his lips away.
“I’ll return,” she whispered, and then slowly pulled out of his grasp and walked away, leaving the room.
Members of staff stood outside her doors, clearly waiting for her to be ready to leave. She nodded and they gestured their arms towards the end of the hall that led to the entrance of the manor. Evyn swallowed, steeling herself as she turned towards where they pointed.
As she left through the front doors, she noticed a carriage already awaiting her at the bottom of the steps. Part of her wanted to take the amulet to the palace, but knew it would draw too much attention to herself, and to the amulet. The thought of being alone with her thoughts in a carriage for however long sounded less than ideal, however.
The foot-servant opened the door for her, holding out a hand to help her up into the carriage. She took it, only to look up and find King Wildrameth looking back at her.
He smiled. “Good morning, Lady Evynria. I trust you slept well.”
Her heart seized in her chest as she sat on the bench across from him, her body already in the motion to do so and following its momentum despite her wish to freeze like a rabbit spotted by a fox. The door shut as she sat down, and the carriage set off.
No chance for escape.
“Good morning, Your Majesty,” she finally managed to say. “I–I wasn’t aware you would be making the journey with me.”
He smiled again. “I had time, and I figured this would be a good way for us to be alone together.”
Evyn swallowed, but nodded as if it was completely reasonable for a king to want to spend time alone with her.
King Wildrameth leaned forward, resting his black clad elbows on his knees, clasping his hands together. He wore a luxurious deep teal cloak about his shoulders and the same simple gold coronet he’d worn when they’d first met. His dark eyes peered into her own before looking up at her hairline and then down over her body. She suppressed a shiver.
“Has anyone told you how beautiful you are, Lady Evynria?”
Ferrin came to mind first, but if she were honest she’d been called beautiful all her life. She didn’t feel that was the right answer to give, though.
“I’m sure they have,” he said, answering his own question.
“Out of general politeness, Your Majesty,” she finally managed to say. “I am the daughter of a count, after all.”
His eyes widened subtly, but then he grinned, leaning back in his seat.
“Not only the beautiful daughter of a count, though,” he replied. “A powerful one, too.”
“Is that what you think, Your Majesty?” she asked, trying to hold his gaze. Her heart thundered in her chest.
“You can’t fool me, My Lady,” he said softly, the corner of his mouth lifting in a small smirk. “I know what I saw yesterday.”
She remained silent, unsure where to take this. Her body felt like it was around Ayden again and kept firing off warnings, putting up shields, but she had to mentally remind herself things were different, even if she desperately wanted to leap out of the moving carriage to get away.
“Is that why you wanted this meeting with me?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered. “In a way. You see, Evynria, I know all about Ferrin’s quest.”
She swallowed thickly. Evyn had guessed that might be the case, but to hear it confirmed...
“And I know it to be true that you will fail. All of you.”
“Is that so, Your Majesty?” she asked quietly.
“Yes. Nothing will ever change this fate,” he replied, and his tone became bitter, angry even. “No matter how much one may wish otherwise.”
Her intuition sparked. This was it. This was her moment, but she had to be careful.
“Do you wish it were otherwise?” she asked in her most gentle voice.
He frowned, looking off to the side toward the window. “I used to. But now, I’d much rather prepare, which is where you come in.”
She swallowed. “How so, Your Majesty?”
“You’ll join my side,” he said with a wide grin. “Of course.”
Suddenly, a feeling like water on an oil fire flared within her. A strange fury. He didn’t believe they would succeed. He believed that the war would happen, and yet he seemed to be selectively forgetting the end of the prophecy.
“‘That is when all who choose a side,’” she said in answer.
“‘Choose their death,’” he finished, pressing his lips together. “Believe me, Lady De’Nath, no one knows that prophecy better than I. Not even your Arnes of Cerber, but you see I have a way around that.”
“Me?”
“You are part of it,” he said. “If my theory is correct.”
“I’m afraid you have me at a loss, Your Majesty,” she said.
The carriage lurched harshly and Evynria was launched towards the king, just barely managing to brace her legs and hands against the carriage. She found herself caging King Wildrameth, one of her arms next to his face to brace on the wall behind him and one of her legs between his, the other just outside, as she panted over him. His hands had flown up to meet her waist, his fingertips just barely reaching her before she’d managed to catch herself.
She found their gazes locked, his digging into hers hungrily. Evyn swallowed and went to sit back down, when the king reached out further with his hands, holding her waist.
“Your Majesty?” she asked, her voice weak with nerves.
He looked down and traced his fingertip on one of the raven’s heads on her belt. A beautiful creation that now felt like a manacle.
“Ravens,” he said softly, before letting go.
She sat back down, trying not to tremble.
“Do you know why my flag has a raven on it?”
Evyn shrugged. “I only know the Raven King is mentioned in the prophecy, and that you are that king.”
He smiled, then looked out the window again. “We’re almost there, and then I can show you.”
Then he turned to look at her and his eyes changed. The pupils enlarged, and the dark brown of his iris filled the whites until his eyes looked nearly pitch black.