a danger in the room she’d missed in trying to avoid a mere annoyance?
No. Markus would have seen it first. Her chest felt as if it wanted to implode as she realized some one had sealed off the room they’d entered. All of the curtains hung shut . No furniture or rugs decorated the bare stone floor . The only light glowed from a few well-placed candelabras and a fireplace roaring to Adrienne’s left. For a moment, she wondered why the servants had lit it. None of the guests would come in here .
“No more excuses, Adrienne. No more evasions. I’ve respected your decisions for years, no matter how eccentric. The poor excuse of a man you chose has failed to produce an heir. It’s time you placed your people above your fancies. This kingdom needs a successor and I will happily-”
“W-wait.” Adrienne took a step back. “What in the name of the Five are you doing? Calling us by our given name? Insulting us and your King? Have you taken leave of all sense?”
Havard’s face darkened. “I am offering you redemption from becoming the most laughed-at ruler in our history, your majesty. I am the only eligible noble in the Council and the obvious choice for replacement as King. The Elders-”
Adrienne scowled, unable to hold up any more facades. “They put you up to this, didn’t they?”
“It was a unanimous agreement, Adrienne. You need an intervention. We were willing to allow your fancies for a while, but the inability to produce an heir…”
“Is business between our husband and ourselves. The Council has no right-”
“The Council has every right, your majesty. An heir must have at least half-royal blood or they cannot rule, so adoption is out. What other choice is there?”
“Perhaps it’s time to reconsider such a law. Has the Council ever thought about that? Which is worse; having a ruler with an unknown lineage or having one who cannot keep oaths even to those for whom they deeply care ?”
The hard lines in Havard’s face divided his furious expression like an ill-pieced puzzle. “I warn you, Adrienne. If you refuse me, the Council has given me permission to remove you from power.”
She raised a brow. “While the people are already in unrest? Does the Council truly believe denouncing the only advocates for the welfare of their so-called peasants will allow them to rule without question?”
Havard laughed. “You forget how fickle the minds of the masses can be. You’ve only ruled for five years, Majesty . H ardly enough time to ear n true love from your subjects. But no. I never said anything about denouncing you. We cannot have a leader the people can rally around to fight our attempts in restoring order.”
Adrienne felt her insides freeze over as a silver blade in Havard’s hand caught the light of the fire. She opened her mouth to scream, but Havard grasped her throat, trapping her breath and holding her against the wall so high her feet dangled in the air. In a wild attempt to break free, she jammed her heel just below his ribcage , knocking the breath out of him and making him drop her. She collapsed, sucking in air of her own and forcing her legs to move forward.
The sound of tearing fabric followed her and she cursed, pulling at her skirt to free it from the embedded dagger. Havard coughed, hoisting himself up. “I wish you hadn’t done that, your majesty. I was going to ensure your passing was as painless and honorable as possible. Now I think you owe me a little entertainment first.”
He picked up the dagger with an ease that made Adrienne’s heart s top . The momentum sent her to the floor, but now she could think a little better. She kicked out at the door and screamed with every ounce of breath she had stored in her lungs.
Havard glared at her, backing into the shadows and sheathing his dagger as he hissed. “Blood and kin of Iron Fang. I say unto you: Rise.”
Adrienne gasped in pain as the feeling of a thousand blades easing their way into her skin crawled
No. Markus would have seen it first. Her chest felt as if it wanted to implode as she realized some one had sealed off the room they’d entered. All of the curtains hung shut . No furniture or rugs decorated the bare stone floor . The only light glowed from a few well-placed candelabras and a fireplace roaring to Adrienne’s left. For a moment, she wondered why the servants had lit it. None of the guests would come in here .
“No more excuses, Adrienne. No more evasions. I’ve respected your decisions for years, no matter how eccentric. The poor excuse of a man you chose has failed to produce an heir. It’s time you placed your people above your fancies. This kingdom needs a successor and I will happily-”
“W-wait.” Adrienne took a step back. “What in the name of the Five are you doing? Calling us by our given name? Insulting us and your King? Have you taken leave of all sense?”
Havard’s face darkened. “I am offering you redemption from becoming the most laughed-at ruler in our history, your majesty. I am the only eligible noble in the Council and the obvious choice for replacement as King. The Elders-”
Adrienne scowled, unable to hold up any more facades. “They put you up to this, didn’t they?”
“It was a unanimous agreement, Adrienne. You need an intervention. We were willing to allow your fancies for a while, but the inability to produce an heir…”
“Is business between our husband and ourselves. The Council has no right-”
“The Council has every right, your majesty. An heir must have at least half-royal blood or they cannot rule, so adoption is out. What other choice is there?”
“Perhaps it’s time to reconsider such a law. Has the Council ever thought about that? Which is worse; having a ruler with an unknown lineage or having one who cannot keep oaths even to those for whom they deeply care ?”
The hard lines in Havard’s face divided his furious expression like an ill-pieced puzzle. “I warn you, Adrienne. If you refuse me, the Council has given me permission to remove you from power.”
She raised a brow. “While the people are already in unrest? Does the Council truly believe denouncing the only advocates for the welfare of their so-called peasants will allow them to rule without question?”
Havard laughed. “You forget how fickle the minds of the masses can be. You’ve only ruled for five years, Majesty . H ardly enough time to ear n true love from your subjects. But no. I never said anything about denouncing you. We cannot have a leader the people can rally around to fight our attempts in restoring order.”
Adrienne felt her insides freeze over as a silver blade in Havard’s hand caught the light of the fire. She opened her mouth to scream, but Havard grasped her throat, trapping her breath and holding her against the wall so high her feet dangled in the air. In a wild attempt to break free, she jammed her heel just below his ribcage , knocking the breath out of him and making him drop her. She collapsed, sucking in air of her own and forcing her legs to move forward.
The sound of tearing fabric followed her and she cursed, pulling at her skirt to free it from the embedded dagger. Havard coughed, hoisting himself up. “I wish you hadn’t done that, your majesty. I was going to ensure your passing was as painless and honorable as possible. Now I think you owe me a little entertainment first.”
He picked up the dagger with an ease that made Adrienne’s heart s top . The momentum sent her to the floor, but now she could think a little better. She kicked out at the door and screamed with every ounce of breath she had stored in her lungs.
Havard glared at her, backing into the shadows and sheathing his dagger as he hissed. “Blood and kin of Iron Fang. I say unto you: Rise.”
Adrienne gasped in pain as the feeling of a thousand blades easing their way into her skin crawled
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