Haven: Chronicles of Warshard by Katherine Bogle Page A

soon, they were moving in silence down the hallway. It took a moment for Haven to realize she didn’t know where she was going or where to find her other guard girls. She stopped and turned to Malka.
    “Malka, where do you suppose Blythe and Lareina are right now?” Haven asked.
    The spiky haired brunette took a moment to think about it. “Blythe is most likely organizing the guard in the rear courtyard,” she began, “while Lareina is likely in the infirmary or aiding those in the ballroom.”
    Haven nodded. “We will fetch Lareina first then.”
    Sometime later, Haven gathered with her three guards in the gardens behind the castle. She assumed they were far enough from prying eyes and attentive ears, but just to be safe, Haven sat them near a fountain. It wouldn’t drown out their voices if someone was nearby, but they would go unnoticed if someone approached. Seating her ladies on a set of delicately carved stone benches, she folded her hands in her lap. She met the three girls with a concerned gaze. Brown, blue, and green eyes stared back at her, all equally curious.
    “My apologies for the intrusion into your day,” Haven said.
    Lareina laughed and Blythe scoffed.
    “My Queen, you never need to apologize to us,” Malka said.
    “And none of you need ever speak to me so formally,” Haven smiled back.
    They all agreed that seemed fair, and settled down.
    “Dessa has been retaken,” Haven began, before launching into a brief story of her thoughts and findings before explaining her suspicions at the lack of casualties and fear of what could be next. She included her encounter with the Royals several days past, detailing Corrin’s plan to attack Cidra, and their lack of willingness to comply. The three girls took this with a grain of salt, listening intently. “I fear for my people,” she continued, “but most of all I’m afraid that if I cannot protect myself, how can I protect anyone else? My curse saves me, but it helps no one else.”
    Blythe and Malka exchanged a look.
    “You mean your grace, Haven,” Lareina soothed, taking her hand. Haven shook her head.
    “It is your grace, My Lady, and it does help your people,” Blythe interjected. “ You help your people. Your grace keeps you alive so you may live another day, and keep helping them.”
    Haven had never thought about it this way. She’d always thought of it as a curse until her coronation, when the first inklings of hope sprang inside her. As a queen who couldn’t die, she would live a long time and help her people for many decades. If she were a good queen, this would be a gift to Rythern. If she weren’t, surely it was a curse. She had to hope the curse she saw truly was the grace these girls accepted.
    “Grace or not, if you want to protect yourself, we can help,” Malka said.
    Blythe shot her a look. Clearly these two had shared this conversation before.
    “Malka,” she warned.
    “She is queen, she should know how to use a sword,” Malka snapped. Haven had never seen such a look of shock on Blythe’s face. She couldn’t hide her amused smile at seeing the two. She’d always suspected they were more than friends and, witnessing their lovers quarrel, it became much more obvious.
    “I agree with Malka,” Lareina said.
    “I do too,” Haven surprised herself by saying. Each of them looked to their queen. “If I’m to save even one life...” she began but stopped. “If this war comes to my capital I need to be able to protect those I love. I will not have any of your deaths on my hands.” She had never been so glad that her sister was at their vacation home in the mountains, where she would be safe from all of this nonsense. Her guards and her adviser, on the other hand, were not. “If I know how to fight, I can fight alongside you, my warriors,” Haven continued, warmth filling her. She hadn’t realized how much she meant her words until now. “Teach me. Train me. Make me strong. I will fight with you if Kadia comes to