Staring up at those big imposing doors, you feel your heart in your throat. Constance’s expression is so serious, and she’s so stern, you can’t even imagine what the Queen must be like. What kind of a woman must rule over all these soldiers and guards and all this obvious wealth? She must be ruthless indeed, you think as half remembered history lessons come flooding back to you. Queens and Kings never did have a great reputation for mercy and kindness, did they? What if she takes a dislike to you? What if she orders you thrown into the moat? What if she orders you torn apart by wolves?
“Yes Ma’am,” you squeak, twisting the ragged edges of what was once your fly together. “I understand.”
Constance nods, apparently satisfied. “Remember your manners,” she adds unnecessarily.
She reaches out and knocks once, twice. There is no reply. Your spirits lift for a moment, perhaps you will not have to meet the queen. They plummet again when Constance turns the great handles and opens the doors.
You find yourself ushered into a large chamber, the stone walls of which are ornately carved with all matter of sprites and daemons and other creatures you can’t begin to recognize. Large arched windows stretch from floor to ceiling and dominate the left hand wall of the chamber. There is no glass covering them, they are open to the world and through them you can see over a great city to snowy peaked purple hills in the distance. This is an open air chamber appropriate for a goddess, not a mere mortal.
You keep your eyes focused out the window and on the beautiful surrounds of the room for fear of laying eyes on the queen herself. Next to you, you feel Constance stiffen. Is she also afraid of this great ruler?
“Kai!” Constance barks out the word, her tone thoroughly unimpressed, so much so that there is a slight growl to the word.
Caught by surprise, you look in the direction she’s glaring in and see that the queen’s throne is unoccupied, but the room is not. Crouched before the both of you, caught in the middle of some undoubtedly nefarious act is a slim woman with short dark hair cropped close around her face and cat-like eyes that twinkle with mischievous glee. She grins at Constance and flickers the barest of looks in your direction.
“Aw, Constance, have you been frequenting the slave auctions? You must have beaten the others off with a stick for that one,” she quips. “What a pretty prize, and you bought it to show Rael too, what a good little kitty you are. Just don’t gut it on the rug, you know how she hates that,” Kai snickers.
You’re caught between emotions of fear, disgust and a little bit of pride. She thinks you’re pretty! Then again, she also thinks you’re a slave, and you can’t tell if she is joking about Constance killing you or not. Overall, her little speech is far more unsettling than flattering.
“What are you doing in here?” Constance ignores Kai’s taunts entirely and questions her as she advances towards the much smaller woman.
“Sunning myself,” Kai laughs, easily avoiding Constance as she attempts to grab her. She’s so lithe and athletic in her motions, you can’t begin to imagine who she is, but you can’t help but be impressed by her. She’s clearly not afraid of Constance at all, or Rael either, for that matter.
“Kai, come here,” Constance orders, coming to a stop.
“I don’t think so, my dear Lady,” Kai replies, with an ironic bow.
You watch with wide eyes as Constance beckons Kai and is entirely ignored as the woman gathers herself and vaults easily out of the window to what must surely be her doom.
“Oh my god!” you gasp, rushing to the window. Grasping a pillar for support, you peer over the edge and see that the castle extends down several stories. Kai is dangling from a ledge on the first floor, and as you watch she drops, lands gracefully on the ground and hightails it off at high speed.
“Wow,” you breathe. The only place you’ve seen that much natural ability is watching the Olympics, and even then, most of the gymnasts couldn’t make it through a routine without bursting into tears. You doubt Kai has ever cried in her life, she doesn’t seem to be scared of anyone or anything.
“Don’t take your lead from Kai, girl. I can promise you will end up very sore, and very sorry,” Constance says in dire tones.
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This series bought to you by Rebel Princess
Iskendar is a harsh land, especially for rebellious young women who refuse to quietly accept their place in the world. When rough urchin Kai and cosseted Priestess-to-be Lucy meet in the midst of their own personal rebellions, worlds collide.
Is their passionate attraction and the firm hand of the powerful noblewoman Rael enough to subdue them to the useful and the good? Or will their rebellion eventually tear them, and Iskendar, apart?
(29 chapters / 133 pages)
$5.99
