Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 85203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“Please, Your Majesty,” she’s saying in a trembling voice. “I didn’t take anything from your rooms! I never would!”
“She did—I saw her!” Prince Dorian looks down his nose at Tanzy, as though she’s less than dirt. “She was hiding it in her palm but I saw the gleam of the Queen’s ruby. The only question is if she’s already sold it or not.”
“I’ve heard all I need to hear!” the Queen declares. “Executioner, do you have the block? You’ll need to take this maid’s hand.”
A grim-faced man with a gray beard dressed all in black comes forward. He has a small but heavy chopping block with him as well as a hatchet with a heavy head and a wickedly sharp blade. It gleams in the light of the crystal chandelier overhead.
I’ve been trying to push my way in through the crowd all this time, but no one wants to let me through. As I see the guards on either side of Tanzy force her to put her arm on the block, I’m afraid I won’t get there in time!
“Stop!” I shout, raising my voice as loudly as I can. “Stop now—stop this!”
Everyone looks around and people make faces of surprise and disgust. It’s rude to shout in public and even worse to raise your voice around the Queen. But at this point I don’t care about Court manners—I just want to keep Tanzy safe.
“Get out of the way—let me through!” I exclaim. I’m done being polite—I’m elbowing my way through the crowd, many of whom look at me like I’m some kind of dirty peasant trying to pick their pockets.
The Queen looks annoyed, but she holds up a hand to the executioner, who has his hatchet poised above Tanzy’s trembling hand.
“What do you mean by this?” she demands, as I reach the front of the crowd. “How dare you interrupt a public punishment?”
“Your Majesty, this isn’t right,” I say in a low voice. “Tanzy didn’t have anything to do with your pendant going missing.”
“Oh, and I suppose you know who did?” Her eyebrows raise and she gives me a skeptical look.
“Yes, I do. And I’ll be pleased to tell you—but in private,” I say. I have a feeling that things will go more smoothly without half the Court watching.
But the Queen likes an audience. She glares at me.
“Speak your piece now, Princess Elaina, or else not at all. In this Court, we make certain thieves get what’s coming to them.”
All right, so she’s leaving me no choice. What I’m about to say isn’t going to make me very popular, but then again, I’m already universally disliked so I might as well go ahead.
“Tanzy didn’t take your pendant—the Crown Prince did,” I say.
There’s a gasp from the gathered Nobles and Prince Dorian glares at me.
“She’s lying, Mother!” he exclaims. “She’s been spreading rumors about me, too—she’s horrid!”
The Queen gives me a cold stare.
“Can you prove these allegations?” she demands. “What reason would my son have for stealing from me?”
“I heard him say it was because you cut off his allowance.” I don’t add that the reason she cut it off is because he won’t bed me. Some things should be kept private. “He said he was going to put it in his private jewelry box and no one would find it because he’s got the only key.”
“You nasty little spying bitch!” Dorian snarls at me, his lovely face contorting into an ugly mask of rage and hate. “Mother, she’s lying!”
“I’m not lying,” I say, keeping my eyes on the Queen and refusing to engage with my angry husband. “Go get the Crown Prince’s jewelry box and search it—you’ll see I’m telling the truth.”
The Queen’s lips have tightened to a thin line and those two little dents have appeared on either side of her flaring nostrils.
“Enough!” she shouts, causing the Nobles—who have been whispering behind their hands—to go silent immediately. When everyone is quiet she announces, “This trial is over. You are all dismissed.”
“What? But Elaina’s lying!” Dorian whines. “And her little pet maid is a thief! Cut her hand off! Do it, Mother—I demand that you punish them both!”
“Not now, Dorian.” The Queen speaks through gritted teeth. She nods at Tanzy. “Go on, leave at once, girl.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Tanzy bobs a curtsy and then looks at me. Her face is filled with relief and silent gratitude. I make a motion to her to hurry and leave—who knows how long the Queen’s clemency will last? She’d better be gone in case my Mother-in-law decides to change her Royal mind. She slips through the crowd, making her way to the door and out to freedom.
I start to go too, but the Queen shakes her head.
“No—you stay. And you as well,” she adds, looking at Dorian sternly. He hangs back, a sullen look on his perfect features. The Royal Executioner stays as well.