Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 117246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Afterward, I attended drills. The HP sent a knight to teach in his place. That soldier taught us proper battle formations and had us perform countless trust exercises while we wore our lenses. For a brief period, I experienced the awfulness of RVM and the horror of seeing a feeder spotlighted in the dark, when the creatures became the center of your world.
“The more you practice, the faster your eyes will adjust,” the soldier called at the end of class.
Everyone else headed to dinner, but I set off to search for High Prince Dolion’s office. Dread settled on my shoulders. The time had come to receive my punishment.
Chapter Ten
If you heed correction, you will always return to the right path.
—The Book of Soal 2.19.12.7
“There you are!” Mykal flew down the hall, an arrow aimed straight at me. Since I’d last seen her, her strain had only increased.
“I want to hear all about your first day,” I said, giving her a hug.
“For starters, I think I made a terrible mistake. All I do is fetch, fetch, fetch. Though I did get to set up a date between our illustrious HP and Countess Soti’s oldest daughter.” She exaggerated a pinched expression, making me laugh, even as my brain performed a series of somersaults.
High Prince Dolion was seeing the daughter of the woman responsible for administrating Cured’s finances. Interesting. Not the least bit disappointing. Not that his romantic life was any of my business.
“I’m supposed to escort you to His Royal Highness as quickly as possible,” she told me. “My orders were explicit. Every minute you’re not there, we’re late.”
Ugh. “He’s eager to shear.”
“I don’t know what that means. But for whatever it’s worth, I don’t think you’ll be flogged, imprisoned or kicked out.” Guided by a map provided by a new wristband, she rushed me through hallways, up staircases and elevators, and through common areas filled with knights who’d graduated to different levels within the academy. She used the chip in her palm to key us past locked doors and bypass checkpoints.
After we cleared a heavily armed door, the building’s interior changed from prison chic to total fantasyland. Elaborately carved tables and chairs occupied a lobby, set up strategically to allow easy viewing of an array of statues covered in gemstones. Unlike the statues in my province, these had no human parts, only creatures of myth. Dragons, winged horses and monsters of mysterious origins.
Countless pritis beamed from the ceiling, illuminating crystals that shimmered from within. Wow. I’d never seen the stones up close or so many in one place. Pretty!
“Spectacular, isn’t it?” she asked.
We entered a large chamber, the thick, heavy door closing behind us, and—I gasped. A piece of the Rock. It divided the otherwise empty room. I lurched back to press against the wall.
“No, no.” Mykal clasped my hand and yanked me onward. “It’s only a replica used for study. There’s no danger.”
“But—”
“There’s no faster way to reach the HP.”
Okay. All right. Boiling tension downgraded to a low simmer, allowing movement from my limbs. Still. I kept my eyes averted until we exited into a wide hallway.
Mykal released me as soon as we reached a red door. She knocked twice before entering without awaiting a response. I hadn’t yet screwed my head on tight enough when I noticed the HP. He stood in front of his desk, leaning against the edge, speaking with his father.
I skidded to an abrupt halt. King Tagin Dolion, leader of the armed forces. The be-all and end-all, whose word was law. Here. In person. His presence added weight to the air, as if the force of gravity had intensified.
Breath sawed between my lips. “Leave, fear,” I whispered for my ears alone.
Maybe they heard. The pair looked my way, but neither displayed a reaction. Was that good? Bad?
Mykal saluted, and I followed suit.
“Wait in the hall, Miss Ellison,” the HP said, pushing the command through his scabbed lips. A scab I’d given him. I gulped.
Off she trucked. Should I leave too?
The king nodded a greeting at me. “It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Roosa.”
My eyes widened. “It is? I mean, thank you. Sir.”
He chuckled. “It is indeed. My wife read your paper on the Soil and Seed Anomaly. It impressed her so much, we asked Cyrus to watch over you.” He patted the high prince’s shoulder. “I hope you don’t mind.”
Excitement burned my trepidation to ash. The HP’s mother had read my paper. And liked it! There was no reason for Shiloh to investigate what he’d overheard. This explained so many things. Why the HP and the king had focused on me upon my arrival. Why the HP first offered me the job as his assistant. Even why he might, hopefully, spare me from a punishment he felt I deserved.
Wait. I hadn’t responded out loud. I should speak. “I don’t mind at all,” I burst out. My cheeks heated as my exuberance registered. “I’m the one who’s honored, sir.” This man’s dedicated guidance had prevented many other Great Regrets from occurring.