My gaze lowered, skipping over the white banners bearing the golden Royal Crest that hung from the ceiling to the floor, between the numerous windows that lined the entirety of the Hall.
Old anger festered. White and gold were the colors of Atlantia’s sigil. Modeling theirs after ours was also purposeful.
Eyes narrowing, I looked at the raised dais as the hum of conversation filled the chamber. From where I stood in the alcove, I had an unobstructed view. Several Royal Guards already flanked the two chairs the Duke and Duchess would soon sit upon. I leaned against a marble pillar, wondering what this session would bring. Usually, it was nothing more than a show of the wealthy kissing the Ascended’s asses. As a Rise Guard, I didn’t have to attend these events, but I did because the Maiden attended. It was the same reason so many of those crowding the main floor came each week yet never spoke.
They were here for her, too.
Likely because they believed she was even closer to the gods than the Ascended. I wondered what she thought of that. Did she believe it? That the gods had Chosen her? A handful of days ago, I would’ve assumed she did. I had assumed many things— The crowd quieted.
The Duke and Duchess entered to a wave of applause that was notably halfhearted.
Interesting. My attention remained on the side door as the Ascended took their seats.
Vikter came out first, his hand on the hilt of his sword, alertness etched into every line of his weathered face.
Then the crowd went completely silent and still as the Maiden appeared. There wasn’t a single sound, not even a cough, as she walked to stand to the left of the chairs. The silence was one of… I quickly scanned the faces I could see. All stared up at the dais, focused on her, even the members of the Court—the Ascended and the Lords and Ladies in Wait that stood at the front. I recognized the Lady in Wait often seen with the Maiden, the one with the warm brown skin and curly hair. She looked half-asleep. The mortals, though, they smiled. Some looked close to joyous tears. Others just stared in open-mouthed awe. The smiles were ones of reverence.
Gods.
The Duke spoke, starting as he always did by reading a letter sent from the capital. I doubted King Jalara or Queen Ileana had written it. They were too busy being absolute menaces.
The Maiden was as still as she had been the morning before while Keal was laid to rest.
Spine straight, looking straight ahead, and hands clasped at her waist. That changed once one of the Duke’s stewards announced those in attendance and summoned them to step forward to speak. It started with her shifting her hands, moving her left atop the right and then back to the right atop the left. My brows knitted as I watched her. While people began the weekly tradition of ass-kissing, she shifted from foot to foot while standing in place. She fidgeted during these sessions at times, but usually at the very beginning, and then she always seemed to calm. Was she uncomfortable? Anxious?
Or was it the lingering effects of what had happened to Keal?
Clearly, she’d liked the man enough to honor him by attending his funeral.
Vikter leaned in behind her, whispering something. The Maiden nodded, then stilled. I glanced out at the crowd, seeing that many weren’t paying attention to what the people said to the Duke and Duchess. Instead, they were as focused on her as I was. Was that her source of discomfort? But why would it be more of a bother to her today than any time before? My gaze inched its way to the ceiling and her namesake. Penellaphe.
I knew no one else named after the gods. No one in Atlantia would even dare to do so. Her parents had, and I was sure her naming was one more purposeful act initiated by the Blood Crown— “Are you fucking the Duchess?”
Lieutenant Smyth’s low, nasally voice came from behind me.
I smiled at his question,
keeping my stare on the dais. On the Maiden. “Not that I’m aware of.”
There was a beat of silence, and I knew my refusal to turn to him had the Lieutenant bursting with quiet rage.
Smyth moved to stand at my side.
“Then how in the hell were you nominated to replace Keal?”
“You’ll have to ask the Commander that,” I replied.
“I did,” he snapped. “All he
would say was that you were the best qualified.”
“Well, there you go. You have
your answer.”
“That’s a bunch of bullshit. You’ve only been here a few months. There are plenty who are more qualified.”
I looked at him then. “Like
you?”
His ruddy cheeks deepened in
color. He didn’t answer. Didn’t need to. I smiled, returning my attention to the dais. To her. The Maiden was beginning to fidget again.
Smyth leaned in close enough
that his shoulder touched mine. I wanted nothing more than to turn and snap his neck. It wasn’t morality that stopped me, even though that should’ve been why.
Killing people because they were annoying likely wasn’t considered a good enough reason. He lived only because murdering him in front of hundreds of people would cause a bit of unnecessary drama.
“Something about this isn’t right,”
Smyth hissed. “And I will get to the bottom of it.”
“Good luck with that,” I
murmured.
He cursed under his breath and turned from me, sulking as he moved along the edge of the alcove. I watched him, thinking there was a good chance he would have to die.
Oh, well.
I returned my attention to the Maiden. Some man spoke of how great the Duke’s and Duchess’s leadership was.
She turned her head slightly
toward where I stood, and though I couldn’t see her eyes, I knew our gazes locked.
The nape of my neck tingled as the strangest damn feeling hit me. I could feel her stare peeling away the layers of who I was. Muscles tensed throughout my body. Several moments passed, and then her head tilted away. As a couple approached the dais, the inexplicable and undeniably silly sensation was slow to pass. I looked at the mortals. I believed the steward had introduced them as the Tulises.
I continued studying the Maiden as the couple spoke. She’d found me in the crowd, and that was intriguing.
Because I had lied to Duke Teerman about many things during our meeting, including what my relations with her would entail.
I fully planned on getting as
close to her as possible. Gaining her trust was as necessary as receiving theirs. I would use any tactic. Friendship? A confidante? More? A faint smile tugged at my lips. Despite what I had said to Kieran the night at the Red Pearl, I’d had no real plans of seducing the Maiden—or any interest—but that was before meeting her. Tasting her lips. Feeling her beneath me. Seduction was definitely not off the table.
“Is he your first son?” the Duke asked, drawing me from my thoughts. He spoke to the couple at the foot of the dais. The woman held a small bundle to her chest—a babe.
Mr. Tulis swallowed. “No, Your Grace, he isn’t. He’s our third son.”
Fuck.
An image of the babe in the
tenement formed.
The Duchess had the absolute
opposite reaction, clapping joyfully. “Then Tobias is a true blessing, one who will receive the honor of serving the gods.”
“That’s why we’re here, Your
Grace.” Mr. Tulis slipped his arm from around his wife. “Our first son—our dear Jamie—he…he passed no more than three months ago.” He cleared his throat of emotion. “It was a sickness of the blood, the Healers told us. It came on real quick, you see. One day, he was fine, chasing around and getting into all kinds of trouble. And then, the following morning, he didn’t wake up. He lingered for a few days, but he left us.”