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)
But Prince Dorian is looking around as though he’d rather examine the dust motes floating in the air than look at his wife-to-be’s naked form. What a strange man! What male doesn’t want to see a nude woman? Maybe he’s used to the fine-boned, delicate courtesans who flit about the Noble class of the Citadel like colorful, overpriced butterflies. None of them is “built like a peasant” I must admit.
Queen Virelda seems to notice her son’s inattention too. She digs him in the ribs with one bony elbow.
“Dorian, look! See what you think—she’s going to be your wife!” she reminds him.
“I saw her, Mother. I have no need to look again. Once is quite enough.” His full lips form a little moue of distaste. “Are we almost finished here? Henri and I have plans for this afternoon. He’s promised to help him choose a waistcoat for the banquet tonight.”
Queen Virelda sighs, as though giving up a losing battle.
“Oh, very well. You may be excused,” she says to him. Then she looks at me sharply. “Well? Cover yourself, girl! Don’t just stand there exposing your filthy bits to everyone!”
I am only too glad to obey. I sweep the robe closed quickly and knot the sash at my side. My plan is to go directly to my room and put on some more substantial clothing. I don’t like wandering the halls of the huge, drafty Citadel with nothing but a silk robe between me and nudity.
Queen Virelda stalks off, her towering crown of hair swaying with every step and Prince Dorian heads in the opposite direction, clearly eager to meet his friend, Henri.
For myself, I head in a third direction, down the long stone hallway with its high, arching ceilings far above. There is a shortcut back to my rooms that my maid, Tanzy, showed me yesterday. So far she’s the only person I’ve met here in the Royal Citadel that I like. I’m grateful I have someone I can talk to here, though of course I’m being careful what I say until I get to know her more.
I pass through the hallway, my slipper-clad feet noiseless on the vast flagstones. I feel like an ant crawling through the immense space but at last I come to the small doorway in the far wall I recognize from yesterday.
Or I think I recognize it. Is it smaller and darker than I remembered? I’m not sure but I can’t hang around in the vast hallway all day. I need to get to my rooms and get dressed!
I head into the small, dark doorway and begin climbing upwards on a set of narrow stone steps. The passageway is definitely smaller than I remember. I can’t even stretch both my arms out fully because the spiral stairway is so narrow. There’s hardly any light, either—I don’t remember it being this dark. Every once in a while there’s a flickering torch, kept alight by benign magic, but whoever cast the spell needs to come rework it because the flames are so low they give hardly any light at all.
A chilly wind blows through the narrow stairway as I wind my way upwards. My thighs are beginning to ache from all the climbing and the ornate silk robe I’m wearing is too thin to keep me warm. I shiver and feel my nipples go tight under the fabric. I wish I had more clothes on! But I was ordered to wear nothing but the robe and slippers to my exam and, trying to be a dutiful new member of the Royal family, I obeyed.
Next time I’m wearing some underclothes at least, I tell myself. Hopefully there won’t be a next time, though. I can’t think of anything I like less than feeling the icy fingers of the Court Physician probing inside me. Just thinking about it makes me want a hot bath. I hope Tanzy has time to draw me one before the banquet tonight. I just—
My thoughts dissolve to nothing as I see something that stops my heart. Up ahead there is a light that isn’t from the torches. It looks like golden flames coming towards me—what is it? Some kind of evil magic? A ghost trapped in this endless spiral?
I freeze as it comes towards me and then a deep voice speaks.
“Lost, are you, little dove?”
Who is that? I don’t know the voice but whoever is speaking seems to know me. Though it’s rude of him to call me by a nickname a lover might use.
“Who…who are you, Sir?” I wish my voice wouldn’t quaver so. I take a deep breath and try again. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same.”
The golden light comes closer and reveals the other Royal prince—Xaren. Rumor has it he is actually the older of the two brothers, but for some reason he has been passed over for the crown in favor of his younger brother.