A Crown of Star & Ash by Victoria K. Taylor

Author:Victoria K. Taylor [Taylor, Victoria K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Snowshoe Press
Published: 2024-03-22T00:00:00+00:00

The following morning, Deya washed in the modest bathing room—taking advantage of the soaps that were available to her—before dressing and descending the many, many stairs back towards the main level of Light’s Tower. She hadn’t seen much when she arrived besides the antechamber and the great hall. But as she wandered, she saw there were more rooms, some open, some closed and locked.

Every wall was decorated with artifacts from around Krigor. Intricate tapestries depicting Ganiean grasslands, battle-worn shields with the Nodarian crest, oil paintings of old High Kings, and even one of High King Makis. Deya paused in front of him, taking in his warm brown eyes, frozen in time forever.

As she strolled further, she passed an open door and hesitated. There, standing behind a desk with his arms folded and brows furrowed, was Aris. And standing in front of him, eyes blazing, almost nose to nose with him, was Val. They appeared to be in a heated discussion, one that Deya did not feel safe to interrupt. It was too late, though. Aris tore his gaze from Val and started when he saw Deya lurking in the doorway.

“Good morning,” Aris said, giving her a tight smile. He still looked exceptionally bothered, as though he and Val had been going at this for a long time.

Val whirled around, her red hair flying in a wave of fire. “Deya!” she cried. She hurried out from around Aris’s desk and walked towards her, smoothing her hair down. “It’s good to see you out.”

Deya eyed them both. Val looked flushed and winded. She couldn’t tell whether it was because they were having a heated argument, or something else.

“Thanks . . .” She looked between the two of them sheepishly. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“There is nothing to interrupt,” Val snapped. She shot a warning look at Aris, who blinked up at her innocently, that same, smug smile sliding up his face.

“Yes,” he murmured. “Absolutely nothing to interrupt, Deya.”

There was a long, tense pause, to which Deya looked from the handsome general and back to her friend, getting the distinct impression that there was more to this situation than she knew, before Aris cleared his throat and smiled at her.

“Valeria mentioned you wanted to help in the kitchens,” he said.

Deya glanced at Val, whose arms were folded stiff over her body. She was determinedly not looking at him.

“That’s right,” she said.

“Well, we are fully staffed in the kitchens at the moment,” the general said, sitting back down in his highbacked chair behind the desk. “You would merely be a hindrance in there. For the time being, why don’t you join Valeria in the training ring with the others?”

Deya’s mouth sagged open, a protest bubbling up her throat. But her well-practiced restraint stopped her. She was never one to disobey an order, especially if it was a reasonable one.

“Alright,” she mumbled. She caught Val’s eye and noticed that even she looked surprised at Deya’s acquiescence.

Val shook the shock from her face and grabbed Deya’s arm, looping it through her own.

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