Of Blood and Silver Runes by Christine N. Kirby

Author:Christine N. Kirby
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Christine N. Kirby

Claira wouldn’t be accompanying me this time. She orchestrated the series of events but said she needed to maintain her court persona. It would look too suspicious if we both were absent. The King would hear the next string of grievances from citizens, and before the courtiers were dismissed, I would be introduced, accompanied by Soren and four other Sunpriests.

My heart fluttered as I approached the closed wooden doors of the throne room. With nothing to do with my hands, my focus was drawn to how they shook as I wrung them together.

“Good morning.” Soren’s voice snapped my attention to their group, hooded and cloaked in white and gold. Even with the veil obstructing my vision, it amazed me that their faces appeared shrouded entirely in shadow, even from just a few steps away. They all crossed their arms, tucking them into their sleeves. Nothing of the men within visible.

“Good morning,” I whispered and nodded, disrupting the dangling rubies on my head.

Soren stepped closer as the others lined up behind the doors. “Once those doors open, you shouldn’t speak. I’ll address the King and court on your behalf. The royal family should receive a blessing before the court receives theirs. Also, this isn’t the upper city. You’ll need to do your best to stay standing on your own.”

My eyes narrowed behind my veil, but before I could reply the doors creaked open as the royal guard within the throne room peeled them back. The four Sunpriests proceeded one at a time into the throne room. Soren took his place to my left.

Straightening my spine and relaxing my shoulders, I swallowed my nerves as we entered the throne room. After about five paces into our procession, the doors boomed shut behind us. I could feel every pair of eyes watching me, tracking me as I walked by them to the dais. Their voices mingled in my ears with the whisper of my lamé gown gliding over the floor.

“She’s prettier than I expected.”

“How can you tell what she looks like when she’s completely covered in red?”

“Has she come to damn and condemn us or to redeem us?”

“Can anyone be sure she’s actually the Everlasting?”

“Has anyone seen Lady Izzabelli? Is she the Everlasting?”

I pushed their voices out of my head, focusing on the reflections shimmering in the morning rays pouring in through the leaded glass. The rubies and gold on my head dazzled like a star. I held on to the small gasps and stares filled with wonder.

At the foot of the dais, the Sunpriests broke off. Two stepped to the right and two to the left, leaving the center for Soren and me. This time, when my hands trembled, it had less to do with standing before the King and more with seeing his son standing to his right. One of his viziers leaned forward to whisper into the King’s ear as we came to a stop before him. I lowered into a curtsy, praying my knees didn’t give out.

“Rise,” the King’s voice boomed.

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