The Rose of Suid & The Last Balik: A Queen's Red Guard Novella Collection (The Queens Red Guard) by Olmo Isabelle

Author:Olmo, Isabelle [Olmo, Isabelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little Fountain Press
Published: 2022-05-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

T o walk into a lion’s den was a treacherous path. It was a mere hour before dinner and she was running out of time. But she had to do what she had to do.

Servants paused and stared at her as she proudly wore Hester’s red gown. The ruby necklace was heavy and thick on her neck. The six stones were as bright as the day the necklace was forged hundreds of years before. As if they protected her, as if they wouldn’t let harm come to her. It had adorned generation upon generation of Sikorian women, and perhaps their strength was with her now.

When she faced the door, she took one last breath. She studied the fine dark grain of the wood, the interlacing patterns that seemed to move in the evening of the day.

She chose to knock.

Her father’s perpetually angry voice bade her to enter, and her stomach tightened.

“You’re House Sikora, daughter of the first people, descendant of the eagle gods,” she whispered.

When she opened the door, she felt the tremble of her resolve.

Before her was her father, angrily facing Lord Beltran. Both men turned to her, both men shocked at her attire.

“Daughter,” her father snarled.

Oh gods . What madness had possessed her to come here like this? Beltran met her eyes and he almost smiled. She gathered herself. She could do this; she would prevent them from broaching the subject.

She made a quick bow. “Father I must speak to you.”

“How dare you interrupt us dressed like that . Have you no shame?” Her father’s fury breathed out in waves.

Lord Beltran turned to her father and his own face reddened in anger.

She held herself strong and fisted her hands to her sides to keep them from shaking.

“I am a daughter of this house, Father. It is imperative I speak to you.”

Her father took a step towards her, his face twisted, his lips snarled.

“Speak to me ? Have you lost all decency? Get out of here and know your place, girl. You shame me with your behavior! And take off those clothes.”

A sob caught at her throat. She wished she was stronger, she wished she had the strength of the world, and his tone didn’t make her falter.

“Father, please , allow me to speak.”

Lord Beltran did something she hadn’t expected. He stepped before her and faced her, his face eerily neutral, completely unconcerned with his interruption. He blocked her from her father’s view and slowly extended his hand to her.

“Please walk with me, my lady.”

She looked down at his hand, stunned at his boldness before her father. As always, his hand was steady, calm; it waited without qualms about the chaos unfolding.

Behind him, her father slammed his fist on his desk. “Don’t you dare go with that man! That man is not welcomed in this house.”

Beltran didn’t move, didn’t flinch. He held out his hand.

Lamya looked at him, the steadiness of his eyes. The strength he offered her with a simple gesture. Be brave, he said. Be bold. Make a choice.

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