Golden Chains by M. Lynn

Author:M. Lynn [Lynn, M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-10-16T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

The round chamber once serving as a gathering place for the council that ruled the kingdom was full for the first time since before Etta’s father resided in the palace. It had fallen in to disuse when the old king dissolved his council and chose to consolidate the crown’s power. It had been a time of peace so his noble’s armies weren’t needed and as long as the palace continued to pay a fair price, their supply of goods wouldn’t be cut off.

Peace couldn’t last forever and now they had no king and no wards.

Etta watched the empty seats fill up. These same nobles who’d watched as Alex imprisoned their fellow lords and ladies, now waited to be part of leading the kingdom. Without the king, the council must be reinstated.

A hand landed on Etta’s shoulder and she flinched away. A haze of pain clouded her mind and every touch felt like a knife grazing along her skin.

“I never thought I’d see a council sit in this room again.” Duchess Moreau’s voice held a deep sadness.

“Do you trust them?” Etta asked through clenched teeth.

“Not even a little, but they’re all we have now.”

“We need our king.”

Etta lifted her eyes to the circular room as the duchess gave her a pointed stare and moved toward her seat.

She knew what was expected of her. She had once been protector, and they wanted her to take up that mantle once more. His life was worth more than hers to them, but she had to be careful, to wait for the right moment, to prepare.

Part of that preparation was making sure the kingdom didn’t fall apart in Alex’s absence. She had a duty to him, but she also needed to prevent further persecution of her people.

Queen Catrine took the highbacked seat normally reserved for the king and Etta moved to stand behind her chair near the wall. Duchess Moreau was to her right and Duke Caron planted himself firmly on her other side. Camille stayed by her husband and refused to look Etta in the eye.

The bruise on her cheek had not faded in its entirety and a jolt of grim pleasure entered Etta’s heart as she remembered the way it’d felt to finally give the princess what she deserved.

Simon joined Etta as the queen mother cleared her throat. The chatter in the room persisted despite more of the her attempts to begin.

They didn’t have time for this. Etta drew her sword in one movement and slammed it down on the sturdy circular table. The surface shook from the impact and the sound made each of the nobles go silent.

“Queen Catrine wishes to begin,” Etta growled, her voice echoing off the domed ceiling. Many of the faces paled and Duchess Moreau’s eyes held chastisement in them.

The queen mother’s voice shook as she began and then grew strong. “Our kingdom faces great adversity. As many of you know by now, the king was abducted from his rooms.”

A round of questions broke out, the nobles speaking over one another.

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