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Estora closed the door again, shutting away the cla on her behalf, she would leave them to it If they made any decisions that displeased her, she could sies be made and no one would dare question her She was to be queen, after all, wasn’t she? She could request what she wanted, and when she wanted it

She daydrea she decided she didn’t like the gown and demanded it be remade The tailor would have no choice but to comply It could mean his head! Not that Zachary would allow such a punishment, of course, and not that she would actually consider it, but she was only now beginning to recognize the power she wasinto; the power she could wield over others

She emitted a tiny little hiccup and covered her h no one was there to witness it

I’ve had a little too much wine as well

She quelled an abrupt giggle and fled down the corridor, barely noticing that her Weapon, looking uncharacteristically harried, eed from the chamber and followed her

Estora stepped out into the central courtyard gardens, breathing free at last The chamber, her mother’s parlor while in residence, had been crammed with so many bodies that the air was stuffy and stale This was

She walked the gravel pathway, drawing her shawl about her shoulders Thehad subsided, but the sky was still heavy and the air sone to dull yellows and browns, the flower beds alreadywinter It was a sparse scene, with only a few of the trees holding onto their leaves

If Estora thought things unbearable nointer would only be worse, cooped up in the castle with all her relatives and nowhere to escape The gardens would be snowy, icy, cold She shivered at thewould prove no better, for then would be the wedding

It didn’t help that Zachary did not have a moment to spare for her She knew the realm must come first, but why couldn’t he even involve her in the business of its running? If she was to be queen, she must learn all she could about it If he didn’t have time for her as his betrothed, he should at least spare ti power She refused to ascend the throne simply to be his brood mare, and if that was all he expected of her, then he was in for a surprise

The arrival of the Eletians sparked her discontent The castle, of course, was full of gossip about the mysterious folk and what their visit portended, and she, like everyone else, wanted to see firsthand their encampment, at the very least Instead, she had to rely on secondhand descriptions of the tents, for both the king and her father had forbidden her to leave the castle grounds Forbidden her! Was she to be queen, or a prisoner? If the latter, she hest tower at once

She pulled her shawl more closely about her shoulders It was not fair It was not fair that she have no choice in this e, and it was not fair that she be excluded from the business of the country she was to help lead Her father and Zachary treated her as though she were some fine porcelain vase that would crack and break if solanced inappropriately at her

If only they knew the truth! The truth of her relationship with F’ryan She felt faint at the very thought of its exposure, for her father’s response would be swift, extre He’d consider her ruined, and cast her fro her near faain

Zachary’s reaction? That was more difficult to divine, for he was in ressions of the heart?

She slowed her walk, considering So far she hadn’t given anyone any reason to doubt her virtue Only the Green Riders knew about her and F’ryan, and they were bound by honor to keep her secret None of the her reputation, the Riders also honored F’ryan, and his wish that they look out for her

For this Estora was thankful beyond measure, but she also knew the Riders were oathbound servants of the king In light of the betrothal, how could they continue to withhold the secret from him?

“And for how long?” she h that he did not discover the truth till their wedding night?

She paused and picked up a perfect crimson ers In court, chaste behavior was expected, but what actually happened was another thing Estora knew of young noble ladies who carried on secret affairs, though it was difficult to say for certain which of these liasons were actually consuifts hidden in niches, soulful poetry read through open s, roarden, stolen kisses, all acco and dreamy looks

It was all a result, she believed, of young people ould soon be faced with arranged ers They saw only a lifetie made for alliance and bloodline, not for personal happiness It pushed forbidden ro So them to their apex

Periodically a young woman would be “sent away” from court by her parents for one purpose or another, but everyone knew the real reason Either it was to separate her fro lady in question was not careful enough, to conceal her gravid condition A family of status, especially a noble farace