Page 31 of Oath of Rebellion

Chapter 11

BELLA SMILED, HER CHEEKS stiff from the forced politeness of the evening. It was her engagement ball, something she'd never thought she'd experience. So why was she so on edge?

Her gaze landed on Eirwyn on the edge of the dance floor. She'd always been jealous of Eirwyn's beauty, ever since she'd first stumbled into the tavern as a child.

Pa had given her everything she wanted, food, drink, clothing. He'd even made Bella share her only doll. At the memory of Pa, the pressure on her chest increased and she looked across the dance floor.

Eirwyn had quietly held court through dinner at the opposite end of the table, everyone hanging on her every word. Those around her had laughed as she spun light and shadow figures across the table. The more they'd laughed and paid attention to Eirwyn, the more Gastone had stiffened and grown moody.

She'd seen the way he glared at Eirwyn, could feel the emotions rolling off him. It was so like the night he'd come to the tavern and turned her world upside down. Was it any wonder that she was on edge?

When the king and his guards had swept inside demanding to know where Eirwyn was, Bella had known her world was about to change. She'd sent a maid upstairs to pull Eirwyn from the bed of some man or another.

The door burst open, and the kind strode inside. His masquerade suit highlighted his hair black as midnight. The starkness of his white cravat and shirt stood out against his tan skin.

The stringed lute twanged to a stop, the wounded soldier by the hearth gasping. Their other bar maids froze and bowls of steaming stew clattered to the tables. The patrons lowered their ale, and Bella saw a few reach for their weapons. The guards at the door settled their hands on their swords, eyes ranging over the crowd.

She wiggled her fingers, weaving magic to straighten her dress and smooth her thick brown hair as she walked around the edge of the bar to the middle of the room. She dipped a low curtsy, quickly wiping her hands on the apron around her waist.

"Your majesty, to what do we owe the honor of this visit?" Bella asked.

The king looked her up and down, and she recognized the interested gaze. But his words had been cold when he'd demanded, "My sister is here instead of at the masquerade."

Bella nodded and held out a hand. "We have a private room, your majesty. If you'd care to wait there, we'll fetch her."

Everyone in the tavern had been frozen in fear, no one moving or daring to even breathe. Even the guards that had accompanied the king stood silently at attention beside the door.

The king threw his hands wide, white smoke rising from his nose as he breathed shallowly. His eyes dilated. "My sister should be in the private room, not smashing with a dirty–"

Eirwyn had come down the stairs, her dress slightly twisted and her hair wilder than normal. She'd locked eyes with the king, and he'd lifted his hands, a fireball flickering in his palm.

Eirwyn had lurched forward, her hands up as she yelled, "No, Gastone, don't–"

But it was too late. He hurled the fireball at Eirwyn, hitting the door frame above her head. The wood crashed on top of her even as she dove to the side near the bar. She hit the bar, and Bella had jumped in front of Eirwyn, her hands wide in supplication.

"Your majesty—"

Another fireball flew toward the bar, and Bella panicked. She threw her hands up, deflecting the fireball as her heart raced. Heat slammed into her palms, and she shoved, sending it to the fireplace where it exploded.

Ashes flew over the room. Some maids screamed, others jumped under the tables to hide. Those closest to the door sprinted for the exit, the guards not stopping them.

Bella felt Eirwyn's hand on her arm, then a gust of wind swept the ashes into a small black tornado and back into the fireplace where it collapsed.

Now that the air was clear, Bella took a deep breath, shifting on her toes as she watched the king warily. He panted, fire still in his palms as he glared at Eirwyn. He lifted a hand.

She had to stop him before he burned down the entire tavern. She couldn't let him destroy it when it was all she had.

"Enough," Bella shouted, drawing his gaze. "She shouldn't have missed the masquerade. Eirwyn, apologize. Now."

Bella's tone brooked no argument, the same tone she'd used on ruffians who refused to cooperate.

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