Page 101 of Crownless King

“Can I see Councilor Alcon?” I asked one of the palace guards who directed the crowd up the stairs toward the Throne Room where the king was holding audience today.

“Is he expecting you?”

“No, but I have something very important to tell him. He’ll—”

“Are you here to see the king or the councilor?” the guard snapped, looking down at me.

I immediately missed my hag glamor and the automatic respect it commanded. I also wouldn’t mind if it came with the ability to turn this guy into a six-legged frog.

“I would prefer the councilor but—”

“Step out of the line, then. These people are here to see the king.”

“But how can I see Councilor Alcon? Where can I find him?” I insisted, not moving out of my spot.

The guard gave me an exasperated look.

“The councilor is occupied in the Throne Room with the king. You’ll have to request an audience to see him, which isn’t going to happen today, obviously.”

“Obviously,” I repeated, watching as more people arrived in throngs.

“All right, woman.” The guard waved at me impatiently. “If you don’t want to see the king—”

“I do.” I moved up the stairs along with the other palace visitors. “I do want to see the king.”

If that was the only option I had, I’d use it. I might be able to get Alcon’s attention in the Throne Room. But if not, I’d have to face Voron again. He should recognize me as Bavius’s wife, too. As additional proof, I had his sapphire ring in the satchel over my shoulder.

I’d just tell him about what happened on the farm after he’d left, then be on my way back to my baby son. I started missing Aithen right after I’d kissed him goodbye and even before my wagon left the yard of Bavius’s farm.

A few floors up, another guard stopped me.

“What are you bringing for King Voron? Do you have a gift for him?”

Most of those around me held armfuls of silk, both pure white and hand-painted with beautiful designs. Some carried mesh cages withfirrianbeetles. That was the tradition. The gifts would be exchanged for jewels and favors, which didn’t really make them gifts, but it wasn’t a real trade, either, as the king usually gave more than the items were worth.

“Yes. I do have a gift.” I reached into my satchel and produced the jar with the blue fancy worm that, according to Sauria, was not a worm but a shrunken serpent.

The guard made a face, shrinking away from me. “What the fuck is this?”

“A giant serpent from the Lorsan Wetlands in the Below,” I announced proudly and glanced down at the “worm” that was swimming peacefully in a vial of water inside the jar. “He’s been shrunk. A little.”

“Why would the king wantthat?” The guard curled his lip as the people around me snickered.

“To feed it to his pet crow!” a wise ass cracked a joke, to the delight of the crowd that hooted and laughed. Those ahead of us craned their necks, trying to see what the fun was all about.

I stomped my hoof, not letting the jokes and giggles get to me.

“You have no clue, people, becauseyoudon’t own a menagerie. If you did, you would want my worm, too. This is the only giant serpent of this size in the entire Sky Kingdom and, possibly, in the whole of Nerifir.”

The guard looked at the jar with a newfound appreciation.

“Well, go on then.” He waved for me to move along.

The crowd calmed, too, ogling my tiny, giant serpent with interest.

I carried the jar up staircase after staircase and finally up the moving steps. I remembered riding these steps for the first time with Voron, long before either of us knew what we would become for each other.

Despite my best efforts, my heart beat faster. Pressing the jar with the serpent to my chest, I finally reached the Throne Room. Apprehension prickled down my arms. My throat felt dry. I slapped my tail against my leg under my cloak to make sure the glamor was still on, then inhaled deeply.

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