Page 128 of Of Nine So Bold

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CASIMIR

As a child, I’d watched council meetings from hidden spots in the upper levels of our royal meeting halls. I’d witnessed the shouting matches between all manner of people.

Those paled in comparison to the chaos that broke out at the scholar’s words.

“How can the dwarf be royal?” someone in the crowd shouted.

“Does that mean Duke Ensid isn’t next in line?” another cried.

“What’s the boy’s parentage?” a third demanded.

“We can’t be ruled by adwarf!”

My royal training was all that held my disgust in check. Bigotry always betrayed its allies, robbing them of the chance to make wise choices and rendering them instead as utter fools. It was blatantly obvious that Duke Ensid and his henchmen had taken more than their fair share of food and left these people to starve. For the gods’ sakes, the man looked healthier and more well fed than thechildren. Yet these fools would rather he remain as their leader instead of a young man of honor and compassion, purely because of superficial physical traits.

It was idiocy. They panicked because Niko didn’t look like they thought a leader should, as ifthatsaid more about him than anything.

The duke barely acknowledged them, though. As the questions and protests came from every direction, the man simply stared at Niko and then at Ignatius, his eyes slowly being consumed with rage. “Howdareyou claim this boy could beroyalty.”

Norbert stormed toward Niko. “I’ll fucking crush your skull, you pathetic?—”

Ruhl and I moved simultaneously to intervene, but there was no need.

“Enough!” Ignatius roared.

Even the duke stopped.

Shaking with rage and tension, the old giant drew his threadbare robes around him as if they were as imposing as a judge’s cloak. He scanned the crowd, pinning them all with his gaze before turning lastly to the duke. “We have a challenge to your claim on the throne. It will be honored.”

Shouts and protests rose all over again.

“Isaid enough!”Magic thrummed through the air, amplifying Ignatius’s words. When the shouts quieted, he continued in a calmer voice. “We are less than a day’s journey from the temple of Syloria. If Duke Ensid truly is meant to be our king, then let there be no question of it. The waters there will settle this dispute, as has been our way since the dawn of the Order of Berinlian itself.”

I scanned the crowd, reading the body language of each giant I could see. Some were opposed, grumbling of traitors and dwarf tricks. Some were swayed, murmuring their approval for the old ways.

Watching them too, the duke scowled, only to bury the expression quickly. The man was a narcissistic bigot, but he wasno fool. He needed the support of the people here if he wished to claim the throne and restart the war with Aneira.

Because I had no doubt he would dothatas soon as possible. The proud giant had spent years as a prisoner to an enemy nation. He was champing at the bit for payback—likely no matter the cost.

Gods, we had to keep Gwyneira’s true identity a secret, if only to protect her from this man rallying his people for retribution.

By my side, Ruhl let out a growl so quiet, only a vampire could have heard. His green eyes flicked over, meeting mine.

I’d wager half my kingdom the shadow wolf was in full agreement with my unspoken thought and would be damned if he let anyone try to harm us.

“We must obey tradition, must we not… your lordship?” Ignatius prompted the duke pointedly.

With meticulous decorum and restraint, the duke nodded. “Of course.” He gestured sharply at his bullying allies. “To the temple!”

The giants began walking, passing one by one through the opening in the wall.

I glanced at Niko. He’d retreated from the opening, and he didn’t make a sound as the giants passed by. Moreover, he looked as if he’d been hit by a plank, and now he could only stare in shock at everything transpiring before him.

Curses ran through my mind, even as my heart went out to him. Unlike him, I’d grown up knowing I would be the heir to the throne of Zenirya. I imagined Gwyneira’s life had been much the same as mine, at least in that regard. But to learn of a potential royal inheritance so suddenly, and in such a dramatic fashion had to be a monumental shock.

But he was surrounded by a combination of outright enemies and those who did not know what to make of him. He could not appear unequal to this situation.

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