Page 2 of Kingdom of Rot & Ruin
The scissors lay on the table beside her bed. Maybe I could cut my hair myself? Mother had gone on and on about how important appearances were. Had she forgotten that tomorrow was the big day? I could probably do it. The steel was cold in my fingers as I picked up the scissors and held them out.
“Mother? It will only take a few minutes. Then you can sleep.”
I tugged at her sleeve, the smooth satin slipping through my fingers. I didn’t understand. Why go on and on about how important tomorrow was only to just … go to sleep?
The scissors fell back to the nightstand, the blades clattering noisily against the wooden top. Mother’s eyes cracked open, red and bloodshot. She drew in a shaky, rattling breath.
That wasn’t normal. That wasn’t right.
“Mother? I?—”
Her hand came up, brushing away a strand of hair that had fallen over my eyes. Her fingers lingered on my cheek, caressing it softly. I closed my eyes, wanting the moment to last forever. Mother was always so anxious, and so afraid. The moments we could just … be … were far and few between.
“You look so much like him.” She breathed the words out so quietly that I had to lean in against her soft cheek to hear. “He would be proud of you.”
Who was he? The father she never talked about?
Torn between needing a haircut and learning about the man I was forbidden to ask about, I didn’t know what to do. Her eyes closed and her breathing slowed, making the decision for me.
I would simply let my hair be. Didn’t the king have shaggy hair down to his shoulders? I would be fine. Mother was simply … mothering.
I turned on my heel and put myself to bed.
“Mother. It is morning!”
I was in my best tunic and breeches, practically bouncing on my feet at her door. Pushing it open, a sickly sweet scent had me wrinkle my nose.
“Mother?”
She hadn’t moved from her spot in the bed, on top of thecovers and still in her evening gown. Her face was deathly pale and sickly gray, turned away from me.
“Mother, I?—”
KNOCK KNOCK.
Oh, no.My reaping!
I glanced at my mother’s motionless form and the door to our apartment. I ran forward, quietly sliding my mother's hand mirror out of its drawer in our drawing room and peeking into the gilded frame with its sleek, polished surface. It was important that I looked my best to impress my instructors, even if mother was still abed. Maybe one day I’d impress them enough that I’d travel beyond the palace. Maybe I’d even get a glimpse of the dragon that lived above the dome!
My black hair hung in tiny ringlets around my head, tight curls I thought looked fun. It was down to my shoulders, but I didn’t think it made me look like agirl. Girl hair was much longer. My dark eyes matched my dark hair, and I grinned at my reflection. My tunic was green and my breeches black, and my boots brand new and shining. I lookedgood.
I was ready.
Unlatching the door, my excitement and smile faded away as a brooding noble stood over me, lips pursed and looking like he’d just sucked on a raw pergainsa berry. His hair was a lighter shade of brown than mine and down to his shoulders, his beard was tied at the bottom with a leather tie.
His eyes widened at seeing me, his heavy eyebrows furrowing and forming a severe line between his eyes.
“Oh,” he managed. “That’s right. I’d forgotten about your … circumstances.”
I glanced down at my tunic, wondering if I had spilled some juice on it between the time I’d checked myself in themirror and now. Why else would he be looking at me as though he smelled spoiled milk?
“I am Lord Vession. Come,” he intoned, already turning and taking a step back down the hall.
“My mother …” I began, then trailed off when I realized he either didn’t hear me, or didn’t care.
And Mother had always stressed the importance of obeying the instructors, and doing everything I could to impress them. Did I leave my mother and just … go with him? Mother often stayed abed for days at a time … sometimes even a week. It wasn’t my fault the new wine from the queen made her sick … it was her fault for drinking it!
Giving her motionless form in bed one last look, I debated whether to say something to Lord Vession about her, or make some sort of excuse.
