Page 29 of The Tsarina's Favorite
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The gathering aroundthe bars of my cell far exceeded the capacity in the corridor, but it flattered and heartened me that I had so many who called me a friend.If nothing else, it would all be worth it just for that, to know I wasn’t truly alone at the end.
A gaggle of guards sitting at the end of the hall frowned at the group outside my cell.
“We’re allowed to visit!”Grigga declared as she shot a glare at them.
“You are such an idiot,” Klessa despaired.“I said shine, not show off.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I assured her.
“Of course it matters,” Drook grumbled.“You’re one of us.”
“She was going to kill me eventually when I stopped being amusing to her.I just ensured I did not have to suffer for years of my life.”
I had lived in my chicken costume for months.I could not imagine years.While still in the padded costume, I had torn off the collar.I also discarded the tunic, mask, gloves, and hood upon my arrival in the cell.What were they going to do, kill me?
I wore a scruffy beard now in the absence of an opportunity to shave.
“I don’t regret it,” I said.
Agara sat at the bars too, silent but glowering.
“There’s nothing to be done,” I said.“She is intent on having me executed, and I will welcome the release.”
“You really did push her from what I heard,” said Grigga.
“Intentionally,” I explained.“A small punishment would have been so much worse.Ironic, no?Death is the only sentence I can live with.”
Agara threw her hands up and stood.“Kvasnik, we want to fight for you, but you’re not making this easy.”
“Don't fight for me,” I told her.“Please,” I begged all of them, “please don’t.None of you needs to be punished for defending me.”
My friends looked at each other helplessly.
“After I am executed," I told them, “have a toast for me.Celebrate my release.And when you speak of the jester prince, I’ll be there, in your stories, in your thoughts.That’s enough.What a legacy — to have been regarded so dearly!”
“Do you know when it’s going to be?”Agara asked.
“Soon, I imagine.”
“Maybe we could break the lock,” Trokei whispered.
“None of you is allowed to cause trouble on my account.Please, go back to your apartments and your daily activities.It’s better if I'm by myself now.The tsarina will surely get a report of this, and I do not trust her to leave you unharmed.”
“You've heard Kvasnik.”Klessa stood from her stool and turned to the assembled group.“He wants to be alone, even if he is a stubborn arse for wanting it.”
