mother to Baist for asylum, but you were attacked on the way by magical beasts that killed everyone—including you, we believed. It was Lady Eville’s doing. Her revenge because your mother tried to run away with you.”
My mind went reeling back into the past as I tried to remember the night I came to the tower. Nothing. I remembered very little and could only assume it was because of a spell Mother Eville had cast over my memories.
“So it was Lady Eville?”
“She did this to you, I swear,” he said, holding his hand up.
I was grateful for the chair underneath me, because surely I would have fallen over. My whole life was a lie. I had a family, one that had traded me away for a male heir. Again I was made to feel less than worthy, powerless because of my birth and sex, but no longer. Mother Eville had taught me to be strong, powerful, and sure of myself—but she was the one who’d sent the beasts on the caravan that night.
“You don’t know how long I have burned for revenge,” King Basil growled. He stood up and knocked over a glass on the end table next to his chair. “I blamed Baist for what happened to your mother and you, but more than that, I blamed Lady Eville. Finding out one of her daughters was married to my enemy was all I needed to know. I would have my revenge twice over.”
“And now?” I asked.
“I swear I didn’t know you were my daughter. I never even suspected that Lady Eville had taken you that night, or that you were even still alive.”
“You should have suspected,” I snapped. “You made a bargain.” I pointed to Aspen. “His life for mine. You can’t seriously have expected a different outcome! Nor should you blame Baist. The whole idea of war is a fool’s errand.”
“Is it? Every good king wants their kingdom to grow. I wanted a son to rule and for you to marry into the country of Baist. Then if the prince should die, our kingdoms could become one. When you disappeared, I knew my only other option was to take the kingdom by force.”
“War doesn’t do anything but bring bloodshed and tears.”
“War brings prosperity. It thins out the weak, leaving only the strong. It has been that way for generations.”
Listening to his mad ravings was giving me a headache. Baist was a large kingdom. Florin was waterlocked; the only way they could expand was westward into the kingdom of Baist. It didn’t matter what excuse they came up with, war would be on the horizon.
I shifted in my seat and brought my hands together, the bands clinked loudly.
“If I am your daughter, then will you release me?” I asked, keeping my voice neutral, hiding my anger deep so my emotions wouldn’t betray me while studying the king for his reaction. It wasn’t good.
He flinched and blinked one too many times before looking away. I could see his throat bob as he swallowed, and sweat glistened across his brow. He was afraid of me.
Rising to my feet, I carefully took a step toward him and kneeled on the rug before his chair. Keeping my eyes lowered, I raised my wrists to him. “Father, please, release me from these painful bonds.”
Aspen had come to stand just behind the king, his hand resting on his sword hilt, preparing to cut me down if I harmed my own father. It saddened me that they could not trust me. Even if what they said was true, and I was their own blood, they still feared who I had become. It seemed I had exchanged one palatial prison for another.
“I fear I cannot, daughter. I do not know how deep Lady Eville’s influence goes.”
“I see,” I said stiffly, rising to my feet and backing away. “Then what am I to do here? Live out my days wearing these?”
“Well, we just don’t know how much Lady Eville has poisoned you against us.”
“She never had to. You’re doing a fine job of it yourself.” My lips curled and I spun on my heel, leaving them.
“I never dismissed you, daughter,” King Basil roared.
Stopping just short of the door, I could see Magda in the hallway waiting for me. Her love was evident, tears filling her eyes. That was what a parent’s love should look like, yet after eighteen years apart, I didn’t even get so much as a hug.
I sighed deeply. Gathering my courage, I looked back at