Crown of One Hundred Kings (Nine Kingdoms Trilogy #1) - Rachel Higginson Page 0,100

down at me, unblinking. I took another step toward it. There was an infestation of these creatures in Elysia. Absently I wondered if there was anything I could do about it, thin their numbers somehow. Surely, they were detrimental to the crops and—

The raven opened its beak and squawked. I jumped back and covered one ear, surprised by how much that sound hurt my head. Pain split my skull and I doubled over. It was enough to shake me out of my stupor. Instinct drew my eyes up and I managed to catch a glimpse of the cord holding the gigantic chandelier overhead snapping in two.

I didn’t even think to scream. The chandelier would crush me beneath all those diamonds and ornate titanium rods. A useless memory flashed in my mind of ten of my father’s footmen working together to lift it back into place after the maids had spent the day polishing it.

That was what was about to fall on me.

I threw my hands over my head just as the monstrous thing rushed into my side, knocking me over and stealing the wind from my lungs. I hit the ground with a smack, crushing my shoulder between the smooth marble and the heavy weight of the chandelier.

No, wait.

That wasn’t right.

The chandelier hit the ground a second later, screaming through the corridor with a deafening crash. Diamonds splintered and glass shattered, landing all around me. Screams echoed from inside the throne room and guards rushed to the hallway.

The chandelier had crashed to the ground after I did. That meant it wasn’t on top of me.

That meant I wasn’t crushed beneath it!

I searched for the heavy object compressing me. Taelon looked down, his bright blue eyes wide with fear. Taelon had pushed me to the side. Taelon had landed on top of me.

Not the chandelier.

“What are you doing here?” I gasped.

“Rescuing you,” he panted. “Again.”

I smacked his shoulder. “I don’t need you to rescue me!” He scrambled back and offered a hand. I could not believe him! “Where have you been? I’ve been rotting in my room and there has been not even a word from you! How could you have left—”

Two fingers covered my mouth briefly when monarchs started to filter into the hall. “What happened?” Tyrn demanded.

“Relax, Tessana,” Taelon whispered. “Let me do the talking.”

I rolled my eyes. Because that had always worked out for me in the past.

“The chandelier fell, Your Majesty,” one of the guards pointed out.

“I can see that, you idiot,” Tyrn snarled. “But how did it fall? Look at this mess.” Tyrn’s gaze swung to mine. “What are you doing out here? Did you have something to do with this?”

Taelon stepped in front of me. “She was nearly pulverized,” he stated crisply. “If I had not been here to intercede, she would have been flattened beneath it. If I didn’t know any better, I’d believe that she’d been set up. Someone didn’t want her to go to trial today.”

Tyrn’s gaze narrowed. “You’re saying the chandelier tried to kill her?”

Taelon’s jaw ticked. “I’m saying the chandelier cord was cut by someone trying to kill her.”

Tyrn looked at me. “Why were you out in the hall? Why didn’t you let the guards escort you inside?”

“I was told to wait outside.” The fury inside me burst. “Your guards ordered me to wait right there, right beneath the chandelier.”

Tyrn turned toward Crenshaw. “Is this true? Did you tell her to wait?”

Crenshaw shrugged. “I needed to inform the herald that she was here. I didn’t know the chandelier was going to fall. How could I have known a thing like that?”

Tyrn nodded.

“This was not an accident,” Taelon insisted. “It was a set up. Someone tried to kill her!”

“So you say,” Tyrn replied calmly. His cold eyes flickered to mine again. “Did you see anyone out here with you?”

I bit my lip and struggled with the truth. I’d seen a bird. But that was hardly enough evidence to convict anyone. “I didn’t see anyone.”

“Then it was an accident.” Tyrn declared. He pointed toward the ceiling. “Look where the cord broke. This chandelier is too heavy for anyone to lift or tamper with it on their own. If someone had cut the rope they would have done it from where it was tied to the anchor.” He pointed toward the wall where in fact the cord was affixed to a closure. “But a man would need a ladder to reach the ceiling. I don’t see any ladders.” He looked at me again.