Crown of One Hundred Kings (Nine Kingdoms Trilogy #1) - Rachel Higginson Page 0,99
think she was dead? Why had they transferred the bloodline to Tyrn when an Allisand still lived?
By the time Crenshaw tossed me in my room, I could do nothing but collapse on my bed. Shiksa hopped over and curled into me. It was her soft fur and gentle comfort that caused the floodgate of tears to rip open.
I wept for hours. Until I couldn’t see or think or do anything but remember everyone I loved, tears falling for the family whose deaths I’d been forced to relive all over again.
I wept for the sister I hadn’t known still lived. And even now, I didn’t know if I would ever see her again.
27
Matilda had to drag me from bed the next morning. My eyes were puffy from hours of crying. She took one look at me and cursed the daylight.
I wanted this crown more than ever. I felt like it was mine more than ever. And yet I could not bear the thought of facing the council another day.
What would they drag up from my memory today? What fresh horrors pulled from the pits of Denamon would they dangle in front of me now?
Would they taunt me with Katrinka?
Or accuse me of murdering my family again?
“I can’t do this,” I whispered to Matilda as she blended a powder under my eyes. She promised it would take away the dark circles and make me look less like a ghoul.
She paused her ministrations and settled her hands on my shoulders. “Tessana Allisand,” she said firmly. “That is your name isn’t it?”
My gaze snapped to hers. “It is.”
Something like humor danced in her eyes, but her expression remained stony. “I haven’t questioned you once since they told me who you are. I walked into your room and instantly saw a princess, an Allisand with her head tilted high and fire in her eyes. But the council needs to see that too. This entire kingdom must be convinced that you are who you say you are. And it’s not going to be witnesses that show them the truth. It’s you, Princess Tessana. It’s who you are and who your family was. It’s the light inside you that shines brighter than the sun. You are Tessana Allisand of the house of Extentia. Make them believe.”
I couldn’t help the smile that lifted the corners of my mouth. “Is that all I need to do?”
She nodded and went back to erasing the black circles beneath my eyes. “For now,” she laughed.
When Crenshaw swung the door open, I was waiting for him. He moved to grab me, but I held up a hand and told him, “I can walk on my own, thank you very much.”
He backed up but did not seem pleased. I didn’t care. The first thing I would do as queen would be to fire Crenshaw and escort him to the border of Elysia.
Unlike yesterday, my heart beat with confidence. I had been so afraid, so meek in my manners, but Matilda was right. The Crown of Nine belonged to me. To my bloodline.
And it was time I stood up for what was rightfully mine.
If they wanted to fight me for it, they could. But they would learn what it was like to go up against an Allisand.
Crenshaw paused outside the throne room doors. He turned to me and with a smirk tilting his thin mouth said, “You’ve been asked to wait here until they announce you.”
I nodded my reluctant acceptance. This was how it had worked yesterday, only I hadn’t had to wait in the hallway. Maybe they were already interrogating a witness?
A few stragglers scurried through the closing door and I wondered if not everyone had arrived yet. Something moved in my peripheral vision and I turned to look, but nothing was there. In fact, I was alone. The guards had disappeared. All the attendees had slipped inside. I was left by myself with no one to watch over me.
I took a step forward, fearing that they were waiting for me and I had somehow been forgotten about. The same flicker of something caught my attention again. This time it was accompanied by a sound. Light clacking. Like claws against…
I looked up toward the ceiling where I found the most peculiar sight. A bird had managed to get inside the palace. It perched on the ledge of a stained-glass window. I took a step toward it, admiring its sleek black coat and onyx beak. “How did you get inside?” I asked the thing.