Behind My Shadow - Book Three

68. Come Morning Light

"...we'll have the White Knight's funeral at sunset," King Darious is saying.

I'm silent. I've been mute all day.

I sit stoically on my cold Throne of Swords and stare blankly into the floor at my feet. 

I feel so hollow now, as if my lust for life has been drained away. The Crown of Alice I wear is an enormous headpiece comprised of Vorpal and looks like a Jabberwocky is coiled around my skull, its wings flare out on either side of my head and its gleaming jaws are centered on my forehead. It feels like it weighs a ton, so this is just another excuse for me not to lift my head to meet anyone's concerned gaze.

"And what about the Blood Prince?" The Queen of Clubs asks, glancing at me yet again. "Shall we arrange another execution?"

"We still have the cross prepared on Pinnacle Peak!" King Darious excitedly reminds us.

"An execution and a funeral in the same day?" His husband scoffs. "You must be bloody joking."

Darious shrugs.

"And what about the empty thrones?" The Queen of Clubs gestures. "Regina is dead, Eastyn is dead, Lyna has been dethroned, and Portamus has now been...imprisoned." She briefly glances at me but I'm still a statue. "We must restore a sense of order, My Alice," she urges me. "You must restore order."

I remain silent.

"What are we going to do?" The King of Clubs glances at the others helplessly.

"I'm glad you asked," King Darious says excitedly. "I have a list of brilliant ideas for what we can start with! Allow me to share with you -"

"No," I softly speak for the first time today.

They all turn to look at me with surprise.

"My Alice?" Queen Miyu cautiously presses. "Have you something you'd like to tell us?"

I swallow hard but now curtly nod. "We'll have the funeral at sunset, like tradition. And I'll crowned Speira La'Vona as the new Queen of Diamonds, she is the next of kin of Queen Eastyn, right? Right," I confirm before they can say anything. Kolfer's dead and he was apparently next in line for the throne, it only makes sense now that his daughter should have it. Speira at leastwise isn't a Black Heart and I honestly think she'll make an excellent Queen. She already holds herself so regally and poised, it's as if being royal is in her blood.

And I guess it kinda is.

"Adisonia is new Queen of Hearts," I announce. The Royals glance at each other warily.

"Are you certain that's wise?" Queen Miyu questions. "I mean... her parents are both Black Hearts. One is dead and the other is on his way to prison. Portamus is a traditor to this Court on charges of high treason, Regina was a terrorist. How can we trust that their daughter wasn't in on their schemes as well?"

"Yes," her husband agrees. "And what's stopping her from carrying out their last plot?"

"And!" King Darious eagerly adds on. "How are we even for certain that Adisonia is the rightful heir to the Throne of Hearts? Hmm? Hm?" He looks us over. "We all know Regina had an affair with Duke Kolfer! And they've been fraternizing for years. Eighteen, actually. Am I the only that can do math? Adisonia is eighteen!"

"He's not wrong," King Akio shrugs.

"She is the next Queen of Hearts," I firmly announce. "I can sense it." I can't actually sense if she's really biologically Kolfer's or Portamus' daughter but it doesn't matter. I trust her with my life, and I fully intend on making my Royal Court one that I can believe in and honestly, Adisonia has more than earned the Throne of Hearts.

"Well, at least the Court will be whole again." Queen Miyu shrugs with a sigh. "But whatever will become of the Blood Prince? What is that creature now anymore? We were all there when you... saved that creature."

"Yes! Do explain!" King Darious eagerly demands.

I keep my expression neutral and my emotions guarded. I don't have to explain myself to people anymore, I've more than earned my right to silence after all of the soul-baring I've endured throughout my Labors.

"He is not to be executed." I finally say. "I didn't save him from the cross just to have you stake him to another. Can my sacrifice at leastwise count for sparing his life?"

"Of course, My Alice," they all quietly chorus and bow their heads; each in their own world though imagining a list of horrible things to do to Vyndren without tacking an execution on him.

I shake my head. Unbelievable. How am I ever supposed to keep him safe from them? For now though I try to comfort myself with the fact that he is at leastwise still alive, everything else I'll worry about later, I try to assure my troubled mind.

I stand up and the Royals glance at me in surprise.

"Before we go any farther, there's something I really must attend to, it's honestly been at the forefront of my mind ever since I got here actually." I gingerly take off my crown and leave it sitting on the Throne. "And for this I'll...need the Blood Prince."

They look even more shocked.

"I'll be back later," I say as I hurry down the long Hall, anxiously to be free of their prying gazes.