His Captive Sorceress

Chapter 39: Do You Love Her?

The pendant is cool enough to touch after an hour on Trevus's office floor. After my close encounter with the king, there's no doubt the julite is on his person. It also burned hot my first time in the throne hall, where the king was just a few feet to my left, and it didn't even warm when I snuck into the empty hall the next day.

A bell rings through the palace halls – the king summons his royal court. Last time he announced the hunt for my head. I shouldn't miss it.

I rest the pendant around my neck. After rebuilding my confidence from staring at Raylia's reflection on the pocket mirror, I head to the throne hall.

Noblemen and women stream through the hall's double doors. I join the line. My white oban stands in contrast to their deep purple.

A hand lands on my shoulder. "Servant girl," a gruff voice says.

I turn around. He's a tall, thin soldier, clad in a black oban different to mine only in color. My uniform lends legitimacy to my actions, and I'll take every advantage it offers.

"The congregation is exclusive to lords and ladies," he says.

"I am Prince Trevus's assistant. He expects my presence," I say.

"Servants may only enter escorted."

I step out of line and close the gap between us. "What is your name and unit, soldier?" I crane my neck to hold his gaze.

"Ulquis, Auxiliary Reserve Guard," the soldier says. Not a Palace Guard – he won't know Trevus's calm demeanor.

"His Majesty Prince Trevus of Cerillis shall be displeased when I cannot attend to his wishes. I shall answer for this failure when I serve him tomorrow morning, and I shall share that Ulquis of the Auxiliary Reserve Guard denied my entry to the hall. Perhaps my back shall be spared from the rod in favor of confronting the root offender."

Ulquis's gaze flashes to the other guard on the opposite side of the crowd – out of reach. "What are you called?" he asks.

"Raylia of Corinth, sole assistant to His Majesty Prince Trevus." I'll happily refer to Trevus as 'majesty' to strengthen my own position, provided Trevus is out of earshot.

Ulquis peers into the throne hall, but it's difficult to see over the gathering.

"So be it," he says.

I step back into line, concealing my smile.

Trevus's dais chair is empty. I weave around the nobles searching for his gold-threaded black oban, but I must be the shortest person in the room.

King Tytius enters from his private door behind the throne. The atmosphere falls silent, and the hall doors close.

Trevus isn't here, and now I have no excuse either. I move off to the side, watching from a spot where my white oban is hidden behind a pillar. If the king notices my presence, I may endure his wrath a second time today.

Trevus interrupted my orientation when the king summoned the royal court on my first day. This doesn't appear to be an event one could miss, yet he's absent.

"Hear us, hear us, dwellers of Lystra! I raise Versillia and exalt Nomier!" the king says.

"We hear the king!" Everyone answers at once.

He settles into his grand wooden throne. "I bring two victories for Versillia today."

The crowd mumbles in anticipation. I'm also eager to know what he has to say, but I don't expect to share their celebration. A pit lingers in my stomach.

"To protect our nation from the scourge of the Seventh witch, I have procured a significant sum of the rare rahlite mineral. Under my orders, a bespoke regimental unit has been composed. They shall search every city, settlement and rat-hole village in Versillia with the mineral as their guide, not yielding until she is eliminated."