In Huck's Hands

Bonus Yana Chapter 3: A dance with shadows continued

The king's words echoed in Yana's mind as she stood frozen in place, her heart pounding so loudly she was certain the entire court could hear it. The festivities continued around her, a surreal backdrop to the terror coursing through her veins. She had spent years carefully crafting her persona, and in a single moment, King H. Vasca had seen through it all.

Forcing herself to move, Yana made her way to a secluded alcove, her mind racing with thoughts of running far from this place. She needed time to think, to plan, but the king's summons hung over her like a preying hyena. Every scenario she played out in her head ended in disaster--imprisonment, exile, or worse.

A commotion near the main entrance drew her attention. Prince HuckleBerry had arrived, and even from a distance, Yana could see he was in a foul mood. His eyes were bloodshot, his movements unsteady as he shoved past startled courtiers. The prince's arrival might buy her some time, but it also added another volatile element to an already precarious situation.

"Lady Yana," a deep voice rumbled behind her. She turned to find one of the king's personal guards looming over her. "His Majesty requests your presence in his private study. Immediately." She had not even noticed the 7 foot tall man's departure as she stared at his stone-faced aid.

Yana's mouth went dry, but she managed a nod. As she followed the guard through the winding corridors of the Mauve Palace, her heart raced, searching for any miracle, any piece of information she could use to protect herself in the dire situation of fate.

The king's study was a cavernous room, its walls lined with ancient tomes and strange artifacts from across Izmar. King H. Vasca stood with his back to her, gazing out a window that overlooked the sprawling city below. Even motionless, he radiated an aura of barely arrested brutality from years of Searings and gladiatorial bouts. "Do you know why I've summoned you, girl?" the king asked without turning.

Yana swallowed hard. "No, Your Majesty." Her mouth felt dryer than the vast desert that surrounded the kingdom.

He turned then, his single eye fixing her with a penetrating stare. "Because you interest me. And very few things in this world still manage to do that." He moved towards her with surprising grace for such a large man. Yana fought the urge to step back, knowing any sign of weakness would be fatal or rebuffing him even worse.

"You've spent years playing the role of the dutiful, unremarkable lady-in-waiting," the vile king continued. "But I've watched you. The way you manipulate those around you, subtly guiding conversations and actions to your edge. It's... remarkable--It reminds me of my dear deceased Marna."

Yana's mind whirled. Was this a trap? A test? She decided her best option was to lean into the truth--or at least, a version of it. "Your Majesty is most perceptive," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "I have indeed worked to make myself useful without drawing undue attention. In a court as... incendiary as this, survival often depends on such skills--I mean no slight to your intelligence."

The king's laugh was like hooks scraping against glass. "Survival, indeed. And what of ambition, Lady Yana? Surely a mind as sharp as yours isn't content with mere survival?" He rapped his large fist on a small golden globe, flitting his eyes across her body.

Before Yana could respond, a crash echoed from the hallway outside, followed by angry shouts. The king's crimson eye narrowed dangerously. "It seems my son has decided to animate the festivities," he growled. "We'll continue this discussion later. For now, return to the great hall. And remember, I'll be watching."

As Yana hurried back to the party she still could not shake the feeling of death clinging to her future. The king's interest in her was both an opportunity and a grave peril.