Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“Imprisonment seems the only option, but it will likely take time to get an area in the palace secure enough to contain him. Do you think there are any negative effects to using Stillwater on him until I can get that done?”
“He might not feel well. But he wouldn’t be able to say anything about it.”
“So, that’s what we will do. I’ll have to send someone out to find someone with the skills to be-spell a room from escape. Then we will begin construction.”
“On the room?”
“Yes, but also, other advancements humans have had for a very long time and the palace is lacking.”
“What’s that?”
“Indoor plumbing. Wells, water from a tap. There’s no reason I should need to pull ten people away from their tasks to fill a tub.”
“I have no idea what indoor plumbing is,” I admitted. “But if you’re excited, I’m excited. And the women?”
“Mendalyn and her crew will become the higher-ranking royal guard. I don’t know enough about my father’s closest allies to know if they have my best interest at heart while Cass is ‘unwell.’”
“And Nira and Vishen?”
“Will continue to be our personal guards. If that’s what they wish. Though I have a feeling Vishen and Mendalyn might want to work together to do an overhaul of our military operations.”
“I, for one, would be interested in that, yes,” Mendalyn said as Jet opened our bedroom door.
Knight started to snarl but stopped when he saw us.
“It’s okay,” I said as Cora tensed. “It’s just us. And this is Mendalyn. She helps girls like you.”
Mendalyn stepped into the room, taking in the girls’ bruises and scars, seeming to understand the situation instantly.
“Help how?” Cora asked.
“By teaching you how to defend yourself so no one can ever touch you again. But that’s something for another day, if you want it. Tonight, how about we find you a bed?”
“Nira won’t be using her room tonight,” I said. “She has lots of food in there too. It’s just across the hall.”
“It’s safe?” Cora asked.
“I’ll be in the hallway all night,” Mendalyn assured her.
Cora nodded and fell into step with the older woman, but paused in the doorway to turn back to me. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me,” I assured her before she was led away. “We should check on Nira.”
“She was resting when I checked in.”
“Just really quick?”
I knew it wasn’t going to be quick. Once we got across the hall, Jet had to explain to an exhausted, worried Vishen everything that had taken place.
I let him handle that as I walked over to Nira, taking her hand in mine as I reached up to touch her head.
I felt a small wave of relief that she wasn’t hot or sweaty.
Her eyes fluttered open, looking at me with hazy eyes. “Hey, you.”
“You held me down.”
“Took two of us. You’re strong.”
She nodded a little at that. “Where is the girl?”
“In your room. I hope that’s alright. She needed a safe space until we get control of things.”
“Cass?”
I shot her a smile. “Incapacitated.”
“Good for you. Tove?”
“Surprisingly, on our side. At least we think. He has a guard outside his door until we figure everything out.”
“How bad is it?”
“Not as bad as it was. And we have a plan on how to settle everything down. Hopefully tomorrow.”
“Queen Serin,” she said, giving me a weak smile. “I want a raise.”
“You got it,” I agreed. “Plus all the beads in the kingdom, if you want them.”
“You’re going to need so many new gowns.”
“I can trust you to make them pretty. You should rest.”
“Rest sounds good.”
“Vishen will be right here with you all night,” I assured her.
Nira’s head turned, seeking the man in question. He seemed to sense her gaze, looking away from Jet and at her instead. Then mouthed, You okay?
She gave him a nod before looking back at me.
“So, how long has that been going on?”
“Nothing is going on.”
“Oh, something is going on. You didn’t see how upset that man was about you being hurt.”
She glanced to him again, a softer look in her eye.
“He’s a good man,” I reminded her.
“I know.”
“And you deserve to be happy,” I added. Before she could object, I stood and released her hand. “Now rest up. We have a kingdom to run now.”
I checked in on Cora, then paused to actually introduce myself to Mendalyn while Jet finished up with Vishen.
“Mendalyn, would it be possible to send for your healer?” he asked when he came out. “I need Vishen sharp and he can’t think of much else but if Nira is going to be all right. I know things are dangerous out there, so I understand if you don’t feel comfortable—”
“We are well-trained for danger. I can take two of the girls off of their posts on the lower floor and send them to fetch her.”
“I’d appreciate it,” Jet said. “If all goes to plan, I would like to have the healer living here anyway.”