The King’s Iron (Of Swords & Horses #2)

Chapter 1

Four Years Ago

The length of Miss Hellveig’s cane burned my raw, cracked knuckles where bruised flesh strained to guard the bone. It was my fault. I was too deeply devoted to the letter I wrote to anticipate the hit, and the swing to my pen hand was proof of that.

I mistakenly yelped, and loudly so—noise was never worth the price. I knew that just as I knew my poor attempt to write Ser William would fail like all its predecessors, but Hellveig appeared in front of me like an angry ghost.

She said, “You must always be aware of those moving against you,” and I felt my heart skip as her eyes found my page.

The fire popped. There was hardly another sound, save for my staggered breath as I felt the distance of Father’s study from the dining hall grow.

“And pray,” she began, unfurling her hand once and then closing it, coiling it back to the head of her staff like a serpent’s mouth. “What project are you working on, Your Highness? That doesn’t look like your words.”

She peered through the long space between us and slowly narrowed her eyes. I raced to bury my focus beneath other sheets, but she clawed at it, nearly ripping the parchment. I pried it from her grip and bolted it to my chest.

Hellveig frowned. Her nostrils widened. “Give it here,” she said.

I did not.

“Now, Princess.”

I heaved a breath and did the dumbest thing I could—I ran, fleeing from the room into the corridor.

I woke up with a sickness in my gut, to the bright, cheerful humming of Miss Jocelyn.

Yet Hellveig’s words gripped the moments between sleep and her pretty hymn.

I made myself unnoticeably still while Josie reached the chorus.

She passed my toes, and I reminded myself of what I knew, just as Ser Elías had urged me to do when I would dream such things.

I knew that Hellveig was gone. I knew that she was not in the room with me.

I knew that, for the weak and candid moment of vulnerability I’d given Mr. Evergreen at the farmstead, I’d conjured her appearance into my peace, and that her wraith was a simple manifestation of fear and doubt regarding his safety.

I knew that I worried she would return from death, that the Devil would spit her back, but I also knew there were worse things he kept.

I knew that Mr. Evergreen did not want to speak to me and that I didn’t blame him for it.

I didn’t know if he would reveal my secrets or our relationship—whatever it was—or if he had divulged the itinerary of our afternoons to Sameer.

I didn’t know if he spoke of every look I thought I’d received from him.

I didn’t know if it had all been an awful jest—a hoax or something I imagined, but I—

“Come on, you lazy slug,” Josie playfully barked. She tapped my knee. “You’ll be late for the Derby if you sleep much longer.”

“I do not care about the Derby,“ I moaned. “I am not going.” I burrowed into the pillow, bringing the blanket close.

She moved to the wardrobe to retrieve one of the new dresses. “I thought we agreed on the green one with the leaves?”

“Wear whatever you like,” I told her. “I don’t mind.”

“Did you know...” She tore the blanket off, then rolled it like a lump of dough into her hands. She tossed it to the floor next to the bed. “Liars oft omit contractions?”

“What?”

“I said liars often omit contractions, Miss.”

I sat up, confused. “I don’t understand. Did we change the topic somehow?”

She bobbed her head, then raised the pitch of her voice. “I do not care; I am not going!”

“I…?” I scoffed. “Is that what everyone thinks I sound like? Like a deranged mouse?”

“If you didn’t care, you’d say don’t,” she said. She shrugged. “It’s just an observation, is all.”

“What is the observation, Jocelyn?” I asked.

“Your contractions,” she explained. “Well, lack of. I do not care, versus, I don’t care. Which sounds more convincing to you?”

“Neither, because I don’t sound like that. My voice is rather deep, I think.”

“Of course it is, Your Highness,” Josie said.

“I don't want to wear the green,” I told her. Still, I glanced at the emerald-vested combination as she laid it out for me. “It’s too bright. I hate it.”

“A week ago, we were wearing bright,” she teased.

I frowned. “Do not antagonize me. Can you not see that I’m in pain?”

We shared a look.

“You look very good in bright,” she said. “Bright makes you smile. Bright makes you laugh. And if you were to run into someone who also enjoyed donning the brighter combinations in his dress, you’d smile and laugh more, do you not agree?”

“I think that if someone wanted to run into me ever again, he would’ve by now. It’s not as though he doesn’t know where to find me. It’s not as though I have been anywhere but in this palace, where he works, no less.”

“I’m sure he knows where to find you,” Josie said. “But Ser Elías is quite the gargoyle when he aims it. That could have something to do with whether he finds you or not. I wouldn’t want to square with the man. Should Mr. Evergreen?”

“Ser Elías is…” I was too riddled with guilt to discredit his name. “He’s a good knight,” I said. “He thinks he’s… I’m sorry he’s corralled you into all this. You don’t deserve the drama.”

“Don’t offend me,” she pleaded. “I think I’ve done plenty to deserve my cut of the drama.

Thank you.” She unbuttoned the blouse’s vest, readying my shirt.

“Anyway, if I’m not insisting that I was one of four persons lost picnicking within the woods with my lady, in an effort to bore the chatty wives and sisters of the court from asking critical and ultimately damning questions regarding her good honor, am I even doing my job? ”

“…No?” I asked.

“No.” She grinned. “No. And in case your previous maid failed to inform you, that is how it is. That is what we do. It’s our true purpose. All mistresses have their secrets, and they have their maids, who, in turn, have their trust. I am very happy to serve in my role,” she said.

I collected my hands, whispering, “Thank you.”

“I was correct, though, wasn’t I?” she asked. “You and the Lord Commander were skeptical, but did I not tell you that the rumors would not ignite if there were so very many boring details to our charade?”

“You did,” I said. “I’m actually quite concerned with your ability to defuse such things. You should be a criminal somewhere.”

She nodded, carefully pulling apart the fastener on the skirt. “If there’s one thing I know, it’s people,” she said.

“How do you do it?” I asked. “People are so complicated, with hidden intent. They frustrate me. I wish everyone wore a sign on them that said exactly what they wanted and what they’re willing to do for it.”

Josie glanced at me and then draped the dress across her arm to offer it. “A world that would be, but it’s not some inherent skill. I’ve just known many liars, Miss,” she said. “I’ve learned their patterns. Ah. Yes. I’m telling you, green is the one you want.”

“That all sounds very awful, and I want to trust your judgment,” I explained.

“However, as well as you may know liars, Mr. Evergreen has been nothing but honest with me, and from the start. I must declare that he is a man of great character, and while the Derby may be a large, open-classed social affair, there is no guarantee he will be there to enjoy my dress. And if he’s not there, what’s the point of my frolicking about in evergreen, if not to entice Mr. Evergreen into talking to me?

” I asked. I sighed and slumped into the bed as I got dressed.

“Of course, Miss Svana,” Josie agreed. “There is absolutely no guarantee, at all, that Mr. Evergreen, the man who loves horses, should appear at Chalke’s grandest horse affair, where his best friend is known to bet. No. That seems too difficult to predict now, doesn’t it?”

“Well,” I started, but she gasped.

“Oh! But perhaps I misheard the Prince when he was discussing his wagers with his valet? I see, His Highness must have bet someone else named Cyrus Evergreen. Yes. Alright then, you win, Your Highness. Go back to bed. I’ll attend in your place and report back what I find.”

“Wait,” I said. “Hold on.”

“No. No. Don’t fret, I can handle it.” She moved to the vanity and admired herself.

“Though if I am to pose as you, it will be difficult to explain the hair. I suppose I could tell them I’ve spent too much time in the sun this season.

Or perhaps I used lemons? I heard that can lighten auburn.

I’m sure the ladies would envy this ginger if they believed they might obtain it. ”

I stood, casually leaning against the post of the bed. “You heard Mr. Evergreen discussing bets?” I asked.

She handed me a shoe, and I slid it on.

“I heard the Prince heatedly explaining his design against Mr. Evergreen’s bets,” she said.

“Then someone must warn him,” I thought. “Mr. Evergreen.”

“Oh, but he won’t be there, dear,” she said.

I scoffed.

Josie laughed.

“Fine. I’ll go,” I told her. “But if he’s not there, I will be thoroughly disappointed, especially if I must wear the hat.”

She nodded. “Aye. You must wear the hat. Hats are required of ladies, I’m afraid.” She pulled it from the box and handed it to me.

“But it’s silly,” I said.

“Oh, yes,” she agreed. “But it’s also green.”

It was broadly rimmed and patterned.

“What if he is there and he sees this and he hates it? He’s a well-dressed man. What if—”

“I’m sure it’s not the first thing you’ve worn that man has hated,” she replied.” You’ll have something to talk about.”

Josie pawed it, admiring its shape and its feather.

“Miss Svana… Before I defy the Lord Commander and help you speak to Mr. Evergreen…Did something happen with him? Not…I mean something bad. Did he hurt you at the cottage?”

“What?”

Her eyes traveled lower.

“What? No! No, nothing of the sort, Josie,” I said. “Mr. Evergreen has been nothing but… He didn’t…”

“I believe you. It’s only that Ser Elías was very concerned, and the last thing I want to do is encourage your exposure to harm.”