Chapter 30
30
T risten’s wife .
I gaped at the woman in the mirror, taking in her sheer beauty and stately posture. Of course this would be Tristen’s wife—someone with deadly poise and otherworldy beauty. But there was one more thing about her appearance that I noticed that I had glossed over before. She was wearing a delicate crown of golden leaves atop her head.
“You’re a… Queen?” I asked, my mind racing. “Which would make Tristen…”
“The sole heir to the Stormgard throne, and the only one who can help us win this war,” she said. “I called to ask Cassandra’s favor, to see if there was anything she could do to ensure his victory. She may work for Luminaria, but I was hoping she’d see… reason. Do you work for her?”
“No,” I said. “I’m a contestant in the trials. And Cassandra won’t help you—trust me on that one.”
Realization bloomed in her eyes. “I take it you’ve seen what Luminaria is capable of?”
“I have.”
“So you know they must be stopped. At all costs.”
“I’m still making up my own mind,” I said, and it was true. How was I supposed to truly understand the politics of the revolution that Stormgard had undertaken to become its own kingdom when I had no memory of either side? I was only able to see what was unfolding in front of me and make my decisions based on what I believed was true.
“You have to let him win,” Lady Melisandre said, her voice urgent. “Tristen left behind his people to join The Ash Trials. He’s noble, but we will perish without him leading us to victory. His survival is paramount for Stormgard ensuring that Luminaria’s reign of terror ends.”
I shook my head, my anger simmering once more. “ Your husband saw fit to rob me of all my memories. So as far as I’m concerned, he’s not fit to lead—let alone ensure good conquers evil.”
A cruel smirk curled across Lady Melisandre’s blood-red lips. “If he did that to you, then you must have deserved it.”
“I don’t give a fuck what you think, Lady. Now excuse me while I go bury a dagger in your betrothed’s back.”
I turned on my heel and stormed out of the room, Lady Melisandre’s peals of cold laughter following me as I snuck back down to my room.
By the time I had closed the door of my bedchambers behind me, I was breathing heavily and the wound in my side had reopened and was bleeding once more.
I collapsed on my bed, unable to rid myself of my tattered dress as exhaustion pulled me under.
There were more snakes lying in wait in these trials than I could have ever anticipated.