Daughters of Ruin by K. D. Castner Page B

seamstress like a banshee eel to have a red dress. “Red was the color of Tasan’s empire before Meridan was even a wilderness post.”
    Of course, it had been such a grave insult to make her wear the other color of Tasan so that Rhea could wear red.
    Suki gathered herself up, held her chin aloft. “I, Suki, empress-apparent of the ancient and glorious kingdom of Tasan, born third to Empress Reiko and Emperor Niran, first in line of succession before two who remain, crowned by the will of Ysvin, the creator, do so pledge.”
    Declan nodded from his throne, rose, and stepped down from the dais.
    Suki flinched as he approached, but no one else seemed to notice.
    A servant stood by, holding a jeweled case. Declan reached into the case and took the ring of royal succession—Tasan’s signet ring. This year the jewel-smith had socketed another ruby into the image of the bituin tree, making ten in total.
    Declan presented the ring back to Suki.
    Her hand shook as he placed it on her finger—a stark reminder that he, king of Meridan, had given her the right to rule. And each year at the Revels a new gem would be added, until the thirteenth year, when the signet rings would be whole again.
    Three more years of this , thought Rhea.
    Three more years of Suki inserting insults into her pledge. Rhea knew she had written in “ancient and glorious” to describe Tasan because she constantly called Meridan “upstart and artless” by comparison. It was a knife intended only for Rhea to notice.
    Can we possibly make peace and become sisters in that time?
    Is this a complete farce?
    Iren stepped forth, stared at the floor mosaic, and spoke.
    The crowd leaned in to hear.
    â€œI, emira-apparent of Corent, Iren, daughter of Malin, provost and first magister of the academy, and King Gamol, who set aside his crown to take his personal guards to the field and serve as wartime magister—who was slain—do so pledge.”
    Iren too?
    Is she also conspiring to humiliate the king?
    Did they write those vows together this year?
    And was the purpose to lay all the dead of a tragic war at the feet of my father?
    He was the architect of the treaty. Do they not credit him peace?
    Iren never spoke of her father’s foolhardy decision to enter the fray.
    The Corentine hailed it as the magister’s ultimate duty, to act as a medic for his people. But Hiram scoffed in private. “He was an idealistic old professor in love with an idea and surprised when the sword in his belly wouldn’t yield the floor for a scholarly rebuttal.”
    Declan made no sign of disapproval as he reached into the box and retrieved the signet ring of Corent.
    The socketed sapphires that formed the windows of the tower emblem glinted in the candlelight. Declan placed the ring on Iren’s finger. A few noblewomen sighed at the sight. Many still aimed for the seat beside Declan. Widower since Rhea’s birth. “A wifeless king is a motherless kingdom,” prattled Doyenne Sprolio often. She had a granddaughter only five years Rhea’s senior to present.
    It was truthism, too obvious.
    A king without a queen was a kingdom without a mother.
    But is it also an appraisal?
    Are motherless countries somehow less?
    Rhea knew she would rule in converse—a maiden queen.
    None of the noble boys—with their fancy pomade, house-proud regalia, and their petty hierarchies—interested her.
    Rhea was certain they wanted her only for her crown. Actually, in truth, she wasn’t certain they wanted her at all. But if they did, it would be for her power. Why else would they compliment her on paper but in person stare constantly at Cadis?
    Rhea had decided long ago that she would share a bed, but she would never share a throne.
    She was completely numb to their presence. Except for Endrit.
    And he was no possibility.
    She could keep him, perhaps, at court.
    They could find some private arrangement, a secret