matter how much she wanted to trust Jacob, she’d never let her guard down. If given the chance, she knew he’d abduct her and she’d never see Azor again.
“You better get back to the audience,” he said quietly. “Your absence will be suspicious, especially if Princess Girraween returns before you.”
“You’re right.” Tatiana straightened her shoulders and gave herself a once over in the mirror before she darted past him into the hall, shaking away her conflict.
: : :
The audience resumed and Jacob returned to pace the hall. With an empty stomach and a full mind, he couldn’t concentrate. The line of mers stretched down and around a corner, seamless and unending. Though he knew it was their custom, he cringed each time the next mer begged to speak with the King, or Prince Azor. If they only knew that if they praised the Queen for her attention, she’d be more generous in giving what they’d ask for.
The needs were all the same: extra food, access to the fountain of essence, or the request to visit a prisoner. Baskets of food were issued until they ran out, and small vials of essence were administered to the injured—not nearly enough to heal someone. The most annoying was listening to the mer matrons wail when denied access to visit their mates in prison. Jacob knew it was a front to show weakness of the rebel’s wives, but after the thirtieth scream, Jacob’s head was pounding.
But Tatiana didn’t know the plan and with each new citizen, she struggled to keep a straight face. He wished he could have told her, but with her loyalty to the promise and Azor, he wasn’t sure if she could be trusted. The rebel alliance had been formed as a backup so the King’s overstretching tyranny couldn’t take over their lives. Jack wanted to round up the banished survivors from Bone Island, the Lost Ones, before they confronted the throne. And unless anyone was in mortal danger, they were to appear beaten so Azor would let his guard down.
Once lunch was announced, relief covered Tatiana’s face until she spied the seating chart. Queen Desiree had placed Tatiana at the end of the table next to Princess Garnet. The snobbiest of the princesses. Jacob knew Garnet wouldn’t welcome her, nor say a word.
Hungry and irritable, Jacob wished he would have eaten with the other guards in the kitchen, but didn’t want to leave Tatiana’s side. Confused momentarily, he wasn’t sure where to stand and settled against the wall behind Tatiana’s chair. He stared straight ahead, breathing from his mouth. If the rebel wives had to endure separation from their mates, he could endure thirty minutes until the next audience.
The other guests chattered freely, as curious eyes of servants continued to gawk at Tatiana. The chair at the opposite end of the table, facing the Queen, remained empty—Azor’s perhaps? Queen Desiree bowed her head and closed her eyes. The table grew silent and followed her lead.
“All mighty, Poseidon. Heal the King and our city. Give mercy to those who suffer,” she said, her voice monotone. “Help us through this difficult time and grant me wisdom to know who is friend and who is foe. Amen.” She exhaled sharply and motioned to the head chef.
Servants appeared and presented plates overflowing with greens and baskets of bread. Jacob clenched his fist, his stomach rumbling at the smells. The two pieces of fish he’d had at breakfast burned through him hours ago. And his distrust of the guards in the palace and the unfamiliar routine hadn’t allowed him time away from Tatiana. If Nicole hadn’t snuck him a snack earlier, he would have passed out from hunger by now.
Tatiana munched hungrily on her greens, unable to wait for those around her to be served; Jacob knew this to be her first meal of the day.
“What’s this?” Queen Desiree asked, throwing the bread basket into the hand of a nearby servant. “It’s stale and where are my croissants and jam?”
The servant girl bowed
“You better get back to the audience,” he said quietly. “Your absence will be suspicious, especially if Princess Girraween returns before you.”
“You’re right.” Tatiana straightened her shoulders and gave herself a once over in the mirror before she darted past him into the hall, shaking away her conflict.
: : :
The audience resumed and Jacob returned to pace the hall. With an empty stomach and a full mind, he couldn’t concentrate. The line of mers stretched down and around a corner, seamless and unending. Though he knew it was their custom, he cringed each time the next mer begged to speak with the King, or Prince Azor. If they only knew that if they praised the Queen for her attention, she’d be more generous in giving what they’d ask for.
The needs were all the same: extra food, access to the fountain of essence, or the request to visit a prisoner. Baskets of food were issued until they ran out, and small vials of essence were administered to the injured—not nearly enough to heal someone. The most annoying was listening to the mer matrons wail when denied access to visit their mates in prison. Jacob knew it was a front to show weakness of the rebel’s wives, but after the thirtieth scream, Jacob’s head was pounding.
But Tatiana didn’t know the plan and with each new citizen, she struggled to keep a straight face. He wished he could have told her, but with her loyalty to the promise and Azor, he wasn’t sure if she could be trusted. The rebel alliance had been formed as a backup so the King’s overstretching tyranny couldn’t take over their lives. Jack wanted to round up the banished survivors from Bone Island, the Lost Ones, before they confronted the throne. And unless anyone was in mortal danger, they were to appear beaten so Azor would let his guard down.
Once lunch was announced, relief covered Tatiana’s face until she spied the seating chart. Queen Desiree had placed Tatiana at the end of the table next to Princess Garnet. The snobbiest of the princesses. Jacob knew Garnet wouldn’t welcome her, nor say a word.
Hungry and irritable, Jacob wished he would have eaten with the other guards in the kitchen, but didn’t want to leave Tatiana’s side. Confused momentarily, he wasn’t sure where to stand and settled against the wall behind Tatiana’s chair. He stared straight ahead, breathing from his mouth. If the rebel wives had to endure separation from their mates, he could endure thirty minutes until the next audience.
The other guests chattered freely, as curious eyes of servants continued to gawk at Tatiana. The chair at the opposite end of the table, facing the Queen, remained empty—Azor’s perhaps? Queen Desiree bowed her head and closed her eyes. The table grew silent and followed her lead.
“All mighty, Poseidon. Heal the King and our city. Give mercy to those who suffer,” she said, her voice monotone. “Help us through this difficult time and grant me wisdom to know who is friend and who is foe. Amen.” She exhaled sharply and motioned to the head chef.
Servants appeared and presented plates overflowing with greens and baskets of bread. Jacob clenched his fist, his stomach rumbling at the smells. The two pieces of fish he’d had at breakfast burned through him hours ago. And his distrust of the guards in the palace and the unfamiliar routine hadn’t allowed him time away from Tatiana. If Nicole hadn’t snuck him a snack earlier, he would have passed out from hunger by now.
Tatiana munched hungrily on her greens, unable to wait for those around her to be served; Jacob knew this to be her first meal of the day.
“What’s this?” Queen Desiree asked, throwing the bread basket into the hand of a nearby servant. “It’s stale and where are my croissants and jam?”
The servant girl bowed
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