The Soulstoy Inheritance by Jane Washington Page A

croaked.
    “Shall I show you how to secure it, Lady Queen?” Jad asked, apparently uncomfortable with the sudden emotion in my voice.
    “Yes, please.”
    He lifted my arms and deftly secured the first belt around my ribcage. The second was attached to the first, and crossed along my chest, over one shoulder to buckle up beneath my opposite shoulder. The holster lay diagonally across my upper back; the hilt was within easy reaching distance of my right hand. When I slid it home, the carved words faced the outside.
    You should have killed me .
    “Next time,” I said aloud. “Next time, I will kill them.”
    Grenlow smiled, and I wondered how he understood this situation so well. Who had he lost, and did he ever end up getting his revenge? If he did… did it help?
    I thanked Jad profusely, and then he moved off—embarrassed—to begin fitting Teddy, Sweet and Quick with new armour. Grenlow cited something that needed doing and left also, so that I remained to wander around the front of the blacksmith’s shop alone. I had just picked up a half-finished sword when a voice sounded behind me.
    “That’s much too big for you, Lady Queen.”
    I let the sword tip fall, and then propped it carefully back where I had found it, turning to face Ashen.
    “You look like a pirate,” I remarked, eyeing his own swords, and the shocking violet of his hair swept over each of his shoulders in two, thick braids. “And you have no synfee gold in your appearance whatsoever.”
    “You’re wearing a knife holster and a court dress all at once, I’m impressed.”
    “You’re the King’s brother,” I said, feeling absurd. “Why the hell aren’t you King?”
    “The Hereditary Scroll chose you, and I much prefer the job I have now.”
    “Pirating?”
    He laughed. “I’m no pirate, girl. Now Dain , that’s a whole new story. If you’ve ever wondered how he amasses so much gold for the treasury, just stop. It never does any good.”
    “What about Leif? What’s his deal?”
    Instead of answering, Ashen’s violet eyes shifted to look over my shoulder. I glanced that way and almost jumped out of my skin. Leif was leaning against the wall right behind me, where I had placed the sword only moments before. His face wasn’t fully covered by his hood, but he wore a thin leather mask which otherwise hid his features. His eyes glittered out at me darkly, I couldn’t even tell what colour they were.
    “I have no deal, Lady Queen.” His voice was rough, like sandpaper brushing across my skin.
    I took several hurried steps away from him, my hand pressed to my throat.
    “Whoa,” I muttered, trying to force down my unreasonable fear. “You scared the hell out of me.”
    “He’s been known to do that.” Ashen said with a grin. “I’m actually surprised he spoke to you at all. Nareon used to try and get him to talk all the time.” He tilted his head at Leif. “Is it because she’s prettier?”
    Leif didn’t reply. He didn’t even give any sign that he had heard the question, but Ashen only chuckled delightedly.
    “You are like your brother,” I decided, narrowing my eyes at Ashen.
    “You’d know, girl. You fed from him.”
    “I didn’t know anything at the time.”
    “Do you know better now?”
    “I suspect I will never know enough. I am a child in this world, and a weak one at that.”
    “You’re neither of those things, and the sooner you understand that, the less lost you’ll feel.”
    “ Lost again! ” I couldn’t help throwing my hands up. “Now I’m lost again!”
    If he was surprised at my outburst, he didn’t let on.
    “What about Ayleth? Isolde?” I pressed.
    “Ayleth was Nareon’s main plaything, in addition to being one of his advisors.  She doesn’t like you for obvious reasons. Isolde is the wisest of us all. You’d do well to keep an eye on her.”
    “Were you and Nareon close?”
    His smile lost some of its humour. “I am saddened by his death, and not as startled as I suppose I should be