Against the Reign Read Online Free PDF Page B

outside. The room is dark except for the intense moonlight coming through the doors when I open them. The night air is cool, but I barely notice; I’ve been shivering for hours from nerves anyway. Turning slowly, I start when I catch my reflection in the mirror.
    Not wanting to look at myself again, I shift the mirror. Then I sit beside it, my back against the wall, my legs tucked up against my body. For a moment I hope Ward or Marguerite will seek me out, but the hope quickly subsides; I need time alone. Not to think or reflect or worry. Just to let my mind go blank so for a few seconds, I can pretend I do not exist.
    I should have been in that carriage with my parents.
    The sun rises, bright yellow replacing the moon’s glow and stinging my eyes. There’s a lot of commotion around the castle; they’re setting up for the event. No doubt they’ve already sent messengers to neighboring towns and villages to get as many people here as possible. They’ll make sure that the other kingdoms hear about it, too, and those kingdoms will send spies to make sure the reports are true. If there are more attacks planned, I become the primary target.
    I’m doing this for Vian , I remind myself.
    The chatter and clatters outside the castle grow more numerous as the sun rises higher. I’m left alone for as long as possible, but finally a maid seeks me out to get me ready. I’m bathed three times to ensure my cleanliness. My hair is tied back tightly so it will be out of my face; my face is what the people need to see today. The dress they wrap me in is one that I know belonged to my mother, though I can’t recall when she wore it. It’s a deep purple, the color of royalty. Marguerite helps dress me, our eyes silently meeting several times. She looks sympathetic, but there’s nothing she can do to stop this. I’m sure she probably thinks I’m crazy for not wanting it.
    I’m brought to the entry hall under heavy guard and wait until it’s time to go. I can hear what sounds like a huge crowd and can’t resist taking a peek through the doors. Marguerite must see the panic on my face.
    “The crowd is large,” she agrees.
    “I don’t think I can do this,” I mumble, leaning on her for support.
    “You can and you will.” Ferrant appears. He’s dressed in full battle gear, complete with a cape. He looks as if he expects war to break out in the crowd, and I fear it might. His carefully manicured beard outlines his strong chin, following his jaw as he speaks. “Here’s how this will go: you will follow the path we laid out for you into the crowd and walk slowly through them. You will hold your head high and your back straight.” I try to follow his directions. “Good. Just like that. But you must get that look of terror out of your eyes. Look firm. You’re the queen—these people are below you.”
    His comment startles me. My father had always said the king and queen were no greater than their subjects. But I have no time to reflect. Vian has arrived, with an escort of worried-looking servants. He looks near collapse, but he comes out of duty and my heart aches for him.
    “The path will curve around and we will end on the steps of the castle again. There, you will be crowned. Tonight, we will feast in your honor.”
    For once, I am not in the mood for a party.
    A horn sounds to signal the crowd to quiet. “It’s time.”
    The doors swing open, and I am revealed to the waiting crowd. A long stretch of purple fabric has been laid out where I should walk, and I step onto it. Ferrant is beside me, only a fraction of a pace behind. The other guards are close behind us, everyone on edge in case of another attack. I straighten my posture and set my eyes on the crowd in front of me, determined to get this over with.
    Things go from bad to worse with each step. I can see the looks of anger and unhappiness on the faces of the people. They are murmuring to each other, shaking their heads in disgust. Beads of sweat form on my