Chapter 11

As he lent back he let his eyes flick at Petra and frowned, she didn't look surprised. ‘Ladies . . . I have news for each of you. I’ve changed the rules of companions.’ He looked at Rose with a hidden smile, but Petra could see it in his eyes as he looked at her.

‘And what are these changes Your Majesty.’ Louisa asked in such a way Petra almost wanted to look at her face to work out what she was really thinking. Her voice had a double edge blade quality to it.

‘Well for a start, from this day forth when a princess comes of age, which my sister did last year, she is able to add or remove any of her companions, even if they were chosen for her before she came of age.’ The room became deathly silent, but only for a couple of heartbeats.

‘Your Majesty the law clearly states . . .’ Louisa stepped forwards, but Skylar talked over her.

‘I am King and have spent the last few days making it completely legal; there is only one person that is now able to name Princess Rose's companions.’ He stood up and held out his hand for his sister. ‘Princess Rose is there anything you wish to say?’

‘Yes.’ She couldn’t express before turning to the ladies. ‘As invaluable as you have all been to me, there is only room in my life for one companion at the moment.’

‘Princess Rose is this person to also acquire the companions’ rooms that use to be occupied by the late Petra. It would be such a shame to have it deserted again.’ Louisa’s voice spoke volumes about who she thought would get the sole position.

‘Well of course Louisa.’ Rose said in such a honeyed voice Petra grinned before covering her mouth; Skylar let his eyes flick to her and almost returned it.

‘And who is it to be.’ Sharni asked.

‘I chose Lady . . . Petra Dessa Malka as my sole companion as long as she wishes to be.’

‘But that foreigner is dead.’ Louisa said all too soon. ‘And we all know she was never a Lady.’

‘Why would you say Lady Petra is dead?’ Skylar asked gently.

‘Everyone knows she died days ago.’ All the while she forced herself not to let the smile out that threatened.

‘Something was put into her meal that night,’ He paused for a while, watching the gleam growing in her eyes. ‘Would you like to guess what it was?’

‘There are so many different kinds of poison, but since she didn't die straight away I would have to believe it would have been a slow and . . . painful poison. I don't know for sure but that sounds to me like . . . ground glass.’

‘Very good guess Louisa.’ Skylar said sounding happy but something dangerous lay under it.

‘What made you think of that one, there are hundreds of slow poisons?’ Rene interrupted sounding worried.

‘No answer Louisa, well why don't I just tell you . . . I know it was you that put the ground glass in Lady Petra's food.’

‘But Your Majesty, I would never do that.’ Her hand lay over her heart as if in oath.

‘Louisa.’ Rose gasped taking a step forwards. ‘Why? She’s never done anything to you.’

‘I didn't do anything young woman.’ She said firmly.

‘I am not young woman . . . you will call me Princess Rose.’ She fumed at Louisa’s undisguised put down. The woman didn’t say anything, just looked down her nose at her. Rose was in wonder at someone being three steps lower and looking up, but still able to look down her nose.

‘What would you do if Lady Petra didn't die?’ Skylar asked politely.

‘I give you my word of honour; I had nothing to do with her death.’ Her voice was too sweet and the fluttering lashes meant to give her an innocent look.

‘I know you were jealous of her, but I never would have believed you would kill her.’ Rene said sounding shaky.

‘I did nothing wrong.’ She spat out then turned to the other ladies. ‘Why aren’t you defending me?’

‘Because of a growing fear that your families’ jealousy has pushed you to kill. We talked just after Petra arrived and though unhappy about it, we noted your hate grew.’ Sharni, Rene, and Minsha stepped forwards and fell to their knees before King and Princess.

‘We accept your decision and relinquish the position as your companion Princess Rose.’ Minsha said and they waited.

Rose nodded to them. ‘You may go.’

‘No, wait a moment Rose.’ He smiled down at her before looking back and holding his hand out. Petra extended her hand and stepped out.

‘But you’re dead; no one could live through that much ground glass.’ Louisa said, her true feelings shone through as once again Petra moved with grace that she would never have, no matter how her family trained her. She had never seen another move with half the grace this woman did.

‘As you can see, I am very much alive.’ She walked down the steps and stopped in front of Louisa.

‘You’re dead.’ She seethed openly but softly so only the two of them heard. ‘I killed you.’ Her hand lashed out, but it froze before it made contact with Petra’s cheek. The others in the room held their breath as Petra seemed to radiate light, paler than her eyes but the same colour. Louisa's eyes grew large with fear.

‘Why?’ Petra’s voice, though only a whisper, was heard by all in the room, even the guards.

‘You hold the position I need.’

‘Why do you need it?’ Petra held Louisa with her eyes, compelling her to tell the truth.

‘Because it’s the only way to get alone time with that stupid little girl.’ She tried to lower her hand but it would not move. ‘Let me go you vile foreigner.’

‘Why do you need to be alone with Rose?’

‘To kill her of course.’ Louisa sneered, Petra felt Skylar about to move but sent a calming sense to him, he calmed instantly. At the same time she turned Louisa and herself around so Louisa's back was to Skylar.

‘And why would you want to kill your Princess.’ Her voice became a caress to the people’s hearts.

‘She would be able to tell when my family cast their spells.’

‘What spells?’ Without looking she felt both King and Princess stand behind Louisa and listen.

‘To turn the kings’ heart to me.’

‘You wish Skylar to . . . love you.’ She felt her heart flip at the thought.

‘No,’ She almost sounded disgusted. ‘I will be queen.’

‘No Louisa, you will never be queen by magic.’ Her sorrow for Louisa's delusions’ was heard by all.

‘You will be killed.’

‘But they all know of your plan now.’

‘You will never tell them.’ Her eyes grew and Petra felt the lightest feeling move around her. She smiled as she wiped it away without any trouble.

‘Look behind me.’ Petra whispered, Louisa did and found her family standing there in chains telling her it was all over, she had failed them all.

‘No, you promised me.’ She screamed only to have them vanish before her eyes.

‘You cannot turn a heart with magic.’

‘That shows you what you know about magic b***h.’ Louisa sneered, again Petra felt Skylar tense, and her calmer swam around him.

‘I know more about magic than you will ever know child. My people are stronger in magic than you could ever dream.’

‘I am not a child.’

‘In the true ways of magic, you are but a babe lost in thick woods, and you will never grasp what magic truly is.’ She realised she was tiring fast, it was time to end this. ‘I will never understand this lands need to cause pain to others.’

‘Magic is just a tool to get what you want.’

‘Magic is not a tool, it comes from the heart. Maybe this is why so few have magic here; this land would be a wasteland if everyone did.’ She reached out and touched Louisa’s cheek letting her see but a fraction of what magic truly was. ‘Louisa, will you admit to what you have done and what you and your family tried to do?’

‘I will not let anyone else hear me say it and no one will ever believe you . . . A vile little foreigner . . . they will never take your word over mine.’ She smiled at Petra knowing she could walk away at any time. ‘I’m a Lady of power, you are nothing.’

‘Louisa.’ Skylar said in a dark voice that made Louisa tremble noticeably.

‘Yes Your Majesty.’ She smiled sweetly as she turned to look up at the thrown only to find him standing directly behind her; she paled at the look on his face. ‘Your Majesty?’

‘For poisoning Lady Petra.’

‘She is no Lady; nothing you say will make her one.’ She growled at him.

‘Petra . . . will you step before me?’

‘Yes sire.’ As soon as she stopped before him he laid his hand on her head.

‘I grant you the title of Lady . . .’ He removed a ring from his finger and placed it on her heart finger. He looked around the room. ‘Is there anyone here that would deny this title?’

‘I deny . . .’ Louisa yelled in horror of what was happening.

‘No your majesty.’ Everyone else said.

‘Welcome Lady Petra.’ He stepped forwards and kissed her cheek.

‘Thank you your majesty.’ Petra stepped around them all and walked a few feet away trying to stay on her feet.

‘Now Louisa.’

‘Lady Louisa.’

‘Not any more, for poisoning Lady Petra,’ He started again. ‘You will be held in a cell until I have conferred with Princess Rose and Lady Petra on how you are to be punished.’

‘You would not let a wandering nobody of unknown origins decide a sentence of a born Lady.’

‘Yes, I will be, but don’t forget if Petty is healed she will also have a say in your punishment.’ Skylar said, his eyes turning almost black. ‘You know the law of this land, the injured party always has a say in the criminals’ punishment.’

‘No one will allow it.’ She looked quickly around and found no friendly smile, only looks of horror of what she had tried to do. ‘My family will not permit it, she is a no one. I have the right to be rid of any foreigner that tries to take my place. She is nothing but evil, you have all seen how she wields magic, only something less than human can do that.’

‘Louisa.’ Rose said, as she turned to the princess she cried out as a small hand landed hard on her cheek. ‘If I ever hear of you speaking in such a way about someone from my inner circle, I will have the Kings inner circle call your punishment for that act. And yes I do know your father is in that circle.’ Rose watched Louisa's reaction knowing there is no worse shame for a Lady than to be judged by the Kings circle of nine.

‘But if he is part of all this, he will not be for long, that goes for the two from the kitchen also.’ Skylar looked at a guard; no words were needed as the guard took two men and left the room. Within the next fifteen minutes they would all be rounded up and placed into cells of their own.

‘Guard, place this woman in confinement.’ Skylar said and they all watched as Louisa was led away.

After the others left, Rose at last looked at Petra; her gasp got her brothers attention.

‘Petra?’ Skylar called out as she staggered a single step before gathering herself.

‘I'm sorry.’ Tears fell down her cheeks as her colour slowly drained from her face. Everyone in the room paused and marvelled as tears of gold flowed, catching the light from the window.

‘What’s wrong?’ Skylar put his arm around her waist, holding her against him. He raised his free hand and gently wiped her tears away, he found his hankie now had what looked like gold patterns on it. He placed in the void with the glass ball. Later he will try and figure it out.

‘I'm still recovering . . . too much . . . too soon.’ Her eyes fluttered a little then she rested her head on his chest. For a short time she felt like her heart was trying to reach out for something. It stopped.

‘Let’s get you back to your room.’ Skylar said softly. ‘You should have said you weren't well enough to do this today.’

‘I was well enough for it, if I didn't use quite so much of my abilities.’ She looked into his eyes and found she needed to look away or be lost in them. Something has changed in her over the time she’d been here; she wanted to delve deep inside herself and find out what, but just couldn't bring herself to do it.