"Your Majesty," one of the women of the court said, standing up. "May I ask what she has done to provoke this?"

"I was hoping Commander Bladevalor could tell us this, Lady Annabelle," the King said, looking at Joel.

"Your Majesties, members of the royal court," Joel said. "This woman is a political prisoner from Bridgevale. She is here because we need to prove that we will not sit around while Bridgevale burns down our villages and kills the innocent people of our land."

My anger took over my common sense.

"You claim that it is Bridgevale that burns down the innocent," I snarled. "And yet I was captured only because I was helping innocent people escape from an inferno that your men had set in my home. You claim to fight for the innocent, and yet hundreds of innocents just perished by your hand!"

There was murmuring.

I looked the King in the eye and spoke again.

"No matter what you say," I growled lowly. "I will never regret what I did."

The Queen stood suddenly, sending a hush over the court.

"We have said before that Bridgevale holds no wise men," she said, addressing the court. "We did not think about the women, however." There was a little smile playing on her lips. "I am impressed with your common sense, my dear. Your wisdom surpasses most women here at court. What is your name again?"

"Victoria," I said, looking at her. "Victoria Skyfury."

She smiled. "Miss Skyfury, I have a request unto you. I seek a companion of your intelligence and wisdom. Would you accompany me wherever I roam and be willing to be my private ear?"

You could hear a pin drop in the room at that moment.

"You Highness--" Joel tried to protest, but was interrupted by the Queen.

"Commander Bladevalor, this is not your decision to make. Miss Skyfury?"

I took a shaky breath. "Why the hell not?"

The murmuring continued.

"Commander, release her and bring her to my chambers," the Queen instructed. "I will meet her there after I finish addressing the court." She turned to me. "I hope you do not regret your choice, Miss Skyfury. You are released."

Joel gave a low growl as he untied me and helped me to my feet. I looked at his eyes.

They were harsh and sharp, boring into me like daggers full of fire.

He took me out of the throne room and guided me up one of the staircases.

When we reached a corridor, he shoved me to the wall.

"Listen to me," he growled lowly. "If you do anything to harm the Queen, I promise you I will kill you with my own sword."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not gonna hurt her, Commander Bladevalor," I mocked. "You can trust me."

"How do I know that, exactly?"

"Because," I said, pulling him closer to me so our faces were almost touching. "I don't want to die." I pushed him off of me. "Come on. Let's go."

He scoffed but continued leading me down the hallway.

We reached a door decorated with a brass knocker in the shape of a lion's head with the ring in its mouth.

Joel used the knocker and pounded the door with harsh strokes to the aged wood. There was immediately an annoyed voice.

"Joel! How many times have I told you not to bang so hard?! That door is sensitive, like your feelings!"

Joel turned beet-red. I sniggered a little.

A young woman with long red hair and green eyes who looked eerily similar to Joel answered the door. She scowled at the sight of me.

"And who would this be, Joely?"

"Don't call me that, Nes," he grumbled. "This is Victoria Skyfury. Her Majesty the Queen ordered me to bring her here. She'll be up soon. She's addressing the court right now."

The young woman's face brightened almost immediately. "Well, Victoria, please come inside. I can get you some clothes--"

"That will not be necessary."

We all turned around.

The Queen stood in front of us, a faint smile on her lips. "Miss Skyfury, it is good to see you made it up in one piece." She chuckled "You must forgive Commander Bladevalor. He tries only to act in the kingdom's best interests."

The young woman curtsied. "Your Grace, Where are my services required?"

"Nesira, I have told you multiple times to call me Sorrel," the Queen scolded playfully. "Only then will I call you 'Nes', like your dearest brother calls you."

The woman, who I assumed was Nesira, nodded once,  a grin plastered on her face. "Of course."

"Anyway, I wish for you to clean Miss Skyfury up and dress her in the manner of a Lady. She must look a member of the royal court, as that is what she is now."

I felt the blood drain from my face. Holy shit.

"With pleasure, Sorrel," Nesira replied, then gripped my arm with even more strength than Joel had and dragged me inside the room.