Free Chained By Fear: 2 by Jim Melvin

from the corner of the girl’s mouth. She bowed and ran from the room. Another quickly took her place.
    Laylah glared into Urbana’s black eyes. “ Never do that in my presence. If you do that again, I’ll slap you .”
    Urbana snarled, exposing her swollen red tongue. “My allegiance is to King Invictus. And he has commanded that I obey your orders. For that reason only, I’ll do as you say. But even a queen needs to realize her limitations.”
    “Our situations are more similar than you might think. Invictus is my guardian. But he is also yours.”
    The mistress of the robes smiled wickedly. “Perhaps I have underestimated you. Very well. I’ll be more respectful with the servants  . . . while in your presence.” Then she smiled in a more pleasant fashion. “But now we must hurry. King Invictus prefers to conclude his affairs before nightfall. Your coronation rapidly approaches. It will be grand, I assure you.”
    Laylah permitted herself to be dressed and perfumed. Diamonds and rubies were braided into her long, lush hair, which flowed about her shoulders. A pearl necklace was strung tight to her throat, and a golden ring was placed on each finger. Her youthful skin needed little adornment, but Urbana painted her lips red, put crimson rouge on her cheeks and rubbed blue chalk beneath her eyes. When Laylah looked at herself in the silver mirror, she was amazed.
    “You look lovely, young miss,” the new servant girl said, and then lowered her gaze, as if expecting some form of punishment for daring to speak.
    But if Urbana was angry, she didn’t show it.
    “Doesn’t she, though?” the mistress said. “King Invictus will be pleased.”
    Something pounded on the door. The servant girl opened it and then fell to her knees with her face pressed against the floor. A dracool stood in the opening. The creature was so tall it had to bend way down to peer into the room.
    “King Invictus requests your presence immediately,” the dracool said, its tongue flicking the air. “The guests are becoming impatient.”
    “We’re ready,” Urbana said. “Will you be so kind as to be our escort, Dracool-Izumo?”
    “It will be my pleasure.”
    Izumo bowed and then stomped toward the stairs, his heavy tail swaying back and forth. Laylah took a deep breath and followed the dracool, with Urbana and the young attendant at her side. Laylah felt so tense, she could barely breathe.
    They reached the bottom of the stairs and then entered the garden. To Laylah’s left was a series of open doors, revealing a green lawn that stretched for several furlongs before bending upward toward a hill smothered with wildflowers. The interior garden smelled like a mixture of perfume, fresh leaves and rich soil. Stone trails wove through the flowers and shrubs. Under other circumstances, Laylah would have been entranced.
    On the far side of the garden, a bronze door towered fifteen cubits high. A pair of columns framed the door, and they supported an arch obscured by a tangled vine sprouting hundreds of yellow flowers. In front of the door, a cord dangled from the high ceiling.
    “Are you ready, young princess?” Izumo said, his tongue flicking rapidly.
    “If I said no, would it matter?”
    “King Invictus awaits,” the dracool said.
    “Don’t worry,” Urbana said. “Izumo doesn’t bite. Nor do your other guests—at least, not today. They’re eager to meet you. There will be fabulous foods and exquisite wines. For as long as you live, you’ll never forget this banquet, I assure you. Your brother is a generous host.”
    Izumo tugged on the cord. Bells chimed in response. Laylah took a long breath, and a single tear ran down her cheek. The young attendant dabbed it with a scented cloth.
    “Be of light heart, little one,” the attendant said. Then she whispered, “Not all among you are allies of the king.”
    She bowed and backed away.
    As if on cue, the massive door swung open, revealing the ballroom. Izumo gestured for Laylah