Free Against the Reign by Dove Winters

There are voices, familiar ones, discussing me, I think. My thoughts aren’t clear. The people come closer and I’m able to make out faces. I focus on one and speak, slurring, “I warned them against putting me on the throne.”
    “It was always the best idea, even if you cannot see it,” Rayner says, taking a seat on a chair close to me. Ward is kneeling in front of me. I think Marguerite is standing behind him but I’m not sure; it could be a maid. Something in my muddled thoughts reminds me that Rayner is injured.
    “You’re still healing,” I say.
    “So are you. Now isn’t a time for me to be lying in bed. We have a problem to solve, and you’ve left the court,” he says.
    “I don’t trust them anymore.” I frown deeply.
    “You must. You are going to need their help.”
    “I thought I could trust Ferrant,” I point out.
    “Why do you trust me anymore than him?” Rayner asks.
    “I can feel it in my gut. I knew something was wrong with Ferrant the minute he told me my parents had been killed. But I ignored it.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I usually don’t have to care about things like that. My father took care of the kingdom. If someone evil was inside the castle walls he would take care of it. I don’t handle things.” I gesture towards the empty bottles and hit one, sending it rolling. “Obviously.”
    “Your father trusted Ferrant.” Rayner stops the bottle with his foot.
    “He made a mistake.”
    “Then you see? He wasn’t perfect. He may have been a king, but he was still human.”
    Thinking of my father brings pain to my heart. The pain brings my thoughts back to my brother. “What are we going to do about Vian?”
    “It’s going to come down to two choices, whether we like it or not. We can gather as much manpower as we can and try to get in the castle, or we can honor the marriage contract,” Rayner speaks softly, but firmly. My mouth drops open.
    “You would put that in there as an option?”
    “What other choices do we have?”
    “The marriage contract is not one of them. I will not marry Prince Liam!” The sudden rush of emotion makes me try to stand. The room begins to spin and I stagger, falling against the wall. Ward follows, ready to catch me, but I stop moving.
    “Ginn…I mean Your Majesty,” Ward speaks up quietly, quickly correcting his mistake in front of Rayner. “If I may say so, don’t you think Prince Liam could help us?”
    “Help us?” My eyes narrow as I look at Ward. “Do you realize what this marriage contract means?”
    He shakes his head and it’s Marguerite that speaks up. “Prince Liam has betrayed her.”
    “Exactly! And Marguerite knows it all too well! The minute my parents were murdered Ulric saw his opportunity to swoop in and claim our kingdom. Whether or not Windem is after us, Etigan is going to eat us alive, and Liam is holding my brother hostage to force us down their throats!” I swing my fist as I make my speech, but the follow-through knocks me over. Ward helps me back to the floor before I injure myself. I can see there is confusion on his face.
    “But Ginny,” he whispers and doesn’t correct himself, “Liam is in love with you.”
    “No he isn’t, Ward,” I snap, angered at the thought. “He’s using me to get his throne and mine.”
    “I don’t believe that,” Ward says.
    “And why not?”
    “Because I could see it. Even through the mead and the music and the jests, I could see it. I figured you did, too.” Ward shrugs, but I shake my head. I fish around with my hands, searching for a bottle. I find one and tip it up to my mouth, but it’s empty. Sighing with resignation, I hug the bottle to my chest and look up.
    “What do you think Rayner?”
    “I think going to the alley to dance with Etigan’s prince was a risky game you played, innocent as though it was to you, and now you’ve become a piece in this game. Without knowing who started this, I cannot say who’s trustworthy and who isn’t. But you must