Free Extol of Agnatic Dreams (The Extol Series Book 1) by Jennifer R. Kenny

dress. A cloak was tied at her neck and seemed to be the same cloak the soldiers wore.
    “Who are you?” Evangeline asked although she felt like she had lost any of the authority she had managed to wield so well in front of the men moments ago.
    “Sigourney.” She introduced herself, tucking her dark hair behind her ear in an attempt to control it. “I am supposed to help you adjust to life here within Braykith but it seems you have that under control.” The smirk on her lips told Evangeline the words were more sarcasm than an honest compliment.
    A rap at the door and Sigourney opened it to reveal Greg holding Evangeline’s things. “My lady.” If he was surprised to see this other girl, he didn’t show it. He handed Sigourney the neatly folded cloak with the book balanced on top.
    “Thank you, Greg.” Evangeline felt the need to say something more than just thank you. Greg paused, capturing one last look at the young lady before he finally let her go. Sigourney set the things to the side. With no more ties to Crimah, Evangeline felt her heart give the now familiar leap. She felt both pained and sick at the same time.
    “Are you ok?”
    “I'm all right.” Evangeline lied and Sigourney came to sit beside her. Pushing on her shoulder to direct her movements, Evangeline turned away from the other girl and felt the laces of her corset loosen. “Thank you.” Even though the corset had nothing to do with the building anxiety it did help her relax a little.
    “I will help redress you once we are closer but it will be a couple of hours before that happens. Since it very well might be the last time you are a little bit comfortable, I suggest you take advantage of it. Until you grow accustomed to our ways.” Sigourney seemed to add the warning as an afterthought.
    For all of her curiosities concerning Braykith, Evangeline now had a way of finding answers, and that scared her a little. She never imagined it would be this easy and her first response was perhaps not the most logical. Evangeline could never quite forget her training and the important character her family had been creating for her to emulate. A Queen to be taken as seriously as the King and the territory she would reign was known for an almost supernatural control over combat. Already she doubted the rumours of monsters simply by the very human soldiers she had witnessed, but one does not gain a reputation without some bearing of truth.
    She did not want to appear stupid or easily persuaded. Her mother had been warning Evangeline her entire life that the things she did now would pave her path for the rest of her life and ultimately line the frames for her children and her children’s children.
    “You must have questions.” Sigourney prompted her, trying with all she could do not to shake the girl. Now was not the time to worry about her image but saying such a thing could be misinterpreted so Sigourney didn’t prod her with an aggressive observation. “This is one of those rare times Evangeline that you can let your guard down. You have nothing I want, and I am not your enemy.” Sigourney was aware how little Evangeline knew of their kingdom. Besides a few names, the community within Braykith was still very shut off even from their closest allies.
    Braykith has a fearsome reputation, some of it fuelled and maintained by that very secrecy. The stories that circulated regarding the tactics of the Braykith army and their King was sometimes enough for cities to leave them be. Of course, it brought a few challenges but they rarely did all they promised to do. Slowly Crimah was learning some of their trade secrets, like a baby trying to follow the actions of its mother but not yet mastering the basics of control. There were some misses and ruined moments but slowly and surely it was beginning to happen. Even in several years’ time, the land where Evangeline had come from would never know Braykith like Evangeline will. Assuming she managed to survive it