Free The Jewel of Kamara (The Delthenon Chronicles) by Bridie Blake Page B

allegation made against you,” he explained. “A man has accused you
of stealing an item of jewelry from his stall.”
    Tempani
bristled at his words. She looked at the two of them and threw her hands up in
the air. “Of course I did. Something goes missing and the finger gets pointed
at the closest Kalaowin.”
    “It
was a sapphire encrusted broach,” he mumbled.
    “I
didn’t take it.” She balled her fists and tried to keep her voice calm. “And I
resent the accusation that I did.”
    “He
said it disappeared after you admired it.”
    “Come
on, Nic,” Teddy said. “She didn’t take it.”
    “Search
me,” she dared him. “Go on. If you don’t believe me then search me.” She
stretched out her arms and widened her stance. “You have my permission.”
    “That
won’t be necessary. We’ll take you home.”
    She
glared at him. “Don’t bother,” she snapped. “I can make my own way home.
Besides you have your hands full here trying to catch a thief.” She turned on
her heel and rushed to the stables, trying to ignore everyone who was now
openly staring at her.
    “Saddle
up,” she ordered her men. “We’re leaving.”
    They
scurried after her and followed her lead as she rushed home. She let out a
scream once she was safely inside the door and stomped up the stairs, calling
for Zadi to draw her a bath. She pulled at her dress, trying to undo the ties
at the back to no avail. Zadi swatted her hands away and undid the ties for
her, helping her pull the dress down.
    “Leave
me.”
    When
she was finally alone in the confines of her room, she let the tears escape her
eyes. They rolled, thick and fast, down her creamy cheeks and over red lips.
Her big brown eyes that gave away her every emotion flashed in anger as she
cursed Nicolass.
    Cursed
him for making her feel like the savage people thought she was. That they
wrongfully thought her people were. When would people learn that judging someone
because of the color of their skin would only get them so far?
    She
kicked out at the water, sending droplets flying across the room. Normally
taking a hot bath helped ease her anger, but this was doing nothing for her
temper. The anger pulsed through her. Its heat building up. And there was only
one thing that would ease it. One way to let it out.
    She
pulled herself out of the tub and padded over to her bed, reaching underneath
to where she hid it. She unsheathed her dagger, holding the hilt firmly in her
hand as she pressed it to her thigh, the blade biting into her skin. She stood
there, water dripping off her naked body and mixing with the blood that now
seeped out of the open wound on her leg. Her breathing slowed as she felt the
release.
    Zadi
would have to clean the blood off the floor but at this moment she did not
care. She saw nothing beyond the sudden sense of calm she now felt.
    —
    The
first bouquet of flowers was delivered the next day and every day after that
for a week. All with a note written in Nicolass’ neat script. Each one begging
for her forgiveness. And each card ended up in the hearth, slowly blackening
until it was nothing but ash.
    It
was normally a footman who came bearing his apologies until the seventh day,
and she found Teddy in the drawing room instead.
    “Where’s
Hema?” She asked, referring to the footman. “We were becoming fast friends.”
    Teddy
laughed and placed the flowers on the table. He had outdone himself with the
arrangement this time. She leant forward and breathed in the beautiful aroma
that wafted up from the blue and red flowers.
    “I
think he hoped you would listen to reason if I told you he was sorry,” he said.
“We both are.”
    Tempani
smiled at him and patted his hand. “Oh Teddy, I know you didn’t believe it for
a moment. Your brother on the other hand, I’m not so sure.”
    “He
didn’t either, but he had a duty to uphold. It’s not easy for him you know.
It’s been drilled into him since he was a boy that his title comes