I sat on the bed, listening to my husband gather his clothes before he went to shower, and despite everything that was stil going on, I felt as if this immense weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

I stil had no idea how to stop the Vittra and save everyone I cared about, and I had to write a eulogy for the Chancelor. But for the first time in a long time, I felt like there might be a life after this. If I could defeat the King, if I could save us, there might realy be something to live for.

20. Orm

Wila wore al black, but the hem of her skirt only came to the middle of her thigh. At least she had classed it up a little for the funeral. My eulogy had gone over wel, or about as wel as a eulogy could go over. Nobody had cried for the Chancelor, and that seemed sad to me, but I couldn’t bring myself to cry for him either.

His funeral had been held in one of the larger meeting rooms in the palace. Black flowers and black candles decorated the room.

I’m not sure who had planned the funeral, but it looked like a Goth kid at a Cure concert had thrown up here.

After they took the Chancelor away to bury him in the palace cemetery, most of us stayed behind. He didn’t have any family or friends, and I’m not entirely sure how he got elected in the first place.

The mood was decidedly somber, but I don’t think that actualy had much to do with the funeral. Al the guests in attendance were muttering, whispering, huddled in corners talking quietly, and they kept glancing at me. I heard the word “painting” floating through the air like a breeze.

I stood off to the side of the room, talking mostly with Wila and Tove. Ordinarily, any of the royals would be eager to make some kind of smal talk with me, but today, they al avoided me. Which was just as wel. I didn’t have much I wanted to say to any of them.

“When is it polite for us to leave?” Wila asked, swirling her champagne around in her glass. I think she’d already had a couple glasses more than she should have, and she hiccupped daintily before covering her mouth with her hand. “Excuse me.”

“I think we’ve been here long enough.” Tove scanned the room, and some people had already left. His mother and father hadn’t been able to make it at al, and my mother could barely move, so she was stil on bed rest.

“Whenever is fine with me,” I said.

“Good.” Wila set her glass on a nearby table, some of the bubbly pink liquid sloshing over the top. She looped her arm through mine, more to steady herself, and we left the room.