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Back The Plan Commences Save as PDF
Chapters (50)
  1. The Plan Commences
  2. Table of Contents
  3. The Grieving
  4. The Mortal Blow
  5. The New Queen
  6. The Marital Bed
  7. The Trembling
  8. The Reinforcements
  9. The Vision
  10. The Setback
  11. The Incomplete Circle
  12. The Game
  13. The Gale
  14. The Plan
  15. The Splendor
  16. The Breakfast
  17. The Formidables
  18. The Sisterhood
  19. The Allies
  20. The Discipline
  21. The Significance
  22. The Patra
  23. The Doors
  24. The Finnie
  25. The Final Choice
  26. The Worth
  27. The Chalk
  28. The Unicorns
  29. The Dance
  30. The Vows
  31. The Enchantments
  32. The Surprise
  33. The Trick
  34. The Confrontation
  35. The Honesty
  36. The Kiss
  37. The Call
  38. The Decision
  39. The Duo
  40. The Wrongs
  41. The New Advisor
  42. The Welcome
  43. The Pet
  44. The Sacred Horn
  45. The Decryption
  46. The Royal Wedding
  47. The Plan Commences
  48. About the Author
  49. Books by Kristen Ashley
  50. Connect with Kristen Ashley

The people of Firenze were heartened to see their queen was a good horsewoman.

But that was not the only reason it was cried by thousands of voices all along the route, “Long live King Mars and Silence, our new queen!”

And many of the people of Firenze meant these words.

For only a true Firenz queen would yawn at the pits, cuddled into her king, wearing the blood of the vanquished as if it was naught but a shift of raw silk, watching the death throes of traitors as if they were the vaguely interesting flights of bumblebees.

And only a true Firenz queen would race down a mountain on her steed with her silk flowing, her skin exposed and glowing, her hair streaming in the wind, her husband close to her side.

It was also watched by a certain few.

A few who did so silently.

And these few had altogether different ideas.

39

The Marital Bed

Queen Silence

Royal Palace Gardens, Catrame Palace, Fire City

FIRENZE

It would be hours into our reception before I was finally separated from Mars.

And I did not wish to be such, but I could not deny I was glad of it.

I needed a moment.

A sip of water.

Some quiet.

Solitude.

Time to process what I’d experienced that day.

Time to process what I’d seen.

Time to think.

I could do none of that as Mars guided me from person to person, group to group.

He did this with open pride, which was rather charming.

But there were things…

Such things about him that I had learned.

Things…

I straightened my spine as I moved through the guests, being sure to keep my chin up, catch eyes, smile or nod.

Elpis had warned me, and it stood to reason that this would be a highly-attended affair.

And she had not told a lie. It was not just the guests in the palace, the barons, clansmen, chieftains, tribes.

There were wealthy merchants (and their wives). High-ranking warriors (and their wives). Esteemed teachers and healers. Philosophers. Priests. Poets. Artists. Writers. Even (I was shocked to learn, not to mention meet) respected madams and traders in smoke, ashesh and koekah.

The front and back gardens and the entryway of the palace were opened up, decorated in red blooms, red ribbons and glowing lanterns with many tables laden with food and dozens of servants bearing heavy trays filled with drink.

It had long since grown loud and even rowdy. The din in the palace rivaling that which could be heard pitching ever and ever higher coming from the city.

The people of Firenze were celebrating.