I explain how delightful and accomplished she is, then outline my concern over tearing her away from her home and family. He listens, tapping a finger on his chin, then tilts his head at the Chancellor in question. The Chancellor looks thoughtful for a moment longer, then smiles. “She could spend time with you, becoming …
I hear shouting in the anteroom but remain seated, I’ll find out soon enough, and if there’s real trouble, the footman at each door will take care of it. As the thought forms, the footman opens the door between my room and the outer one. He remains carefully poker-faced as my next candidate enters, herding …
Naturally he brings Johanna, who has failed the assessment. Rosa is still with me and my two relatives look down their noses at her, Johanna going so far as to insist the girl give up her seat to my cousin’s greater claim. I send Rosa a secret wink and she brightens, then shuffles sadly to …
They fall silent when I enter and stop just inside the door, my arms hidden beneath my cloak. Why should I make it easy for them? Uncle huffs and blusters and orders me over to him. I obey the silent command from the throne instead. A path opens for me and I tread down it, …
The week goes by and I’m not sure if I want it to hurry up or slow down but regardless of my wants, the night of the full moon arrives and I’m collected by the King’s Steward (the pinch-faced man, his name is Pendred) and conducted to a back hallway. Johanna insists on accompanying me, …
The following day, we set off. The trip is uneventful, other than Johanna’s tantrums. It’s perhaps unfortunate her fiancé is part of our travelling group. By the time we reach the Royal City, Johanna is no longer betrothed. Her intended informed Uncle, at a dinner in front of all of us, that he wished for …
My name is Arianna Goldbest, or possibly FitzMichael. I'm a stain on the family, a dishonour to the name, for I had the temerity to be born out of wedlock. One might presume my parents should be the ones to shoulder this terrible burden but they're not here. Mother, devoted parent that she is, retired …
The DNA of Stories 