Within the Hollow Crown by Daniel Antoniazzi Read Free Book Online Page B

she was going to be that day.
    On her dresser, the girl had laid out Vye’s usual courtly regalia. A powder blue gown with matching corset. Optional arm-scarf. Egg-white slippers. She looked good in the corset, though she wished it didn’t push her boobs up to her neck.
    But on the old wood trunk, Vye had left her other clothes. Tan trousers, stained-white tunic, chainmail, black boots , and her scabbard. Nothing matched. But they were clothes befitting a Military Advisor.
    And this was the choice Vye faced every morning. Who was she going to be that day? Was she going to be Lady Vye, a demure woman in Michael’s Court? Or was she going to be Lady Vye, Michael’s Military Advisor? She would wear the chain of office either way, she would do the same things during the day, but it did affect the way she thought of herself. And the way others thought of her.
    She took a deep breath, deciding--
    Knock! Knock! Knock!
    Vye jumped at the booming at the door.
    “Who’s there?” Vye called, scrambling for her bed robe.
    “It’s me,” came Landos’ voice through the door. Vye got herself covered and unlocked the chamber door.
    “Well, Landos,” Vye said, “It is certainly early for you to come calling.”
    Landos came in and immediately started pacing a circle in the middle of Vye’s room.
    “Is there something I can help you with?” Vye said, hugging herself against the chilly morning.
    “Look, I...” Landos began. “No.”
    “Then why are you in my chambers?”
    “Did I come at a bad time?”
    “No, just tell me what’s going on.”
    “Umm…” Landos began. “I think I have a problem.”
    “You’re going to have to be more specific.”
    “It’s about Sarah,” Landos said.
    “You mean Lady Sarah, don’t you? The Count’s fiancée?”
    “Yes, I mean that one. I think I’m in love with her.”
    Vye glared at Landos. Her face was unreadable, but she instinctively started massaging her shoulder.
    “And,” Landos continued, “I think she’s in love with me. You should have heard what she said--”
    “Landos!” Vye interrupted, “You have to stop, right now. You have to put her out of your mind.”
    “I can’t.”
    “You must.”
    “But s he’s so--”
    “Engaged! She’s so engaged, Landos. There’s no room for you in this equation. Even if she were not engaged, she would still be a noblewoman. I would stand a better chance of marrying her than you.”
    “She sent me a letter,” Landos said, pulling a letter out of his pocket. “Let me just tell you what she--”
    Vye grabbed the letter from him.
    “Are you insane?” Vye said. “You have a love letter from the Count’s fiancée? Do you know what this is?”
    “Beautiful?”
    “It’s treason.”
    Vye shredded the letter in her hands, tossing the offending parchment into the fireplace.
    “I can’t believe you did that,” Landos objected.
    “I’m guessing you have it memorized anyway.”
    “I do. And it said--”
    “I don’t want to hear it. Just please tell me you didn’t send a letter back to her.” Landos paused just long enough to answer Vye’s accusation with silence. “I don’t believe it. Landos, what’s gotten into you? What are you doing exchanging correspondence with Sarah Ralsean?”
    “I’m sorry,” Landos said. “I just… don’t know what to do.”
    Vye let out a sigh, flexing her shoulder and pacing the room. The poor boy was shaking. He needed a friend, and Vye was pretty much his only option.
    “Alright. Okay. We can fix this. No damage done. Yet. Have you told anyone else about this?”
    “Who else could I tell?”
    “I’m glad you feel that way. Okay, so, the only people who know about that letter are Sarah, you, and myself?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good. And the letter you sent her…?”
    “I sent it addressed to her personal servant.”
    “Well, at least you’re being the smart kind of dumb. Now, listen to me carefully: That’s it. No more letters. Say it.”
    “No more