“Can I have your attention please,” Marek announced. “I have been sent to escort everyone outside for a random check. Please exit immediately.”
“Sir, what are you checking?” a girl asked.
“I am making sure everyone is wearing the proper uniform and that everyone has reported for duty. Hurry now, I haven’t got all day.”
Allyssa heard several people pass by the basket on their way out of the laundry room.
“All clear,” Marek said, and then the door closed.
Now was her chance. She stood and untangled herself from the basket. Wasting no time, she flipped the basket upside down and climbed on top. Reaching up, she grabbed ahold of the end of the laundry chute and hoisted her body inside. Once her boots connected with the side, she shimmied her way up the dark tube until she reached the small, wooden door.
Opening it up an inch, she peered inside her room. It was empty. Throwing the door open, she tumbled onto the floor of her bedchamber, thankful to have made it.
The wind tossed Allyssa’s hair as she sat low on her horse, racing across the field behind the castle, trying to catch up to Rema. The first one to reach the forest would be deemed the winner. Although Allyssa wasn’t particularly crazy about horses—she much preferred sparring—she loved riding with her mother. It was one of the few opportunities they had to spend time together without the members of court watching.
Rema glanced back over shoulder, smiling at her daughter. Allyssa grinned and nudged her horse faster, hoping to at least tie. She didn’t want to be flat-out beaten. Again. Her mother leaned forward in her saddle and her horse took off. Allyssa had no hope of catching her. When Rema reached the forest, she slowed, waiting for her.
“It’s infuriating that you win every time,” Allyssa said.
“Your father says the same thing,” her mother replied. “Come, I want to show you something.”
Allyssa guided her horse after her mother’s. They wound their way between the trees, the soldiers accompanying them keeping a respectable distance. When they reached a small clearing, Allyssa immediately recognized where they were—it was the spot where Prince Odar had been practicing with his soldiers. “Why did you bring me here?” she asked.
Rema dismounted, waiting for her daughter to do the same. Reluctantly, Allyssa swung a leg over and slid off her horse.
“I want to talk to you.” Rema glanced up at their guards, making sure they were far enough away so they wouldn’t overhear.
Allyssa had been afraid something like this was coming. Her mother probably wanted to convince her to marry Prince Odar. Rolling her shoulders back, she prepared for whatever her mother had to say.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Rema chided her.
“What?” Allyssa asked.
“Like you have to be here and whatever I say, you are going to tolerate, but not actually listen to.”
Oh. Well, that had been exactly what she was planning on doing.
“I was your age once,” Rema mused. “I wasn’t raised in this lifestyle. I became empress when I was eighteen—two years older than you.” Rema sat on a nearby boulder. “Did you know I was originally engaged to another man? Against my will? Twice as a matter of fact.”
Allyssa didn’t know that. She sat next to her mother on the boulder, waiting for her to continue.
Rema’s eyes darkened with thoughts from the past as she explained how she’d been engaged to her best friend when a cruel prince forced her into an agreement with him. “I never want you to be in either one of those positions,” she continued. “I never want to make you do something against your will.” She patted her daughter’s leg. “So, I need to know what you want.”
“What I want?” Allyssa asked, confused. No one ever asked her what she wanted. “Do you want me to be honest or give you the correct answer?”
“I want honesty,” Rema said. “I need to know what my daughter wants, not what the princess or the heir to the kingdom wants.”
“I’m not certain,” Allyssa answered. “I’ve never allowed myself to dream about what I want because I’m on a path where I don’t have choices.”
“That’s not true,” Rema said. “You have plenty of choices. Some of them might not be the ones you want, but you will always have decisions to make.” She wrapped an arm around Allyssa’s shoulders. “I need to know if you want this life.”
“Of course I do.” How could she not want her life? She was lucky to have two loving parents and to be in a position of privilege.
“You misunderstand me. I need to know if you’re willing to lead this kingdom, to keep it safe, and to make the hard choices for the betterment of the people you rule over. I’m not going to force you to do something you don’t want to, so I need to know where your heart and loyalties lie.”