Page 7 of The Broken Elf King
I looked over her shoulder and blushed. I’d given her my list of job duties. Snatching it out of her hands, I handed her the letter the king had written.
She scanned it quickly and then a look of surprise passed over her face. “New personal assistant.”
“I know. I thought after dropping the trader it might get me hanged.”
Mrs. Tirth shook her head. “That’s probably what got you the job.”
Now it was my turn to look surprised. “What do you mean?”
She glanced back at the office and lowered her voice to a whisper. “The king hates the traders. And he likes strong women. He won’t have to worry about you getting killed easily.”
What an odd thing to say. I just nodded.
“Do you have any belongings?” she asked.
I shook my head. “Debtors didn’t let me take anything.”
“No matter, a clothing allowance, meals, and free room and board are included in the job.”
That was a relief.
“As a personal assistant to a high-ranking royal, you will be expected to dress the part. You are now a reflection of his monarchy. No cotton. Only silk and chiffon. Lace trim preferred. You’ll work with the palace seamstress,” Mrs. Tirth said as we traversed the halls.
I loved fancy dresses. You didn’t have to twist my arm to wear silk and lace.
“Let’s talk about behavior,” she added. “As a staff member of the king, you will be required not to drink while on the job, and no cursing or otherwise unladylike behavior.”
I nodded. “Of course.”
There was a story there, a reason she needed that disclaimer, and I was tempted to ask it.
We passed another long hallway and then stopped at a set of black lacquered double doors.
“We will just do the Vow of No Harm and then you can settle into your rooms.” Mrs. Tirth smiled sweetly.
Oh. Yeah. I’d forgotten I had agreed to that. “Very well.”
Reaching up, Mrs. Tirth rapped on the door with her wrinkled fist and then it opened.
I gasped when I saw the king behind the door.
What the…? I peered over my shoulder, wondering how he could have left his office and beat us here. My mouth opened, then closed, then opened again.
He winked. “Secret tunnels.”
That wink did something to my insides but I brushed it off. Secret tunnels. Yes, that made sense.
The king backed away from the opening and stepped deeper into the room, giving me a view of it for the first time.
Wow. I hadn’t expected to see crystal light beds! My father spoke of them in his journals he left behind for me. It was the only way I could learn about his life in Archmere and what it was like growing up here. Crystal light beds were healing and regenerative. But somehow I thought today they might have a different purpose.
The king walked over to a dark black bed, carved from a transparent, smoky-colored stone, and lay down flat inside it. There were six crystal beds in here, pink, purple, and black, two of each, large enough for a grown man to sleep in. The room felt tranquil and healing, with white stone floors and light purple wall parchment that had specks of gold in it.
“Lie down in the other black crystal bed,” Mrs. Tirth said, and gestured to it.
My heart pounded wildly in my chest as I approached the bed.
What exactly did this vow entail?
