Page 107 of The Barbarian King's Assassin (Magic and Kings 1)

Marell gave me an order. “Go sit in that chair and don’t move until you’re told.”

I didn’t entirely mind, as I could watch the chaos that ensued. The soldiers who’d witnessed reported everything to everyone. It led to many glances in my direction.

Whispers I could hear.“Heir.” “Bastard.” “Killer.”

Not this time. But I would give anything to take one more life. Marell’s life.

My servant, in more concealing veils, arrived and spirited me away, bringing me to chambers that could have used less yellow and flounce.

Within, a scream boiled, wanting release, only I couldn’t yell.

I eyed the hated bracelets on my arms. The ones keeping me docile. Forcing me to do no harm.

Almost my entire life was about how to hurt people, and now, the one skill I owned was denied to me when I needed it most.

The servant pulled aside her veil, and I didn’t react upon seeing the scar slashing her face from chin to ear. An attractive woman with piercing eyes, full lips. Her hair remained hidden, but I imagined it dark like her full brows.

“You’re the new heir.” Flatly spoken, but since she addressed me, I could reply.

“Apparently.”

“You don’t seem happy about it.”

“Would you be? You know what he’s doing to me,” I countered.

“Giving you riches and power,” she said with a sneer.

I had to wonder why she’d chosen now to be so talkative given her silence before. I didn’t even know her name. “I’d rather make my own wealth and be the one in charge.”

“No one offered a throne refuses it,” the servant insisted.

“They’re welcome to it. I’d rather not deal with the drama.”

“Hence why I walked away.”

The odd choice of words had me eyeing the servant more closely. Her face and nose were similar in shape to mine, the eyes familiar, too. The scar cemented it as I remembered the stories. “You’re Majya, the emperor’s eldest daughter. You were originally supposed to marry the Barbarian King but chose to join a nunnery instead.”

“Yes and no. I was engaged for a short time to the man Weztroga now calls king. The emperor went behind the grand vizier’s back and decided he wanted the east and west to unite, so he engaged me to Konstantin, knowing he’d one day inherit. The grand vizier didn’t approve. This”—she traced the mark on her face—“was a warning. I had a choice: become a nun and break off the engagement or suffer a more fatal incident.”

“The grand vizier did it on purpose to ensure his own daughter would be in line for the throne.”

“And no one ever suspected. Not even his son.” Majya grimaced. “I didn’t know he was going to kill her when they asked for a moment alone.”

“He can’t be allowed get away with it.” I paused and looked at her. “With the emperor gone, and you his legal daughter, why can’t you be the heir? After all, you are the oldest.”

She shook her head. “I gave up my rights.”

“Under duress.”

“Do you really think Marell wiIl let me take on the role? He’ll kill me and still put you on the throne.”

“There must be a way to foil his plan.”

“How? He’s too powerful. The only thing keeping him in check before was his father. With him and the emperor gone, I imagine Marell will wed you as soon as possible to cement his position.”

“Never.”

“As if any of us have a choice. You’ve seen the magic he wields. We can’t fight him.”