The ride back was silent. I was processing everything that the hag had said to me. I never considered myself to be a pawn or a queen. I was never important enough to anyone for either. Yet, here I was, riding next to the Crowned Prince who now believed that I had slain a hag. I could feel Luminaria’s Edge in James’ baldric. It was singing for me, a melody that was at once familiar and foreign. It was mine, given to me willingly, and it called to me to take it back. But I didn’t dare. I needed James to believe that I was on his side, that I fought and killed the hag and took the sword for him. I could feel that my very survival depended on that lie.

***

“Where have you been, Your Highness? We had a meeting planned, and I hear you go off hunting?” said a feminine voice the instant James dismounted his horse by the entrance to the castle. In the doorway stood a tall, statuesque woman who looked to be in her forties. She possessed a striking beauty that commanded attention. Her braided black hair was peppered with silvery gray, adding to her distinguished allure. Her facial features were sharp and cunning, reminding me of a bird of prey—always watching and calculating to ensnare her kill. There was a coldness to her despite her beauty, as if unkindness had seeped into her every movement, word, and action.

“Lady Thorne is my steward,” said the prince to me, and I detected a tone of exasperation. “I did go hunting with Miss Ashley, but I did not forget about our meeting,” he said, addressing the lady.

“So you chose to ignore me?” Lady Thorne asked, her eyebrows rising in shock and annoyance. “I can’t decide which is more insulting—your forgetting or blatantly disregarding my time.” Lady Thorne looked me up and down with a gaze that seemed to convey both interest and indifference.

“I did not mean to offend, My Lady,” said James, offering a small bow. “Miss Ashley and I went out on our first hunt, and I dare say it was a resounding success. Miss Ashley has killed the hag and got the sword!”

Lady Thorne turned to look at me at once. Her expression was one of surprise as her gaze scanned me appraisingly.

“We must not discuss this here,” she said in a hushed tone, now looking at the prince’s baldric for Luminaria’s Edge. “Follow me to my study.”

***

Lady Thorne’s study was a large room decorated in dark mahogany. Rich burgundy curtains framed a large bay window. Bookshelves lined every inch of the walls in the room. Each shelf was overflowing with thick ancient tomes that gave off a scent of dust and decaying parchment. The steward walked into the room confidently and sat at her large writing desk.

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“Well,” she said expectantly. “Let me see the blade,” she commanded.

The prince took Luminaria’s Edge from his baldric and handed it to Lady Thorne. I could hear the blade protesting loudly. I wondered if they could hear it too. It seemed to shriek as Thorne grabbed the sword by its scabbard and hilt and slowly started to unsheathe it.

“You killed the hag to get the blade, girl?” Lady Thorne asked me without taking her eyes off the sword.

“Yes,” I lied, hoping I sounded convincing. The blade continued to shriek in Thorne’s grasp.

“How?” asked the steward, her eyes meeting mine. Something strange lurked in her emerald gaze. I felt compelled to tell the truth. I wanted to crumble and beg for forgiveness, but I held fast and squared my shoulders as I held her eyes.

“I stabbed her with the very blade you are holding,” I said boldly, though I felt my knees buckle. For the first time in my life, I was glad to be wearing a skirt. I was sure that neither Thorne nor James noticed my legs shaking beneath me.

“Hm…,” said Lady Thorne, her attention shifting to the blade. “Luminaria’s Edge always sings the truth. You can hear her song, don’t you, girl?”

“The sword sings?” asked James, looking from Thorne to me.

“I can hear it,” I said, looking at the sword that continued to shriek. “Can you?” I asked, looking at Thorne.

“No,” she said, looking sadly at the sword.

“It sings only for its owner, which I guess must be you,” she said, then sheathed the blade before offering it to me. “Tell me, how does a peasant girl know how to kill a hag that lived here for a millennium?” Once again, Lady Thorne’s penetrating gaze traveled up and down my body.

“Stabbing works for hags just as well as it works for elk,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

“Indeed,” said Lady Thorne, her expression turning to one of disgust.

I picked up Luminaria’s Edge from Lady Thorne’s desk. The sword quieted at once. It felt warm in my hands as if I were holding something made of flesh and blood.

“Miss Ashley will probably want to wash up and rest,” said Prince James, looking to make our escape from Thorne’s study.

“Miss Ashley looks to be pristine,” said the steward, noticing my riding habit. “How is it that the killing of the hag didn’t leave a smear of blood on your clothes?”

“It was a clean kill,” I said, walking quickly out of the room.

***

The meeting with the steward made my blood run cold. I walked beside Prince James briskly, wanting nothing more than to put as much distance between myself and Lady Thorne as possible.

“These will be your rooms,” said the prince, finally stopping by a set of tall doors on the third floor. “Mila is already there waiting for you, I believe. She is eager to dress you up for dinner.”

“Is it that late already?” I asked. It seemed like only moments ago I rode beside the prince through the forest, shivering in the morning chill.

“Time flies when you are having fun,” he smiled warmly. I tried to return his expression but only managed an awkward sneer. I was about to enter my room when James grabbed my arm and pulled me close to him. The scent of jasmine filled my lungs, and I could hear my heart pounding in my ears.

“You are a good liar, Miss Hunter,” he whispered into my ear. “But you'll have to lie a lot better than that to fool me… I know the hag lives.” With that, he released me from his arms and strode away. I felt frozen. I didn't dare move until Mila opened the door and guided me inside.