Merce

ded tunic, tears streaming down her pal

yelled, her voice trembling with self-righteous drama. "If you must pu

ace squires shifted unco

nch, the hem of my crimson gown b

aring down at her. "What makes you think a

e I come from, all humans are equal! You are no better than

ords like an iron blade. "This land is governed by the b

he chief bailiff stan

Dragon Court Law for a dragonless co

or clanking. "Death by sacred flame, You

ed from her face in an instant. Her hands began t

ou move yourself, or shall I have the guards remo

so fast she scraped her pa

clutching her ankle. "Alys! Do n

r to bear her burdens, her crime of obstructin

er. "Add twenty strikes t

t flesh began again, accompan

er hands pressed over her ears,

and, the sharp clatter of iron-shod

the square. A young woman in an ostentatious silk gown adorned with ch

ilthy dogs!" Gwyn Bradley screa

her face turning crimson with rage. She marched straight

How dare you lay a

rked, stepping forwa

shrieked, raising her palm to

was

d it downward, and delivered a brutal,

e slap rang acr

apsed hard onto her side, her rub

eak the First Princess's name?" Clara looked

filling her eyes. "You... a common handmaiden s

ght in my irises pulsed, locking her on

against the sto

eak, a massive sh

ulders blocked her hateful glare, his hand resting on th

p, Your Highness," he sai

ragon-scale cloak and draped

of arctic cedar and dark ember smoke drifted from the fab

as large, decorated with gilded iron and