To Play the Lady Read online

  This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are either fictitious or used fictitiously.

  TO PLAY THE LADY

  Copyright © 2011 by Naomi Lane

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.

  Cover Art by Max Martelli, www.maxmartelli.com

  To Mom for always believing in me, to Michael for convincing me to let him read it, and to Anna for telling me that “it will be awesome.”

  Table of Contents

  Map of Sevalia

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Appendices

  About the Author

  Further Reading

  Map of Sevalia

  Chapter 1

  Mid-summer in the high plains of the Kingdom of Sevalia was always oppressively hot and dry. This year was no exception. As the sun rose toward its midday peak, most people sought refuge in the shade of their shelters or were cooling off in the waters of Lake Elinore. Except one lone farmer did not have such good fortune. Cutworms threatened his crops, and he needed to check the effectiveness of the local mage’s recent protection spell.

  While engrossed in his task, he was distracted by the sound of an approaching carriage. Although the sun’s heat was harsh, it carried certain benefits, one of which was drying out the roads. The farmer, therefore, was not surprised to see travelers at this time of year, but the carriage itself was a shock. Built from solid mahogany wood and inlaid with mother-of-pearl, it had just enough elegance to show off the wealth of its owners yet not be gaudy. Given the carriage traveled in the direction of the royal palace, which was only a two-hour ride, such opulent carriages occasionally passed by the farmer’s fields. What truly made this carriage a shocking sight was not what it was, but what it lacked. No royal or noble seal adorned its side.

  The farmer could only guess what commoner could afford such a carriage. His mind conjured up visions of the wealthy man that must be inside, perhaps with important dealings with the Crown.

  Although the carriage was indeed headed to the palace, the farmer would have been surprised to see that it transported not a man, but two children: a girl of twelve and a boy of fourteen. If he had seen them, he would have noticed an obvious resemblance between the two and would have assumed correctly that they were brother and sister. The resemblance was not only in their faces, but their coloring. They had light brown skin, a notable contrast to the pale skin of most native Sevalians. They also had black hair and dark eyes, which was also less common in Sevalia, where most people had light-colored hair and blue or green eyes. No one would doubt they had foreign blood.

  Both were dressed in their best clothes created for their coming stay at court. The boy seemed at ease in them and looked out the window. The girl, however, could not help tugging at the collar of her gown.

  “Sometimes I wish I were a noble,” she said to no one in particular. “Then at least I would have the magic to cool the air inside the carriage. Instead I have to bear the horrible heat and their horrible fashions.”

  Her brother answered. “Jenna, it won’t be long until we reach the palace. Perhaps you should start practicing how to sound lady-like. Mother and Father will want you dead if you get sent home for insulting the nobility on your first day.”

  “Thank you, Peter, for your helpful advice,” she replied, sarcastically. “However could I do without you?”

  “You probably would have been a lot better off. Instead of hanging around me and my friends, you would have learned to act like a normal girl and wouldn’t be so frightened of the prospect of being one of the Queen’s Ladies.”

  “I’m not afraid.” Peter just shook his head. He knew better than to try to argue with his sister when she was in one of her moods. “It isn’t fair, though. You get to have fun at court, learning riding and fighting skills while I have to learn to prance around in fancy dress and do needlework.”

  “Right. I’ll have so much ‘fun’ just trying to hold my own as the only knight trainee without noble blood. But, Jenna, you know this is serious. As the first commoner to become a Queen’s Lady, this is a huge honor, and if you mess this up, you could ruin the future opportunities for other commoners all over the Kingdom.”

  Jenna sat back in her seat. Her brother was right. She hated when he was always right. “I just wish it were Ana instead of me.” Jenna referred to their younger sister. She was still at home with their parents in the port city of Salara along the Southern Sea, where their father ran his business as a merchant.

  “Just try to stick it out a couple of years. Then Ana will be old enough to come to court and maybe you could return home.” Jenna began imagining how beautiful her sister would be at that time, so much like their mother. She would come to court and charm them all. Jenna would be lucky just to avoid disgracing herself by tripping all of the time in her gowns and uncomfortable shoes. “At least you still get to ride.”

  Jenna smiled a little. Her mare and Peter’s new horse had been sent ahead of them with some of their luggage. She had had a strong affinity for horses for as long as she could remember and had wanted to ride for about as long as she could walk.

  “True, but you actually get to learn to ride properly. I will just ride sidesaddle. My magic will go to waste as usual.”

  Peter scowled. Although it was nearly impossible for their escort to hear them outside the carriage, he changed to their mother’s tongue, the language of the Rahtani people in the Great Desert across the Southern Sea. “Jenna, be more careful. You promised not to talk about your magic.”

  Jenna had two notable gifts. One was an ability to communicate with horses. She couldn’t talk to them exactly, but she had a way of knowing what was on their minds and sending them images in return. She also had the ability to heal quickly. One time, she broke her arm when playing games with her brother and his friends. It healed within a week. She didn’t know much about the magic because it seemed to require no training. It certainly came from her mother’s side of the family, though. Her mother had no magic of her own, but she was born of the union between the most powerful Rahtani tribal leader and one of his concubines. Jenna’s grandfather also had magic.

  She rolled her eyes. “I remember the plan: I won’t bring it up, but if asked, I won’t lie to the Crown.” Peter nodded in approval. “And I won’t mention the sword or the bow and arrows either, though I still don’t know why.”

  Peter frowned. “They are mine now. Get used to it.” Jenna scowled at her brother. When they were little, they had traveled to the desert. Jenna remembered someone in her grandfather’s tribe giving her the weapons, but her parents were horrified. They attempted to leave them behind, but they appeared in Jenna’s luggage on arrival. Peter got the blame for secretly packing them, but always maintained he never did it. Whether guilty or not, her father was so angry that she and Peter were never allowed to touch them. Peter only got them now because he was
going to learn to fight. But since they were of foreign make, they did not meet the strict requirements of the palace military training school, so Peter had to have another set of weapons made, and the foreign items would most likely not be used.

  “It still isn’t right,” said Jenna. “I actually want to learn to fight, but you get the training and the weapons, then plan to go be a merchant and take over father’s business. So useless.”

  Peter just shrugged. “I know, but if the King ever requires my sword, he will have it.”

  Jenna sighed again. “I’m sure Alex would have loved to be a knight.”

  Peter glared at her. “Jenna, will you ever learn to keep quiet?”

  “What? I miss our brother. Why doesn’t anyone ever talk about him?”

  “You know he and Father didn’t get along at the end.” Their older brother had only recently drowned in a freak boating accident, or so their father had told them. Alex had been away to the east in the country of Khazaran for many years prior.

  “I know,” replied Jenna. “But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t talk about him.”

  Peter’s eyes grew wistful. “I miss him a lot, too. But it won’t help us at court to go around telling people about the tragic death of our illegitimate half-brother.”

  Jenna, arms crossed, just stared out of the window.

  Peter dragged his hand through his hair. “Jenna, promise me you won’t say anything.”

  “All right,” she replied, while continuing to stare out of the window of the carriage for awhile.

  The plains seemed endless, but she knew the castle was surrounded by trees. Finally, they headed into a forest, and the shade cut down the heat of the sun, cooling off the carriage. “Do you think we’ll still be able to see each other at all?” she asked.

  “Probably not much. We will each have very different schooling.”

  “Promise me you will still talk to me if you can?”

  Peter smiled. He knew his sister was apprehensive despite her brave front. “I will.”

  “You really think I can pull this off?”

  “My best advice: sing. Sing as much as you possibly can.” They both laughed. Jenna’s saving grace among girls was her voice. Her mother helped her train it from a young age. When the Queen heard her sing last winter, she was very impressed. It was one reason Jenna got the invitation to be a Lady.

  Soon afterward, the carriage went through the eastern castle gate, one of three in the outer wall that surrounded the palace on its north, west, and east sides. Toward the south a rocky outcropping made a natural barrier, and no wall was necessary. Since they were expected, the carriage quickly made its way through the gate and past the castle riding and hunting grounds. The woods appealed to Jenna. Having spent most of her time in a city, she thought it adventurous to be able to ride in the woods whenever she liked.

  They stopped in front of the East Wing entrance. The palace had three main sections. The Central Tower was the oldest part and was mainly designed for fortification. It had thick stone walls and primarily served a ceremonial function rather than as living quarters. The West Wing was added next. Peter would live there as it was nearest the training yard where he would learn battle arts with the other boys. It also housed many offices and quarters of the palace advisory staff. The East Wing, or the Queen’s Wing as it was often called, was the newest. The Queen’s Ladies stayed there, as did the royal family and most palace guests.

  The only other major structures in the palace complex were the servants’ quarters, located in a separate building on the west side of the grounds, and Harcourt Tower, where the most powerful palace mages resided. The Tower Lord was the high mage of the entire kingdom and one of the King’s closest advisors.

  Once the carriage had stopped, Jenna peered out to see a smallish woman with a heart-shaped face and light brown hair awaiting her. She still had most of her beauty, though her age was beginning to show in the fine lines around her green eyes. Jenna recognized her as the Queen waiting alongside an older nobleman, presumably Peter’s training master, as well as a stern-looking woman in plain dress. Jenna assumed she must be a servant.

  Peter stepped out first and helped Jenna down. She was still a little wobbly in her new shoes. Because she was so used to wearing her brother’s old clothes, women’s court fashions were uncomfortable, but she hoped she would avoid disgrace on her first day. Peter took her arm, and they approached the Queen. Once at the proper distance, Jenna just managed to do a full curtsy, and Peter bowed.

  “Miss Jenna Mallory,” said the Queen, “welcome to Sevalian Palace.”

  “Thank you, Your Majesty. It is a tremendous honor to be here,” she replied, averting her eyes from staring directly at the Queen’s face.

  “Peter Mallory, I presume?” said the nobleman.

  “Yes, My Lord.”

  “You will walk with me.” Peter gave Jenna’s arm a small squeeze and left with the nobleman in the direction of the West Wing.

  Jenna’s face must have looked more panicked than she realized because the Queen said, “Don’t worry. You will get to see him again on Sevdays after prayers and during every feast.” This was somewhat reassuring. “Miss Mallory, this is Mrs. Hawes.” Jenna gave a smaller curtsy to the woman standing next to the Queen. “Mrs. Hawes is the head proctor of the Queen’s Ladies. I have asked her to show you around the palace and explain the expectations while you are at court. I shall see you a little later at tea.”

  Jenna thanked the Queen again and followed the proctor inside the East Wing. As she stepped through the doorway, she found herself standing in a grand foyer, staring at the ceiling arching high above her. It was covered in a fresco, showing what she believed to be the mythical Seven Daughters of King Maximilian, the first Sevalian monarch. Jenna admired the artistry and noticed some workers were performing restoration. “You will find that much of the palace has been under renovation lately,” said Mrs. Hawes. “However, the East Wing is nearly finished. The West Wing work is more extensive, but you should really have no cause to go there.”

  Mrs. Hawes took a right turn down a main corridor, and Jenna followed until they entered another large room at the end of the passage. Jenna’s eye was immediately drawn to the full-length mirrors along one wall as well as the harp and piano in the far corner. “You will receive instruction in dance and music in here as well as protocol. The Queen likes to hear concerts in this room on occasion, and all Ladies are expected to perform regularly. She also drops in on other classes from time-to-time to check her Ladies’ progress in their studies. I recommend you work diligently.”

  Before Jenna had a chance to respond, Mrs. Hawes walked through a door on the other side of the large chamber and entered a small open-air courtyard with many statues. “The Queen occasionally takes tea here when the weather is pleasant. The rooms surrounding this courtyard are where your other classes will be held. As you should be aware, you will receive instruction in drawing, needlework, weaving, and potentially magic. All of the Ladies are tested for magic on their first day of instruction. If you are found to be in need of training, you will receive it.” Jenna knew it was not expected that she have any magic, as it only tended to run in noble bloodlines.

  “Are you certain the Queen wishes I get tested?” The test could show strange results, and her family would not be pleased if the court found out about her foreign magic.

  “Yes,” was Mrs. Hawes’s sole reply.

  The expression on the proctor’s face made Jenna unwilling to press the matter, but she considered asking the Queen about it later to avoid any problems.

  “Lessons commence the day after next promptly at nine o’clock. Can you read and write?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Excellent, otherwise you would have been given extra instruction. You will also find a schedule of classes awaiting you in your dormitory.”

  “What about riding instruction? Where is my horse being kept?”

  “We can go there now if you like.” Jenn
a followed Mrs. Hawes outside the palace past some manicured gardens until they quickly reached the stables. “This is where your horse should be.” Jenna went inside and darted past Mrs. Hawes to say hello to Bree, her chestnut mare. She looked well, but sent Jenna an image of riding, indicating she was restless. Jenna sent her reassuring images that she would soon take her out. Mrs. Hawes came up behind her with a slight frown on her face. “Is everything in order?” she asked.

  “Yes,” Jenna meekly replied. She looked up and down the stables. “This cannot be all of the palace horses.”

  “Heavens no. Only the Queen’s Ladies’ horses and some work horses are kept here. There are far bigger stables on the other side of the grounds.” Jenna was somewhat let down. She had hoped to get to see the Crown’s horses. Until her father had started trading with the Rahtani, the Crown owned the only horses in Sevalia with desert blood. They descended from several breeding pairs that had been a gift from her several times great-grandfather. Peter’s new horse was also from the desert, making Jenna extremely jealous. She did her best to keep that fact hidden from Bree, however.

  Jenna was also given a look at the park with trails that she would ride Bree along regularly. It was pleasant enough, but not as exciting as the thought of riding through the woods on the other side of the palace.

  Once back inside, they returned to the foyer where they had originally entered and began climbing the main staircase. Mrs. Hawes was talking about something. Jenna believed she was headed to where her dormitory was, but was having trouble focusing on everything Mrs. Hawes was saying because, with her new shoes, it took so much of her attention not to trip and fall on the stairs. “Miss Mallory, are you listening to what I am trying to tell you?” Mrs. Hawes had paused and was glaring at Jenna.