The Princess of Ash novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: The Letter

Marit came to me at midnight in a nightgown, with a letter in her fist and a face.

I'd been sitting up on the edge of Auren's bed, staring at the key.

He was asleep beside me, or pretending, with one arm over his eyes.

The door opened, and Marit stood there in bare feet with her hair in a tangle.

"I have to give you this," she said.

"I should have given it to you before the cup."

"What is it?"

"I'll hit him for you later.

"He told me not to."

Auren took his arm from his face.

His eyes were open and quite clear, and he did not look surprised.

"I told her not to," he said.

"The queen asked me to wait."

"The queen."

I could hardly say it.

Marit crossed the room and put the letter in my hand.

It was thin and brown at the edges, folded and refolded many times.

The seal was broken.

It was a plain wax disc stamped with a small flame, and I had seen the impression of it once, long ago, pressed into my mother's perfumed handkerchiefs.

My hands were shaking too badly to open it.

Auren took it from me gently, unfolded it, and gave it back.

The writing was my mother's.

I'd have known it in a burning house.

My dear Sovereign,

It will have been eleven years, and I will have been afraid to write for ten and a half of them.

I am alive.

I am in the north tower of Harrowgate, in the chamber behind the iron door, and I have been here since the night you left.

Berengar keeps me because he cannot bear to kill me and cannot bear to be seen to have kept me.

Perrin Hask feeds me twice a day and tells me my daughter thinks I am dead.

I believe he is going to send her to you with a knife.

I know how he thinks.

Do not stop her.

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