The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

proof that I had most likely moved beyond being
overwhelmed.
“Though I have a feeling you are more than capable of
protecting yourself,” she commented as she stared ahead.
“I am.”
There was a faint smile on her lips when I glanced over
at her. “You like gardens?” she asked, but it was more of a
statement than a question.
“I do. I find them to be very—”
“Peaceful?”
“Yes.” I smiled tentatively. “Do you?”
“Gods, no.” She laughed, and I blinked. “I am far too…
what does Valyn say? Too frenetic to find peace among
flowers and greenery. These gardens,” she said as she
gestured with her arm, “are beautiful because Kirha has a
green thumb and took pity on me. She enjoys spending
hours removing spent blossoms, and I enjoy spending those
hours distracting her.”
“I finally met Kirha today,” I ventured. “She has been
very kind.”
She nodded. “That, she is.”
I took a deep breath and said, “But I don’t think you
wanted to speak to me about Kirha.”
“No.” Glancing at me, her gaze flickered over my face
before returning to the pathway. Several moments passed.
“I would love for us to talk about something normal and
mundane, but that will not be today. I wanted you to know
that we were aware of you when you were the Maiden,
before Alastir returned with news of Casteel’s intention to
marry you. Not that you were the child he had…met all
those years ago. Only that there was a girl the Blood Crown
claimed was Chosen by the gods, one they called the
Maiden. Admittedly, it was not news we paid much attention
to. We figured it was some ploy the Ascended had created
to strengthen their claims—their behaviors, like the Rite.”