Yet somehow, from grief, anger, or numbness, Katryna did not give a second thought as she climbed the steps up to the throne and sat down.
The marble throne of Ravenrock had been designed to match the Bower sigil- a semicircle, raised at the centre, with projections of stone simmering out to resemble the top of a blooming flower.
Katryna could not get comfortable upon it. Everybody stared at her with astonishment to see a woman sitting atop the throne.
The seat was cold and hard. A memory flashed in her mind of her childhood. Her twin brother Willem, sitting in her father’s lap, asking why they made the throne so horrible to sit upon.
“Isn’t a king supposed to be comfy, father?” Willem had asked.
Giliam had chuckled before responding, in his grand yet soothing voice. “When addressing his people or presiding over the court, a king must never become complacent.”
“But we have so many other comfortable things! Why not the throne, too?”
“The throne was made from marble to remind a king of the plight of others. A ruler who gets comfortable upon their throne may forget the discomforts of others, and in doing so may be unfit to serve his people.”
All the while, Katryna had stood at the base of the dais. She knew better than to even consider asking to sit on it or on her father’s lap. It had not been a place for a woman.
But that had changed.
Katryna rubbed the ends of the armrests with the palms of her sweaty hands, realising how she must have looked to everyone else in the hall.
A woman, sitting upon the throne of Ravenrock. Such a irreverent thing had never happened.
Katryna had no intention of making herself queen, but she needed to take control of the situation her family and the kingdom were facing.
Finn had made it clear to her after finding their father and aunt murdered that he did not feel equipped enough to handle such an undertaking.
Now was Katryna’s time to act, to show everyone who had doubted her for her entire life that she was capable, that she was worth something.
With Finn standing stern by her side, Katryna straightened her back and looked out at the anxious crowd. She inhaled sharply, attempting to quell the rage simmering within since the night before.
“My lords and ladies, I am Princess Katryna Bower, firstborn daughter of King Giliam Bower,” she said with a booming, stern voice to the court.
Some members in the crowd muttered to themselves. Others appeared gobsmacked. Many had forgotten that the king even had a daughter until very recent.
Katryna shut her eyes firmly. “I am heartbroken to have to inform you… but last night, the king and his sister were assassinated in the king’s bedchamber.”
The throne hall erupted with gasps, screams, and shouts. Not a single person could contain their shock at the horrific news.
Hectar and Ellene Maarsden raised their hands to their heads in horror. Ellene began to bawl at the realisation she had first lost her sister, Queen Mira, and now her brother-by-law as well.
Many shouted at Katryna and Finn with raised fists, demanding answers, and justice.
“Where is Prince Rowan!?”
“Who could have done this?”
“Traitors!”
The noise grew. The screams echoed through the throne hall, only amplifying their sounds. Katryna attempted to speak but was cut off by more shouts and cries.
The news was appalling. The king and queen, both dead. The recent arrival of the princess back in Ravenrock, who was now sitting on the throne of all things, appeared almost traitorous.
Ser Arthus Medonia struck his spear against the floor three times so loud that it completely silenced the room.
“We will have order in the throne hall. You will let the princess speak,” the High Sword bellowed.
Katryna bowed to Ser Arthus, grateful for his stepping in. She cleared her throat. “Prince Finnigan and I, as well as the High Sword and royal physicians, have sufficient reason to believe that Prince Rowan is the perpetrator, or at least may have a role to play, in the murders of the king, queen, and king’s sister.”
As expected, the highborns were in uproar at the revelation.
“Both the Infinity Guard and the city guard have been given orders to find and arrest my brother for regicide, murder, and treason. His wife, Lady Ofelia of House Seros, is, at this time, also suspected of playing a role in the assassinations. Both are on the run and evading capture, after fleeing the castle last night.
“Anybody who attempts to protect Prince Rowan or Lady Ofelia from the law will be arrested for treason against the crown and executed. Anybody who has information on their whereabouts is urged to step forward and let our guard know immediately.”
Still, the crowd spoke amongst themselves, with some shouting back at Katryna. It was Maxim Seros, however, the father of Lady Ofelia, who shouted the loudest.
“You cannot arrest my daughter! She is innocent of this!” Baron Maxim barked.
The ageing man had his thinning black hair combed forward slickly and wore a purple and gold sleeved tabard made from fine silks. His face grew flustered as he continued yelling over all others.
“She would never have had anything to do with this! You cannot pin these crimes on my daughter!”
“Baron Maxim,” Finn said, choosing his words carefully. “Your family has always been a close ally to our House. I can promise that no harm will come to your daughter before there is a trial.”
“Your daughter has fled the capital with an assassin, my lord. She will be held accountable for any wrongdoings she has committed,” Katryna said, cutting in with a bitter tone. “The longer she evades capture, the more suspicion
