Evanna held the queen's stare, ignoring the threat in her gaze. She knew now her mother was never welcome in the court. She couldn't have been. Or was this judgemental look because she was illegitimate and her mother nothing more than the king's mistress?
Queen Iolena acted like Evanna was distasteful, but to the princess, the roles were reversed. She put her thoughts aside. This was not the place, and the gem was more important than some fight of wills and mental strategy in a court Evanna did not know the rules of. If there were any rules at all. She sensed there were none.
"Your majesties," Evanna began, but the Queen held her hand up, glancing at the guards of the walls.
"We are normally aware of a visit from other kingdoms. Yet before me is Arawn, son of.." Queen Iolena gritted her teeth together. "King Thalinal, and Evanna, daughter of Selvin and Loraven, breech my borders without an invite. Normally you are shot on site-"
