Anushka’s skin prickled, a thought flickering across her mind that the palace was Lamia’s territory, and that she had demanded Alexis never allow her inside. “Why?”

“It’s safer.”

Anushka shook her head slowly. “Tell me the real reason.”

He grimaced and walked over to the banister and leaned his elbows on it. “The Princess’s wet-nurse is dead. I need you to feed her, care for her.”

“Is there no one else?”

“None who can be spared, and besides, there is no one I trust more than you.”

“What about Lamia?” Anushka demanded without thinking. “Why can’t she care for her own child?”

“Lamia is caring for all of Trollus!” In the blink of an eye, he had her by the shoulders, fingers digging painfully into her skin. “Ten thousand are dead and rotting in the street, but how many more would there be if not for her? She does not sleep – spends day and night in the streets holding up rock heavier than anything you can imagine, and yet still you spit out your petty jealousies. What right have you to deny her this when all you do is hide in a house?”

Those were Lamia’s words…

“Alexis, you mistake me.” The desperation in her voice mirrored that twisting in her gut. “I’ve barely enough for Lily, much less two of them. They’ll both go hungry.” But Lily was half human, and would suffer more for it.

“Find a way to make it work.”

“It’s impossible.”

Alexis let go of her shoulders. “Then you must prioritize. And if the Princess does not thrive, you will suffer the consequences.”

“Lily’s your daughter, too!” The words slipped out, and she desperately wished to take them back, because she knew how he would respond. And she didn’t want to hear it. Didn’t want the fragile hope that he would change the laws for her sake to fall into pieces.

“The life of a bastard half-blood destined for servitude means nothing compared to that of a princess of Trollus.”

Her hope shattered, and she took a step back.

“Anushka, you know I love you.” His lips brushed hers, and she cringed. “If you love me, you’ll do this. Don’t make me resort to threats.”

As if she had any choice. Escape was impossible – she was as trapped as they were. The only option was to do what he asked, and then when they dug their way out, she’d flee. Take Lily and as much gold as she could get her hands on, and run as far away from this cursed Isle as she could get. Back to the north, where folk knew ways to resist the fey.

I opened my eyes to find my mother staring back at me. “Has that changed?” she asked, face full of an old sorrow.

I wanted to say that it had, that Tristan was trying to rid Trollus of slavery and oppression, but then I thought of Lessa. “What happened to her?”

“I’ll show you.”

Anushka sat in the royal nursery, exhausted and afraid, but determination burned in her heart. The trolls were close to freedom – Alexis had told her himself. It was only a matter of time.

For two weeks, she’d nursed the two babies, favoring the Princess as was required, while the hungry cries of her own daughter broke her heart. She plotted her escape; and at every possible chance, she wandered the rooms of the palace, stealing gold where she found it. One more day, he’d said. One more day.

“Freedom is very nearly upon us.”

A woman’s voice: soft, cultured, and troll to the core. Lamia.

Anushka rose, then curtsied low. “Your Majesty.”

The troll queen was dressed in a plain black dress that emphasized an almost painful leanness, her face beautiful, but in a sharp and angular way. She did not look like a woman who often smiled, but I suspected she was not often given cause.

Lamia walked to the Princess’s bassinet and ran fingers softly across the girl’s forehead. “She appears well.”

“She thrives, Your Majesty.”

“And in somewhat less than an hour’s time, she will no longer be your burden.”

There was no threat in the Queen’s voice, but Anushka all but shook with terror. Slowly, she edged her way toward where Lily lay sleeping, but an invisible barrier had materialized in her way.

“I know of your spells, witch. I know that he lets you use his power, and he’s a fool for it, because you are not half as helpless as you look. I’ll not let you near.”

“What do you want from me?”

Lamia laughed, a brittle and ugly sound. “I know he loves you. I live every day with the feel of it in my mind, and it is enough to drive me to madness. I tried to make him break off his affair with you – told him I’d kill you myself if he didn’t. For what punishment could he possibly dole out to me that I haven’t already suffered?”

The Queen leaned a hand against the barrier, the flesh of her face pulled tight as though every muscle beneath it strained. “He told me that he would not live if you were dead. That he’d tear my heart out and fall on his own sword if I harmed you.”

Anushka slammed her fists against the barrier.  “Then unless you have a death wish, I suggest you let me go!”

Lamia picked up the Princess, cradling her in one arm. Then her eyes drifted to where Lily lay sleeping. “Some punishments are worse than death, would you not say?”

A soft snap. The crack of bone. Anushka screamed and bloodied her fists against the invisible wall, and I cried along with her.