Chapter 9
DAZED AS SHE WAS, Johanna ended up a couple of rows back in the crowd.
Two rows of King’s Heralds lined up on both sides of the aisle.
First to come into the hall was the king’s speaker, carrying the staff. Then followed King Nicholaos, wearing his Carmine cloak. The circlet on his head crowned his severe, bearded face. She hadn’t seen him close up for a while, and thought that grief over his daughter’s death had aged him terribly. His hair used to be ashen blond, but it had gone grey. His skin had never been good, but now it resembled the colour of dirty linen. His cheeks looked hollow.
Queen Cygna walked behind him. Not even the occasion of the ball had convinced her to change out of the black dress and veil she had worn since Celine’s death. She looked down as a prisoner b
