“I’ll help you with the necklace. Turn about.”
Her fingers were ice, the necklace just as chill. Kambry shivered.
“My, you are warm, my dear. Do you need to sit a moment?”
Before she could answer, Kambry heard the door to her apartment open.
Gordy’s voice bounded into the room. “Miss Kambry, it’s time.”
“You’ll sit later.” Lady Laurents marched away, the tapping of her cane a solid cadence. “Guardsman Gordanza, are you Miss do Brode’s only escort?”
“No, my lady. The others wait in the corridor.”
“Are there twenty?”
Gordy’s eyes crinkled at the edges as Kambry entered and their gazes caught, and he answered, “Twenty-four, my lady.”
“Very good,” Lady Laurents said stiffly. “We will proceed.” She started for the door and then stopped. “You’ve had the corridor checked for debris and brushed everyone’s boots? Nothing must injure the queen’s feet.”
“Twice, my lady.”
“Very good.” She gazed at Kambry. “I’ll see you in the audience chamber. Chin up.” She pierced Gordy with her eye. “Guardsman Gordanza, I leave Miss do Brode in your care. You enter through the queen’s doors, you know.”
“We’ve practiced, my lady.”
“Very good.”
Why was she hesitating? Was Lady Laurents as nervous as Kambry? She’d already been informed that the doors opposing each other in the audience room had designations specific to who was to enter by them. The queen’s entry was on the north side of the chamber, the king’s directly across.
“It is time,” Gordy said.
Lady Laurents raised her chin and exited with silent dignity, and Kambry stepped to Gordy’s side.
“What do I do, Gordy?” She gazed up at him, feeling quite small. Suddenly, she couldn’t remember the details beyond that she was to enter by the queen’s door.
His answer was kind and instructive. “The guards line the corridor. Walk between them. When you reach the center of their lines, they will keep pace. I will walk behind you, my sword drawn. Do not worry that they have their hands on their hilts. It is proper form to be ready to protect our queen.”
“All right then. I suppose I am ready. Will I know any of the guards?”
“You’ll see some familiar faces.” He smiled. “Don’t distract them. Though I’m not sure any of them will avoid staring at you. You make a lovely queen.” He gestured for her to follow him out.
He drew his sword and stood two paces behind the last guards. Kambry stepped between the two lines of guards and heard his footsteps follow her to the midpoint. Her feet pressed into the carpeted boards of the hall, reminding her of her naked soles. At her next step, the guards moved in sync with her.
Excitement and tension made her stride stutter, but she continued forward, smoothing her gait.
The corridor was endless and filled her vision. Each door she approached took ages to drop away behind her. Would anybody be waiting for her when she arrived? At last, the guards leading turned, facing two doors wrapped in pale-green cloth pulled taut. The handles of the doors shone like mirrors.
She recalled Lady Laurents telling her to breathe, so she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The narrowed vision that had led her through the corridors receded.
She lay her hand on Gordy’s arm. “You don’t think Covey will show, do you?”
“Not a chance.”
“And Russal is safe.”
Gordy patted her hand. “King Russal has been standing at the king’s doors for the past two hours with a contingent of guards. He is safe, albeit a mite anxious.”
“He wouldn’t change his mind, would he?”
“I think he’s worried that you will.”
She snorted. No, she would not change her mind.
A mellow pipe sounded three pips, then dropped into a melodic beat that made her envision a forest, tree limbs shifting in the breeze overhead, beams of light dappling the shadowed ground.
Gordy nodded at the guards waiting with their hands to the door handles.
Kambry gasped. During her entire procession through the castle corridors, she hadn’t examined the guards. Lessa stood to the right holding the door open, Cole to the left. Both had faces filled with delight and pride. Drew was in the line of guards along with Dorvea, both standing stiff, eyes forward, their jaws quivering against grins that twitched on and off like fractures of light.
She was among friends. Surely none of them would betray her.
The audience chamber was divided into quadrants by strips of satin on the floor. Looking through the doors, her gaze followed the green runner, a match to her dress, to the center of the room, where a purple runner crossed it. On the other side, a second runner ran in chocolate satin toward the king’s door. People lined the aisles, but she couldn’t focus on a single watching face. At the end of the dark runner, Russal stood at the threshold of the king’s entry point.
Their gazes caught, and she relaxed, smiling at the grin on his face.
Even with all the people present, she heard no sound in the room other than the soft piping.
“Go on,” Gordy whispered, and she stepped forward.
As she crossed the threshold, Cole and Lessa filed in with her, the guards’ near silent steps proving her honor guard continued with her. The change in texture beneath her feet punctuated her excitement. Under the thin layer of satin, she felt the solid base of the audience chamber. The symbolism wasn’t lost on her. It all looked lovely, but beneath their fairy-tale moment lay the stout stone of Kavin and the difficulties that lay ahead in strengthening their kingdom.
Across the way, guards flanked Russal.
What would happen when they met in the middle? They were to turn and head down the purple runner to the throne to her right. Russal had said it was a very simple ceremony. His description had made it sound humble for a kingdom crowning a queen.
The center aisle seemed to charge toward her, and in no time, Russal was a mere step from her. He turned, taking her hand in his own shaking grasp.
“Does your crown pinch?” she whispered.
“I only know you’re here. I’m uncertain I brought along my head, never mind a crown.”
Lessa continued along with them, a guard striding just behind Russal from his left. Did forty-eight guards stream out in their wake? Gordy was rather definite about their safety.
Glancing down, she glimpsed Russal’s feet, bare like her own. “They didn’t give you lace to wear atop your feet,” she said.
“My feet need no adornment.”
He grinned at her, and the rise of emotion in her chest nearly toppled her. He bumped her shoulder, his eyes twinkling. And she raised her chin. “Are you saying mine do?”
Leaning toward her, he whispered, “If you uncovered them, other men would covet them, and I would have to fight for the right to have you as queen. It is a safety measure.”
“You are a silly king.”
“I remember you mentioning that once before. Since you are walking down this aisle with me willingly, you must not mind.”
“I adore your silliness.” Giggling, she found the courage to look at the people standing to her right. She saw the smiling face of her old scribe master and remembered Lady Laurents had said a section in the chamber held her family and friends. She hadn’t expected it to be a full fourth of the room. Paddlyrun citizens pressed up to the edge of the runner. Her old scribe teacher, Master Muntrac, clutched a cane, his bent back pulled as straight as he could make it. His eyes, slightly clouded, were merry.
Tears smarted in her eyes. The quadrant wasn’t as full as the other three, but her own people were there to watch her join with the king of Kavin and to see her recognized as its queen. Of course, she had known her family would be there. But so many from her hometown had not been among her expectations.
Where were her parents? Had she passed them already? What of Stahn and Tia? She turned, tugging slightly at
Russal’s grip. She couldn’t find them. Had her nervousness caused her to walk past them? She clenched Russal’s hand, and he squeezed gently, raising her hand to his lips briefly.
“You are doing fine. Only a few more steps.”
Kambry raised her chin and looked straight ahead. She would not disappoint Paddlyrun. Dad and Mom were there somewhere. Where the throne usually sat stood three people. To the left was Marshal Burtram, on the right Sybil, and between them Lord Laurents, the new Lord Chamberlain. His grandfatherly smile greeted her. Each wore Kavin colors, and overhead, the stained-glass seal sent rays of colored light to pool at their feet.
When Russal and Kambry reached the end of the aisle, they stood in the seal's light. The bright-purple glints played across her satin skirt and over her arms. Russal looked as if ghostly proilis flowers were marching across his deep-brown doublet with every breath he took.
Kambry pulled in rib-stretching breaths, but little would calm her heartbeat. It was Russal’s grip on her hand and the melodic piping that turned her attention forward. Her vision narrowed on Lord Laurents, but the hum that filled her ears drowned out his voice. I’m to be queen of Kavin.
She didn’t know how much time passed, but Russal took her other hand and turned her to face him. “Let me take it off,” he said.
She blinked. Take what off?
He held their hands up between them. His thumb and forefinger on the ring that encircled her thumb. It glowed a brilliant purple. He had said there would be an exchange of rings.
But she’d never been able to remove the king’s ring.
“Ask for Kavin’s help,” he said.
Kavin, let him remove the ring.
It slid off easily into his hand and lost all color. Just a smooth silver ring.
It worked. How? She looked into Russal’s eyes.
“It’s okay,” he said. “It’s only for a moment.”
Marshal Burtram held out a small velvet pillow, and Russal set the ring on it. Sybil held a similar pillow. It already held a dull ring. It appeared wooden, plain, thin growth rings varying in hue providing the only embellishment.
The seal overhead moved, and a soft cranking sound offered a subtle accompaniment to the light rustling of garments and the piping. The seal slid with each quiet clank into a recess in the high ceiling.
The sunlight, no longer obstructed by the leaded glass, streamed in, a golden ring of light dossing them. A breeze, tentative at first, flowed in through the opening. The air stirred around them, gaining strength, the curls at her cheeks and neck brushing her skin.
Lord Laurents spoke, firm and projecting. “May Kavin be pleased.”
Russal and the citizens of Kavin repeated after him, and Kambry added her voice to the pronouncement, just able to get a whisper out.
“Exchange the Kavin rings of your covenant,” Lord Laurents said.
Russal retrieved her ring, and she took the one Sybil held out. The smooth wood warmed her fingers, and a sense of glee seeped into her skin as if Kavin thrilled at her touch.
Russal slid the king’s ring onto her thumb.
It settled against her skin, one with her again. Kambry looked at him. Why was he still giving her the king’s ring?
He tugged at her hand and nodded at the wooden ring she held.
With an uncertain nod, she slid it onto his thumb. Hers glowed purple, his green.
Russal squeezed her hand and turned to face Burty, Lord Laurents, and Sybil.
Lord Laurents raised his arms to the hole in the distant ceiling. “May Kavin be pleased.”
Voices around them rose to repeat the phrase, Russal and Kambry joining in. Paddlyrun citizens raised the volume as they repeated the phrase three times following Laurents’ lead.
Russal turned in place, releasing her hand. When she faced him, he wrapped his left hand around her right, the rings touching as their thumbs crossed. A thrill ran through her, and a breeze raced about them like a column rising into the ceiling.
Her dress and hair stirred, and she felt tugged as if she might rise with it. The air stilled, and she looked at Russal.
“Kavin is pleased,” Russal announced. He smiled at her and nodded.
Kambry licked her lips and raised her gaze to look out at the solemn crowd. Their faces held expectant expressions, bodies leaning forward. “Kavin is pleased.” Her voice carried through the room. She couldn’t help a grin that took over her face.
The solemn crowd of Kavin broke into yells, hands clapping, some individuals cupping their hands around their mouths and calling out great hoots and shouts of joy. Paddlyrun citizens joined in, and Kambry realized there were many from Konright as well. They gave tentative calls compared to the people of Kavin but added to the celebration.
The pipe sounded three pips, and silence returned.
Behind her, Lord Laurents said, “Hear the proclamation.”
Marshal Burtram’s voice rang out. “King Russal of Kavin, monarch of Greater Kavin Wood, protector and supporter of Kavin people, son of King Risler of Kavin, son of Queen Mya of Kavin, approved by Kavin Wood.”
Lord Laurents led them in another chorus, Paddlyrun and Konright as loud and celebratory as any Kavin citizen.
The pipe sounded its three calls, and silence filled the chamber again.
Kambry searched out her parents, finding them flanked by Stahn and Tia at the edge of the purple runner, and several council members from Konright stood close. Dad met her eyes, his back straight, eyes moist and his mouth in a broad smile. He gazed at Mom beside him. Kambry and Dad had talked about what would come next. Delighted with her decision, he waited to see how Mom would react, his gaze shifting to catch Kambry’s eye and giving away his excitement.
Sybil called out, “Queen Kambry do Runiya of Paddlyrun, monarch of Greater Kavin Wood, protector and supporter of Kavin people, do Councilman Brode of House Kon, do Artisan Meesy of House Runiya, approved by Kavin Wood.”
“May Kavin be pleased, may Kavin be pleased, may Kavin be pleased!” rang out from the crowd.
Kambry kept her eyes on her parents.
Mom had been smiling, dampness below her intent eyes, but slowly her expression shifted, first to confusion, then slowly to comprehension and surprise, mouthing the words that rose around her. She gazed at Dad and his smile reassured her. Mom had always stood tall, but somehow she gained a greater resolve to her stance.
Kambry could have kept do Brode or taken do Kon, but though it had never been discussed, she was just as free to claim House Runiya. Stahn would declare House Kon when he wed, but now House Runiya claimed a queen, just as she had claimed it.
The ceremony’s simplicity had required little input from her or Russal, but she had given the proclamation a great deal of thought. What name would she take officially? Each time she had thought about it, her mother’s house had seemed to call to her.
Mom’s radiant face gazed at her.
Mom had never expressed any disappointment that her house had not come into the discussion each time the age of recognition entered the discussion, but it had been House Runiya that had encouraged the binding that formed her parents’ marriage. Master Muntrac was from House Runiya. It was a small house, with few members, but all were artisans. Kambry may be a queen, but in her heart she was an artisan and now a ruler. Combining Kavin and Runiya was the right thing to do.
Mom and Dad gripped hands. As Russal and Kambry passed them, they mouthed, “May Kavin be pleased.”
As the last yells rang out, Russal guided Kambry down the purple runner to the main doors at the end. The tension behind her, Kambry enjoyed looking side to side for familiar faces between the guards spread along the aisle. Her jaw muscles pulled her smile wide, and with each face she saw, it seemed to widen.
Subjects of Kavin filled the two quadrants on her right, and the quadrant closest to the main doors on her left. Behind her on the left, Paddlyrun and Konright visitors.
Her gaze flowed back and forth, searching among each section for friends a
nd family.
The elderly artisan Joslia stood at the corner of the second quadrant, her gaze narrowed. Another woman who could deceive me. Kambry watched her, and the artisan’s unkindly expression followed them. Just as they came up beside her, she reached past Kambry, her crooked fingers touching Russal’s arm. As if struggling to loosen an expression long held, her face twisted into a satisfied mien. “Kavin is pleased,” she whispered in her dusty voice. “Turn to Kavin when in need.”
Russal patted the gnarled hand and thanked her for the blessing and advice.
Kambry wondered which Kavin the old artisan referred to. The people of Kavin or the magic of Kavin Wood?
They continued down the aisle.
“Do you know Artisan Joslia, Russal?”
He nodded and smiled at his subjects as they passed. Some reached out to him, and he gripped their hands fondly. Kambry followed his lead, accepting congratulatory pats and smiles.
“Everyone knows Artisan Joslia. She leads the artisan council and her advice is worth heeding. We must remember our strength lies in Kavin as much as within ourselves, our relationships and position.”
She still didn’t know which Kavin she was to turn to. “Russal, where in Kavin is this strength?”
His head tipped in confusion.
“I mean, do I turn to the people of Kavin or the magic of Kavin when I need help?”
“Both. Without each of them, there is no strength.”
“But I still don’t understand.”
“Each situation calls for the strength it needs. You will call for Kavin magic to support you, just as you did when you faced Covey at the edge of Kavin Wood. But at another time, it will be the people of Kavin who can best serve our needs. I called to them when Covey’s supporters attacked.”
They were coming to the stout double doors. Guards stood in front of them, and they showed no sign of opening them. Russal guided her into a turn to face the long stretch of the lined aisle that had seemed to lengthen behind them.
The populace of Kavin and its visitors were all moving to the outer edges of the audience chamber, standing three and four individuals deep along the walls.
Reign Queen Page 3