by Ann Denton
My heart dropped. I was scared for her, too. “We need to find her quickly.”
Ryan nodded. “I’m going to follow my man to the south and see what I can pick up, right after the state dinner tonight with Isla. I’ll fly through the night but be back early morning or so, that way I can be here for the rest of the state visit.”
Quinn spoke to all of us. After I question Abbas, I’m going to meet with some of my agents near Cheryn. And I’ll send out scouts to nearby mountains to look for signs of dragons.
“I’m going to the library. Maybe I’ll find some kind of for clue as to who the hell this shitehole is,” Declan said.
Connor shrugged. “Tell me if any of you need anything. But, Bloss and I will be occupied with this visit. Rasle always wants to discuss borders. They’ve been itching to take back some hills they lost a century ago. I’m guessing Isla thinks this is her chance.”
Everyone nodded, me included. It felt better, having a plan.
Ryan scooped me up and held me eye to eye, my feet dangling two feet off the ground. “You alright?” he asked.
“Of course. He was trying to scare me,” I shrugged. I didn’t bother mentioning that Abbas had succeeded. I’d felt vulnerable. And he’d nearly ripped my throat out. I couldn’t think about things like that. I had to block it out and focus, like mother taught me.
“My idiot guards won’t leave you alone again,” Ryan growled as he set me down.
My heart swelled at the protective tone in his voice. I loved it when he turned into a caveman about me. I stroked his shoulder. “I won’t turn my back like an idiot again, either. It will make their jobs easier.”
Ryan growled and shoved something small into my hand. “You’ll wear this at your wrist from now on, too.”
There was a little leather strap, made to fit my wrist. It held a sheath for a hair pin. When I pulled the pin out, it gleamed like a miniature sword.
Ryan set me down and pointed at his ribs. “Stab me, right here. Shove up under the ribs.”
I nodded. “Got it.”
He grabbed my wrist. “No. I mean, do it. You practice on me.”
My jaw dropped. “I can’t hurt you.”
“I can heal myself.”
“Yeah, then you’ll tear the room apart.”
“Better the room than you getting attacked and torn apart again.”
Connor stepped forward, “He’s right, Bloss. We don’t want to see you get hurt again.” I noticed his hands were stained. Like he’d only washed them haphazardly. It was a moment before I realized his hands were stained with blood.
“Is that … mine?” I asked.
He shoved his hands behind his back, as if he couldn’t bear to look at them. “Yes, and I’d rather not have to see that again. So, stab the sarding shite out of Ryan. Okay?”
I looked questioningly back at Ryan.
He nodded. “I’m part giant. You won’t be able to hit my heart. But you shove until I tell you to stop. I’m gonna make sure you can hit the heart of any other sarding dizzard who touches you.”
I took a deep breath. I held eye contact with Ryan. And then I launched forward, shoving that hair pin as hard as I could.
It hit his ribs and glanced off.
“Again. Lower. Thrust upward.”
That’s what the maiden said, Quinn couldn’t keep his smartass comments to himself.
I shook my head. “Shouldn’t we be getting ready for Isla?”
Ryan shrugged. “They’re dismounting. Unpacking. Need to freshen up.”
So, I ran at him again. This time, my pin ran right through his flesh and I felt the sickening sensation of pressing through someone’s innards.
Ryan grunted and held up a hand. “Stop,” he gasped. He yanked the hair pin out and pink light flooded the room.
“Once more.”
I did it again, and my aim was good.
Ryan healed himself and then strapped the pin to my arm. His rage was hardly contained. His hands shook as he snapped the leather band in place. “You wear that even in your sleep.”
“Yes, sir.”
He growled and grabbed my hair in his fist. “Dammit.” He smashed his face into mine, biting my lip cruelly. But I loved it. His rough touch erased anything Abbas had done. When he released me, he was shaking even harder. “I have a few guards to go punish and security checks to complete. Then I’ll be off south.”
“Too bad.”
Ryan’s eyes closed and I admired how his curled lashes softened the hard planes of his face. “Yeah, too bad. I was hoping to stay here for girl talk while your maid did your hair.”
My tough alpha-giant made me belly laugh. He swatted my ass. “Be good and be safe.”
“Sir, yes, sir.”
He swatted me one more time and then strode out, leaving me staring after him.
I turned to my other husbands. But Declan was already across the room, talking to my maid and picking out a dress.
Connor gave me a brief wave and said, “I’m going to grab the royal state visit handbook and I’ll be right back.” Then he disappeared into a secret passage.
Declan sat back and watched as my maid, Ginnifer, plaited my hair in a heavy braid. She had hardly gotten me into the navy blue and gold dress she’d chosen for the occasion when Quinn moved from his spot on the wall and grabbed my hand. Incoming in ten. Isla’s bears are snacking on some berries we left for them in the field in front of the castle.
I nodded. Thank you. Is Connor on his way back here yet? I need to know all the useless trite crap I need to say.
Quinn grinned. Well, if you forget anything, just lean forward a bit. Your breasts in that dress are delightful. You’ll be instantly forgiven.
Too bad Isla’s visiting and not one of her husbands. I doubt she’ll appreciate the eyeful.
I dunno, Dove. My spies say differently.
My mouth dropped open.
She’s my mother’s age.
He just shrugged.
Are you lying?
Quinn shrugged again but couldn’t hide his grin.
You little shite! I pulled away from Ginnifer long enough to chase after him.
The coward hid behind my changing partition. I heard she likes animals too! He sent me a mental image of an old lady bent over, making kissy faces at her dog. The pup trotted over, and the woman lifted up her skirts, letting the dog disappear beneath them.
You sick bastard!
Declan’s the bastard, he projected that thought to the both of us, causing Declan to look up.
“What?” Declan asked.
Ugh! I stomped back over to Ginnifer, who didn’t yet have the backbone of a long-term maid. My old maid would have grabbed me by the arm and physically restrained me in order to get me ready on time. Of course, that had been on mother’s orders, before I became queen.
I sighed, the memory of mother pulling me back to reality. Quinn sensed the change in my mood. He came over and planted a kiss on my head.
I’m going to go see what trouble I can stir up with Isla’s entourage.
Not too much.
It’s never too much with me, Dove.
I think your scale of ‘too little to too much’ is a bit skewed.
He just turned and waggled his tongue and crossed his eyes before walking out the door. I sighed.
When Connor walked back in, he had his guidebook and he was all business. That’s when Declan left me. I supposed he’d been waiting for a hand-off, unwilling to leave me alone after what had just happened.
Connor got straight to business, “Okay, so the heralds will go first. Title. Title. Boring traditional first monarch visit speech from me. She’ll approach, you’ll come down from the throne … same level. Mutual respect, blah, blah. You’ll grasp her hands and say, ‘Well, met, Your Majesty.’”
I stared at him, waiting for my next line. “Is that it?”
“For you, yes.”
“My mother always spoke for several minutes with visiting royals.”
/> Connor’s eyes sparkled, and he leaned forward to confide, “Queen Gela always liked to make the nobles wonder what exactly might have been said. It kept them on their toes.”
My eyes widened. “I might actually like that strategy.”
My knight ran a hand through his curly hair. “She was quite clever about it. Just do be careful. Isla’s a sharp old bat. And her timing with this visit is …”
“Unfortunate?” I asked. Typically, new monarchs did receive or go on state visits within the first month of their reign from the surrounding kingdoms.
“Incredibly quick,” Connor concluded. “She did keep in regular correspondence with your mother. But still, the day after your coronation seems … abrupt.” He was searching for his court-appropriate words, already practicing for the evening.
“I will try to keep my tongue under control.”
Connor rolled his eyes with a smile. “I think I know better than to hope for that.”
“What?” I said with mock indignation.
“Bloss Boss, since you’ve returned you’ve shot off your mouth to nearly everyone.”
I sighed. “That’s true. How about I’ll just keep you by my side all evening then?”
“That,” Connor leaned closer, “is the one part of the evening I’m looking forward to.”
He gave me a crooked little grin and then held out his hand. I grabbed it. To my surprise, he led me through our secret handshake, one we’d invented when we were eight-years-old. One we hadn’t done since I’d returned home. As he smacked his knuckles against mine to end the shake, Connor turned to Ginnifer, who was waiting to put my jewelry on.
Very sternly he said, “Ginnifer, you’re the only living soul who’s seen that handshake. If it gets out, I’ll know it was you.”
Ginnifer’s eyes widened. “Oh, My Lord, I’d never tell anyone!”
He wagged a finger at her and then winked. “Now you know a state secret.”
He kissed my hand. The way the light danced in his eyes and his sweet grin made my heart beat quicker. Of all my knights, Connor was still the one who made me feel the most nervous, the most uncertain since I came back. But sharing our secret handshake gave me hope.
“My Lady,” Connor bowed over my hand like some ridiculous noble fop.
“My Lord,” I made my voice nasal in response.
“Would you do me the honor of sneaking into the kitchen with me later tonight?” his pompous tone and his words were so ill-matched that it took a moment before I burst into surprised laughter.
“Secret dessert date?” I asked.
“’Secret dessert date,” he responded.
My chest swelled with excitement. It was something we’d done as teenagers, sneaking down at midnight, when most the palace inhabitants were sleeping. “I’d be honored.”
Connor’s grin was infectious. He turned to Ginnifer and said, “As her maid, your job is to help her sneak out, without any of the other knights noticing.”
Timid little Ginnifer had a gleam in her eye as she saluted Connor, my sapphire necklace flopping in her hand. “Challenge accepted, My Lord.”
Queen Isla knew the power of appearances. She rode the black winged bear all the way to the throne room. Her huge blue velvet cape (blue being the royal color of her house) trailed on the ground behind her.
Quinn sent me a very unhelpful image of her bear shitting as he walked, causing that cape to drag through a steaming pile of bear scat. It kind of ruined the effect of the pomp for me since I had to focus on containing my laughter.
The bear spread his huge black wings, making several of my nobles duck, before Isla was helped down. Her cloak was removed, and the bear was led away. Then Queen Isla slowly walked up the burnt orange carpet that was lined on either side by Evaness nobility. There were no hushed whispers in her wake. There was only a sense of awe, intimidation, and maybe even a ripple of tension in the room. Isla held her head high, appearing unaffected as she reached the middle of the carpet and waited for me to come greet her.
When our musicians began playing Rasle’s most popular ballad, I left the throne and went down the steps, flanked by my knights, Connor on my right side, holding my arm.
When I stood before Isla, I realized she was taller than me by several inches. She had cheekbones sharp enough to cut. A circlet covered her head, a plain one suited to travel. But that didn’t lower the amount of power the woman seemed to exude. She had no magic that I knew of, nor did the daughter she trained, but the woman’s personality was sharp as an axe.
Finally, it came time for me to clasp Isla’s hand.
“Well met, Your Majesty.”
“Well met, and my congratulations to you on your coronation,” Isla’s eyes roamed over my crown.
My mind blanked. Absolutely and completely blanked. I wasn’t ready for this moment. What the hell was I supposed to say? Hi, I’m queen and my mother’s dead and sister stolen. And by the way, no you can’t have your hills back? Shite. I was shite at this royalty business.
I opened my mouth, and nothing came out. I tried again. This time, words just spilled out. I wasn’t even certain exactly what they were until I replayed them in my mind. “What happens when you cross a grizzly and a harp?”
Isla didn’t answer my question. She simply tilted her head, her small court-smile pasted on her face.
I started to sweat. I couldn’t look at Connor, who was squeezing my arm tightly, trying to signal me to change the subject. Or stop. Or something. But my mouth—my stupid mouth just kept talking. “You get a bear-faced lyre.”
A corner of Isla’s lip curled up. That was the only response I got. “Well, you’re the first monarch who’s ever greeted me with a joke. Was there an insinuation in there?”
I nearly face-palmed. Shite! “No, absolutely not. I just wanted to start things off light-hearted and when I heard I only had one official line, I …”
Isla grabbed my forearm gently. “I’m only teasing, Bloss. I’ve known you since you were born.”
“Oh.” Relief flooded my system. “I’m sorry.” Gods be damned. Now I looked like a sarding idiot.
Isla’s smile was slightly wider. Like a crocodile’s before it eats its prey. She definitely thought I’d be easy pickings. She linked her arm with mine. “Now, if you want to exchange jokes with a fellow monarch, I’d suggest you choose something more like the following: What’s the scariest kind of bear?”
I pressed my lips together in thought, but Isla didn’t give me much time.
“My husband’s bare bum.”
It was very difficult not to snort. But that would have echoed throughout the throne room, so I resisted. Instead I gave a half nod, to hide just how huge my grin was. “Well done, Your Majesty.” Dammit. I’d made myself look stupid. And she’d just made me look stupider by having a better joke than me. This visit was off to a shite start.
Isla nodded demurely. “I am sorry to hear about your mother.”
“Thank you.” Pain lanced my side. The loss was still too fresh. “I’m sorry for your loss as well. I know you were great friends and allies.”
Isla patted my hand. “She was a very astute queen.”
“Astute. Yes.” Not kind, it would have been a lie for Isla to say my mother was kind or compassionate. I wondered for a second, if the same dull, lifeless comment might be made about me one day.
“She always worked hard for Evaness,” I added lamely.
“Yes. Queens must work to shape the world they want. It’s a never-ending battle,” Isla inclined her head.
I smiled up at her, “I like that.” I’d always thought of Isla as a shark, a predator. But never as a warrior. She was fighting for her kingdom. I had to admire that, even if it made her a bit of a thorn in my side.
“How’s your daughter?” I asked.
“She’s well. Keeping up the castle as I travel.” We both knew that was a euphemism. Isla’s daughter was soft. I might be struggling through this first meeting, but Corinna would never have made it
. She was delicate. The crown would be difficult for her to take up.
After a short pause, the queen asked, “Would you like to meet my companions? I’ve brought a new ambassador to Evaness as Graham is getting on in years.”
Connor didn’t react that she could see, but his finger trailed over the back of my arm, signaling me with one of our old codes. Isla hadn’t announced this. Her former ambassador was a mild-mannered man, just the opposite of the Sedarian ambassador, Meeker. I kept my face neutral as I inwardly groaned. I did not need another pot-stirrer here.
Isla led me toward the neat lines of companions she’d brought. They were as orderly and disciplined as soldiers. I scanned their smiles, disappointed I didn’t see a single real one on any face, until a younger woman came forward at Isla’s request.
The girl was a fairy, with black wings that trailed the ground and fluttered slightly as she walked toward me. Her hair was navy blue and matched the tiny tufts of hair on her pointed ears. Her eyes were lavender, wide and smirking, as she looked at me. She wore a long grey court gown and a black ring. I recognized her instantly.
“Ember!” I had to work to keep my ‘court face.’ I wanted to squeal. Mother had taken me to visit Rasle a number of times when I was younger. Ember had been my partner in crime when I visited.
Ember’s mother was a fairy and a minor noble in Rasle. Her family were traders. They had several ships and ran a caravan between our two countries.
We were the same age and had met when we’d been forced into tapestry weaving together. It had started as a horrid experience for me because I’d had no eye for it. She had gotten us out of it with her magic. Ember had been wonderfully persuasive. She didn’t have Connor’s ability to see emotions, but her parents were both fairies, so I suppose enchanting humans wasn’t terribly hard for her. In any case, she’d facilitated our escapes to the gardens where we’d sung and skipped and made flower crowns. She’d been my hero.
Ember bowed and took my hand.
“Are you the new ambassador?” I asked, quite hopeful.
She grinned. “No, my father is. My husbands and I will take over the caravan. It’s time Father settled a bit.”