To the hand’s owner, I asked, “This is because of the ‘frantic mind’ comment, isn’t it?”
“A little,” answered Odet, who had changed into a cotton gown of rich burgundy. “Anyway, now that you’ve authorized us to declare you publicly, something like this had to happen. Just be happy we didn’t invite all of Ecrin. When you get to your seat, raise your glass and make a quick speech giving your thanks or something. Nothing grand needed.”
We stopped on Beatrice’s left, where an empty seat lay. Odet walked around to take her place on the queen’s right, next to Elisa, Gerard, and Bell. The clapping died down as I reached for my red wine glass.
After a moment to let Elisa’s ovation end, I turned to face the esteemed assembly and said, “Um, thank you… While I am… I am not from here, yet no place in the world has felt closer to home for me. I should be scouring the world right now for an enemy that threatens all of Orda, but when I learned war had come to Alslana, I reacted in the same way your native soldiers did—I dropped everything to come and defend her. Be assured that my sword and dragon’s flame will rain down on any who dare attack the people we care about.”
As I rose my glass to signal the end of my little speech, one of the men who donned glass armor much like Gerard’s said, “Hear! Hear!”
For the first time in my life, I gladly gulped down an entire glass of wine.
When I sat on the hard chair, Beatrice said, “An affable speech, Master Eberwolf. I really do hope you feel as though Alslana can be your home, no matter what the future holds. To that end, I am reminded that a permanent residence has been waiting for your approval for a while now. It’s an old lighthouse a mile north from here. Father asked it to be repaired before leaving for Uthosis. It’s not majestic, but it’s fairly isolated on its rock-strewn shoreline and obscured by palm trees. It’s the closest we can have you to the palace without having your dragon cause a disturbance every time he’s summoned. I told your companions about it after you left them here, so they are likely there now.”
“I’ll go inspect it once our business is finished, then.”
From there the talk from the other guests was directed at me for the rest of my time there. I said little on my past, of course, but I had plenty of fresher accounts to regale them with. It was the most delicious meal of fish and soup I never enjoyed. Using my recent arrival as a good excuse, I left for the guest tower as soon as I found the opening.
I laid half asleep on the feather bed for over an hour before hearing the expected knock.
Getting up with a sigh, I said, “Come in.” The High Guard captain opened the door and closed it once the queen crossed the threshold. “Odet is not going to come rushing up again, is she?”
Sprouting a small smile, she shook her head. “Not this time, I suspect. Indeed, my current intent should be more in line with her wishes. I realize you will not answer my proposal now, and there’s no need to, but perhaps I did drop too much on you too quickly, and for that I apologize. The pressure of my father leaving compelled me to act too impulsively.”
“There’s no need for an apology, Your Grace. It was a surprise, but the offer made the lull times more bearable. I only hope this next offer lives up to the last.”
“No, dragon knight, I’m not here to shock. My desire is to learn a little more of the man I proposed to. I may believe you honorable, which I hope is reciprocated, but this alone makes too fragile a foundation for a blissful marriage to stand on. At the very least, I hope to become proper friends. I do not want to someday request your aid and have mere formality oblige you to act. Ugh! Listen to me! Even now I cannot help sounding so formal!”
“It’s all right, Your Grace. It takes time to fill a shallow lake, as my dragon would say. Let’s take it at its natural pace.”
“And we shall, but a few formalities should still be dropped to promote a more personal relationship. For one, when we are among friends and family, you will refer to me as Beatrice and I will refer to you as Mercer. Agreed? Or do you prefer Cyrus?”
“Mercer is fine, Your Gr-, uh, Beatrice.”
The queen nodded and sauntered over to one of two velvet covered chairs facing a small table. Taking her cue, I sat in the opposite one.
“Tell me, Mercer, what is your impression of me?”
“Impression?”
“Yes. I’ve recognized for a while now that I can be too serious minded for most, even before Mother died.”
“Something we have in common, then.”
“So, do you think two serious minded people can build a future together?”
“A future? Sure, why not? But if you’re talking about a future with a kingdom and heirs at stake, well, I can’t say.”
“Are you one who believes there is only one true love for every person in the world? One person that can provide the balance necessary for a person to reach their true potential?”
“I’ve never brooded over such things. What do you believe?”
“I proposed to a stranger, so you should presume that I do not believe it to be impossible for love to flower anywhere. I love two sisters and two parents more than I love myself, so does that mean there’s no more love to give? Is there somehow a finite amount of love that is possible? I find it difficult to comprehend such a limit exists.”
“A theory I can’t dispute now, but I will argue, at the very least, love is not possible with everyone. You seem to assume we’ll naturally fall for each other. May I ask why?”
“Because I can imagine greater obstacles. In fact, I can recall proof that a powerful love can grow between two people under similar circumstances to our own.”
“And that proof is?”
She stared out the open window when she said, “I’m going to tell you something even my sisters are not privy to.” She looked back at me. “My father was not my mother’s first love. She told me that herself after noticing one of my closest friendships being strangled by divergent expectations. He wanted more from me, but I could not return the desire, not when I did not see him as worthy.”
“Worthy? Of you? Or as a king?”
“To this day I do not recognize which of those possibilities coerced me more. My point is, Mother wanted me to understand that I was not alone in suffering through the plight those of royal birth must go through. We are obliged to choose a spouse who will not only strengthen the future of our family, but our present selves. Often neither is accomplished.”
“Did she tell you who this first love is?”
“Yes. One Leon Cardalini, eldest son of a prominent Brey Stor mercantile family. Quite ironically, she first met him in a ball his father tried wooing my mother in. Gods, he could have been her grandfather. At any rate, Leon caught my mother’s fancy as soon as he was introduced to her. He acted shy around her at first, but she liked him enough to tease him out of his bashfulness. She ended up falling for him.”
“What happened after that?”
“War happened. Etoc was testing my ailing grandmother’s competence by threatening to start a full-fledged invasion. Our largest northern army only averted a surprise attack due to a critical piece of information stolen by a special unit.”
“Ah, the same one your father belonged to.”
“Yes. My parents met in a secret ceremony commending the soldiers for their bravery behind enemy lines. Still, despite befriending Father afterward, she still loved Leon…”
“But.”
“But there came a point when she realized Alslana needed a warrior king more than a merchant’s son. Mother knew Alslana would benefit in the long run from such a choice.”
“And what does this have to do with our potential relationship?”
“Because Mother believed, or was perhaps convinced, that father’s decisiveness would also benefit herself in the long run. Leon might have been her love, but he remained unassertive and meek when it came to politics and war, something my mother needed to bolster within herself. She made a difficult choice, but it became easier as time we
nt on, as she learned to love my father more than Leon. It’s not as though she stopped caring for him, but she understood what needed to be done, and love budded as her reward.”
“And you expect the same will happen between us?”
She chuckled once. “I understand such an outcome is not realistic for everyone, but I did not propose to just anyone, did I? If two people can at least respect one another’s viewpoint, enjoy each other’s company, then I believe the ingredients for a greater bond can propagate, whether that be as trusted friends or spouses. Do you not agree?”
“When you put it that way, no, I can’t disagree with you. However, if you’re assuming any hesitation on my part comes from the notion that I’ll lose my chance with my only true love, then let me assure you that no such idea has crossed my mind. I don’t imagine it will take a great leap to love you, Beatrice. You’re intelligent, composed, self-aware, cultured, and I didn’t even mention your beauty yet, which I could do ten times over and still not get close to doing it justice.”
She lowered a mildly reddened face. Brushing back one of her few loose locks of hair, she said, “Flattering words, thank you.”
“Any hesitation on my part comes from… Huh, I was about to lie to you. Well, you told me something you haven’t told your sisters, then permit me to tell you something I’ll never tell my closest friends. The real reason I haven’t jumped into your arms and declared myself king is because I’m afraid I won’t live long enough for all that to matter.”
Her mien repressed the softness I brought out when I complimented her. “What do you mean? Do you speak of your corruption? Has it not been suppressed?”
“It’s not that. Uh, at least it’s not only that. Aye, the Advent know I’m corrupted, and they know a little more corruption will break the seal keeping it all back, but more than that, a single thrust of a sword or spear could end me. A single spell or arrow I couldn’t dodge might do the deed. Or maybe a random rock falls on my head, knocks me unconscious, and then a troll steps on me.
“You’ve suffered enough without having to worry about someone you care for dying in a battlefield I still feel drawn to. Even if I returned to announce that every Advent had been slain, I know I would only seek another battleground to keep me occupied. One of those battlegrounds will be my last. Maybe I do live to be a hundred, but it doesn’t really matter what happens—it’s what I feel now.”
After a moment of silent contemplation, the queen said, “Serious minded indeed, but you only strengthen my original point.”
“How?”
“Do you think my father enjoyed being transplanted to a life away from his comrades? Where rather than facing Alslana threats with his warrior’s wit and honed sword he had to contend with nobles and finances using dull legislation and duller etiquette? Do you think he enjoyed being, as he likes to put it, housebroken? He didn’t, but as his love for Mother grew, it became easier. Have you not considered that I will do my utmost to make the transition easier for my husband?”
“I have no doubt you will try.”
I studied her for a moment, which turned into an improvised experiment. At first she let me carry on with my silent inspection, but as any regular person would, she became uncomfortable half of a half minute later.
“What is it?”
“I was wondering how long you’d be comfortable with silence.”
“Long enough for you?”
I shrugged. “What ever happened with Leon?”
“Mother said he sold everything he inherited from his father and became a wanderer. He evidently married someone from Somesh before continuing his nomadic journey. Mother’s last appraisal had him in Vlaukris three or four years ago.”
Tired of sitting, I stood up and walked toward the window. Beatrice followed me a moment later.
“What are you thinking, Mercer?”
“I’m thinking there’s yet time to sort out this shit. Er, sorry.”
“Sorry? About the cursing? I’m old enough to have heard it all from my father alone.”
“Doesn’t mean you enjoy it.”
“You’re right, I don’t, but only when it’s used too profusely. It loses its power and heightens in annoyance when done so.”
“So that’s something else I learned about you. You asked me what my impression was of you. Tell me, what’s your impression of me?”
The queen leaned against the window’s vertical edge and inspected me with the same aloof look I had studied her with. “Something I’ve come to appreciate from my father and those protecting my family is a warrior’s candor. Nobles, bankers, and merchants prefer talking in ever-growing circles. You share this warrior’s forthrightness, but with less crudeness. It’s a good balance. I only hope you are not acting differently for my sake.”
“I don’t think I am.”
“Good. Physically, however, you can stand to cut your hair a few inches. Perhaps curling it as well. I also have in mind ensembles that will surely bring out the best of your lean, toned physique without losing any elegance. Cloaks and armor on a man may stir the heart of many lasses, but I am not among them. After all, a proper gentleman should be outfitted properly.”
“I agree, only I hope you don’t expect me to be described as ‘a proper gentleman’ anytime soon.”
“No, but as you said, we have time for both of us to adjust to the other. As long as Father is alive and in Alslana, he will act as the de facto king for me. To be sure, Odet is doing a fine job in his absence. She makes me dreadfully nervous placing herself in harm’s way and promoting high-risk operations, but I cannot deny Father would do much the same. I envy her freedom. She could fly off with you tomorrow and no one would bat an eye, but if I wished to do the same, everyone would no doubt panic. Indeed, going beyond the palace gates is an ordeal.”
“It won’t be for any companion or wife of mine. Say the word and I’ll have Aranath take you anywhere you wish.”
As though I said something Elisa would say, she shook her head. “That is both a sweet offer and a waste of those valuable crystals you carry. Regardless, when I said ‘everyone panics,’ I included myself.” Looking down the window to a small lemon tree growing below us, she said, “I’m afraid I fear the outside world more than I should.”
I stepped closer to her. “See, that won’t do. Yes, the world contains the stench of swamps, the squalor of unkempt cities, and all manner of dangerous beasts and criminals, none of that can be denied. All the same, looking back, I can still admire the snowcapped peaks of mountain ranges and the emerald forests hugging them. I can still relish the weightlessness that comes when Aranath dives toward the ocean. Even the Hadarii has its charms.”
It wasn’t until now did I see how inheriting her father’s height allowed her spring green eyes to stand only an eyelash below my own. Her slender body’s rhythmic sway did not carry the confidence of a warrior, but even the queen’s unguarded gaze conveyed a deep-rooted clout she must have been unaware of. Had I been anything other than a dragon knight, my next words would have staggered my tongue.
“Despite all the blasted shit I’ve been through, I’ve come to appreciate such beauty when it stands right before me. So I have no doubt Alslana’s queen deserves to appreciate these same scenes and sensations. No one I care for will stay imprisoned behind locked doors, not when I can burn them to nothing. If you wish to be that someone, then you’ll someday trust me to carry you atop a dragon, seeing the world like a proper queen should. Besides, I dare you to imagine a safer place for a queen to be than riding with a dragon knight.”
“I cannot.” She glanced downward. This is when I noticed that my right hand had taken her left at some point. “I-I suppose if having a dragon knight by my side doesn’t comfort me, nothing will.”
Despite saying them quietly, her words sounded so loud. I realized it was because the lips that said them loomed a mere inch away from my own. Unbeknownst to me until that instant, my head had been moving toward those expanding ruddy lips. Their tender imp
act with mine bred a sensation akin to a sucker punch to my conscious and which stupefied my body. Her flavored tinge of surgery-like wine shifted into my own mouth during the charged seconds the kiss lasted.
On untying ourselves, we each gave the other a furrowed brow and cocked head. Both of us were trying to figure out who had cast the spell. Without an open admission, we concluded that identifying the caster was unimportant, but a rasping on the door parted us a full stride each. The queen turned back toward the window as my marginally creaky voice told the knocker to come in.
“Mercer!” said Elisa, who walked ahead of the middle royal child. “Odet says you won’t train me, but you will, right?”
“I fear she’s right.”
“Aww, why not? I’ll be good, I promise!”
“I have no doubt you would be, princess, but I can only teach those who have already mastered the basics. So master them and I promise to add my contribution.”
“Really? You’re not just saying that?”
“Ask anyone I’ve met whether I’ve ever said anything just for the sake of it.”
“Okay, but remember you promised. Can I at least see your dragon friend?”
“Before I leave.”
Turning back around, Beatrice asked, “And when will that be?”
“Tomorrow, or maybe the day after.”
“Not before you fulfill your promise to me,” said Odet.
“Ah, I was hoping you’d forget about that. Fine, we can train tomorrow and I’ll leave the day after.”
“I want more than a single day of training.”
“Even a princess can’t get everything she wants.”
“Careful now, an accident might befall you tomorrow that keeps you here for a week or two.”
“I’d like to see this accident try.”
Picking up Elisa, the queen said, “And I’d prefer not hear any talk of ‘accidents,’ theoretical or not. Mercer, where will you go first?”
“Gremly, and I plan on only taking Ghevont.”
“Why?” asked Odet.
The Dragon Knight's Soul (The Dragon Knight Series Book 4) Page 3