by T.M. Nielsen
Chapter 19
Kyrin looked over the field of flowing flowers and then glanced behind her at the two knights seated on horses. Alric and Trox were out at the Qualsax, and she was asked to stay with the knights. Memories of the fight with the Qualsax were fresh in her mind, and the thought of how well they restrained her helped with the request for knights.
She was still surprised at how little her life changed once she married Alric. While he seemed more attentive and even more in love with her, nothing else had changed. She’d had no beatings still, and the vile acts talked about by the new brides hadn’t come to pass.
Kyrin moved forward and waded through the thick pink flowers, running her hands along the soft petals. The knights stayed closer to her and were watching around. She got the feeling they almost wished Qualsax would attack, but she would prefer if they left her alone.
Although the knights jumped at the chance to guard her, she realized it was because of the possibility of fighting Qualsax and trying to keep on the king’s good side. She knew the knights didn’t trust, nor like her. They hadn’t forgotten how she bested several of them in fights the first week she was with them, nor had they gotten over her brutal attack on Finn’s brother, Hicks, when he tried to kiss her.
She’d told Alric that the first person to call her Queen would meet her flail, but he assured her that she wasn’t a queen. In Valhara, kings and queens had to have noble blood. Those married into their position were simply Lords and Ladies.