“Not all ice,” Elisa stated with confidence. “What else did these guards say?”
“They said you’ll sit back polishing your crown while they have a sword blade shoved up their asses,” Telly said. “Telly, you are a lady, now act it. Do you know who any of these men were?” the angered queen wanted to know. “No, I had to stay behind the leaves. I could only hear them. They called you the Killer Queen,” Telly revealed. “Don’t listen to those crude men. A real man fights for his queen, under any circumstance. The men you heard were cowards. Men are here to fight and women are meant to bear children by the laws of the Gods. Those are our duties. And who knows, some day you may be queen and people will call you names,” Elisa explained. “I seriously doubt that,” Telly replied.
A few of the Ellsworth family children came over to Elisa and Telly. After some time, she saw Darryg and asked her betrothed to dance. The two slowly moved around the open area of the floor. Elisa said in almost a whisper, “We haven’t had a chance to speak since the secret pact.” “Yes, I’m quite excited,” Darryg said with a forced smile. “No you’re not,” she responded. “Pardon?” the stunned man asked. “I know you’re not excited and that is fine. You will be a king, free to pursue what makes you happy. I only ask that you let me be free to do what makes me happy,” she whispered in his ear. “I swear it, my queen,” he returned.
“It still feels strange to hear that. Wait until you hear someone say, ‘my king’,” she told him. “I think I can handle the words,” said Darryg with a smile. “So who is the lucky man?” she whispered. Darryg’s face became bright red and he softly said, “Not here. If you wish to speak on that matter, call on me tomorrow and we can talk in private.” The instruments created difficulty hearing her future husband even as the couple danced close. Elisa had heard Darryg was nervous about his father finding out and disowning him. She suffered through some awkward conversation as they danced for a few more songs.
Later that night, she saw Anderley standing by his mother. Elisa approached and said, “Hello, fine sir.” Anderley looked around several times and spoke, “Are you talking to me? You mean you remember who I am?” “That’s not fair. You know how busy I am with all my queenly duties. From sunrise to sunset the madness never stops,” she defended herself. “I know, you have to dance like a puppet for my mother and I have to dance for my father. He wants me to carry out your justice and be the headsman tomorrow. I need to toughen up apparently. You should stop down. I hear it’s a bloody good time,” Anderley laughed and Elisa joined him.
She leaned in and hugged the knight. She told him, “I will never forget you. I know I wouldn’t be here without you.” Anderley pulled her closer and tried to kiss Elisa. She pushed him away, “No, I’m sworn to another. You are a sweet man but it could never be.” The scorned man ran off.
Elisa wanted to exit the party and noticed all the noble guests were waiting for her to leave first. She found the Grizzly Bear by the entrance and walked over to him. “Let’s go pawn, I’m ready to leave,” she affectionately said. “As the queen wishes. What? The short one’s not to your liking?” the Grizzly Bear asked. “No, he is a fine warrior, but no,” she responded. “I hope you aren’t holding hope for Darryg,” he joked. “Quiet, that’s the last you will speak of him. Darryg is more of a man than you could ever wish to be,” she angrily retorted getting close to his face. “Not when his nose is buried deep in the stable boy’s arse,” he chuckled and Elisa saw the closest resemblance to a smile on his face. Without thinking, she reached back and slapped the Grizzly Bear across the left cheek with all her strength. Despite matted facial hair, the smack rang throughout the quieted hall with an echo and the remaining lords and ladies looked in awe of the young queen’s bravery.
The behemoth held his arms flat against his side and stared at Elisa with an enraged look. “Does the queen wish to hit me again?” he asked. Elisa stuck her finger in the guard’s face as she stood on her toes and put her face closer to that of the Grizzly Bear. She fought off his awful stench and spoke so only he could hear, “That depends, are you done with your unfunny japes?” “I am afraid I cannot promise the queen that,” he said. “You know what I mean,” she said, putting her finger back in his face, “When I tell you something, you will follow. Do you understand?” “I am the pawn. I forgot in my drunken state, my queen,” he apologized. Elisa stormed out and the Grizzly Bear chased after her. The lords and ladies wasted no time and gossiped about how the queen was unafraid to hit the most feared man in Donegal.
She hurried down the hall as her hairy guard spoke from behind, “This reminds me of the time I almost killed your father.” She stopped, “Why were you going to kill my father?” “I saw him slap you across the face, like you just did to me. It was a classless move for a duke to hit his daughter,” he told her. “So why didn’t you do it?” she queried. “I could have killed him easily, sure, but I would have been killed before I left Arigold. Besides, I knew…” the Grizzly Bear shook his head and looked away. “What?” the queen asked. He looked into her eyes and said, “I knew you were strong, even for a girl, and I knew you could handle it. Looks like you proved me right.”
Four days later, Lady Victoriah had the most revealing gown yet for Elisa. She squeezed into the black fabric and put on the veil, gloves and cloak. The Grizzly Bear escorted them to Justice Square. Elisa and the lady took their usual spot in the stands. Anderley stood near the block, ready to carry out justice.
“Quite a scorcher today for it nearly being fall,” Lady Victoriah said. “I’ll say. I don’t want to stay very long in this heat,” Elisa responded. “We can leave now if you like. You have seen enough men die by now to respect death,” the lady told her. “I told Anderley I would come to see him. Let’s stay for a few,” she said. “As you wish. Look at that beast, roasting in the sun,” said the lady as she pointed at the Grizzly Bear. He had sheen over his hairy body, making the man look extremely uncomfortable.
“Do you stand behind me on the rape issue?” Elisa asked Lady Victoriah. “I do, but the matter is a touchy subject. You will make the rules of a kingdom but the rules of war are long established. You wouldn’t be changing the rules of war in Donegal, but the entire world. It’s hard to tell a man of forty that the rules he’s known his entire life have suddenly changed. Rape has always been, and I fear it always will be, treated as a spoil of war. If you make sure to protect the women on our side and prevent them from getting raped, that’s all a queen can do,” the lady counseled. “If I am queen, every citizen is part of my people,” Elisa countered. “Anyone who stands in our way is a traitor and enemy,” the lady argued. “The women don’t fight, the men do. The females are only victims of happenstance. They don’t rape the men who yield in battle, do they?” she asked with force. “I respect your zeal for this topic but be sure your heart isn’t softening,” Lady Victoriah warned.
“I only want our rule to stand for justice,” Elisa said. “You can have justice but the men will still rape whether they are permitted or not. The sooner you move on from this topic, the better you will see that many other issues need to be tended to,” the lady informed her.
They lined another criminal’s head over the block and Anderley spoke in a deep, dark voice, “In the name of the Queen of Donegal, I sentence you to die. Have you any last words?” The criminal turned his head to Elisa and quavered, “My queen, please, I beg for your mercy, please.” The shaking look of desperation on the man’s face tugged at her heart. She wanted to say something to stop it even as Victoriah squeezed her forearm. The sword glinted in the sunlight above Anderley’s head and in the blink of an eye, the sound shifted from a criminal’s voice begging for mercy to a head hitting a wooden platform. They took the head and put it on a spike to place outside the main outer gate of the castle. Two skinny men dressed like guards came and dragged the rest of the body away. Blood gushed out of the dead man’s neck as the uncoordinated pair bounced the body along instead of slowly dragging it.
The
guards wrestled a feisty, stout, dark-skinned man to the stage. Elisa’s heart bounced. They turned the man around. Even through a thick black veil, four eyes reunited to become one heart and soul again. She started to have trouble breathing. My first, my last, forever my only. What did he do? Maybe this is what Lady Victoriah was talking about? I have to forget my past to achieve my future on the throne. We can never be married. He isn’t even from Donegal. Our love can never be official.
Brehan Castaway stared at Elisa until they lowered his head over the crimson stained, wooden block. Anderley pulled his sword and prepared himself. “In the name of Queen Elisa you have been sentenced to die.” Anderley raised the sword and the shimmer caught the crowd’s eye. Just before he swung down, Elisa screamed, “STOP.”
Anderley couldn’t stop his momentum in time and the sword came down so hard it stuck in the wooden stage. The razor-sharp blade had fresh blood stains but they weren’t from Sir Brehan. The sword had missed his head by only two inches. Lord Ichibod didn’t want to seem weak in front of the small public gathering and asked, “Why?”
Elisa stood up and spoke, “What is this man guilty of?” Lord Staley answered, “We caught him near the markets. He looked dangerous and we know he was about to steal.” “When did we begin killing men for looking dangerous? Not one man in this square would have a head if that were the case,” Elisa countered. Lord Staley yelled, “The man is a criminal. I don’t like being questioned by a woman.”
Elisa walked with measured steps until she stood in front of Lord Staley with the Grizzly Bear only feet behind, hand on his sword. “Guards, take Lord Staley to the block for Sir Anderley, please.” The guards grabbed the reluctant lord and put his head over the block. The lord pleaded with his queen. After Anderley pulled his weapon and the lord cried uncontrollably, Elisa finally said, “Wait, stop. Let him stand.” She walked over to Lord Staley. “Don’t ever question your queen in public or your head will roll around this stage. Even accused criminals deserve a fair trial.”
Ichibod jumped in, “Fine, we will let Lord Staley try him for his crimes.” Brehan spoke up, “Sounds hardly fair. I demand justice. I demand a trial by the Gods.” The buzz in the crowd went silent. Ichibod said, “Trial by combat has been outlawed for hundreds of years.” “Not in my kingdom, it hasn’t. I told you we will stand for justice. We must show everyone our words are more than pretty little lies,” Elisa stated.
“If this is your desire, you had better call the Grizzly Bear as your champion or I may begin to question your loyalty,” Lord Ichibod warned. Elisa confidently said, “I name the Grizzly Bear as my champion. Take the accused to a cell and make sure he is fed. I will be by to check on the matter myself. I want a fair fight for our Gods.” She looked at Brehan, “In a fortnight, you shall receive your trial and the Gods shall decide your fate. After the trial we leave for Falconhurst.” Elisa walked away until Ichibod pulled her aside, under an apple tree.
“Don’t forget who made you, girl,” an angry Ichibod said. “I know who made me. And I know exactly why you made me. You like puppets. You wanted a human puppet you could control. Well, I’m not sure what you’ve been told of my bedchamber behavior but I won’t allow anyone’s hand in my ass. Sorry to spoil your plan.” Elisa swiped his hand from her shoulder. A chill started in her neck that danced to the small of her back. She stared coldly into Lord Blackheart’s eyes and defiantly walked away.
The Grizzly Bear followed Elisa and angrily asked, “What kind of shit are you trying to pull?”
She stopped and turned around. “What is your problem?”
“You think I don’t recognize your little barbarian boyfriend. What ruse are you setting to get me killed?” he raised his voice. “Is every man a coward now? You said yourself that you were the best killer in the realm. Are you scared of a single combat fight against a man who’s half your size?” she asked. “If the fight is fair, I’m not worried. I’ve killed thousands, tens of perhaps. The dead never bothered me after the first few. What bothered me were the ones I didn’t kill. If I killed a thousand men but left two hundred living, those ones bothered me. What if one of those men came back to kill me? How silly would I look, I’ve always thought. Do you remember when I beat that bastard until he was almost dead?” he questioned. “I do, you were a big man to beat a twelve-year-old like that,” Elisa responded. “Would it warm your little heart to learn I was told to kill him by your father? He caught you kissing your eastern boyfriend by the stables and wanted me to do his dirty work again.” Elisa cut in, “He’s not eastern, he’s from the Pearl Islands.” “That’s all eastern, skin dark as night, they’re all the same,” he argued. “And what are you, just a jolly murderer who is so much better than so-called barbarian killers,” she countered. “Look, the point of this fucking talk is your father saw you and ordered me to kill the bastard. That was the only time I defied an order to kill. The bastard looked too much like that damned Harrys Pritchard. I should have killed your little lover that day but I’ll do it in a fortnight, just the same. I’ll make you a necklace with his fucking guts,” the Grizzly Bear promised.
Elisa turned and walked away. The days where she would sit idly by and let others run her life were over. Elisa wanted to be the queen of Donegal and she acted like it. Her mind shifted to thoughts about the duel. She hoped she hadn’t just effectively killed Brehan in her effort to free him. His demand for a trial by combat put the queen into a corner. She thought this fight would truly be in the hands of the Gods, the Grizzly Bear versus the Wild Bull.
She turned around again, “Do you know the leader of the Prograggers?” “Aye, Green Mamba,” the Grizzly Bear responded. “Take me to him,” she ordered. “What?” the surprised man asked. “Take me to the leader of the Prograggers. Did you hear that?” she slowly yelled. “Aye, just wanted to be sure you really want to do this,” the Grizzly Bear said. “I’ve grown tired of listening to everyone else on this matter. I will find out what they are all about from the mouth of their leader. Now take me there, I command you,” she forcefully said. “Follow me, my queen,” her guard said and led the way toward the outer stables. She felt for the horn to make sure it still hung from her neck as she was nervous to meet this so-called barbarian.
“I am sorry for hitting you last night,” she apologized.
“Are you fucking serious?” He laughed and continued, “I have even more respect for you now, everyone in that hall last night does. When you are a queen, never apologize to your pawns for disciplining them. I talked out of line and you handled the problem like a ruler should. You didn’t call someone over to take care of the big, scary man. You did what a true ruler should do. Yes, you’ve come quite a long way since your days in Burkeville.”
“What do you mean by that?” Elisa asked. “I guess your father didn’t even have the decency to tell you. Your shitty father tried to marry you off six times before Ali-Varis smothered poor old Lady Meghane in her sleep. Your father even offered you up to some real shit houses but nobody wanted to unite with your drunken disaster of a father. Not House Slidell, House Pollo, House Renmarke, House Tarill, House Nanbert nor House Butrose would entertain the thought of a union with Duke Aston Burke. And there you sat the whole time. Pretty as a fall sunset and lusted over by all the little lordlings, yet cursed by association to your father. I thought he would bury the Burke name with his overly lavish tastes and terrible understanding of ruling. It was your mother who convinced Ali-Stanley to match you with Ali-Varis and now we know the rest of the story. You were treated like a pawn for most of your life. Since arriving in Lightview I can see those days are long behind you, my queen,” the Grizzly Bear revealed.
Elisa waited under a shady tree as the men rushed off to get the leader of the Prograggers. The men weren’t very receptive to her and the Grizzly Bear until Elisa flashed the horn. She didn’t have to blow the instrument to garner the respect of the men. Elisa couldn’t understand why men would fight for a horn.
A man the same height as Elisa
with a wide, strong frame walked up to the queen. Rippling muscles and long columns of black, knotted hair with green tips matched the man’s intimidating emerald eyes. He stared at her and the queen spoke, “My name is Queen Elisa and I need to talk with you about the Prograggers.” “My name is Green Mamba. My common tongue is not a best language. Only seven other Prograggers speak it, so I get little practice. What do you need to know?” the dark-skinned man asked in an eastern accent.
“I am afraid I don’t know very much about you at all. All the stories I hear seem to contradict each other so I wanted to hear the truth from their leader’s mouth,” she requested. “I understand, queen. Stories can be changed from mouth to mouth. Prograggers are best warriors of Gama Traka. We are most of us dragon babies,” he showed her a tattoo on his hand. He continued, “At seven years we are put out in front of house when warlords come to buy Prograggers. They pay our family gold for us and we go to train to fight at seven. At fourteen we sold again to fight for person who buys us. All we have is glory in battle or die in battle and go to see Porion in heaven.”
“That sounds like slavery,” she interrupted. Green Mamba moved his head from side to side, swinging his corralled locks around, “I see how one think like that. Prograggers used to be chosen to defend Gama Traka. Then council of elders lose to triumvirate many years past, eighty. Now we sold for gold. We only have glory of killing for holder of horn. We are sworn.”
“But you don’t even know me. And you will fight to the death for me and this horn, why?” she had to know. “That is what Prograggers are. We have long history of glory in battle. We don’t want bring shame to Prograggers. All boy childs in Gama Traka want to be Progragger or go to the School,” he revealed. “What do you and your men truly want?” Elisa bluntly asked. Her fear for killers had been cast aside and Elisa’s conversations with the Grizzly Bear had helped show her that all men can be talked to.
Fractured Families (The Pearl of Wisdom Saga Book 2) Page 39