Page 13 of Of Blood & Bone: The Young Queen

“No, my Queen, it is I who needs to thank you for all you have done for me. My knowledge and input in relation to this mission is but a small contribution I can make towards the debt I owe you and Kes. Sleep well, my Queen, and know that I and my fellow Khaleeni guard you through the night with our lives.”

With that she makes a small bow and continues to make her way around the rest of the Khaleeni until the bladder of wine is empty.

I drink from my cup and stare into the flames, thinking about the day ahead and my plan to kidnap a prince who I hope to make my king. The plan is dangerous and depends on many things going right, but I feel with the inside knowledge Ailish has provided it’s something we can pull off.

Whether abducting a prince I’ve never met with the intention of making him my king is a good idea or not is a whole other matter. I feel the moonstone in my pocket and wonder if the prince I plan to abduct is anything like the warrior from my dream. Even if he isn't, I can't help thinking he can't be any worse a prospect as my future king than the Highborne Lords of Ardvalla and the repugnant Lord Greythorne.

***

The White Mountain has been in our sights since dawn and it’s an impressive sight, but none more so than when the sun is setting on its crystal planes and it lights up like an immense beacon of red and orange flames. I watch as the mountain itself seems to burn, and then the flames fade as the sun disappears and gives way to the night.

The Khaleeni and I are concealed in the Dark Forest which covers most of the high terrain we have traversed in the pastfew hours. Slowly, one by one, lamps are lit in the city below us which starts at the outskirts of the castle and meanders along the length of the valley.

The castle itself is located at the base of the mountain and is a formidable fortress. Thankfully, Ailish spent time there as a child when she visited with her grandmother, who was a seamstress to the queen, and she has told us of the quickest and safest way to access the king’s quarters.

I look on its cold stone façade as it shimmers in the early moonlight, and a shiver of anticipation ripples through me. Down there, in that castle, is the man I intend to make my king. A man I’ve never met and who I first have to get out of that castle without being heard or seen.

“No problem,” I whisper softly onto the early evening breeze, and no sooner have the words left my mouth than the boom of a huge drum being struck breaks the silence as it travels up from the valley below.

Ailish smiles. Everything is happening just as she predicted. The sun goes down and every night, when the king is in residence, as soon as darkness falls over Bawna the castle drum is sounded. To the people of Bawna and Ellerban this is a call to home and signifies that the king is at his table and his people should do the same. Family and community are sacrosanct to the people of Ellerban and Ailish has explained that soon after the drum sounds is the best time to make our way into the castle. This is the time when the castle guard is at its lowest and some guards have even been known to indulge in too much ale at dinner, making them much less alert afterwards.

I kick my heels into Maneeha’s flanks and urge her forward, out of the cover of the Dark Forest and down the mountain. This is it. There's no turning back now and my heart is in my throat as I lead the Khaleeni down the mountain and onwards to the castle.

Night has well and truly fallen as we secure the horses to a grouping of trees in a copse about half a mile from the castle. Gildea and Tyree stay behind with them to have them ready for our departure, which must be smooth and swift.

Not long after, I watch as Kes flings a climbing rope over the top of one of the battlements at the back of the castle and then tugs on it hard to make sure it’s properly in place and will hold. Ailish has explained how this part of the castle is the least guarded since it houses the kitchens and the quarters of the senior staff. Nevertheless, I am more than a little surprised at the absence of any guards at all. However, the complacency in relation to the security of the castle can probably be explained by Ailish’s other revelation that no-one has ever been stupid enough to invade Ellerban or launch an assault on the castle. The fierce reputation of the Ellerban natives and how they would deal with any such invaders would seem to be enough of a deterrent.

I ponder this as I slowly make my way up the side of the castle wall with the aid of the climbing rope and try to decide if my desperation has made me the stupidest queen in all of the realms. However, I don't have time to answer my own question as I reach the top and Kes pulls me over. I no sooner have my feet under me when she moves to the other side of the parapet and removes an extendable ladder from the pack on her back. She extends it all the way and then places one end on the next parapet and the other end on the edge of the parapet wall on which we stand. Then she turns to me.

“My Queen, we can still turn back. It’s not too late, but once we cross this ladder and put the rest of our plan into motion there is no turning back. Are you sure you wish to continue?”

I nod. “Yes, Kes, this is something I must do. It’s the only way I can defy Greythorne without bringing war to Ardvalla, and if this prince’s seed proves good it will bring hope to my people.”

She smiles and doesn't say another word but turns and starts to shimmy along the ladder across the death-defying gap between the two parapets. My heart is in my mouth as I watch her go, but after what seems like an age she is signalling for myself and Ailish to follow. We quickly do her bidding and soon the three of us are standing on the terrace of the king’s chambers. It's large, much larger than my terrace at the castle of Valensia, and thankfully it has plenty of places where we can conceal ourselves.

The imposing double doors to the king’s chamber are open and I can hear what sounds like two voices coming from within. Slowly, I advance towards the open doors, taking care to stick to the safety of the shadows as much as possible.

“No, brother, it’s best if I rule alone for the time being,” I hear a strange voice announce, as if the voice doesn’t really belong to the man who is speaking. “You are still quite frail of mind and there is much that could stress you and hinder your recovery.”

“But I am the true king,” another voice announces, and it sounds similar to the first voice but is richer and deeper, “and the people need to see me. To know their King is alive and willing to lead them.”

There is the sound of liquid being poured and I edge out of the shadows to look into the room. I only see one person – one very impressively built person – almost as tall as the doors and with the shoulders of a bear. His back is to me and I can’t make out any of his features, but a frisson of excitement flutters low in my tummy as a feeling of familiarity washes over me. It’s not much to go on, but that voice and the way his coal-black hair falls just short of his shoulders – both are reminiscent of the warrior in my dream.

I edge closer, hoping to get a better look at him.

“Careful, my Queen,” Kes whispers behind me.

I raise my hand and nod to reassure her.

He raises his goblet to the air. "To the one true king," he announces to the seemingly empty room, "you stupid, crazy bastard." He then proceeds to drain the goblet of its contents and immediately refills it. I step forward and strain my neck to look further into the room to see if anybody else is there, but there doesn't seem to be. It appears he was talking to himself, and I wonder if this is the ruling prince or the prince who is frail of mind.

I signal for Kes and Ailish to join me.

"Is he the prince who rules Ellerban or is he the prince who has lost his mind?" I ask Ailish in a low voice.

She looks unsure. "I can't say for certain, my Queen. I have not seen the princes since they were young. However, he wears the robes of the king. Do you see the eagle on his back?"

I nod. He is clothed head to toe in black, and over his undershirt he wears a tunic with a white eagle embroidered into the back of it. The eagle’s wings are spread out across his shoulders and the effect serves to make him look even more impressive.

---