Page 32 of Of Blood & Bone: The Young Queen

“There you go again, Holy Cleric, calling it a proposal when it is anything but, and I didn’t say I wouldn’t respond, merely that I believe I shouldn’t. How wonderful my life would be if I could simply do as I wish. Suffice to say I’m working on a solution, but no final decision has been made yet and I will inform this council of any such decision when I see fit.”

The Holy Cleric looks most displeased with my response but before he can say anything the Grand Master jumps to his feet. “My Queen,” he announces, “I would strongly urge you not to take too long in making your decision, there is no benefit to be gained by irking Lord Greythorne any further. On the contrary, it would perhaps endear you to him should you show some enthusiasm for his proposal.”

I’m so incensed by his words, I can hardly breathe.Irk Greythorne? To hell with irking him, I plan to downright infuriate him!Somehow, I manage to get my fury and breathing under control. I rise from my seat and deliberately walk very slowly over to the Grand Master.

The Grand Hall stills in silence and it’s as if time itself has stopped as I look him in the eye. “It would seem, Grand Master you need a reminder of who exactly rules this realm. Kneel before your queen,” I command, my voice as sharp as cut glass.

His mouth falls open in shock and he stands there looking at me like a stunned mullet. “Now!” I bellow into his face.

He drops to his knees and stares at the floor. “I’m s...s...sorry, my Queen,” he stutters. “I didn’t mean to cause offence.”

I turn to face the Holy Cleric and the rest of the council. “You would all do well to remember that you are simply here in an advisory capacity. I am the queen of the realm and ultimately the decisions that affect the fate of this land rest with me. I won’t be rushed or harried when it comes to making those decisions, and now I am taking my leave of this meeting. I’ve had quite enough of this assembly for one day.” Let them put that in their pipes and smoke it.

With that I gather up my skirts and march from the room. As soon as the door slams shut behind me I lean my shaking body against it. I’ve never spoken to the council like that and I’m not sure what came over me to speak in such a manner now.

All I know is, since returning from Ellerban I somehow feel different. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I feel less shackled by my duties as queen and have a growing sense of possibility – the possibility that my reign can be different. I can be different.

I’ve also had an unfamiliar hum of energy buzzing through me all day which has put me slightly on edge. I’ve found it increasingly difficult to concentrate and feel distracted, but I don't know by what, like I've been upended by an unseen force and knocked off centre.

I straighten myself against the door, take a deep, steadying breath and set off at a quick pace for my chambers. The amount of time it takes me to get there isn’t enough for me to burn off the anger simmering in my veins or the strange energy I’ve felt all day. The latter has now transformed into a heightened tension and I feel as taut as a bowstring stretched almost to release point.

Release. I realise that’s exactly what I need and I know just where to get it. I quickly free myself from the confines of my gown and don the black leather and war cloth of my Khaleeni uniform. I pull on my boots and fasten the cloak around my shoulders, grab my sword and press the stone that opens the secret passageway to the Khaleeni camp.

Fifteen minutes later I’m leaning over the balcony of the main building of the camp, watching Kes and Ailish practice their swordplay in the courtyard below. The clash of metal on metal and the flash of sparks from metal on stone heightens my restlessness and I dash down the stairs, eager to join in.

I wait until both warriors have parted before asking if I can join.

“You can take my place, Majesty,” Ailish replies. “I have some business I need to attend to.”

“You mean you need to leave before I wipe these stones with you.” Kes laughs.

“Dream on, Commander,” Ailish laughs in return as she slaps Kes across the back and turns to walk away.

Kes faces me, her sword raised upwards, directly in front of her face. “I find I’m in particularly fine form today, my Queen, so I hope you’ve come prepared to fight.” There’s a gleam in her eye that tells me she’s invigorated by her sparring session with Ailish and that suits me just fine, as I need to expend this peculiar energy coursing through my veins before it consumes me.

I raise my sword too, my breath forming a misty shadow on the steel as it rests only a couple of inches from my face.

“Perfect!’ I exclaim as I move to make the first strike. Of course, Kes blocks me with ease and with a challenging smirk announces, “Oh come now, my Queen, you can do better than that.” And so it begins. I lunge, strike, parry, jump, roll, blockand bend for the next half hour, all the while being matched by Kes.

“I see I’m not the only one in fine form today,” Kes growls in my ear as we tangle together again, our swords locked around each other. “Tell me, Majesty, what is it that has you so fired up this afternoon? Or should I say who has you so fired up?”

I glance into her eyes and am surprised to see amusement twinkling in them. Kes is not prone to moments of mirth, especially when brandishing a sword.

“What do you mean?” I ask, as I propel myself backwards by pushing off from her chest.

“I don’t mean anything,” she teases. “I’m merely observing how you have a certain energy about you today, and in my experience there’s usually only one thing that can cause such, shall we call it, frustration.”

I take advantage of her momentary pause and strike. “Oh really? And what might that be?” I ask as my blade clashes with hers.

“Oh, my dear Queen.” She sighs. “There’s only one thing on this earth that can affect us women so, and that’s a man.”

I’m so stunned by her response I momentarily lose concentration, and of course she capitalises on it immediately and within seconds the tip of her sword is at my throat.

I push it away with an irritated swipe of my arm. Her getting the upper hand on me stings but the possible truth of her words stings even more.

“Oh really?” I ask. “And do you have any particular man in mind who you think can affect me in this way?”

She laughs. “Elinor, I think you know to whom I’m referring. You dined with the prince last night, did you not? The sparks have been positively flying between you two ever since we grabbed him off his terrace back in Ellerban.”

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