Page 36 of Of Blood & Bone: The Young Queen

I try my best to hide my shock at her words as I’m pretty sure she just hinted I should consider keeping the Ellerban soldiers here, and not only that, but I should find a way to bring more of their brethren to join them.

I smile as a feeling of hope blooms in my chest. If I should have the backing of a highly respected figure such as Myreena for my plan then it will be a lot easier to implement. I head in the direction of the armory feeling much lighter than I have for months.

Chapter Fourteen

“His eminence, the Emissary of Ellerban,” The Master Of The Table announces as the prince makes his way into my chambers, or more correctly, the prince and a bouquet of four dozen fire lilies.

He smiles and bows before me. “Your Majesty,” he says as he presents me with the flowers.

I'm quite taken aback at this gesture and momentarily lost for words.

“I trust my choice of flower pleases you?” he asks.

“Y...ye...yes,” I stutter in reply, “it's just that I hadn't expected to receive them from you since you arrived here without any coin.”

“Ah, indeed.” He chuckles. “A matter I remedied this morning when I met with your Master Of Coin and he agreed to advance me a small line of credit.”

My eyes widen in surprise. “Are you telling me my Master Of Coin extended you a line of credit without consulting me first? How on earth did you manage that?”

His smile widens and he winks. “I think you would have realised by now, Queen Elinor, how persuasive I can be.”

I shake my head and invite him over to the table. “Come, be seated.”

The Master Of The Table fills our glasses with wine and the serving girls leave a selection of sweetbreads and sliced apples before us. As before, they have been instructed to leave myself and the prince alone when they are not attending to us.

“So, what else did you get up to today?” I ask. “Did you strike any other deals I should be made aware of?”

He pops a sweetbread into his mouth and chuckles. “No, some coin was all I required for the moment, so I didn’t need to exert my charm on anyone else. Instead, I took the opportunity to explore Valensia.”

“And what do you think of the royal city?”

“It’s as beautiful as they say.”

“Thank you.”

He remains uncharacteristically silent and I feel there is something he has left unsaid.

“And?”

“And I now realise the truth of your words regarding the crisis facing Ardvalla. Your schools are near empty and your streets devoid of children’s laughter. And whereas your city is beautiful, its foliage and flowers lack fullness of colour and vibrancy. The fire lilies, for example, in Ellerban you would think they were taken straight from the flames such is their glow, but as stunning as the ones I brought you are, they resemble a poor imitation. I fear whatever it is affecting the humans of Ardvalla extends far beyond what you realise. I felt a waning of life as I walked around your city today, Queen Elinor, and I believe your realm is slowly dying.”

My blood stills at his words and an overwhelming feeling of sadness fills my heart at the truth contained in them. One of the first things that struck me on my short visit to Ellerban was the sight of children playing in the streets and the sound of their cries and laughter at the castle. The prince is right, such sights and sounds in Ardvalla are a rarity rather than the norm.

He takes my hand in his. “Come now, Queen, don’t look so sad,” he says in a soft voice. “You and I can fill this castle with children. We can be the change your realm needs.”

Yet again my eyes go wide at his words. I had envisaged the possibility of birthing one child, maybe two, but the possibility of a whole brood had never occurred to me. His face is the picture of sincerity and somehow his optimism lifts my spirits, and I feel a giggle bubbling up from deep within me.

By the time it reaches my mouth it pours forth in a joyous laugh.

“Prince Ronan, I wish I shared your faith in our ability to procreate, but you are, as yet, an unproven entity and I am Ardvallan, and if what you believe is true then my fertility may also be compromised.”

He releases my hand and that strange look comes over his face again, as if he is being pulled apart by some hidden agony.

“Believe me, Queen Elinor, when I tell you I will have no problem putting you with child. I am not such an unproven entity as you think.” He grabs his glass of wine and drinks generously from it as I am left to ponder if his words mean what I think they mean.

Does he already have children? Is he promised to another? If so, how can he agree to become my king?

I’m just about to ask if he is free to marry me when the serving girls enter to clear the table and present the soup and bread.

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