Page 50 of Of Blood & Bone: The Young Queen

“The Goddess, when do you celebrate her?”

I think on his question and realise he is asking when we celebrate the day of the Goddess, much in the same manner we celebrate the harvest, the winter festival and the spring moon.

“We don't,” I reply, “there is no celebration of the Goddess in Ardvalla.”

He looks shocked. “What? None?”

I shake my head. “No. None.”

“Has it always been so?”

“As far as I can recall,” I reply. “Why? Do you have a day when you celebrate the Goddess in Ellerban?”

His eyes go wide. “A day? We have a whole week! From once the spring moon shines in the sky, we celebrate the Goddess for the next seven days.”

I'm stunned to hear this and surprised to find a shocked expression on his face.

“Elinor,” he says, a most earnest expression on his face now, “it's no wonder your realm is in decline. To forsake the Goddess is to forsake life itself. Honour the Goddess and she will bestow her gifts of fertility, abundance and plenty upon you.”

“Prince Ronan, it’s simply a legend, a fanciful tale concocted around the fires of Ardvalla over the centuries. I wouldn’t put too much store in it,” I suggest, a teasing grin on my face.

“And yet, you worship the male gods in Ardvalla?”

I nod. “Yes, of course.”

“And it has never occurred to you to worship the Goddess? Any goddess?”

I think upon his words. “No,” I admit, “it hasn't, but now that you mention it, perhaps it's something I should think about.”

“I suspect some of your subjects have already thought about it,” he says, as he takes my hand and leads me to the rock. He brings me around to the back where the water for the streamsprings and there at the base of the rock are gifts and small shrines. Fruit, flowers and colorful ribbons. Locks of hair, pieces of fabric, and small scrolls.

My mouth falls open in shock and I bend down to take a closer look. “I had no idea people were worshiping the Goddess,” I say in a hushed voice. “The Holy Cleric makes much of worshiping the gods but won’t hear mention of the Goddess.”

“I think it’s something you need to consider,” the prince says as he helps me up. He places his hand on the rock and whispers something in what I presume is Bawnish.

“Do you mind me asking what you said?” I ask in a low voice, not really sure if I should ask him but too curious not to. I hadn’t expected to discover this more spiritual side to him and I find it intriguing.

“I told her how sorry I am for what happened to her here and I thanked her for all the gifts she has bestowed upon my life, and I asked her to bless our union.”

There’s a depth and gravity to his voice I haven’t heard before, and I realise he runs much deeper than I’d previously thought. For all his gruff and forthright ways he has a deeply caring and sensitive side that I find most heartwarming.

“Do you wish to say something?” he asks, inclining his head towards the rock, and I'm just about to respond when the sound of horses’ hooves comes from not too far in the distance. By the sounds of it there are a number of riders. The prince grabs his stockings and boots and pulls them on, then he partially shelters my body with his as we walk around to the front of the rock.

I’m surprised to see a number of my soldiers approaching.

“Do your soldiers normally pursue you on your personal rides?’ the prince asks.

“No,” I reply as a shiver of concern ripples through me.

The riders slow on their approach and finally stop a few feet in front of me and the prince.

“Your Majesty,” the lead rider says, “his Eminence the Grand Master of the High Council commanded us to come find you and make sure you fared well.”

I step out from behind the prince and, in a confused voice, ask, “Did the Grand Master give any reason why he thought I might not fare well?”

With a pointed glance at the prince the lead rider looks slightly nervous. “He didn’t give any one reason, my Queen, rather I feel his concern was borne by a number of things.”

“Well, as you can see, I and the Emissary are quite well,” I reply in a calm voice that belies the anger I feel towards the Grand Master. This is a new level of intrusion he has perpetrated upon me today.

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