Page 56 of Of Blood & Bone: The Young Queen

The spell is broken, and I shake my head slightly in an effort to clear it and regain my senses as I reply, “No. Not at all. I’m delighted. It’s amazing to see the progress you have made so far and I think you’ve already established a thread of trust.”

He seems thrilled with my reply and smiles broadly. “Thank you.” He moves towards the paddock gate and opens it. “I think it’s time we got him to bed down for the night.”

***

The stallion is safely tucked away in his stall and the sky is now dark and twinkling with stars. Barra whispers something to the young stallion and then turns to me. “May I accompany you back to the Khaleeni camp, Your Majesty, or may I escort you back to the castle?”

“I would welcome your company back to the camp,” I reply as I turn towards the path. He falls in step beside me and I feel a comfort in having him there that I can’t explain.

“Your fellow soldier has also recovered greatly in the past few days,” I remark.

I feel the joy in Barra’s voice when he replies. “Yes, he fares much better and it does my heart good to see him so well recovered. Again, I thank you from the depths of my soul for what you have done for us.”

“I too am happy to see you both returning to health,” I reply. “However, I have to admit I was somewhat taken aback at how aware Aaran was on wakening.”

He doesn’t reply initially, and I wonder if he knows I’m fishing, wanting to know if Aaran has shared any of his “insights” with Barra.

“Aaran has always been like that,” he answers, “and I understand how those who don’t know him can find him disconcerting. However, I assure you, Queen Elinor, you will not find a more loyal subject than he and I wouldn’t dream of sharing any insights he shares with me with anyone else.”

I suspect this means Aaran has shared some, if not all, of the knowledge he had on awakening with Barra, but I instinctively know he speaks the truth when he tells me this knowledge is safe with him. I can’t explain it, but I feel I can draw on his innate strength and he is someone I can truly depend upon.

The path becomes increasingly uneven and strewn with small stones the closer we get to the Khaleeni camp. Suddenly, a small creature jumps out from the undergrowth to my left and, momentarily startled, I jump out of its way. Unfortunately, I land on an uneven part of the path and twist my ankle.

However, before I end up going over on it completely, Barra’s arms are around me and he effortlessly lifts me slightly off the ground before setting me gently down again. “Are you all right, Your Majesty?” he asks, his voice full of concern. “Did you injure yourself?”

I shake my head, my ankle hurts slightly but nothing like it would if he hadn’t acted so quickly. “No, I’m fine, thank you,” I reply.

He releases me and I instantly feel the loss of his arms around me, as if an invisible pillar of strength I never realised I needed has been removed. He extends his arm. “Please, lean on me,” he demands, and I gladly do so.

We continue along the path, and it strikes me just how at ease I am in his company, as if I've known him all my life. It also occurs to me how this simple act of walking arm in arm with a man is something I've never done, and for a moment I imagine I'm simply a young and carefree girl, walking along a starlit path with her sweetheart. It’s a bittersweet feeling as the realisation dawns on me how much of a sheltered life I‘ve been forced to live.

As we get closer to the camp, despite the thick cloth of my attire, I become aware of his body heat mingling with mine and have to admit to feeling slightly aroused by the hard muscles of his body as he moves beside me. As we near the entrance to the camp, I can’t help musing as to how these Ellerban men have a most disconcerting effect on me.

“Thank you, Barra,” I say as we approach the entrance.

He turns to me and places his fingers on top of mine as they continue to rest on his arm. “Feel free to call on me anytime, Queen Elinor, I am yours to do with as you will.”

His face is partially hidden by the shadows but there’s something in his eyes and voice that tells me his words have a far deeper meaning. I feel a flutter of what I now know is desire low in my abdomen and for a moment I move closer to him. He doesn’t move but I can feel him holding his breath. A sound comes from the direction of the gate and the moment between us is broken.

“Thank you, Barra, I’ll remember that,” I whisper in a hoarse voice as I reluctantly release his arm and make my way into the Khaleeni camp.

***

I enjoy a simple meal in the company of the Khaleeni and then return to the castle. However, I’m restless and loath to face the emptiness of my bed. He’s only been in my life a short while, but the prince’s absence affects me keenly and I find I’m unable to settle myself. Therefore, I decide to go to the one place in the castle where I find I can calm myself the most. The library.

Ever since I was a small girl I've always found comfort in the company of books and solace in their pages. One of the rules I introduced when I became Queen was there should always be a fire lit in the library on a cool night and a candle to read by. I go there now and enter by the main door. I make my way to the fire, in front of which is a table where I always leave the books I am currently reading.

With everything that's happened in recent times and the discovery of new nocturnal activities, I haven't had a chance to keep up with my reading. Hence, the two books I was reading prior to my visit to Ellerban are waiting for me on the table. The first one,The Necessity of War And Fallacy Of Peacewas written by King Leonardo, a previous monarch of Ardvalla some centuries past. The second one,The Thorn Upon The Rose, is a romantic tragedy telling the story of a doomed romance between a fae prince and a human maiden. I find I'm not in the mood for either and decide to look to the shelves to see what else I might read that best suits my current mood.

That's when I feel it, a presence in the shadows that causes a tingle to spread from the back of my neck to the bottom of my spine. I stop in front of a row of books, my hand hoveringin mid-air, as I strain my ears to hear any sort of movement behind me.

“There's no need to be afraid, Queen Elinor,” a familiar voice informs me from the darkest corner of the room. I turn to peer into the darkness and watch as the striking form of Aaran emerges.

I’m so shocked to discover him in the library, especially at this late hour, I’m incapable of keeping a calm, queenly demeanour. “Aaran!” I exclaim, calling him by name. “What are you doing here? And why are you concealing yourself in the shadows?”

His generous lips form into a quiet grin. “Apologies, I didn’t mean to cause you alarm. However, I wasn’t sure who was about to enter, so I extinguished my candle and retreated into the shadows. Your Grand Master seems to spend a lot of time here, and I’m afraid I find him a most odious fellow and have no desire to engage in conversation with him.”

I realise from his words this is not his first time in the library and he has already had the misfortune to come into contact with the Grand Master. A giggle forms in my throat as I envisage the Grand Master’s utter shock at finding Aaran in the library and I try my best to suppress it.

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