Page 80 of Of Blood & Bone: The Young Queen

“I can see you’re shocked,” he says in a firm voice, “but just hear me out.”

I look at him through narrowed eyes but remain silent and nod my assent.

“You know my story and you’ve seen first hand how broken I am. My healing will take some time and the gods only know what bumps I will hit along the way. I also intend to find the blaggards who killed Aurora and Aonghus, which I have no doubt will necessitate my leaving you for some periods of time. I will leave either Aaran or Barra with you, on the occasions where I don’t require their skills, and I wish for them to have the full power of the realm to care for and protect you in every way. Also, the position of royal consort will allow them some measure of protection.”

I’m stunned into silence at the extent to which he has thought about this, but the more I think about what he has said, the more it begins to make sense. However, there is no precedent for this in Ardvalla.

“I'm not sure this is something I can decree,” I say to him, my voice heavy with doubt.

“For sure it is, Elinor,” he replies, his voice firm and certain. “You are the queen and even if a precedent doesn’t exist, you can set one.”

I’m surprised at his level of conviction on this matter but he seems to have given it some thought. “Do you wish me to make this announcement tonight at the banquet?” I ask.

“Yes,” he replies, “I think that would be for the best. Announcing me as your king will be shocking enough, but declaring Barra and Aaran your consorts will really put the cat amongst the pigeons. You will kill two birds with one stone, completely blindside your enemies and establish a measure of protection for Barra and Aaran and yourself.”

The prospect of watching the collective jaws of the Grand Council, The High Cleric and the Lords of Ardvalla fall to the floor is indeed an enticing one, and he is right about the built-in protection of such an announcement for Barra and Aaran. However, I’m still having difficulty with his total acceptance of my having intimate relations with Barra and Aaran. I’m not sure how this is all going to play out in the future but then it hits me – if he doesn’t have an issue with it, I shouldn’t either.

“Fine,” I reply, “I will announce Barra and Aaran as my consorts. You’re right. It will afford them a measure of protection and it will give me no end of satisfaction to see the shock on the faces of my enemies.”

He smiles broadly and pulls me to him for a kiss. There’s a high pitched call outside and we look out the window to see an eagle swoop past. The prince’s smile broadens. “The sacred bird of Ellerban graces us with its presence. It’s a good omen, Elinor.”

He pulls me tight to his chest and I gladly fall against him as I look at the majestic beauty of the mountain surrounding us. It gives me a feeling of strength I know I’m going to need to get through the next few days.

“Are you sure, we must leave?” the prince asks, half joking, half serious, and I don’t miss the wistfulness in his voice.

“Alas, I’m afraid we must,” I reply, my voice hushed with regret, “but I promise we shall return soon.”

I think about the betrayal I must reveal to him and can’t help wondering if he may return here much sooner than either of us thinks.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

I wait outside the huge doors of the Grand Hall as my ladies smooth the folds of my dress. I’ve chosen a gown of gold with silver adornments for tonight’s banquet and on my head is the Ardvallan crown. It is made of pure gold and encrusted with priceless Ardvallan jewels. The combination of gown and crown speaks of power, my power as queen and ruler of my people and that includes every single lord and lady gathered in the hall I’m about to enter. I pull myself up to my full height, take a deep breath and then nod to the guard to open the door.

The doors start opening, slowly and inexorably. The trumpets within announce my arrival and I take my first step towards my new future. I walk up the center of the hall, each step measured and precise. I look straight ahead, not making eye contact with anybody, my head raised high, my manner regal and aloof. The long banqueting tables on either side of me are full with the high lords and ladies of Ardvalla, and I take it from their flushed faces they’ve already generously availed themselves of the wine that has been readily available. I can also see everybody is placed exactly where I want them. The High Cleric and the Grand Council are all accumulated together at the top of the table on my left and Greythorne and his collaborators are all grouped together at the top of the table to my right.

Greythorne sits in the middle of them, Glindenbrooke, Montrose, Sutton and Bottomleigh fawning over him like the pathetic acolytes they are. Each of them regards me with an air of smug self-satisfaction, obviously believing they made a clever choice in backing Greythorne, and after tonight they shall holdsway over me. My lips twitch into a whisper of a smile as I approach my throne, knowing my plans for them couldn’t be more different to how they imagine the night is going to go.

I stand in front of my throne and face my assembled guests. The Master of Ceremonies announces my arrival. “All rise for Queen Elinor,” he commands, and the gathered guests rise from their seats, even Greythorne. He has written me a number of letters in the past two days expressing his fury at being refused entry to Valensia. I’ve simply replied with the same response each time, explaining that he would be allowed entry along with all the other lords. Looking down at his twisted expression I can see this has not gone down well. Still, he is here and so far is keeping himself in check, no doubt in the belief that soon he shall be joining me at the top table and sitting in the empty throne to my right.

I take my seat and the assembled lords and ladies sit back down. A serving girl pours a glass of wine for me and I smile at her familiar face. In fact, I smile at all the familiar faces I see at different points in the hall. Each one is perfectly positioned exactly where they're supposed to be. I drink my wine and avail of the meats and breads before me as it's going to be a long night, and I imagine I won't have much chance to eat once I make my announcement.

I take my time and as the first bell of early evening echoes up from the Great Cathedral I become aware of the increasing number of looks being directed my way. By the time I start to drink my second glass of wine, Greythorne and his cohort are subjecting me to dagger looks and it’s all I can do not to laugh into my glass. Let them wait. Let them stew, I think, smiling wryly to myself. I look out one of the long windows of the hall and watch the moon rise. Greythorne’s troops should be just about through the free barrels of ale I sent to them earlier thisafternoon and will soon be feeling their effects. On this night of nights, timing is everything.

The serving girl fills my glass again and as I take a sip I sneak a look at Greythorne under my lashes. He looks fit to explode and I allow myself a small giggle. Then I get the signal I’ve been waiting for and I rise from my throne. An expectant hush falls over the hall and it’s all I can do not to laugh out loud as Greythorne straightens himself in his chair and puffs out his chest.

I look down to the end of the hall and see the large doors slowly start to open. It's time to begin my speech. “High Cleric, members of the Grand Council, and Lords and Ladies, thank you all for coming here this evening and joining with me at this Great Banquet. You might be wondering why I've asked you all here this evening. Well, let me tell you that I have a very special announcement to make, which is cause for great celebration and thereafter a number of official duties to perform.” I pause, and out of the side of my eye I see Greythorne push back from the table as if getting ready to join me. His collaborators grin broadly as they lift their glasses to the serving girls and I can’t help a small smirk.

The doors are almost open all the way now and a number of the assembled guests at the lower end of the hall notice the presence of three impressive gentlemen standing there. As the doors thud off the walls the three men step forward in unison and make their way up the hall. I smile as the sight of them warms my heart.

“High Cleric, Members of the Grand Council and Lords and Ladies of Ardvalla, I wish to inform you of my recent marriage and present to you my husband, Prince Ronan of Ellerban.”

Prince Ronan strides up the Grand Hall like he is already king, and no-one can be in any doubt as to his regal ancestry.He is flanked proudly on each side by Aaran and Barra. All three are dressed head to toe in black, with Ronan wearing the outfit I abducted him in, and I can already see a number of the ladies swooning, no doubt at the sight of the eagle as it ripples with the movement of the muscles in his back. Each of them has a Cragmore sword hanging from his hip and from the assured way they move through the hall no-one can have any doubt they know how to use them.

However, it seems that’s not enough to deter some people…

“What is the meaning of this?” Lord Montrose shouts into the shocked silence as he jumps from his chair. I note Greythorne beside him looking like he has just been struck by lightning.

“Do you mean to tell us you've taken a man from outside the realm as your husband?” Montrose demands.

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