Page 62 of Sword of Desire
“As of now, I am,” she said boldly, firmly. “As the queen of Melenia, I hereby appoint myself as the commander of the Melenia army.”
She heard a slight intake of breath as the men around her reacted to her decree. She couldn’t let Lord Silas’s presence change anything. Her hands started trembling, so she clasped them together.
Lord Silas’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t respond. Since he’d already sworn an oath to her, he didn’t need to do so again. While she had a thousand questions for this man who’d raised her, with so many soldiers around, now was not the time.
She lifted her chin, addressing her subjects. “I want to meet with my captains. Everyone else, as you were.”
She stepped off the boulder, unable to believe she’d just taken control of the army. With her fate officially sealed, she moved herself into the second to last position in this dangerous game with high stakes. There was only one play left to make.
“You’ve been in charge of these soldiers?” she asked Lord Silas, as if he was just another soldier in the army and not someone she’d known her entire life. It seemed as if pieces of her heart were being chipped away. As they headed toward the back archway, she got the feeling she knew nothing about this man beside her.
“I have,” he answered.
The frail person she’d come to know had vanished and in his place, a cunning man as healthy as any other. She couldn’t let it rattle her, not when she was so close to ending this. “Lord Silas, take me and my captains somewhere we can talk.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” Silas bowed with a flourish, then led her through the archway and to the right.
Harley and twenty men followed him up a narrow flight of stairs and to a room at the end of the hallway. One of the walls was gone, leaving the room exposed to the north. She had so many questions for this man whom she had called Father. While she wanted to speak to him privately, she feared being alone with him because she no longer trusted him.
Right now, her priority was to make sure Owen was safe and protected. Whatever traps had been set, had to be revised. Since she was now the queen, she couldn’t order her soldiers to kill Lyle because ordering the death of a monarch was punishable by immediate death. Instead, she’d have to be cunning about it.
She turned to Lord Silas. “Since I am now the commander, you are hereby relieved of your duty. You,” she pointed at the man closest to her, “escort him to the adjacent room. I’ll be along shortly to give additional orders.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The man bowed and did as she instructed.
With Lord Silas out of the room, she could think clearly. “I am now your commander. I want to know what your plans are. Tell me everything.”
“Forgive me, Queen Harley, but you’re a woman,” one of the soldiers said.
“And?” She knew there was no law prohibiting her from doing this. “Just because a woman has never commanded the army, doesn’t mean it can’t be done now.” She looked at each man in the room. “All of you swore to protect me, obey me, and you are all loyal to Melenia.” Again, she made eye contact with each soldier. “It’s time for us to save our kingdom and ensure what happened with Russek never happens again. As I said before, I am Queen Harley, and I am your commander.”
Ackley
With the key Harley bestowed to Ackley, getting Rikter out of the dungeon had been easy. The two men now stood near the exit closest to the stables. Other than a few bruises and a slight limp, Rikter seemed to be in decent shape.
Earlier tonight, watching Harley walk away had been one of the hardest things Ackley had ever done. It had taken every ounce of strength not to go after her. The only reason he’d let her go was because she had a plan and seemed confident in it. Ackley had never been prouder. He’d always known she was strong and capable. Now she knew it, too.
Focusing on the task at hand, he said, “Galvin received word Owen and Idina reached Penlar where they intend to meet up with my army.” Too bad Ackley’s army was nowhere near there.
“Traveling on horseback won’t take me long to get to Penlar,” Rikter said. “I will find Owen and stop him from going to Losger. You can count on me.”
He pulled out a piece of paper, handing it to Rikter. “Here are three scenarios. Once you have Owen and Idina, give this to Idina and let her decide how to proceed from there.”
Rikter took the paper, sliding it in his pocket. Then he opened the door a crack and peered outside. “Are you sure you don’t want me to find Galvin before I leave?”
“No, I’ll do it,” Ackley insisted. Rikter needed to get out of there before anyone discovered he was missing. Ackley would have an easier time escaping since no one knew him.
Rikter placed his right fist over his chest, then left the castle.
Ackley turned and headed the other way, wanting to exit closer to the tents so no one would think twice about why he was there. When he reached the correct door, he slouched and pushed it open. Heading straight for the camp, he tucked his hands under his arms, pretending to shiver from the cold night. At this late hour, no one paid him any heed as he wound his way between the tents, a few fires still burning low. Most sentries on duty kept their focus on the front of the castle, not this side where the soldiers were.
When he reached Galvin’s tent, he opened the flap and went inside, clicking his tongue four times.
“I almost killed you,” Galvin said. “Good thing you gave the signal when you did.”
“I have a mission for you.” Ackley knelt next to him.
Galvin sat up. “What is it?” He started pulling weapons out from under his bedroll.
