The Queen's Knight(ch 4)

“It musn’t happen again,” Dahlia muttered as she pushed the hair from her face and tugged a robe around her shoulders. “Vanya!” she shouted, hoping her lady in waiting would hear her through the thin walls. “Vanya, I’m ready!”

It was nearly nine in the morning, and she had meant to be dressed by seven. The papers that needed her seal would just have to wait until after her meeting with King Voss.

She glanced at her reflection in the mirror and cursed. Staying up late had left bags under her eyes, and a cruel headache. Though last night was mostly a blur of music and cheap rum, she remembered with awful clarity the taste of Taryn’s lips. “It musn’t happen again,” she repeated, but as she looked in the mirror, touched her mouth tentatively and smiled.

She kissed me back!

“Coming, your majesty!” Vanya knocked on the door, and the Queen jumped.

“Come in, Vanya.” Dahlia glanced one last time in the mirror, praying that the events of last night couldn’t be detected from her face.

Onra sat ready in the carriage, thanking every goddess she knew that she never had children of her own. She always knew Dahlia was unruly, but last night had confirmed her worst fears. The Queen was not only naive, but reckless. And securing an heir would prove more difficult than she thought.

“Onra!” The door to the carriage opened and Dahlia sideled inside, wearing the ornate red gown she usually wore for rocky negotiations. “So good of you to wait for me. I might have come sooner, but the Montes alcohol is quite different from what I’m accustomed to-”

“Your majesty, may I be frank?”

Dahlia’s smile faltered. “Are you ever not?”

Onra turned to face forward and lowered her voice. “It would do you good to remember your role in this kingdom.”

“I haven’t forgotten anything, Onra.”

“Oh, haven’t you?” she hissed. “Because someone who looked identical to the Queen of Shale certainly has.”

Dahlia felt her insides turn cold. “No one saw me.”

“Vanya did. And she has the observational skills of a blind rock.”

“You would deny me a lover?”

“Would you deny Shale an heir? You have a kingdom to run, Dahlia, and an image to uphold. You aren’t an individual, you are a symbol. Everything you do reflects on your legacy and your country. Don’t let anything temporary distract you.”

A brief silence passed, in which Dahlia wanted to say a thousand things but knew none would matter. So instead she straightened, cleared her throat, and signaled the driver to move forward.

Taryn rode her horse to the side of the royal carriage, soaking in the sunlight and wondering what was going through the Queen’s head at that moment. It couldn’t have been a dream, could it? It felt too real, too powerful. But if it was real, then surely, that was the end of it. Just a brief lapse of judgment on the Queen’s part.

She looked around at the hills and greenery surrounding them. It was Onra’s suggestion to take the scenic route, and avoid towns, where they might draw attention. While it made their journey an hour longer, Taryn couldn’t say she minded. Montes had a beautiful countryside with rich green forests, and towering mountains. It was too bad the king insisted on exploiting the workers for resources.

The castle sat atop a hill, surrounded by the mansions of lords and dukes. Further down the hill were the lower classes, collecting sewage from the higher settlements thanks to gravity.

At that point, they had no choice but to take the main route through the city, and wait directly in front of the gate for them to lower the drawbridge. Taryn could practically hear her own heart pounding as she looked up at the stone walls and portcullis. A handful of soldiers stood at the front, staring down at them through the slits in their helmets.

Taryn rode ahead of the carriage and approached the first guard. “Queen Dahlia of Shale,” she said, and handed him a letter of correspondence from her satchel. The guard reached up to take it and, after glancing through it, gave a stiff nod, and gestured to the guards working the pulleys.

There was a series of metallic clunks and grinds as the portcullis slowly rose, the bridge lowered, and the gates swung open. The guard led them through at a fast pace, so that everything could be closed off again behind their procession. Once they passed the gate, several servants rushed out to take the horses to the stables, and escort the Queen inside.

When Dahlia stepped inside, she almost laughed. Voss’s Southern castle was barely a fortress on the outside, and every bit a showy cat’s bed on the inside. Large paintings hung on nearly every wall, and every pillar had intricate carvings around the top and base. The guards were used sparingly, as if their armor might interfere with the design of the rooms. Stained glass windows were everywhere, with no steel bars to reinforce them, so that anyone with a grappling hook and a large rock could easily break in.

As they entered the throne room, she risked a glance at General Onra, who, sure enough, had the tell-tale purse in her wrinkled lips that could only mean her disapproval. Dahlia smiled to herself as she imagined, all too easily, what the old woman might say when they left; “Remarkably stupid. I’ve seen churches with better security.”

She suppressed a giggle. It was a relief to be in silent agreement with Onra after their spat in the carriage. When she looked to Taryn, however, she saw her knight looking all around in awe of the expensive interior. She would have to tease her later for that, she thought. Taryn was making her humble beginnings somewhat obvious.

“Queen Dahlia of Shale!” A strong voice bellowed across the throne room, and Dahlia quickly turned her attention to the man sitting on the throne itself. King Voss wore so much ruffles and gold, he blended in with the rest of the room, and it took her a moment to notice him.

The king was a tall, sturdy man, with a thin smile and a crown that nearly hid his graying locks. When he stood, a younger man stood beside him, bearing similarly square features.

Dahlia, Onra, and Taryn approached the throne, the latter two bowing, while the Queen offered a gracious nod.

King Voss made a sweeping gesture towards his younger counterpart. “My son, Prince Izel.” The young man smiled politely and gave a curt nod.

Dahlia nodded back, but felt suspicion crawling under her skin. Why would King Voss bring his son to the negotiation?

After the pleasantries, they met in a room with a high glass ceiling and stone floors. A wooden table sat in the middle, with velvet chairs. King Voss talked for some time about the “honest and well meaning” practices of the citizens who worked under him, and skimmed over the low pay and dangerous conditions. His kingdom needed the precious stones from Shale, and Shale likely needed the minerals found in Montes.

Dahlia listened with a skeptical brow, and let him go on, but couldn’t stop herself from casting the occasional glance at the prince. His hair must have been combed through a dozen times, and the material he wore hugged his waist and broadened his shoulders in just the right way. He was the bait.

“I’m sorry,” Dahlia said at last, “I appreciate your struggle, truly, but as I’m sure you know, I have a duty to represent my kingdom in all that I do. And despite what you say, the facts remain; your workers don’t make enough to live, and many of them are children. You may be comfortable with taking advantage of your citizens, but I, for one, am not. That being said, my kingdom has other allies to make trades with, and we are not as desperate as you may think.”

Onra cleared her throat and shot her a glare.

The king frowned for a moment. Then forced an eerie smile. “Very well, your majesty. I understand. Even so, I’d hate to lose our alliance-” he glanced at his son, who was in a battle to stay awake. “So perhaps we could arrange something that could benefit everyone.”

Dahlia took a deep breath. She was right. The king was hoping to marry off his son and have a hand in her kingdom. Or, more likely, combine their kingdoms, and have total control.

“So glad you mentioned it,” she said, “I would be willing to continue the trade our kingdoms had under my parent’s rule, if you change your labor laws. Minimal sacrifice, and equal benefit.”

The king’s brows furrowed. “It’s not as simple as you might think.”

“Nothing ever is.” Queen Dahlia stood from her seat and brushed any wrinkles in her gown. “But I’m sure a powerful king like yourself could figure something out. If you’ll excuse me, your majesty, I have other business to attend to, but I hope to continue our discussion very soon.”

*

“That was careless,” Onra snapped as soon as they got in the carriage, “You were too bold, and now the alliance is more fragile than ever.”

“I will not marry his son,” Dahlia leaned over and signaled for the driver to move. They would stay in Montes for another day or two, but in a private hotel, closer to the castle. Onra didn’t want to take anymore risks after last night. “He will take over our kingdom, and soon all of it will be corrupt.”

“Don’t be daft.” The carriage started to move over the cobblestone road. “A few unfair wages is hardly a sign of corruption.”

“I will have no part of it.”

“You will, one way or another. If we make enemies with him, he will take Shale for himself anyway.”

“Not if I have any say in it.”

“I promise you, you don’t. He has more power over our allies than you realize.”

“That doesn’t sound like corruption to you?”

Onra sighed, and rubbed her forehead. “It’s hard to believe you’re your mother’s daughter.”

“Good.”

The rest of the ride was quiet, aside from the clopping of horse’s hooves all around them. Dahlia wondered what Taryn thought of all this. Despite herself, her mind wandered to Taryn’s long dark hair, and somber eyes. The feel of her strong, yet gentle hands on her waist. God, what was wrong with her? Taryn was a knight, not a concubine.

When they arrived at the inn, Onra spoke for the first time in an hour.

“Ridiculous castle, wasn’t it? All lace and art.” Dahlia chuckled as she went on, “I’ve seen churches with more practical security.”