The Queen (16 page)

“How many?” Baylin repeated.

Keon sighed, looking thoughtfully into
Baylin’s eyes. “Many thousands, Your Grace.”

The words caused Baylin’s chest to seize.
Not from the wound, but from the heartache of knowing he had led
thousands of men to their deaths. He fought back tears that stung
in his eyes.

“It could not have been helped,” the old man
said, pulling a fur blanket over the Prince. “They were ambushed.
And then the trolls…” Keon shuddered. “If it hadn’t been for the
elves, I do not know what would have become of us.”

They sat in silence for several moments
before the quiet was interrupted by the sound of the door
opening.

“Baylin!” Ferric exclaimed, crossing the
room to the bed. “You’re awake! Gods be good, you were starting to
give me a real fright. We feared the worst when you would not
wake.”

“Yes, His Grace appears to have come through
the worst of it,” Master Keon said, picking up the remaining clean
bandages and taking them to a table across the room. “I believe the
Prince will be good as new with some more rest.”

Ferric sat down in a chair next to the bed.
“The men will be overjoyed.”

“The men who survived, you mean,” Baylin
said mournfully. “So many lives lost.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Ferric soothed. “Had
the King listened to you, it could have been evaded.”

Baylin’s eyes shot up to Ferric.
He is
right. If Father had heeded my warning this could have been
avoided.
“What happened after I fell? Did Luana… Did she
kill—”

“Yes, she finished him. Cadman’s gone,”
Ferric said. “So is Isla… or… whatever you want to call her.
Apparently she had fooled everyone. Even King Gideon and Queen Fia
were blind to it. Isla was killed and Syndra took her place in
order to infiltrate Mirstone and coerce them into attacking
Grasmere. Cadman, of course, made the perfect pawn. His greed made
it easy for her to manipulate him.”

“What of the other Kingdoms?” Baylin
asked.

“We have the enemy generals in cells. Birds
have been sent to Mirstone and Kardell for ransom,” Ferric
explained. “Their remaining soldiers who survived and had not
already fled were stripped of their armor and weapons and shipped
home. We allowed them to take their dead with them.”

“And our dead?” Baylin asked with a
sigh.

“Pyres have been built and the bodies are
being prepared,” Ferric said somberly. “The whole Kingdom is in
mourning. Pyres are to be lit at nightfall.”

“I want to be there.” Baylin cringed as he
moved to get comfortable in the bed.

“You’re still recovering,” Ferric said. “No
one expects you to—”

“I’m going,” Baylin demanded. “They were my
men. They died under my command, whether my father decreed it or
not, I was their Prince. If I have to be carried out in a
wheelbarrow to see these men put to rest, I will do so.”

Ferric bowed his head. “Very well.”

“I need to ask you a question,” Baylin said,
recalling the battle. “Why did you take Luana?”

Ferric dropped his gaze, staring at his
hands. “I knew you wouldn’t like it, but I was certain you were
right. I knew King Rydel was our only hope.”

“You’re right. When I heard you had taken
Luana, I was angry and hurt. I couldn’t understand why you would
betray me. She could have been hurt, you both could have been
killed.” Baylin found it difficult to be cross with his friend.
“But if you hadn’t gone to the elves, I would most likely be dead.
The Kingdom would have fallen.”

Ferric looked up at Baylin warily.

“You did well, my friend,” the Prince
praised. “But please don’t do it again.”

Ferric smiled. “Understood.”

The door flung open.

“Baylin!” Luana called, running to his side.
“You’re awake, finally. I was so worried.”

The Prince braced himself as Luana wrapped
her arms around him. He winced slightly, feeling a stinging pain in
his chest.

“Oh! I’m sorry,” Luana said, releasing her
grip. “I’m so happy to see you awake.”

“He’s too stubborn to kill,” Ferric said,
standing and offering the chair to Luana.

Luana sat down. “That may be, but he still
gave us a scare. You looked to be on death’s door.”

Baylin reached out and squeezed Luana’s
hand. “As you can see, I’m on the mend, so do not worry yourself.”
He turned his attention to Ferric. “Please make arrangements for me
to attend the funeral ceremony this evening—whatever it takes.”

Ferric bowed. “Yes, Your Grace.”

Luana opened her mouth to protest, but
Baylin cut her off. “There is no argument here. I will see my men
off to the afterlife.”

She nodded. “As you wish.”

It took a special sling designed by Ferric
to carry Baylin from Master Keon’s medical chamber down to the
castle grounds. Several men carried him to a hill overlooking a
field at the base of the mountain that displayed several thousand
funeral pyres.

King Ashmur and Queen Valasca stood near the
castle overlooking the scene. Baylin was placed in a chair that had
been brought out for him so he could be near his parents. Luana
followed, standing by his side.

The sun was falling fast behind the horizon.
As the cool evening breeze swirled through the air, Baylin felt the
weight of the loss. He had never seen so many funeral pyres in one
place in his entire life. Each of the pyres was crafted from strong
logs and stood several feet tall. Each of the deceased had been
cleaned and was wrapped in a soft white linen cloth. Each body had
a garland around the head made of lavender, ivy and poppy flowers
to help their souls pass on.
The servants must have been working
night and day to assemble this many pyres. So many lives
lost.

Families stood near the pyres of their loved
ones, crying and laying flowers and fruit amongst the logs.

Baylin reached out and took Luana’s hand.
She squeezed it gently, looking at him.

“So many,” Baylin murmured.

Luana knelt down, keeping her emerald green
eyes firm on Baylin. “This is not your fault. None of this is your
fault. Your uncle did this. That evil elven witch did this. You and
your men did what you had to. You were protecting the Kingdom.”

“She’s right, son,” Valasca said. “These men
died because they were betrayed by Cadman. They were proud to stand
by your side.”

Ashmur shifted uncomfortably but remained
silent as he looked over the pyres.

A horn sounded through the cool night air.
Men with torches began lining up, preparing to begin the
ceremony.

Baylin took in a sharp breath and attempted
to push himself to stand. As he came to his feet, he wavered, weak.
Both Ferric and Luana reached out, grabbing his arms to steady
him.

“Sit,” Luana coaxed.

“No,” Baylin said firmly. “They deserve my
respect and attention. I want to stand.” Ferric and Luana released
the Prince so he could stand on his own.

The sky had grown dark. The torches below
caused shadows to dance in the darkness. Another horn sounded
through the air. Below, the men with torches made their way through
the thousands of pyres, pressing the fire to the wood logs until
they took to flame. The sky erupted with light as each one was set
ablaze.

Even from their distance, Baylin could hear
the wailing of mourners as the fire consumed the dead, sending them
off to the afterlife.

The guilt weighed heavy on Baylin as he
struggled to remain standing.
There deaths will not have been in
vain.
He thought the words over and over again to himself.
Kardell and Mirstone will answer for their treachery.

After a short while, the Prince was forced
to sit, having lost the strength to remain standing.

King Ashmur broke the silence with a sigh.
“They died in battle. What could be a more glorious death?”

Anger boiled in Baylin. “I doubt that is
little consolation to their loved ones. I’m sure they would have
rather been given the chance to grow old and die in their warm
beds.”

“Baylin!” Queen Valasca yelped. “Why do you
speak to your father in such a way?”

“Their blood is on his hands!” Baylin
boomed. “If you had only respected my opinion above those of
Cadman’s, or even above your generals, this all could have been
avoided. Those men died because you were too blind to see Cadman
for what he truly was. They died because you were unwilling to
accept that my alliance with the elves was the better plan.”

Ashmur looked down at his son, assessing him
with stern eyes. “So this is your opinion of your King… of your
father?”

“Of my King, yes,” Baylin said sternly, brow
furrowed. “I would like to think my father would have more respect
for his son.”

“Indeed,” the King said.

“Baylin, you are unwell,” Valasca said.
“Please, Ferric, get him inside. He does not know what he’s
saying.”

“I believe the boy knows exactly what he’s
saying, my dear,” Ashmur said. “Ferric, would you be so kind as to
escort the Queen and Baylin’s bed wi… Luana inside? I would speak
to my son alone.”

Luana squeezed Baylin’s hand before taking
Ferric’s arm to be led inside with the Queen.

“I suppose there is no sense in arguing with
you,” Ashmur admitted. “You’re right. I was blinded by my love for
my brother. A man that would have seen me… my whole family, dead.
But even now, knowing the lengths he went to in order to betray us,
my heart still aches at the loss of him. He was my brother, a boy I
raised to be a man. Sadly, I let my love for him cloud my
judgement. I allowed him to make me overlook the love I have for
you, my son.”

To hear his father say the words was foreign
to the Prince.
In my entire life, I don’t think he’s ever
admitted he was wrong.
He sighed deeply. “It was not right of
me to place blame on you. Especially in front of the others.”

“No, you were right to confront me.
Sometimes being the King means making hard decisions, like calling
out those who have made the wrong choice.”

“But I am not the King,” Baylin
murmured.

“No… No, you’re not,” Ashmur said, turning
his attention back to the burning funeral pyres. “But this war has
shown me that you should be.”

Baylin felt as though his heart had stopped
beating in his chest. “Father?”

The King turned and looked at him. “It was
not Ashmur who led the defense of Mirstone against the trolls. It
wasn’t he who readied the Kingdom for war. And it was not he who
led the Kingdom to victory against unspeakable odds.”

“What are you saying?” Baylin asked, rising
to his feet.

“It’s time I stepped down and enjoyed my
time with your mother,” Ashmur said. “It is time we crowned the new
King of Grasmere.”

Luana sat in her bedchamber while Meg shaped
her hair, placing small flowers amongst the curled strands. She
gazed at herself in the looking glass, hardly recognizing the woman
sitting before her. She thought of all she had been through.

It had been nearly four months since the
battle against Mirstone and Kardell. Winter was almost over, and
the Realm had undergone so many changes.

Following the mass funeral of the fallen men
of Grasmere, Ashmur made a royal announcement, abdicating his
throne. Baylin was crowned the new King before his wounds had even
completed healing.

With a new title, Baylin utilized his power
to use the generals who were taken hostage during the battle as
bargaining tools for a new alliance and treaty with the five
Kingdoms. Though negotiating the terms were hard with all the fear
and animosity in the realm, trade was once again open between the
Kingdoms, and much-needed food and supplies were sent to aid
Grasmere in repairing the damage the war had inflicted.

Kardell was quick to form a new treaty with
the Kingdoms, having been seen as a traitor to the Realm. King
Vandar was swift to blame Mirstone for the treachery and sent gifts
of emeralds and ships to show his good will.

Strathen joined Grasmere in stating should
Ranhold or any other Kingdom choose not to take a stand against any
acts of war, it would be considered an equal act of war. King Lars
agreed, publicly apologizing for his inaction.

King Gideon and Queen Fia were stripped of
their titles in Mirstone and sent to live in the Kingdom of
Strathen under the watchful eye of King Artos. Baylin felt it only
right to spare their lives, given the deception of Syndra and the
death of their daughter, Isla.

Luana agreed it was the proper way to
preserve the young Princess’s memory, seeing as it had never been
she who betrayed the Kingdoms.
I would like to think I would
have liked her.

Luana was pleased to know Baylin’s
friendship with King Rydel created an alliance never before seen in
the history of the Keld. The once elusive race came out of hiding
and found friendship in the people of the Kingdoms. Ferric and
Faylen, in particular, had been spending a great deal of time
together.

Baylin’s most recent act was bringing
together the Kings from all the Kingdoms and officially
overthrowing the Bed Wife Law—releasing all the bed wives from
their arranged unions. Many of the young women chose to remain with
their lovers, while some returned home to their families.

“How do you like it, milady?” Meg asked,
pulling Luana from her thoughts.

Luana looked into the looking glass. Soft,
silvery ringlets created a halo around her face. As she turned her
head, she could see the pale blue flowers that adorned her hair.
“Oh Meg! It’s simply beautiful!”

The handmaid blushed. “Well, I’m sure His
Grace will not be able to take his eyes off of you. He’s been
waiting for this day for quite some time.”

Luana smiled. “As have I.”

Meg crossed the room, picking up a beautiful
pale blue gown. “Are you ready to put on your dress, milady? It’s
almost time for the wedding.”