The Queen (2 page)

“He remains in Mirstone for now,” Baylin
said, trying to seem casual. “I was in a hurry to return to
Grasmere. I worried for you.”

King Ashmur laughed. It was a sound that
reminded Baylin of a much younger man. “Worried to see your little
bed wife and child, more like. I hear she is to have the baby any
day now.”

The Queen smiled at Ashmur and stroked his
hair. “Actually, my love, she had the baby early this morning.”

A smile spread across the King’s face. To
Baylin’s surprise, his father had the strength to sit up and reach
out to pat him on the shoulder. “Well done, my son! What is it?
Boy? Girl? Who cares! Oh, I’m a grandfather!”

Baylin could not believe his ears, or his
eyes for that matter. The King’s smile could not have been wider
and it seemed the news had rejuvenated his ailing body.
Perhaps
now he will consider renouncing the Bed Wife Law.

“It’s a boy, Father,” Baylin said with a
smile. “You have a grandson.”

“A grandson? A grandson!” Ashmur repeated
the words as though they were a foreign language to him. He looked
at the Queen with joy in his eyes. “Valasca, we have a
grandson.”

She looked at the King with a loving smile.
“Yes, Ashmur. You should see him. He is beautiful!”

“A grandson,” Ashmur whispered to himself.
“An heir.” He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, his body
relaxing as though a great weight of burden seemed to leave his
body.

Baylin’s heart ached at the bittersweet
situation.
Father is too strong for something like this. He has
hardly been sick in all my memory. He should be cradling his
grandson, not fighting for his life.
He watched his mother
reach over and stroke his father’s hand, tears threatening to spill
from her eyes.

“My dear husband,” Valasca said. “There is
to be a great celebration. We have already begun planning it.”

“Very good,” the King murmured, trying to
fight the sleepiness that was beginning to take hold. It seemed the
excitement of even joyous news took its toll on him. “We must send
for your uncle.”

Baylin’s eyes flashed up to his mother’s,
reading the alarm on her face. He fought hard to keep his
expression relaxed. “I believe Cadman intends to stay in Mirstone
for quite some time, Father. The warmer climate agrees with
him.”

“Balderdash,” Ashmur said through a soft
chuckle. “He can’t honestly expect to get out of celebrating the
birth of the next heir of Grasmere! Send a bird to Mirstone at
once. Invite the King and Queen as well. Don’t forget your
Isla.”

The Princess’s name caused bile to rise in
the back of Baylin’s throat, burning as he fought to shove down the
nausea that accompanied it. He looked to his mother, pleading with
his eyes to give him some kind of direction.
We have to tell
him. It’s not right keeping him in the dark.

Baylin swallowed hard, preparing to break
the news. “Father, I truly hate to say this but…”

“Ashmur, my love, your brother… Your brother
will not be coming to the celebration.” Valasca took a deep breath
in, sighing deeply as she exhaled. “Cadman has betrayed you. He
betrayed us all.”

The King struggled to sit up in the bed, his
eyes planted on those of his wife. A young steward came to the
bedside, assisting the King, placing another pillow behind him for
support.

“My love,” the Queen said, gripping her
husband’s hand. “It pains me to tell you, but—”

“This is nonsense!” the King spat. “My
brother would never betray me.” He turned his gaze to Baylin. “He
would not betray his Kingdom.”

“Father.” The truth weighed heavy in
Baylin’s throat as he struggled to give the words voice. “He has
aligned himself with Mirstone. They plan to take Grasmere for their
own.”

“No.” His father shook his head. “You must
be mistaken.”

“There is no room for misinterpretation
here.” Valasca stood and placed a hand on her son’s shoulder. “With
the help of your brother, King Gideon and Queen Fia, along with
their insufferable daughter, took your son captive! They intended
to use his marriage to Isla as a bridge to overthrow Grasmere.”

“It’s true, Father,” Baylin said as he
watched his father process the news. “They threatened Luana. They
said they would kill her and our son.”

“My brother is devoted to Grasmere,” Ashmur
said. “There must be some other reason. He must be going along with
their plans in order to gain information.”

“Ashmur!” Queen Valasca came down on her
knees next to the bed, gripping her husband’s hand. “You cannot
honestly believe—”

“This is ludicrous!” Baylin threw his hands
into the air. “He blatantly betrays the entire Kingdom. He
threatens my life and the lives of those I love, and you still
defend him!”

“My son, I simply—” The King began to cough,
losing his breath as he struggled.

The anger drained from Baylin as he watched
his father gasp for breath. “Call for Master Keon!”

A steward rushed from the room. Baylin
reached an arm behind his father, helping to sit him up so he could
better breathe while the Queen brought a goblet of water to her
husband.

Ashmur caught his breath and took a sip from
the goblet before handing it back to Valasca and laying back down
with Baylin’s assistance.

“Thank you, my son,” the King uttered.

“I’m sorry for upsetting you,” Baylin
apologized, studying his father’s aged face. “It was never my
intention to cause you pain.”

“Your father needs his rest,” the Queen
whispered. “I will stay with him until Master Keon comes.”

Baylin nodded. “If you’re sure, then I will
take my leave.”

“Wait,” the King rasped, reaching out his
hand to the Prince. “I would ask something of you.”

“Anything, Father,” Baylin said, taking his
father’s hand.

“Send a bird to your uncle,” Ashmur pleaded.
“Write to him and ask him to return home.”

Baylin wanted to be angry, but seeing his
frail father made the resentment die before it could surface. “If
that is what you wish, Father. But know that he will not be allowed
into the Kingdom without a dozen of my guards on him at all
times.”

“Spoken like a true King,” Ashmur murmured
as sleep finally took him.

Baylin returned to his chamber to find Luana
awake holding their son. The sun shone through the window, the
light creating a halo as it reflected off her silvery hair. He
smiled as her face lit up at the sight of him coming through the
door.

Ferric stood inside the door, keeping watch
over them. “Baylin, back already?”

The Prince shut the door behind him.
“Ferric, thank you for keeping watch. I refuse to take Cadman’s
threat lightly.”

Ferric pulled in close to Baylin. “Any news
on Mirstone?”

“Yes. Gather all the men and have them meet
in the great hall,” Baylin instructed. “I will be there within the
hour.”

Ferric nodded and opened the door to leave
but then turned back toward the Prince. “Oh, and Baylin?”

“Yes?”

“He’s perfect.” Ferric smiled. “Well
done.”

The Prince reached out and embraced him in a
firm hug. “Thank you, my friend. Now our job is to protect him and
this Kingdom.”

“Understood,” Ferric said, turning and
leaving the room.

Baylin shut the door behind Ferric, turning
his attention back to Luana at the bed.

“Your Grace,” the handmaid Meg said with a
curtsey as Baylin crossed the room to the bed. “The young miss just
woke not but a few moments before you arrived. I urged her to rest
but she wanted to hold the baby.”

The Prince turned to the young handmaid.
“That is perfectly fine. Your service is greatly appreciated. You
are a credit to us, Meg.”

The young girl blushed at his compliment.
“Thank you, Your Grace. You are too kind.”

“It is true,” Luana spoke, causing the
little bundle in her arms to wiggle and coo. “I truly believe I
would not have survived without you, my dear.” She smiled at the
girl, who continued to blush.

“Meg, would you mind drawing a bath for
Luana?” Baylin asked. “I would have her cleaned and made
comfortable. Also, once she is recovered and feels able, I would
ask you to attend her as she makes her way through the castle.”

“Through the castle?” Luana asked, her brow
furrowed with confusion.

Baylin sat down on the bed next to her,
putting his arms around her gently. “Yes, I’m certain you will want
to give our son a proper tour of his home.”

“Your Grace, is it true?” Meg piped up. “Do
you mean to say the Bed Wife Law has been overturned?”

The Prince frowned. “It has not been
overturned yet, but I am resending the requirement that she be
confined to her chambers. She is the mother of my child, and in
time, I believe she will be the Queen of Grasmere.”

Luana’s mouth dropped open in shock, worry
etched on her face. “Your father? He’s not…”

“No, he is still with us,” Baylin soothed.
“Though, to be honest, I am unsure of how long that will be. I have
made this decision as presiding Regent, whether Father approves or
not. This nonsense must stop, and I begin with you, my love.”

*****

By the time Baylin walked into the great
hall, every general, captain and soldier stood waiting on him. As
he made his way to the front of the gathering, he could see the
anxiety and worry in their faces. Many of them had recently
returned from Mirstone, having escaped the clutches of his
treacherous uncle, Lord Cadman. Had his men not been there to
defend him, the Prince was certain he would still be held captive
by the Mirstone royal family.

As he ascended the stairs toward the throne,
an anxiety gripped his stomach.
They look to me as though I am
already their King, yet I am not. I am going to command them to go
against the orders of their true King. This was not the kind of
ruler I wanted to be.

“Men,” he called out. “We have important
matters to see to. I do apologize for not allowing the much-needed
rest that so many of you deserve after returning from
Mirstone.”

“Your Grace,” called out a soldier. “May we
all extend our congratulations on the birth of your son?”

The room echoed with the cries and applause
as the men shouted, “Long may he reign,” as was custom to any new
Prince or Princess born to the Kingdoms.

“Your sentiment warms my heart. Long may he
reign, indeed.” The Prince smiled, nodding. He raised his hands to
quiet the men. “However, we must move to the matter at hand; there
will be time for celebrations later. As many of you who attended me
in Mirstone are aware, Lord Cadman has betrayed the Kingdom.”

The room erupted in murmurs and hisses at
the sound of the name.

“I have relayed this information to the
King, and he has requested that I send for Lord Cadman,” Baylin
continued.

“Cadman is a traitor!” shouted one man.

“Bring us his head!” shouted another.

The men erupted in shouts and curses,
sounding bloodthirsty in their cries.

Baylin raised his hands, attempting to calm
the murderous crowd. “There will be time for a trial soon enough,
however the King wishes to simply talk with Lord Cadman. He is to
be apprehended unharmed.”

“Unharmed?” Ferric voiced. “Your Grace, with
all due respect, he was ready to murder you. To murder all of
us!”

Baylin sighed. He agreed with his men’s
anger, with their feelings of betrayal. He felt no one could
possibly want to see his uncle dead more than him.
Especially
after threatening the life of not only Luana, but my son. However,
diplomacy is required if I hope to, at the very least, delay the
attack of Mirstone.

“I understand you all feel betrayed and are
untrusting of the man,” Baylin bellowed, quieting the loud room.
“But your King wishes to question him. If you kill him there will
be no chance to stopping the attack from Mirstone.”

“Let them come!” called out a soldier.

“We outnumber them!” cried another.

“Enough!” the Prince boomed. “Should he
arrive on our borders, he is to remain unharmed. Is this
understood?”

All the men lowered their heads, bowing and
showing respect for their Prince.

“I will send a bird to Mirstone, requesting
an audience with Cadman. He is to come through Fagin Forest and be
brought to the castle,” Baylin instructed. “After the King has
spoken with him, I have promised that he will be kept safe and will
have free will to return to Mirstone should he choose. I would ask
that you men keep me a man of my word.” Baylin swallowed hard, his
heart racing in his chest. “Any man found disobeying this order
will be hanged for treason.”

He could see the surprise forming on the
faces in the room; although none was more apparent than that of
Ferric. Yet, no man dared to argue. Baylin felt as though he had
betrayed all his men with one sentence.
They deserve vengeance;
they deserve to be rid of that vile creature.

“Your Grace,” Ferric asked. “If you wish, I
will create a rotation for a group of men to be camped at the road
on the border of Fagin Forrest. When Lord Cadman arrives, they can
escort him—
safely
—to the castle.”

“Yes, that would be good.” Baylin
nodded.

“I will see to it today, Your Grace,” Ferric
said with a bow.

“Men, before I dismiss you, I must inform
you of one other matter,” Baylin called out. His heart raced in his
chest knowing he was going against not only his father’s wishes,
but hundreds of years of tradition. “My bed wife, Luana, as well as
the other bed wives in the castle, will be given the freedom to
walk the castle.”

The quiet that followed caused Baylin’s ears
to buzz. It was an eerie calm that suggested a storm was soon to
follow.

“Your Grace, are you saying that the King
has overthrown the Bed Wife Law?” asked one of his captains.