Chapter 13
Elara
My grip tightened on the hilt as I took a swing at Rhen.
He stepped back and my sparring sword struck nothing but air. “Too predictable. You need to exploit my weaknesses.”
I stretched my neck by tilting my head side to side. “Well, that would be a lot easier if I knew where your weaknesses are.”
“You’re too focused on where you’re aiming and not observing where my lack of defence is.” He was right. “Let’s go again,” Rhen said patiently.
We’d been at this for most of the afternoon. I needed somewhere to channel my frustrations.
It felt good to be in a pair of breeches and out of a dress again. Not that I minded the dresses as much anymore. It was a lot better now that they were specially made to fit me and I could request the seamstress make them as comfortable as possible.
I gathered my strength and struck towards Rhen. He parried.
“A little better. Again.”
“You don’t have to talk to me as if I were a child who’s never done this before. I do have some swordsmanship skills.” I attacked again and again. He managed to block each blow, and I looked to see if I could find him off balance when he countered my attack. I noticed a slight wobble in his sword when he made a swing from the lower left.
“I’ll stop talking to you like a child when you stop fighting like one.”
“Hey!” I grunted and pressed forwards, my hands moving as if to attack from the right.
“What about your time with the King yesterday?”
“What about it?”
I saw him commit to defend and then swivelled, my sword aiming low and left.
“Has he accepted your proposal yet?”
“It’s not that simple,” I begrudgingly quoted Cai.
Rhen was momentarily taken by surprise by my move but managed to defend just in time. He was completely off balance now.
“You don’t have that much time, you know.”
“I’m trying!” I argued, no longer giving Rhen the opportunity to strike me as he tried to defend against each swift blow.
“Well, maybe you should try harder.”
That did it. I gripped the hilt of the sword tighter than ever before, and with all the strength I could muster, I hit the sword out of his hand. We both watched as it fell to the sand.
“Interesting,” he said, more to himself than to me.
“What is?” Sweat started to gather on my back. All these weeks of eating expensive foods and not exercising properly had left me out of shape.
“You fight better when you’re angry.”
“What do you mean?”
“There was a short period of time when I was responsible for helping train the palace guards in Levernia. I would tell them not to let their emotions get the better of them when fighting. I’ve told you the same thing, many a time.”
“I’m aware,” I said, teeth almost clenching.
“However, I’ve also noticed that when you get riled up, you seem to be better, more focused, oddly enough. Like you channel everything to a single place. You use your emotions to your advantage.”
“Ha.” I barked out a laugh. “Never heard that one before.”
“I’m serious, though.” He shrugged. “I think it’s your passionate spirit that drives you.”
“How about less talking and more sparring?” I said, though I couldn’t pretend I’d not heard his words.
“I wish I could oblige, Your Majesty, but you appointed me for a reason. I’m sure you know how vital our discussions are to your reign.”
I wished I could argue with him, but it didn’t mean I looked forward to Rhen’s regular commentary regarding politics.
“If you insist.” My tone was sarcastic, but he knew I understood the seriousness of the matter. I dropped my sword.
“Have you recently been in contact with Lance about how matters are faring in Levernia?” Rhen asked.
“I’ve sent a messenger. I should think a response will arrive in a few days.”
“I certainly hope so.”
“You’re the one who worked with him first.”
“I worked with him so we could get anyone on the throne that wasn’t him.”
I raised an eyebrow and he shrugged.
“You know what I mean.”
“And how’s that working out for you?”
“I exchanged one child for another.” He sighed.
“Very funny.” I rolled up my sleeves, the heat of exercising continuing to catch up with me. A cool bath would be delightful.
“If I can get Cai to marry me—”
“If?” he asked, and I sent a glare his way.
“When.” I corrected myself. “When Cai marries me, I’ll secure my place on the throne. Lance can do whatever he wants with his time and fortune, and Cai and I only have to see each other on occasion.”
“Do you think Cai would agree to that?” Rhen asked as we stepped out of the sand ring.
“Are you suggesting Cai wouldn’t agree to that?”
“Cai is not above marrying for duty, no. But his council would want him to be certain that this alliance benefits him too. If he’s not marrying for love, anyway.”
He mumbled the last part, and I pretended I didn’t hear him. I was thankful that Cai had made some time for us to spend together but I could still sense a distance between us. Distance I could probably only blame myself for. Was it possible that Cai was still hurt about how things ended in Levernia? Or did he simply no longer possess the feelings he once had? Even if Cai had said my past had nothing to do with his silence, what if his hesitance towards the alliance had something to do with who I was underneath my crown?
“Regardless, I trust Lance’s reply will be positive.” I turned the conversation back to the original subject. Rhen didn’t respond, as if he wasn’t quite sure of this. The air around us was quiet for a moment apart from our footsteps and the birds happily chirping.
“It’s probably not my place to ask,” Rhen started hesitantly. “But do you want to talk about what happened with the Darwicks?”
I shuddered. “The part where Edgar tried to threaten me, or my servant tried to kill me?”
“Both.”
“I don’t know. I’m used to people not liking me, but the stakes are somehow higher now and I can’t just run away to safety.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t step into the room sooner. I was trying to give you the privacy you asked for and...”
“You don’t need to apologise, Rhen. You were only doing your duty. I’m starting to learn that privacy is a luxury I can no longer afford.” Which seemed ironic considering how many luxuries I could, in fact, afford.
“I’d better go and get ready. I’m having dinner with Cai’s family.”
“You have much to do, Your Majesty.” Rhen smiled, taking in the state of me.
We walked towards the single door leading back inside the palace. I looked up, spotting movement. There was a window high up, overlooking the grounds and the training yard. Despite the glass’s reflection, I made out a tall figure with blond hair. Thatcher. He smiled and waved. I returned a slightly awkward smile and waved back.
“You know, sometimes I think you’re a little too honest, Rhen.”
“Whatever you say, Your Majesty.”
* * *
I was lucky that Anesta knew what she was doing.
Not too long ago, my hair was a mess and I was covered in sweat, but Anesta managed to make me look like the picturesque queens I always saw in the portraits in the palace. I hadn’t realised how long Rhen and I had been sparring. Needless to say, it would have been very rude of me to arrive late to a dinner held in honour of my visit.
My stomach churned, and I wasn’t sure if it was due to hunger or nerves. I held on to the heavy skirts of my dress while trying to hurry through the hallways without looking like a fool. Though lavender wasn’t my favourite colour to wear, Anesta always found a way to make it work. The soft material cascaded down my legs in waves of light purple, while the sleeves hung about my arms, revealing my shoulders. My footsteps were soft on the carpeted floor beneath me. Candlelight illuminated the wallpaper-covered wall panels and decorated side tables.
I wasn’t even entirely sure how to get to the dining room from this part of the palace. And I would have hated to ask for assistance again. If Rhen had been at my side, he probably could have shown me the way. But I had too much pride to walk all the way back and ask for his help. Especially after I’d insisted he didn’t escort me everywhere.
My eyes caught the large portraits hanging on the walls. Some of the faces looked familiar. Which meant the dining room had to be left.
I veered down the next hallway and stopped short for a moment. In the middle of the hallway stood a woman well into her later years, looking up at one of the paintings. Cai’s grandmother. There was no doubt about it. I gulped.
My disrupting presence was impossible to miss and my blood chilled slightly as her head turned to take me in.
“Queen Grandmother.” I bowed my head. It didn’t matter that she hadn’t ruled a kingdom for a very long time. Everything about this woman’s stature and attitude labelled her a queen. A real queen. Everything I could never be.
“Ah, the young queen, Elara. Come closer,” she ordered, and I didn’t hesitate to obey. I could see Cai’s green eyes in her, but her hair had long since turned grey. Her dress and jewels, however, were still of the most elegant and expensive kind.
“You’re a very pretty thing.” Her eyes took in every part of me.
“Thank you.” I attempted a smile even though everything about her made me nervous.
“Pretty things can be dangerous, you know.”
My smile dropped, and I remained quiet only because I had no idea how to reply.
She turned to walk away, and when I didn’t immediately follow, she stopped to look over her shoulder. “Well, aren’t you coming?”
“Of course.” I quickly fell into step beside her.
“Usually, in nature, we find that the more beautiful something is, the more poisonous it can be.”
I still had no idea how to respond.
“I see you’re wearing my necklace.”
I couldn’t help but look at her with surprise.
Her necklace? I hadn’t planned on bringing the infamous necklace to Norrandale, but Anesta must have packed it with my other beautiful pieces of jewellery. I decided to wear it tonight as a reminder for Cai. A reminder of the things we used to fight for. Of the past and friendship we used to share, in the hope that it would aid me in gaining this alliance.
“But Cai had given the necklace...” I began.
She watched realisation settle on my face. Cai had talked about giving the necklace back to the original owner when we were in Fairfrith. And I had refused to return it to him. I was afraid of what it could be capable of. And I selfishly wanted to keep it if I ever needed to exchange it for money someday.
It had belonged to Cai’s grandmother all this time, and I was parading it around in front of everyone tonight. Could the embarrassment be worse?
“Here.” I stopped walking, quickly reaching for the clasp. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
But Cai’s grandmother held up her hand as she faced me.
“You can keep it. I gave it to Cai a long time ago and told him it was for his future wife.”
There was a time when it was meant for Eloisa. If I had known the sentimental value of the necklace, I never would have held on to it.
“But I’m not . . . we’re not . . .” I struggled to find the right words.
“It’s just a piece of jewellery, my dear. But it represents a history of the strongest and most adored queens the kingdom has seen.”
I swallowed hard.
“Make sure you are worthy of wearing it.” She turned and walked towards the dining room, leaving me speechless in the hallway.