Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Lorne kept his horse at a walk beside Adeline’s as they rode into the mountains that created the border between Kelverny and Lalsacia, surrounded by numerous guards and several Kelvernese lords who filled out the diplomatic party.
Adeline’s horse tossed its head, and she flexed her fingers, relaxing her grip on the reins. Still, the tension didn’t ease from the line of her back nor the strain from her eyes.
He halted himself before he asked yet again if she was all right. She’d been tense and distant the entire trip from the castle to the mountains, growing more so the closer they came.
Was she merely nervous for the peace talks? A lot hung on the balance. Peace between their kingdoms. Her continued reign. Perhaps her very life.
And yet she was pulling away from him in a way he wouldn’t have expected, given that she’d married him with the purpose of peace. Shouldn’t she have leaned on him more rather than less? They should have stayed up long into the night, discussing their plans.
Worse, he hadn’t yet told her the truth. With so many guards around them in the week and a half since the assassination attempt and with her suddenly holding him at arm’s length, he hadn’t found the right opportunity.
He would have to tell her soon. Before she came face-to-face with his father and found out then.
They crested a rise, and the sprawling Kelvernese military encampment lay before them, a sea of tents filling the valley all the way up to the rise on the far side.
There, a palisade of cut timbers created a wall across the pass.
The smallest tents were placed in rows near the barrier with larger tents for the commanders at the rear.
Already, a large tent in Kelvernese dark yellow was rising in a cleared space among the larger tents, Adeline’s standard flying from the center pole.
Somewhere out of sight over that rise, Lorne’s father would be entering a nearly identical encampment, if he wasn’t there already.
Lorne’s heart beat harder as it ached within his chest. How he missed his father. Did he know for sure that Lorne was even still alive? Did he know he hadn’t been imprisoned the full time he’d been gone? How much had Adeline written in her communications?
Adeline, strangely, hadn’t let him see any of the missives sent back and forth. He hadn’t even known about them until she’d announced they would be leaving for the border and a diplomatic meeting with the Lalsacian king.
Had he done something wrong? Had that kiss they’d shared scared her away? She’d said it was nice, but she’d withdrawn so soon afterwards.
It was just so…frustrating. He’d thought they were making progress romantically.
He’d thought the whole point of their marriage had been for him to assist her in crafting the peace between their kingdoms. Instead he’d found himself shut out as surely as if she’d slammed the door between their bedrooms in his face.
The guards led the way into the encampment, announced with the blaring of trumpets and the march of feet as soldiers assembled into ranks to be presented to their queen.
As Adeline rode between the rows of soldiers, Lorne at her side, the men saluted, all stiff postures and proper uniforms.
Lorne resisted the urge to shudder at the sight of the sylon cats and their handlers. The big cats sat primly, their gray-and-white-striped fur sleek over their lean muscles. When one yawned, it showed off its long teeth.
Adeline halted her horse before the large royal tent. Lorne drew his horse to a halt beside hers and swung down. He reached her side in time to steady her as she climbed down, the heavy skirts of her riding dress swirling around her as she dismounted.
A Kelvernese soldier—the commanding general, based on all the braid and medals on his uniform—approached and bowed low. “Your Majesty. It is a pleasure to welcome you to our humble encampment. We have done all we can to ensure your safety while you are here.”
Lorne eased slightly closer to Adeline’s back, glancing around. His five guards dismounted and gathered behind him, as her guards did for her.
Farther away, Lord Pellier, Lord Delaney, Lord Harding, and Lord Sarlon, who had insisted on coming, dismounted from their horses with their own retinues surrounding them.
There were so many threats to her. Would Lord Sarlon make a move here? What about another traitor who opposed the thought of peace with Lalsacia?
Then there were his people. How many of them would take the risk of killing the Kelvernese queen, thinking it would lead to peace, when instead they’d end up inciting a far more terrible turn to the war?
“I appreciate your welcome and your care for my security.” Adeline gave a tilt of her head to acknowledge the general. “Has the Lalsacian king made contact yet?”
“Yes. He arrived last evening and sent a message.” The general made another, smaller bow.
His father was here. Just over that rise. Lorne tried not to look in that direction or otherwise give away his connection to the Lalsacian king. He needed to talk to Adeline. As soon as they finished with the greetings.
“Very good. Please send him a message that I’ve arrived and that I would like to begin the negotiations as soon as possible.” Adeline’s tone was that crisp, formal one she used when she was doing her best to be especially queenly. “And…” Adeline’s gaze flicked to Lorne for just a heartbeat.
But even that brief look was enough for Lorne to see something aching and tearing in her eyes.
“Adeline?” He reached to touch her hand.
But Adeline took a step out of his reach, her expression and stance never faltering, even as her eyes held heartbreak. “General, please take Lord Lorne and his men into custody.”
At her words, the general immediately moved forward, the Kelvernese guards closing in.
“Adeline, please.” Lorne held her gaze, even as firm hands settled on his arms, preparing to haul him back. “We need to talk. Please.”
Why was she doing this? Surely she knew he wasn’t a threat. He’d kissed her, after all. He certainly wasn’t going to do anything to sabotage this meeting.
Adeline turned away, her tone somehow unwavering. “Restrain them if necessary, but treat them well. We want them in good shape when we return them to their king.”
“Adeline!” Lorne wanted to fight the hands dragging him backward, but it wouldn’t do any good, not here surrounded by the whole of the Kelvernese army.
Instead, all he could do was keep his gaze fixed on her retreating back before she disappeared within the royal tent.
“Sir?” Godwin’s voice dragged Lorne’s gaze to him.
The five of his guards had shifted to stand in a circle, their hands on their swords, although they hadn’t drawn their weapons yet. The Kelvernese soldiers faced them, also tensed and poised for action.
“Stand down.” Lorne’s shoulders slumped as he let the soldiers drag him farther from the tent. “Don’t resist.”
What was going on with Adeline? Why was she doing this?
Worse, he was too late. He hadn’t told her the truth.
“Are you sure this is the right call, Your Majesty?” Thaddeus remained standing near the door of the tent, his hands clasped behind his back. His tone held just the trace of his disapproval, even if his face was impassive. “You married him in order to help you bring about peace.”
“I know.” Adeline hugged her arms over her stomach as she paced across the tent. “This might make peace harder, but it is what is best for him.”
She loved him too much to keep using him. It was time to let him go without the burden of ties to her.
The flap opened, and the general bowed to her. “The Lalsacian king has sent his reply.”
“Already?” Adeline spun, her heart pounding harder in her throat. It had only been minutes since they’d arrived and she’d sent off a messenger.
“Yes. He seems quite eager to open the talks.” The general straightened. “He requests to meet immediately, if you are amiable.”
She wouldn’t have the chance to change or clean up after the long ride, but she could forgo those comforts easily enough. Right now, she was so restless that she’d rather just get this over with.
“Yes, I am.” Adeline would have straightened her shoulders, but her back already hurt from how straight and correct she was standing. “Send six of our men forward with a tent.”
“Very good, Your Majesty.” The general bowed before leaving the tent.
Adeline paced while she waited. It took several more back and forths before a tent was set up and furnished, ready for her and the Lalsacian king to meet.
Climbing onto her horse with her crown firmly set on her head, Adeline set out once again, surrounded by her guards and the contingent of lords. She tried not to look over her shoulder toward the rear of the column where Lorne and his men were being marched on foot by a squad of soldiers.
Soldiers opened a door set in the palisade, and then she was riding into the open valley that spread between the two warring armies. On the far saddleback crest, an identical palisade cut across the land, and a column of riders was coming toward her.
One hundred yards from the tent set in the center of the valley, Adeline halted and dismounted.
Instead of Lorne, it was the general who helped her down from her horse. “I don’t like that you will be so alone and vulnerable, Your Majesty.”
“The king and I agreed to take only three personal guards each.” Adeline wouldn’t mention that she would feel safer with only her three most trusted guards at her side. “I will feel more secure with you here where you’ll be able to see any larger attack brewing.”
She didn’t think there would be one. Lorne had hinted how eager the Lalsacian king was for peace.
After all, Lalsacia hadn’t been the one to start the war.
Kelverny had. Lalsacia hadn’t killed Adeline’s parents.
A Kelvernese traitor or her grandfather had.
Lalsacia had reached forward the hand of peace first by sending Lorne and his envoys, and it had been Kelverny that had rebuffed the attempts.