It’s Good to be Queen
It’s Good to be Queen
Ballard stepped out before me and raised his hands out to those kneeling before us.
“My clansmen, I present to you Cassarah, born of Chadrick, pair-bond to the black dragon, Vasin, the symbol of our people, thus proving her claim to the throne.” Ballard’s voice echoed off the mountainside, filling the night air.
Turning to face me, he pulled out a necklace from a pouch on his hip and held it aloft. “Kneel, Cassarah, as proof that even though you will rule our people, you are still of the people.”
Dropping down to my knees, I bent my head and waited for the words I knew from my training he would speak.
“Do you solemnly swear to govern these people of the five clans? To be their shield and protector in times of war, to uphold our rights and customs, furthering our way of life, to surround yourself with advisers and to listen to their words,” Ballard recited the ancient words.
“I so swear it,” I answered as loudly and confidently as I could.
“Then may this pendant serve as a reminder of your oath for the rest of your days.” Ballard slipped the necklace over my head.
Standing again, Ballard took my hand, pulled me to my feet, and thrust our hands up. “Long live Queen Cassarah!”
The crowd rose to their feet, whooping and hollering their acceptance, where they were ready to kill me moments ago.
If I were honest with myself, I didn’t blame them.
Fear did that to people. Thankfully, the display of my powers and an angry black dragon were all it took to win them over.
I wasn’t na?ve enough to think this was the end of it.
I’m sure I will have doubters, but I would enjoy the moment for now.
As the crowd settled down, I turned to the men and women still waiting for me on bended knee.
Raising my arms out wide, I drew everyone’s attention.
“My first act as queen is to establish my guardians by accepting those who have been called to my side.” I walked over to Dayson, who was the closest to me.
“Do you swear on your honor that you will be faithful to your queen and her people now and in the future, never causing them harm? And you will observe homage to your queen completely against all persons in good faith and without deceit?”
“I so swear,” Dayson said, kissing my outstretched hand.
Next, I moved to Abbott and repeated the same oath.
“I so swear,” Abbott answered, his face full of sincere determination.
Cole winked as he listened to me recite the oath, making me smile. “I so swear… little mouse.” He tacked this on quietly enough for only me to hear.
When I came to Jade, I wasn’t sure what he thought of this.
His face was blank and gave me nothing to go on, but when his eyes met mine, I saw a look of awe and reverence in them.
This surprised me more than any other reaction he could’ve had.
I half expected him to be upset with being called as one of my guardians.
His answer came almost before I had gotten all the words out. “I so swear ’til my last living breath, My Queen.”
Then I came to one of the men I hadn’t met yet.
He had thick, straight, shoulder-length black hair.
His skin was fair and made for a striking contrast against his dark hair.
When he looked up at me, I noticed his eyes were almond-shaped and the color of coal.
Even though his face was finer-boned, it didn’t detract from the lethal presence he carried.
“Your name, my guardian?” I asked softly.
“Izel of the Jade Talon clan,” he answered.
“Greetings, Izel,” I said, smiling at him before I recited the oath.
“I so swear,” Izel answered before dropping his gaze back to the ground.
Moving on to the last of the men, I noticed that as dark as Izel is, he was the opposite. He had short, tousled white-blond hair, his eyes a pale icy blue that glittered in the firelight. He grinned at me, his excitement practically vibrating off him.
“Payson at your service. I’m from the Wind Fist clan,” Payson announced, his grin growing bigger.
I couldn’t help but laugh at his eagerness. “Are all the people from your clan so exuberant?”
“Nah, that’s all me.”
“Hmm, Payson, do you swear on your honor that you will be faithful to your queen and her people now and in the future, never causing them harm? And you will observe homage to your queen completely against all persons in good faith and without deceit?” I asked.
“Hell yeah!” he yelled, causing people close enough to laugh at his response.
“I’m glad you’re excited about this, but I need you to give the correct response for this to be official,” I murmured, trying to hold back my laughter.
Payson rolled his eyes before answering, “I so swear.”
Nodding, I moved to the two women and knew the oath I would ask of them would be different. I’d never learned about female protectors before, but I could feel the flow of knowledge Vasin was sending my way to guide me.
“Becka, do you swear to renounce all other allegiances, to support and defend our people and your queen against all enemies, whether they are foreign or of our own blood? That you will bear the honor of being my shadow and my adviser? That you will speak wisdom and guidance, carrying out my orders as your sovereign ruler?” I asked, holding Becka’s gaze, letting her know how much it meant to me to have her by my side through this.
“I swear, My Queen.” Becka smiled.
Coming to the last person, I took in her strong features.
Half of her hair was shaved, and the other half was waist-length blonde hair, braided tightly against her head to keep it out of her way.
Like Dayson, she was covered in black ink, adding to her fierceness.
Her hazel eyes observed me with a cool detachment that made me wonder if she would accept my oath.
This was a woman who would not be forced into anything, regardless of what my powers thought.
“I am May of the Bronze Reapers,” she introduced herself without me asking, her voice strong, clear, and commanding.
Taking a deep breath, I asked her the same thing I had of Becka and waited to hear her response.
May’s eyes never left mine. It was as if she was trying to see into my soul.
Who knows, if she had a Birthright, she might be able to.
As the silence stretched and tension grew from the men to my left, I gulped, hoping no one else could see how nervous this woman made me.
“I do not give my word lightly, and when I choose to stand behind someone, it is a person I believe in and trust to lead with wisdom and strength. Before I answer your call, I request you answer one question,” May stated, catching me off guard.
“You dare question your queen? You are no clansmen of mine, May,” Dayson growled, storming over, eyes flashing.
I held up a hand, halting him from doing whatever he had planned. When I saw he wouldn’t go against my command, I turned back to May. “Ask your question.”
“Why you? You are not of the clans. Your family abandoned our ways for the noble life. Yes, the black dragon picked you, but what makes you the person to lead us as we fight to survive? That is my question.”
I could feel my stomach dropping at her words. This question had been in the back of my mind since I found out who I really was. I had come to respect these people and their way of life. They fought every day to live free and true to who they were and let their children have the same life.
“I don’t deserve to be your queen,” I answered, making the crowd gasp as nervous whispers spread around me.
“I grew up entirely different from any of you, and I’m still learning every day what it means to be a part of a clan.
The loyalty and trust you have for each other is astounding.
In the noble world, it’s all backstabbing and finding the best way to get ahead while taking someone else down. ”
I paused, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, reaching out to Vasin to anchor me as I continued.
“I might not be what you were looking for in a queen, but I can promise you this… I will do everything in my power to keep the clans alive. I understand how the nobles think and how they will attack. I have studied all the battles they’ve fought and found their weaknesses.
I will gladly share that knowledge with the clans, and for all that I have to give, I will give.
I know I have much to learn, and I’m not above asking for help or letting someone with more knowledge teach or advise me.
I might not be the queen you wanted right now, but one day, I hope to become a queen you are proud of. ”
May’s eyes lit up with a fire I hadn’t seen when she asked me her question.
Standing, she pulled out the sword she had on her hip, causing people to gasp and the men to take a step closer.
Once again, I halted them, knowing this was a very important moment and what I did would weigh heavily in the eyes of the clansmen around us.
May grasped her sword, slicing her palm, not even flinching as blood welled and dripped from her fingers.
Kneeling once again, she bowed her head and held her hand to me.
“I swear my allegiance to you, My Queen, and I give you my life as well. As long as breath is in my body, I will guard you and speak the truth to you, even when you may not want to hear it. I seal my vow with blood and my life be forfeited if I ever betray you.”
Taking the knife from my boot, I sliced my hand, grimacing at the pain, and grasped her hand. “I honor your vow with a seal of my blood.”
Reaching out, I clasped her hand so our wounds touched, and the oath we had given each other snapped into place.
Everyone around us clapped and yelled their support, some hugging each other and others smiling.
Now that she was standing at her full height, May grinned down at me before she pulled me into a hug that engulfed me.
“Little queen, I have a feeling you and I will get along just fine,” May whispered to me before she stepped back, and Becka swooped in to hug me.
It was moments like this that I realized how truly messed up my life had been before I met them.
For twenty-one years, the only people who showed me kindness were my father and Becka.
Now, I was surrounded by people who wanted the best for me.
I’m sure it wouldn’t be long before the doubters raised their heads, but I was going to live in the here and now.
Cole walked up, took my hand, and tugged me behind him as he headed into the cave fortress.