The Crown I Wear
Stripping out of my clothes, I took a cloth and soap, quickly washed my body, and rinsed off in the tub with a pitcher of ice-cold water.
Dry and still shivering, I dug through my chest, pulling out all my clothes and laying them out on the bed.
I pulled on simple black leather pants, seeing no other alternative that would work while riding on a dragon.
Then I noticed something else in the trunk, wrapped in cloth and twine, under the stack of research papers.
Pulling it out, I undid the twine, and there lay the most stunning leather top with an accompanying corset.
The top was long-sleeved, but what made it eye-catching was the leather dragon scales that rose up in the back, shoulder to shoulder to make a cowl.
It was elegant and fierce, just what I was looking for.
The corset was made from thick leather that looked like dragon wings wrapping around me in a hug with lacing up the back.
I managed to get the top on fine, but I would have to wait for Becka to help with the corset.
Looking down at it, I didn’t harbor the same hatred I’d once held toward the torture device.
When I put it on, it wasn’t a way to show off that I was good breeding stock.
Instead, it displayed the power I held. I was Queen of the Mercenaries, demanding the same amount of respect from others that Queen Mary did.
I was no longer going to meet her as her subject.
I was an equal, and this outfit reminded me of that.
“I see you found Helena’s coronation gift,” Becka said as she entered the room. “She had it commissioned right after she met you.”
“She never doubted I would be queen, and she was right.” I smiled, brushing a hand over the leather. “Remind me before anything else happens that we need to spend more time with her. I really miss her cooking too.”
“Don’t worry about her. She is the wife of a clan leader and regent.
She knows how busy you are and would never want to get in the way,” Becka shared, putting me at ease.
“Want to wait to put that on until I’ve gotten your hair sorted?
I’m not like your mother. I don’t need to make you suffer longer than necessary in one of those things. ”
“Great idea!”
It didn’t take long for Becka to braid my hair into rows, making sure it would stay out of my face and adding to the feel of the outfit. The finishing touch was a bronze circlet resembling braided leather with a black gemstone glistening in the lamplight.
“I think you’re ready, Queen Cassarah. Shall we shock the men into seeing you as the real deal now?” Becka asked as she looked me over one final time.
“We don’t have time for games, Becka. We need to get things organized and settled as quickly as possible,” I chided as I hobbled to the door.
“Just because you look like a badass in that outfit doesn’t mean that your leg is magically fixed,” Becka snapped, grabbing my arm. “What happens if you fall off the edge and die before you even get to this meeting? Let me grab one of the guys. You stay right there. Don’t even think about moving.”
Rolling my eyes, I stood where she left me, knowing she was right. I did notice it was feeling much better, and the pain was hardly more than an inconvenience.
“Becka said you need…” Abbott started to say but drifted off when he saw me. “Wow, little phoenix, you’ve truly been reborn and risen from the ashes as a queen. You look beautiful.”
Blushing, I dropped my gaze. “Thank you, but I feel like it loses its effect when I still have to be carried.”
“I doubt anyone is going to notice when you’re dressed like this,” Abbott assured me as he wrapped an arm around my waist and scooped up my legs.
“Will you at least let me walk from the entrance to my chair?” I pleaded once we reached the strategy room.
Abbott looked down at me and seemed like he was going to argue but sighed and nodded as he set me on my feet. “I still want you to hold on to me, though. We can’t risk you reinjuring yourself.”
“I can work with that.”
Abbott pushed open the door, and I tucked my arm through his as we slowly entered the room.
Everyone was standing by their seat, leaving the middle one open for me instead of at the head of the table.
I couldn’t help but wonder which of my guardians made it known that this was where I liked to sit.
The six dragon riders looked at me with wide eyes tinged with respect and a little fear while the clan leaders stood proudly as I took my seat.
“Thank you all for getting here so fast. I know it’s early, but we don’t have much time,” I explained once everyone was seated.
“Jade has returned from Royal City with an answer from Queen Mary. She wishes to meet with me and Prince Gavin this afternoon to prove her son is safe and unharmed before we talk about becoming allies. She will be coming with her personal guard of seven on dragon back to Hillney Lake near the Creisal border. What I want to know is if there is any way that the queen could set up an ambush or if she still has enough pull in Creisal to get them to attack us?”
The men murmured amongst themselves as they digested this news and compared information.
“Your Majesty,” Sal spoke up first. “Queen Mary is the second daughter to the king and queen of Creisal, and though she still keeps close ties to her family, her elder sister, Princess Leanna, who is to rule when her parents pass, hates Queen Mary. I doubt Princess Leanna would allow her sister to use their military forces when they are currently dealing with an influx of sea pirates.”
“I agree with this. My clan is closest to the Creisal border, and I know that lake well. It is fairly neutral territory with no villages or other dwellings nearby,” Xio added.
“I think that Queen Mary is being fair in her choice of location. It’s also too far from Royal City that troops on foot or horseback would have trouble getting there by noon.
Dragons are much faster but more noticeable, especially the queen’s golden dragon. ”
“All right, so the location is fair and yields no advantage to either party. What about the number of her guards?” When no one offered a response right away, I turned to Gavin. “In the mind of Norden royalty, what would you expect if you were in your mother’s shoes?”
Gavin looked around the table then back at me. “Since she made it clear the number of people she would bring with her, it was a sign of good faith. If you wish to prove your intention, I would match her count, or slightly less, to show you do not want to be a threat.”
“Who in their right mind would show up with less protection?” Garold snapped, shoving to his feet. “How do we know this wasn’t the plan all along? If he talks you into having fewer guards, it’s easier to pick you off in the end!”
Raising a hand, I halted him from speaking further. “Sit down. If you have something to say, you can do so easily from a seated position. I do not have time for this discussion to turn into an argument among children.”
Garold looked at me with a shocked expression as he sank back into his seat, crossing his arms like a child pouting.
“What Gavin said makes sense, but we are mercenaries, are we not? Skilled in the art of stealth and deception to get the job done?” I asked, looking around the table.
“Just because I present the queen with less than seven guards doesn’t mean that’s how many will be there.
” It took a moment for everyone to understand what I was saying, but eventually, they all caught on.
“I will bring Jade and Zan with me, doubling up, so that I will have four guards present while the six of you will lie in wait.”
“There is a dense forest not too far from the lake where they can hide out and won’t be seen as you approach. It would work even better if you were slightly late,” Xio suggested.
I grinned at him. “Now you’re finally thinking like a mercenary.
Izel, I want you to pair up with Tinus so that you can make sure they get to the right area since I’ll have you fly in slightly behind us.
Gavin will ride with me. Dayson and Cole, you will also be with me.
My other guardians double up with one of the other six riders.
” I paused a moment, running over this once more in my brain to make sure I didn’t miss anything before I dismissed them.
“I don’t need to tell you this is a vital moment in our existence.
If we can’t get their help, it could mean the chance of not surviving this war. ”
The room fell into a heavy silence, telling me they understood the stakes.
“Does anyone have anything further to say?” I asked.
Bast rose to his feet and bowed deeply. “I would like to apologize for the disrespect I’ve shown you and pledge my honor and allegiance to your service.”
Swiftly, all the other dragon riders rose and gave the same pledge to me, heads bowed, waiting for my response.
“I accept your apology and am humbled at your allegiance,” I offered as I also rose.
“As your queen, I give you my solemn word I will do all I can to protect those under my care, and I ask your help to do so. I know we got off on the wrong foot, but those who give me their trust will have mine in return. Now go, prepare what you must. We leave when the sun hits the mountain peaks.”
Swiftly, the dragon riders left, along with Jade and Zan, while I reviewed the last details. “Clan leaders, in your mind, what as a people are we not willing to give up to make this work?”
“We will never become their subjects. Our entire existence, we have fought for our freedom and right to be our own people,” Ballard stated, meeting my gaze head-on. The others grunted and nodded their agreement.
“I vow never to let that happen under my rule,” I guaranteed.
Acton rose and bowed. “I trust you will make the right judgment for our people, Queen Cassarah.”
The other clan leaders also stood and bowed, showing me I’d finally earned their loyalty and respect.