Chapter 53 Born to Rule #3
“Ruin was too selfish,” Bren breathed, staring at the king with clouded eyes.
“Hanson was the name of the Lord in Fyrehold. He had an arrangement with Ruin. Something involving money. When I told him I didn’t trust Ruin, he claimed he investigated and discovered that Ruin had…
conflicting responsibilities.” She looked up at me.
“I think he really thought Ruin was providing a herd to him. Ruin was playing both sides of this—using the dragons the king gave him to gain personal wealth from Fyrehold, while also moving on this plot… God, he’s such a spider. ”
“Not anymore,” I reminded her, and felt the tension release in her as she exhaled heavily. “But now we’re here—a traitorous king, a broken herd, wild dragons without leadership, and who knows how many men involved in this scheme?”
Diaan’s face hardened. “I will get to the bottom of that,” she assured me with cold determination. “He had to have kept this circle small to keep it from me. But I will root them out. Every. One. And they will not survive it.”
The look in her eyes when she stared at her husband raised the hair on the back of my neck. I was about to comment, when she turned to face me and lifted her chin.
“Donavyn, today you have proven that you serve your kingdom, over your own ambition—a quality I find is sadly lacking amongst the men of my Court. As your ruler, I am gratified and… humbled.”
I nodded, though I remained uneasy. “What will you do?”
The queen swallowed again and took one more cold glance at her husband. “Ruin and his dragon won’t be the only unfortunate deaths this evening,” she said quietly.
“They won’t?”
She shook her head and a gleam entered her gaze.
“Sadly, the king is growing old and has suffered heart pains for some time. Tonight, he fell down a step in the apartment of his friend, and broke his leg.” Her eyes turned cold as she stared at her husband.
“I fear the pain is too much for his heart. He will be taken into the grip of the Creator soon.”
My hackles rose when she smiled and looked at me again.
“It is a blessing that, without the security of a successor, I had already placed strategic people—women mostly—throughout the palace and surrounds to support me and protect our joint thrones.” Her lips thinned and she gave one more dismissive glance to her husband.
“It will be difficult, of course… but Vosgaarde must step forward into this new age. An age in which we work for unity—between men and women, between men and dragons, and perhaps even with our allied neighbors… only those that can be trusted, of course.”
I nodded, but apprehension tightened my chest and I pulled Bren against my side. The queen was, without doubt, not behind this scheme. But could her ambitions be trusted any more than Alexi’s?
Would serving her only take us out of the frying pan and into an entirely different fire?
Kgosi rumbled in my head, but didn’t answer. I felt Bren’s nerves creeping up in the bond, but she didn’t speak either.
The queen, obviously sensing my unease, opened her hands towards me.
“Donavyn, I am not na?ve to the impacts that this will have on our people—particularly the Furyknights. It would appear that we have an infection in the ranks. Some men, and some dragons, willing to pursue dark courses. As a woman with a very great job ahead of her, and without the experience of the dragons, I need the help of a man like you.”
I stared at her. Bren stiffened at my side. But she continued.
“You served Alexi well while his intentions were good, and I would… I would ask you if you’d be willing to stay and do the same for me?”
“Diaan—”
“The souls here tonight watched a man and his dragon lead in truth—and serve their kingdom. They don’t know the currents that almost sucked all of us under. Currents I do not support. You have my word.”
“I appreciate the honor, Your Majesty, but I can’t ask Kgosi to—”
“Donavyn, I understand what it means to be dismissed by men. I know what it is to walk at the end of a gaze that entirely underestimates your value. I would not do that—to the dragons, or to women. Or any man, for that matter. I give you—and your dragon—my word that, as ruler, I will hear the wisdom of Kgosi, and I will use his advice and yours to better rule our kingdom in truth and courage,” she said, sneering at the king on the floor again.
“If you will remain in Vosgaarde, you will be raised—retaining your military authority, but also joining my personal Advisory.
“The kingdom will learn that we have entered a new age, and our policies changed so that any who were involved in this that we don’t hunt down will flee.
There will be no question what side of integrity Vosgaarde pursues.
The king’s body will be displayed so that all might understand that he is truly dead.
And if you will work with me, Donavyn, together we will do everything to protect the welfare of this nation in the face of what must be an age of some…
turmoil,” she said with a sardonic smile.
I frowned. “Work with you… to what purpose?” I said, finally understanding why Kgosi had said the choice was mine.
“Kgosi was very clear with me,” she said nervously.
I’d forgotten he spoke to her at the launch hollow.
“I will not view him as… as a servant. But as a possible partner to our kingdom. He leaves it up to you, Donavyn. He trusts your judgment. So, I… humbly ask… Will you serve my throne? You and your Furyknights? For the purpose of keeping Vosgaarde safe and prosperous? Or will there be another battle waged this day? The choice is yours. I will not fight unless you leave me no choice. If your dragons won’t stay, I know that you can’t.
But I am asking. Please… remain. Lead as you have—even more so.
I will not place barriers in your path.”
I glanced at Bren, whose eyes were wide. ‘Do you believe her? Or is this a pantomime so we’ll be sucked into a new scheme?’
Bren took a deep breath, staring at the queen, who watched me. ‘I think she’s telling you the truth. She’ll always be a schemer. But… Donavyn, I think she really wants to do things differently.’
I wasn’t as sure. Yet, with a glance at Alexi, who had always had to be managed, I found that I agreed with my mate. I did believe Diaan would rule differently. The question was, would it be for the better?
I shot Diaan a shrewd look. “Will you offer true freedom for the dragons—acknowledging that they do not serve the crown, but partner with their bonded ones, who might? No matter whether their bonds are male or female, young or old? You’ll trust the dragons to choose the right people to aid us in this… venture?”
“You have my word,” she said quickly, nodding. “If you stay, Donavyn, the dragons will be purely in your purvey. And I will support you in eradicating any… underground evils.”
I looked at Bren one more time, but I could feel the calm in her. The weariness, but also joy.
I nodded, then bowed to the queen. “I have always served the crown of Vosgaarde, Your Majesty. And as long as the crown serves its people, I will continue to do so happily… for the rest of my days.”
Tension went out of the queen as she finally smiled.
“That, sir, is very, very good news.”