Chapter 8 #2
As I thought about it, however, I realized Basstrum was similar. Doria was the reigning monarch in the Kingdom of Basstrum. Enken was king through their marriage, and there were plenty of examples I could think of from Earth history as well.
“I’m glad they could meet us to discuss this situation,” I said.
The footman nodded. “Her Majesty invites you to their quarters. They wish to meet the famous King Kenneth.”
“Great,” I said. “We’re ready to meet them now. If you’ll lead the way?”
The footman’s polite smile soured a little when I said “we,” but he nodded without hesitation and turned on his heel. The two soldiers who’d come with him clanked as they turned and strode after him.
I arched an eyebrow at my queens, and they started walking after the Silver Coast servant.
“I’m going to wait here,” Carissa said. “I don’t think they meant me.”
I considered asking her to come, too, but I decided she was probably right. Based on what I knew about how they were likely to welcome my new queens, it wouldn’t be wise to test them by including Carissa as well.
“Alright,” I said. “We’ll be back soon.”
“If Doria and Enken arrive while you’re there,” Carissa said, “may I greet them?”
“Yeah,” I laughed. “Of course. See you soon.”
Carissa nodded and smiled before I jogged to catch up with my queens and the Silver Coast footman. Otto and Rubin had followed closely behind the queens, and Anders had remained at my side. He jogged with me until we caught up with the others.
The Silver Coast royals’ tent was straight across the open field from our tent, and we cut straight through the grass to reach it. Their silver-and-purple tent was slightly taller than all the others, and the front flaps had been tied back completely to give us a full view inside the front half.
More canvas flaps hung down in the center of the tent to create a sort of backroom, but the front half was open like a sun porch.
A massive rug with intricate floral patterns in deep jewel tones had been laid down on the grass.
On top of the rug were about a dozen lightweight wicker chairs and even more thick cushions.
A low table sat in the middle of the seating area, and a silver tray covered the entire surface.
It looked like two servants would have to carry it simply because of how big it was.
A porcelain teapot and enough teacups for all of us sat beside three plates of little sandwiches, fresh fruit, and cheese and crackers.
Several footmen and maids stood like statues in the corners of the tent, but the queen and king were nowhere to be seen.
It was an impressive sight to be welcomed by, but I was more interested in meeting the royals than making pleasant conversation over afternoon tea.
“Please wait here,” the footman we’d been following said.
He didn’t wait for a response before he hurried toward the tent flaps that divided the front area from the closed rear. He leaned forward and said something I couldn’t catch before he slipped through the gap between the canvas panels.
“Do we sit?” Yori asked as she eyed the food on the table.
We’d stopped for a midmorning snack a few hours ago, but it was nearly lunchtime now, and Yori was kind of like a hobbit in her eating habits.
“That would be improper,” Serra answered. “We haven’t been invited to sit.”
“Mm,” Tanell hummed in agreement. “He said to wait here. Sitting now would be rude.”
“And a poor way to start our relationship with the Silver Coast Royals,” I added.
“Fine,” Yori huffed quietly.
“Although making us wait is also rude…” Tanell muttered under her breath.
Her stomach grumbled as if in agreement, and I couldn’t keep the smile from my face.
“No, darling…” A woman’s voice reached us as the tent flaps opened wide. “You needn’t trouble yourself–”
“I’m quite well enough, dear,” a man replied in an annoyed tone. “Let’s not keep them waiting any longer.”
“Her Royal Majesty,” a servant said as the woman appeared before us. “Sybil Portlyss, Queen of the Silver Coast.”
“Welcome, friends,” Queen Sybil said in an overly sweet voice.
I hadn’t really thought about what she might look like, but she was every bit the picture of a queen.
Sybil Portlyss was a tall woman with curly blonde hair that had been twisted into braids and wrapped across the back of her head in a heavy mass.
It looked like her maids must have used eight hundred pins to keep it in place.
She was beautiful, with high cheekbones and kohl-rimmed hazel eyes that seemed to stare directly into my soul.
She wore a silver crown on top of her head, a heavy silver necklace hugged close around her throat, and a second, much daintier necklace hung down between her breasts to her waist. A large diamond pendant bounced gently against her as she walked toward me with all the grace of a prima ballerina, and her charcoal-gray gown flowed over the carpet like water in a lazy stream.
She walked around the seating area and stopped in front of one chair that had purple upholstery before she raised her hands in greeting.
“Welcome,” she said in an elegant tone. “Please, sit.”
“Thank you, Queen Sybil,” I said, and I glanced around in search of the man I’d heard speak. “Will his majesty be joining us?”
“No–” She started to shake her head.
“Yes, he will,” the man answered for himself as he appeared behind the wicker chairs.
“His Majesty, King Giles,” the servant announced.
King Giles walked a little slower than his queen, but he smiled warmly at me in greeting as he came around to shake my hand.
He had a slight pallor to his face, but his handshake was warm and firm. He wore dark gray pants and a linen shirt in a deep shade of eggplant that did little to improve the look of his complexion. If anything, it only served to wash him out.
I couldn’t help but notice his lack of a crown, but his eyes were bright with clarity and kindness.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, King Kenneth,” he said.
“Please,” I said. “It’s just Ken.”
“Ken.” Giles’ smile broadened at that. “Please, will you eat with us?”
“Thank you,” Yori answered, and she walked right over and sat down.
Giles chuckled, but Sybil looked like she’d smelled shit for a split second before she straightened her face.
“Yes…” Sybil turned to me. “Come sit, and we shall get to know one another. I’ve heard much of King Kenneth and his rise to the throne.”
“We’re very curious to learn how many of the tales are true,” Giles said.
“We are on the edge of our seats,” Sybil said, but her tone didn’t ring sincere.
“I’m kind of curious what you’ve heard,” I chuckled.
Serra went to sit beside Yori, and Tanell and I filled two more seats in the middle. Giles sat clear on the opposite side of the seating area from his queen, and my ladies and I all ended up between them.
Yori had already scooped two tiny sandwiches, a bowl of fruit, and a pile of cheese and crackers onto her plate, and a footman was walking around to serve the tea.
“Two spoons of sugar, please,” Yori said.
Sybil’s nostrils flared as if in irritation, but she didn’t say anything, and I let the moment slide.
I didn’t like her much so far, but I had to remind myself she’d grown up in very different circumstances than Yori.
Much like Serra in the beginning, it was probably societal conditioning that led her to instinctively dislike Yori’s bluntness.
Sybil took a breath and settled into her chair as a servant handed her a cup of tea. Then she waited patiently while the rest of us got our tea and selected some food to snack on.
“Now that we all have our refreshments,” she said. “Will you tell us the grand tale of your murdering of King Oberis?”
My jaw dropped at the crude way she’d asked, and Tanell offered a light laugh to smooth over the moment.
“I didn’t intend on killing anybody,” I said in a tone that I hoped was polite while still being firm. “I’m still not even sure how it all happened.”
“Impossible,” Sybil laughed. “You were obviously intent on becoming king.”
“Actually, I didn’t even know about Kelshar or Nalatria,” I corrected her. “I wound up here very much by accident. My carriage landed on King Oberis, and the rest is history.”
“Fascinating.” Sybil’s hazel eyes narrowed like she didn’t believe a word I’d said.
I turned to look at Giles, and he seemed enraptured by my story.
“Is it true it happened in front of many of your masters?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said. “Queen Tanell was there, too.”
“What was it like, Queen Tanell?” Giles asked in a sincere tone. “Were you very frightened?”
“It was rather scary,” Tanell said. “It happened very fast. We were meeting with the masters, and then there was a blinding light. Suddenly, Ken’s carriage dropped from the ceiling, and it landed right on Oberis.”
“Were you driving drunk?” Sybil asked with a harsh laugh.
“I wasn’t even in the carriage at the time,” I said. “I’d gotten out to– to look at something. Then the same blinding light Tanell described was there. It…”
I shook my head because there was no way they’d believe that I’d been sucked into a bright light and dumped into their world.
“It’s all kind of fuzzy,” I chuckled and rubbed my temple. “I’m pretty sure I hit my head.”
“And now you’re king.” Sybil grinned, but there was no warmth in the expression. “How fortunate for you.”
“Well, I won’t disagree with you there,” I said with a smile at my three queens. “I wouldn’t have these wonderful women in my life if it hadn’t happened.”
“Mmm.” Sybil hummed and completely ignored Serra and Yori. “Queen Tanell, I’m sure it must have been quite the shock to your life, having your beloved king taken from you so young.”
Tanell’s smile lost its warmth as she turned to address Queen Sybil.
“It has been…” Tanell paused as she searched for the right word. “An adjustment, but Ken is a man of great integrity. He cares deeply for our people, and all the people of Kelshar’s fine nations.”
“Which brings us to our reason for this gathering,” I said.
“Tish.” Sybil dismissed me with a flick of her wrist. “We’re not discussing business.”