Chapter 9
My mood immediately lifted, and Serra and Tanell both smiled as we stood up to exit the tent.
The campground was abuzz with activity as another long caravan of fine carriages approached the entrance. I recognized the Basstrum Royal crest on the sides of the carriages, and I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face at the sight of our friends.
The carriages paused momentarily at the entrance before the soldiers stepped aside to let them through, and then they rolled across the grass to the gold-and-emerald-green tent beside ours. I was glad Doria and Enken would be so close to us while we were here for the multiday gathering.
“Thank goodness,” Tanell sighed in relief.
“I wonder if they’re familiar with Queen Sybil,” Serra murmured. “I expect they won’t be much more charmed by her than we were.”
“Perhaps,” Tanell said.
“They’re probably closer to her opinion of what ‘good monarchs’ are,” I pointed out. “So who knows?”
“Mmm,” Serra hummed. “True.”
“Shall I get Yori?” Tanell asked.
“No, let her work off that anger,” I said.
Enken and Doria’s carriages pulled up to their tent, and their footmen, maids, and soldiers rushed into action.
They quickly began unloading heavy trunks from the last two carriages and hauled them into the green-and-gold tent without delay.
Their soldiers did a thorough sweep through the tent before one who seemed to be in charge strode up to the third carriage in the line and knocked on the door.
After a second, he opened it and spoke with the people inside. He nodded and strode away once more, and a footman took his place. A second footman produced a small step stool from the back of the carriage and placed it beside the door.
Finally, Queen Doria emerged from the carriage, and King Enken followed her out a moment later. They looked tired from the road, but they spotted us right away and started to walk over.
Enken towered over his queen, and his dark hair was mussed like he might have fallen asleep in the carriage and not bothered to rake his fingers through it before he’d stepped outside.
He wore a simple white shirt and dark pants that reminded me of his rather common upbringing.
He and Doria had met and fallen in love before he’d even known she was the queen.
I wondered what Sybil would think about that, and I wondered about King Giles’ past. Thankfully, that train of thought was derailed by a bright smile from Queen Doria.
Her white-streaked auburn hair hung over her shoulder in a loose braid to her waist, and her blue eyes were warm with friendship as she waved at us. She wore a simple traveling dress in a soft shade of blue that complemented her eyes.
“Oh, dear friends,” Doria said as she and her husband walked up to us. “It’s a delight to see you again.”
“Agreed,” Enken said with a smile. “How was your journey?”
“It was fine,” I said as Enken and I shared a hearty handshake. “We had a bit of a scuffle at the inn last night, but nothing too troubling.”
“A scuffle?” Enken arched a dark eyebrow in intrigue. “Do tell.”
I chuckled and gave him the quick rundown on the bar fight.
“Goodness,” Doria said when I finished. “I’m glad none of you were hurt.”
“It was nothing compared to the greeting we got from the Silver Coast royals,” I said in a conspiratorial tone.
“Mmm,” Doria hummed knowingly. “You’ve met Sybil then?”
“She’s really…” Enken grimaced. “Something, isn’t she?”
“So you’re familiar with her,” I laughed. “Yeah, she had some big opinions about my queens.”
“Ah, yes.” Doria smiled brightly at Serra, and her blue eyes flicked around like she was looking for Yori. “I was so sorry we couldn’t attend your coronation, but what with the preparations for this… we simply couldn’t make it work.”
“It’s no trouble,” Serra assured her. “This is much more important.”
“Still…” Enken put an arm around his wife’s waist. “We were sorry to miss it. I’m sure Ken gave you a proper celebration.”
Serra blushed deeply, and I knew she was thinking about the private celebration Yori, her, and I had indulged in after the official party.
“We had a good time,” I said for her.
“So what did Sybil say?” Enken asked like he wanted all the tea. “I bet she had something underhanded to say about Yori.”
“Yep.” I popped the word for emphasis. “Sybil said she was no better than a farm animal.”
“I could have slapped her.” Tanell shook her head.
“I don’t blame you,” Doria agreed with a sympathetic look. “Where is dear Yori?”
“She went to burn off some of her anger,” I explained, and I glanced behind the Basstrum royals at their very busy servants. “Would you like to join us in our tent for some refreshments while you wait for your staff to finish unloading?”
“That would be lovely,” Doria said, and she looped her arms with Tanell and Serra’s. “I’d love to catch up, and I adore this color on you, Serra. It’s beautiful.”
Serra murmured a thank you, and the three women walked toward our tent.
Enken slapped me on the shoulder and grinned in a brotherly way.
“You look well, my friend,” he said. “Multiple queens looks good on you.”
“Thanks,” I laughed.
We walked into the tent a few paces behind the women, and Yori had returned while we were outside.
Her cheeks were flushed from exertion rather than rage, and her dark hair was a little sweaty around her hairline.
“Yori, darling,” Doria walked right over to greet her. “I was just telling your fellow queens how sorry I was to miss your coronation. I’m certain you were the picture of perfection.”
“Yeah, sure,” Yori snorted. “A peasant girl dressed up in a gown like a pig in shit.”
“Oh,” Doria tsked. “Don’t let that snob, Sybil, get under your skin. You’re exactly the kind of woman your people need. You know better than most what they deal with on the day-to-day, and that perspective makes you a better ruler.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” I said.
We all sat down together, and Roald and Adelyn appeared with drinks and food for us.
“The perspective you can offer Ken is invaluable,” Doria went on. “My dear Enken helped me see beyond my privileged life, and it made me a better ruler.”
“You were already ahead of Sybil, my sweet,” Enken said, and he gazed at his wife with love in his dark eyes. “You had a kind heart. I’m not sure she has a heart at all.”
“Enken!” Doria laughed and playfully swatted him on the thigh. “You mustn’t say such things.”
“Even if it’s true?” Tanell asked.
We all laughed at that, and Enken and Doria selected a few things from the selection of food my staff had laid out. We chatted about the journey and the coronation for a few minutes before we broached the topic at hand.
“Do you think the Zall royals will be difficult to convince?” I asked. “You’ve allied with them in the past, right?”
Doria’s face screwed up with uncertainty.
“You could say that,” Enken answered.
“I suppose.” Doria nodded. “We have an agreement to come to one another’s aid, but it’s very rigid and requires immense and imminent harm before the agreement is triggered into action.”
“What’s that mean?” Yori asked. “Like something really horrible has to happen before they’ll help?”
“Basically,” Enken confirmed. “They prefer to remain out of conflicts whenever possible. I believe the last time they went to battle with another nation was at least a century ago.”
Doria nodded. “It was well before my father’s time as king. King Manolito came to the throne in a similar way to you, Ken.”
“Really?” I asked. “Through the laws of inheritance?”
“Yes,” Enken said. “It’s quite the story. He dueled with the previous king and won.”
“A duel?” Surprise colored my voice. “I didn’t expect that.”
“From my understanding,” Doria said. “King Manolito has only ever gotten physical over one thing.”
“What’s that?” Tanell asked in interest.
“His wife,” Enken said, and he gazed at Doria with adoration. “The king had insulted his beloved Lucita, and Manolito wouldn’t stand for that, so he challenged the king to a duel.”
“Winner takes all,” Doria added. “And the winner was Manolito.”
I could understand that. I’d wanted to slap Sybil for the way she’d insulted my queens. If it had been Giles who’d said such nasty things, I probably would have struggled more to keep my hands to myself.
“When was this?” Yori asked.
“Oh…” Doria looked to her husband for assistance. “Twenty or so years ago?”
“That’s about right,” Enken said. “He was young when he became king. There were stirrings of uprising at first. His predecessor had been rather well-liked, and the change in rule had been very sudden. Manolito was crowned and was making policy changes before word of the duel had even spread to all the people.”
“But things are peaceful now,” I said. “Aren’t they?”
“Yes,” Doria said. “Manolito won over the people quickly with his policy changes. Things had been stable for the people, but they hadn’t been very prosperous. He implemented new deals between the crown and the farmers that allowed people to prosper.”
I was starting to like the sound of this guy, and I was eager to meet him.
“They’re set to arrive tomorrow, I believe,” Tanell said, and she looked to Anders.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” he confirmed. “As are royals from Kestran.”
“What about Valnar?” Serra asked. “Do you know much about them?”
“No.” Doria and Enken both shook their heads.
“They’re the only democratic nation on the continent, right?” I asked the room as a whole.
“Yes,” Doria said. “It’s quite strange, if you ask me.”
“Really? Why do you say that?” I wondered.
Doria opened her mouth, but she closed it again before she said anything. Then she pursed her lips in thought and finally shrugged.
“I’m not sure, honestly,” she said. “I suppose it’s probably just not what I’m used to. All the other nations have monarchs, and it’s all I’ve personally known.”
“I get that,” I said. “I’m kind of the opposite. Democracy is all I personally knew until I came here.”
“Your realm was democratic?” Enken asked with interest.