by D. R. Grady
Everyone except for her, Vidar, Lajos, and the eyelash fluttering green dragon.
“Does Aern have a girlfriend?” She whispered this to Vidar.
“It appears he does now.” Amusement lit Vidar’s molten eyes as he set her on her feet in front of the tall man. “Raene, this is my older brother, Lajos the Swift, also an Aasguard warrior. Lajos, this is my bride, Queen Raene of Montequirst.”
She smiled at the man as she took note of the family resemblance. “Lajos, you are most welcome.”
He swept up her hand with the courtly manners one expected from a gentleman. Lajos also bowed. Once he straightened, he and Vidar hugged. Then they stood with their hands on each other’s shoulders and inspected the other.
“Are you really marrying a queen?”
“I’ve already married her. Today is a mere formality.”
More gasps and a wave of shock oscillated through the crowd.
Raene smiled at Vidar. “We wed the day we announced our marriage plans.”
“Always the planner.” Lajos’ eyes beamed approval at both of them. “Fricassa and I couldn’t believe an Aasguard warrior planned to marry a queen, so we came as soon as possible.”
“Your brother doesn’t fly well,” Fricassa inserted.
“I doubt I’d have trouble riding Aern, who isn’t toy sized.” Lajos sent an amused, and affectionate, look at the green dragon who had stopped batting her lashes at Aern but stood close to him.
Aern looked . . . besotted. Raene nudged Vidar, who followed her gaze. He barely repressed a snicker.
“Don’t expect to hear anything intelligent from him for the rest of today.”
Haines stepped forward then, and she made the introductions before he suggested they continue with the ceremony. “I’ve located your marriage license and everything is in order. Therefore you won’t need to sign the one we brought, which appears to be missing anyway.”
“This is merely to make our union official in the eyes of state and our subjects.” Raene stroked her husband’s cheek.
“Very well. Let us finish this.”
Lajos followed them through the crowd to the front so the Duke of Larkswallow could complete the ceremony formalities.
Stefana handed Raene’s flowers back to her. Vidar’s wedding garb had mostly dried. No one else protested. Especially in light of the feisty green dragon in their midst. It was just as well Fricassa kept her head, because it appeared Aern’s was in the clouds.
Raene repeated her vows with wholehearted certainty and what she imagined were stars in her eyes. Especially when the time for their rings came about.
Vidar produced a wide silver band lined with diamonds and she gaped.
“I’ve protected many treasures over the years. This one is personal. My beloved grandmother’s.” He slid the band on her finger, and she admired the way the light caught in the diamonds.
She had chosen a similar wide band, minus the diamonds, for Vidar. Raene solemnly slid his ring on his hand. Silver, like his eyes, it had to be made to fit her large husband. “This wedding band was created from the wedding rings of several of Montequirst’s fiercest warriors throughout our history.”
His hand tightened around hers as his throat worked. “Thank you, Raene.” Awe laced his tone.
They gazed into each other’s eyes, until the duke cleared his throat for the third time. Eyebrows soaring, she returned her attention to the ceremony, since theirs was an active part.
“You’re glowing.” Stefana whispered this in an aside when Raene handed her the bridal bouquet again.
Raene nodded. “I’m not surprised. He’s amazing.”
Stefana turned a little pale, as her eyes slid to Lajos. “Yes, he is.”
Before she could delve into Stefana’s odd reaction, Larkswallow announced, “You may now kiss your bride.”
Vidar did so with gusto. This brought about twittering within the crowd.
A loud smooching noise interrupted their wedding kiss.
Aern and Fricassa parted, and her green scales darkened in the vicinity of her cheeks. “Oh Aernie.” She sighed.
Vidar’s eyebrows rose. “I think he was talking to me, not you, Aern.”
“Sorry. Couldn’t pass up the opportunity.” Aern sent calf-eyes to the still-blushing green dragon.
“Congratulations,” Raene gushed.
“I now pronounce you man and wife.” The Duke of Larkswallow didn’t manage to quell all of his rebuke.
A cheer went up and Vidar escorted her through the crowd to the small platform set off to the side of the room. He led her there and once they stood on the platform, the music changed, turning far more formal and royal in nature.
Two royal footmen carried the coronation crowns as the next ceremony began.
After much pomp and circumstance, of which she didn’t pay attention, Raene glanced at Vidar as their current crowns were removed so the special coronation crowns could be placed on their heads. They were seated on jeweled thrones on the dais, otherwise not even Haines could have reached Vidar’s head.
“How much longer does this last?” She whispered her question to Vidar during a moment when everyone was hopefully paying more attention to the two dukes.
“I can’t remember. It drug on the last time, too.”
They shared a smile and then stole a kiss. More twittering resounded. Raene refocused on the ceremony, but caught plenty of stifled mirth at them getting caught kissing.
“We’re newlyweds.”
“Yes, and you should enjoy this time together.” Haines sounded firm, quelling whatever comment clearly tickled the tip of Larkswallow’s tongue.
During more intonations from Larkswallow, of which no one listened, she took Vidar’s hand in hers. He clutched her hand and brought it to his thigh where their fingers remained intertwined.
Any hope of listening to Larkswallow droning on and on was shattered when Vidar started playing with the diamond wedding band gracing her finger. His ring fit her perfectly and it looked right. She smiled at it and then him, coating herself in him.
The clearing of a throat alerted her to pay attention again.
Haines stood before her with two scepters which he held out to her. She took one in each hand. She had seen pictures of previous coronations, so she knew what she was supposed to do with these.
Larkswallow handed two additional scepters to Vidar. His hands closed around them as though this wasn’t the first time he had done so. Raene and Vidar stood as they were sworn into the offices of Queen and King, the Sovereigns of the Nation.
“I now pronounce to you Queen Raene of Montequirst and her husband, King Vidar the Loyal of Montequirst, Aasguard Warrior.” Haines proclaimed their titles in ringing tones, and a round of applause followed, which started in Stefana’s family corner, but soon erupted through the chamber.
The warriors near the back wall probably weren’t clapping, but the other people finally seemed to recognize the advantages of having an Aasguard warrior as their king. He understood security and protection. Military strategy and execution had been pounded into him at a much earlier age than any of their warriors.
This man would protect his own.
She handed the scepters back to Haines as Vidar handed his to Larkswallow. Then they were in each other’s arms, and he kissed her with all the fierceness of a man who had been given a priceless treasure he intended to keep.
Chapter 22
After the two ceremonies, Lockwillow indicated for them to begin the processional out of the cavern. In all the years Vidar had lived here, he never thought he’d be leaving this place as a married man, and the king.
Such ludicrous thoughts never even hinted within his mind.
Now, gripping Raene’s hand and seeing her smile and nod to various members of the court, his heart swelled.
His brother fell into step behind them, escorting Stefana. The dukes and then Stefana’s parents followed as the remainder of the people joined their royal parade.
&nb
sp; They headed to the ballroom where tables had been set up for their guests. Not everyone present had been invited. Far too many people had attended today, but many of the spectators would take their celebrations to the streets, and the various pubs and restaurants dotting the busy thoroughfares.
Some would have brought their own food and planned to enjoy it in the company of family and friends they didn’t see very often.
All the way around, today was a holiday for them, and would be declared as such from now on.
“So will the people celebrate our wedding or our coronation on this day?” he asked Raene.
“I’ve been thinking about that.” She rubbed her bottom lip. “We’ll have to think more on the subject and then discuss it.”
“What about your mother’s passing?”
“That will be known as Accession Day.”
He nodded. “I believe that’s appropriate.”
Her sigh pierced his heart.
“We all eventually die.”
“You’ve lived longer than many of us combined.”
“Yes, Aasguard warriors do enjoy more years than many, but we’re not immortal.”
“Mostly we decide when it’s time and then we go on.” Lajos, who had heard the last part of their conversation, explained with a shrug.
Vidar noticed Stefana’s delicate hand wound around Lajos’ muscled arm as he escorted her into the ballroom. Set with intimate dining tables and fresh flowers, the ballroom had been transformed into a joyous space. A table at the very front of the room caught Vidar’s eye. Obviously fit only for a queen and her king, marking a day of celebration for them. Vidar and his new bride strolled to that table. “I assume this is for us.”
Surprisingly, he didn’t feel in the least bit intimidated by the trappings of his new station. They had to accept these aspects of the monarchy if they wished to improve their nation. Raene, despite having grown up with them, detested the pageantry as well. Her attitude on the subject made these frilly parts bearable.
“Stefana, you and Lajos are to join us at the front.”
“Aern would normally be disappointed not to be with us.” Vidar assessed the ballroom’s weaknesses and strengths as he spoke.
“He’s not worried about it at the moment.” Lajos joined him in cataloging the room’s vulnerabilities.
His brother’s shoulders relaxed at the same time as his did. The room was manageable for security and Stefana’s twin brother, the warrior who had impressed him when he came seeking advice upon the former queen’s illness, was present and a superb fighter. Lukas continued to impress Vidar the more he learned of the young man.
“Aern does seem taken with Fricassa.” Raene stole a quick kiss when Vidar seated her. It left him breathless.
“He’s been taken with her for as long as I’ve known him.”
“Fricassa neglected to tell me about her interest in Aern until we were en route.” Lajos finished seating Stefana beside Raene and then waited until Vidar sat before he also took the chair meant for him. The place settings were close together, but still allowed room for the four of them to maneuver. Especially in light of an attack.
He remained alert, and Lajos’ sword gleamed with menace. Driies also caught and kicked back the light.
“I hear you’ve been learning to use Driies?” Lajos asked his hostess as they were served the first course.
A delicate pink suffused Raene’s cheeks. “I’m learning, yes.”
“She’s already advanced to intermediate. Raene is a novice no longer.”
Stefana started. “You’re already good enough to defend yourself?”
“She can certainly hold her own.” Vidar was certain of this.
A musing expression crossed Stefana’s face. “Should I learn to use a sword?”
“Yes.” Raene didn’t pause as she spread butter across her roll.
“Been thinking about this, have you?” Vidar took a bite of his bread. The food that had been sent to him from the castle kitchens had always been above average, but this exceeded even what he’d subsisted on.
A man could grow spoiled. He didn’t have any intention of doing so.
Still.
“Why are only men trained to defend themselves? Every single man in Montequirst has been trained to use a sword. In war times, the men all go to war. Their absence leaves the women defenseless if none of us have been trained.” Stefana gestured with her butter knife. “Bronwyn is touted as a great warrior queen but none of us in my day, my mother’s, or even her mother’s have ever trained in sword use or self-defense. Why?” Stefana’s statement revealed that she and Raene must have conducted additional research on the legendary queen who had helped to produce his wife.
No one offered an answer to the princess.
Raene continued Stefana’s thought. “If the men all leave, then we’re ripe for plundering. No woman wants that. Therefore, we will begin training girls especially, but also all the women in this nation, in the art of self-defense and strategy.”
“My mother is better at strategy than anyone I know.” Stefana laid her butter knife across her bread plate.
“Yes. She would inspire fear in the hearts of most men if they knew how adept she is in that art.”
“She certainly does to those who know her.” The two women glanced over at Stella, who held court close by with the two widowed dukes, and her husband. Two additional couples dined at her table.
“I’ve always been disgusted with the nations who don’t teach their women these things.” Lajos polished off his roll. “There are far more of them these days than in the past.”
“You’ve been to nations where they do teach their women defense and strategy?” Raene’s head tipped to the side. Stefana also appeared intent on Lajos’ answer to Raene’s question.
“Of course. Since Atlas fell, Fricassa and I have wandered the globe. We have seen many different rulers and their education systems.” He waved a hand. “We’ve seen what works and what does not. Lack of a full education for everyone, including the women, is a sure downfall for a nation.” Lajos helped himself to another roll.
Stefana handed him the butter. His thanks might have been a little warmer than necessary. This might account for Stefana’s uncertainty of what to do with him. Their new princess had bumped hands with Raene twice already, and dropped both her fork and knife. Stefana’s eyes kept darting to the nearest exit.
“You lived in Atlas?” Raene took a delicate bite of salad.
“Yes. Fricassa and I guarded their royal treasures. We weren’t there the day Atlas ceased to exist, or we might not have made it. We had been tasked with transporting a treasure to another kingdom. When we returned, the city had disappeared into the Nesslock sea.”
“How devastating to lose friends like that.”
A shadow crossed Lajos’ face. “Yes. It took us a year to recover. Then we started roaming.”
“You should have come here sooner.” Raene watched a server set their next course in front of her.
“We talked about it for years, as Bronwyn had invited us, but it never felt right.” Lajos darted a look at Stefana, who dropped her napkin, so didn’t notice.
She did crack heads with the server who attempted to retrieve it for her. “Thank you, Stuart.”
The server grimaced at her. Then he whispered something.
Stefana’s cheeks brightened. She scowled at him. “Go away.”
The man did so, whistling.
“Do not stab him with your fork,” Raene warned.
With a guilty look, Stefana dropped the fork she retained a death grip on. Then she met Raene’s eyes. “So can I borrow your sword then?”
“No.” Raene’s head shake was firm.
“If he’s bothering her—” Lajos’ eyebrows snapped together.
“He’s not. Well, he probably is, but he’s been doing so since we were children.” Raene didn’t lose her aplomb as she cut the turkey on her plate.
“He’s very good at annoying people.�
�� Stefana’s assurance made Lajos stop glaring at the man.
“Yes. It’s his life’s calling.”
Vidar’s heart twisted at Raene’s fond look. Her body language indicated she considered this man a friend. Vidar couldn’t ascertain how he felt about her feelings for the other man. When this Stuart returned, he deliberately bumped into Raene in the exact manner of a bratty brother.
Raene attempted to be royal for all of ten seconds before she surreptitiously nailed him back. Guffaws sounded from Stuart before he resumed a pious look.
Meeting his brother’s eyes, Vidar read amusement there. “Do you have a place to stay or do you need a room?”
“You’re welcome to a guest suite.” Raene’s lips stretched. “I suspect Fricassa plans to bunk down with Aern.”
Lajos grimaced. “On that thought, I would be appreciative of a guest suite.” He glanced around the well appointed ballroom. “This is a large residence.”
“I wouldn’t know.” Raene reached for her water goblet. “I haven’t traveled outside of Montequirst for years.”
“I have.” Lajos reassured her. “I’ve seen few castles to rival this one. What I’ve seen so far is impressive.”
“When Bronwyn ruled, she made excellent decisions, and we, her descendants, have prospered ever since.”
“Bronwyn deserved the accolades spoken and written about her. An extraordinary woman.” Lajos returned his attention to the excellent meal in front of him.
“You knew her as well?” A note crept into Raene’s voice that made Vidar search her face.
He couldn’t determine what she felt. This led him to believe her emotions hadn’t sorted themselves out yet.
“Of course. Vidar and I aren’t young ones any longer.”
“Thankfully.” Vidar swallowed some water.
“I’m quite content being the age I am.”
“That’s because neither of you show your age.” Raene’s tone was pithy.
Since he could, he leaned forward to kiss her. She blinked and her eyes turned dreamy. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
