Against the Reign (7 page)

Fourteen

There is only one choice.

The words run through my head over and over again as it pounds from the mead and I press my temple against the floor. The cold stone reminds me of the cold floor of the dungeon where my father locked me what seems like a lifetime ago. Thinking of that makes my memory flash again and I remember lying on the dungeon floor in a fetal position. A warm sensation against my head; a hand? And someone was talking to me. The memory fades with the pounding of my skull.

If there is nothing else I can do, there is no sense in wasting time. I need to get my brother back as soon as possible. Once he’s released from Etigan, maybe he and the court can figure out a way to free Newrock from its clutches. I’ll be stuck in Etigan for the rest of my life, but at least Newrock can be free.

I slowly drag myself to my feet, collect my dagger, and walk unsteadily to the coronation dress to run my hand along the fabric again. I look up at my father’s face in the painting and promise him I’m going to make this right.

I open the door to find Ward curled into a tight ball on the steps, fast asleep. I give him a nudge with my foot and he jumps up, his eyes blinking in his effort to wake.

“Where are the guards?” I ask.

“At the bottom of the stairs,” Ward says quietly.

“And Rayner?”

“He went to rest, but wants you to come see him as soon as you get up.” Ward roughly rubs his eyes. “Did you make a decision?”

“Yes.”

“Are we going to fight?” Ward looks hopeful, but I shake my head, wincing with the movement. “Ginny?”

“I’m not a warrior, Ward. I’m not going to lead the men of Newrock to their deaths.” I take a deep breath. My stomach is churning. “I’m going to accept the marriage proposal. Let’s go find Rayner.”

Before we can make it, Ward rushes me to a nearby privy where I retch until my body shakes. I feel the regret creep in, and think to myself that I’ll never touch a bottle of mead or ale again, but I know I’m lying to myself. On trembling legs and leaning heavily on Ward for support, we find Rayner and I tell him. He accepts the news with a nod and I’m grateful to see the look of respect on his face. With haste he pens a letter to Etigan telling King Ulric that I accept and will be presented as a bride the following evening. While we wait for a reply, the court is again gathered.

“It is a wise decision,” Red-face says after Rayner tells them what’s going on. “The way Ferrant has scattered our army it will take us days to gather them together again and make sure our borders are properly secured.”

“What will happen once we’ve been tied to Etigan, though?” the soft-speaking guy says.

“We can do nothing until Prince Vian has been released. I don’t imagine he’ll be released right away. They’ll want to be sure that Queen Virginia lives up to her end of the deal. But once he is released, because he has a claim to the throne, we can work on a plan to free ourselves again. By then we’ll have our army ready. We will appeal to Kensar to back us up in our time of need, using the Knight’s Code,” Rayner says. The Code of Ethics written by the five original knights was damaged when Etigan first began to demolish its neighbors, but it’s still regarded as a high-standard. I wonder how Windem feels about it now, since they’ve been murdering people.

“We must prepare Queen Virginia for a marriage then,” another man says.

“With a proper dowry. Etigan is known for their spoils. They will accept only the highest quality,” Red-face says.

“We are already giving them our most prized possession,” Rayner says, and it takes me a moment to realize he means me. It quiets the room for a moment since no one else chimes in. “We will send Virginia on our finest stallion, with six fine mares and a mass of gold and let them be satisfied. Etigan is after our kingdom, what more do we owe them?”

The meeting ends and the court leaves to begin preparations. Ward and Marguerite come in once they’ve gone.

“So, is it settled then?” Ward asks.

“Preparations are being made. Tomorrow evening, your friend will be a bride,” Rayner says. “Which reminds me: Virginia, you’ll be permitted to bring with you a maid of your choosing.”

“I’ll go with you,” Marguerite speaks up immediately.

“No, you can’t. You have to stay here with Monroe,” I say.

“You saved our lives and I owe you. I’ll leave him with Milli,” she says.

“No, I won’t allow it. I brought you both here to be safe. You can’t come.” I shake my head firmly.

“For your safety, we must choose someone to accompany you,” Rayner says.

“For my safety?” I ask.

“We cannot be sure who exactly is behind this plan or what they have planned for you. We must have someone watching over you while you’re with Prince Liam.”

The thought of Liam trying to kill me really hadn’t crossed my mind. I take a moment to think about that and realize he’s right. Liam’s whole reason for coming to the alley and making friends with me could have been to earn my trust. How easily he could slay me on our wedding night! I suddenly feel weak and shiver.

“Yes, someone must be with me. But who? I doubt Della knows how to wield a sword.”

“It must be someone who can protect you and someone you trust,” Rayner says. Almost at the same time our eyes both shift to Ward. He looks between us.

“It also must be a maid,” he says slowly. Rayner and I exchange glances with Marguerite. Ward grimaces, but Marguerite smiles.

“That I can do.”

Fifteen

Della puts together a team of maids and they bathe me, rubbing my skin until I’m sure it’s going to come off. They put smelly stuff in my hair and douse me with cold water. As clean as I think I have ever been, they dry me off and begin the process of dressing a bride. In a few hours, I’ll be handed over to Etigan.

What would have been my coronation dress has now become my wedding dress. At first I balk at putting it on, but Rayner comes to inform me that it is the best choice. He thinks it will give me confidence, since it was from my father, and I have access to my dagger—thanks again to my father. In the end, Rayner wins out and I let the maids help me into the dress. A few quick alterations to make sure the dress fits perfectly and they start on my hair, twisting and braiding and pulling. Della places the crown on my head last then steps back to admire their work. The maids leave and I turn to Della.

“Do I look like a bride?” I ask, shrugging. To my surprise, Della’s face softens.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Her eyes mist over. “You look like your mother.”

“I do?”

She nods and clears her throat. “She was very nervous on her wedding day.” Della walks behind me and fiddles with the ties on the dress, although I suspect she does so only to avoid looking into my eyes. “She had only met your father once before they wed. It was an arranged marriage, not really a political one, but a wise marriage. When your mother had dressed she turned to me and said the same thing you just did. I asked her if she felt like a bride, and she said yes. She asked me if I liked Prince Vernon—may the king rest in peace. I said I did and she smiled and said she did, too. She said she felt blessed to be his chosen bride.”

“I wish I felt so blessed today.”

Della finally faces me again. In an unexpected gesture, she cups my face in her hands. “They would be proud of you today.”

I watch her leave the room, then cautiously approach the mirror so I can see for myself. In the painting of my parents my mother wears a brown dress, the brown, earthy tone the emblematic color of Newrock. But really it is the only difference. I see her staring back at me with a white dress on, both dress and crown glittering. New, but far from pure.

The door opens and Marguerite’s reflection joins me in the mirror.

“What have I gotten myself into?” I mumble.

“None of this is your fault,” she says.

“I’m not ready for this.”

Marguerite smiles. “Let’s go see Ward. That will cheer you up.”

I doubt it, but I follow her anyway. We descend the stairs to the entryway. Several guards are there with Rayner and Red-face. They’re in a serious discussion, but Rayner stops when he sees me coming. The shock on his face tells me he is also seeing my mother descend the stairs, and I see his eyes tear up. He does nothing to prevent the eager drop that cascades down his cheek.

“Are you ready?” he says. I’m grateful he doesn’t attempt to reminisce about my parents although I’m sure memories are flooding his mind.

I nod, frowning.

“We have prepared a carriage to take you to Etigan. Once you reach the castle, you will ride Lextus to the gates,” Rayner explains. I stop him.

“Lextus is your horse,” I say in surprise.

“We have only one stallion finer than he, and that is your father’s mount. I will not give him to Etigan. They can have Lextus. He carried me alongside your father’s carriage that day, and he carried me home when I was injured. He will carry you safely as well.” Rayner looks behind me and I turn. A maid is coming into the room, one I have not seen before. Only when the maid stops beside me and crosses her arms angrily do I realize she is not a “she.”

“Ward?” I say, my eyes nearly falling from my head. His head is covered by a thick hooded veil, allowing only his face to show, though it remains partially concealed in shadow. He’s wearing one of the maid’s dresses, and it appears they have colored his cheeks to make a rosy hue. I look him over, and despite the situation, I have to stifle a giggle. “You look….good.”

“Can we just get on with this?” Ward asks Rayner, and I can see I’m not the only one stifling laughter.

“Ward has agreed to accompany you. He’ll keep an eye on you and attempt to get word to me if anything happens. It’s the best we can do.”

“Then I’m ready. On to Etigan. Let’s get this over with so I can find out if Vian is okay.” Taking another look at Ward to lift my spirits, I march out the door and to the carriage.

Before we even get to the wedding, I have to face the first of many uncomfortable meetings: the ride through Benakarsa. The town has been gathered outside the gates and we stop there so Rayner can address them. I listen to him as he talks loudly, explaining everything from Windem’s attacks to King Ulric taking Vian to my decision to marry. I don’t look out the covered windows; I don’t want to see the looks on their faces. I knew being queen I’d be a failure, but I thought it might take longer than this. What’s worse is that I think Hassal may have won his bet.

With the town informed, and with letters sent to the mayors of other towns, the news will travel quickly. It will then be up to the people to decide what action to take. I can imagine them fleeing Newrock altogether and I mentally encourage it. If Liam isn’t who I thought he was, Newrock is in danger.

Back in the carriage, Rayner takes his seat. “Are you sure you don’t want to address them?”

“I don’t need to be jeered today,” I say.

“They are not jeering you.” Rayner pulls the curtain off my window. As the horses walk on, the carriage is pulled down the road leading out of town. The road is lined on both sides with people, and to my great surprise, many of them bow their heads as we pass. Many look frightened, others remain impassively staring. They seem divided.

“They don’t know what to think,” I say.

“How does that make you feel?” Rayner asks.

“I feel sorry for them. They need a leader.”

Rayner only nods.

We reach Thumbstole and I press my face longingly against the window. I’m happy to see that the residents have turned out to see us off. Here in Thumbstole, they all bow their heads and I can see the emotion they feel. They know me here, the real me. They even know Liam, and they understand what I’m facing.

Past Thumbstole, another half hour ride brings us to the river that divides our land from Etigan. The bridge guards let us pass, bowing low to the ground. The guards on the other side do not bow. There is an escort waiting for us; the green-clothed soldiers surround us, and there is no turning back.

It’s an almost three hour ride from the river to the castle in Etigan, located in the castle town of Donowel. When we reach the castle gates, our carriage is stopped. An Etigan guard yanks open the door.

“This is it. From here, only the queen, her maid, and her dowry may go,” he growls. I look at Rayner, unable to hide the fear that has suddenly made my legs too stiff to move. He places a calm hand on mine to reassure me and motions to Ward. Ward hands him a smooth piece of white material and together they adjust it over my head. My crown is placed on top. My entire face is now covered by the veil.

“She is ready,” he says. Keeping his head down, Ward leaves the carriage first. Rayner follows, half-leading, half-dragging me out of the carriage. He offers me his arm and I accept because I need his strength. Every now and then I see him wince and remember that he’s still hurting. It endears me to him that he’s suffering pain to help me out.

Rayner leads me to the front of our entourage where a guard is riding Lextus. He dismounts and hands the reins to Rayner. With the help of him and the guard, I mount Lextus side-saddle, keeping with the custom, although my father taught me to ride like the men do. I have to adjust my leg discreetly to make room for my dagger, but no one takes notice. Ward takes his place at my side, his head still lowered.

And then it’s time. Rayner and the guards bow low to the ground as one of Etigan’s guards takes the reins. Lextus is led away from my Newrock guards and through the castle gates. Once they’re closed and my world feels like it’s slipping through my fingers, Ferrant appears and takes the reins. I don’t know if he can see my face, but I hope he can see the hate in my eyes.

With his smirk etched in my brain and making my hands tremble, he leads me to my wedding.