The Gypsy Queen (26 page)

  “Then we shall go to the throne room, and let my fathe
r rest. His duties are fulfilled
,” Bastion said. Otta led the way, and they filed into the throne room. Bastion went first to his father’s treasured common periwinkle. He never understood why the King liked it so much, but as he ran his fingers through it, he did enjoy the feel, and the scent that emanated from it.
Yana
, still holding his hand, reached out with her free hand to touch it too. She wished she knew what was going on in his head, and wished to be alone with him. She would have to wait.

  Bastion went to the throne, pausing to look it over. It seemed profoundly empty. He sat down in it. He used to sit in it as a child, when his father allowed, and his father always told him that it would be his place one day. As a child, he had never really embraced the fact that when that day came, it would accompany the
great
loss of him. He was reeling from it, and relieved to have
Yana
with him. He released her hand.

  “
Yana
, I must discuss matters of the
kingdom
,” he said. “Will you wait for me in my chambers?”
Yana
was willing to wait, and made her best attempt to use protocol fitting the occasion, and those present.

  “If I may, Captain,” she said, “I would like to tour the palace a while.”

  “Aye,” he said. “I will send for Mille to be your guide.”
He turned to one of the men in attendance. “Fetch her,” he ordered. The man hustled off quickly.

  “I will be alright on my own, Sir,” she said. Bastion smiled and looked at her affectionately.

  “No doubt you would. But I know you will like Mille. She will be pleased to show you around.”

  “As you wish,”
Yana
said, deferring to him. Mille entered the throne room as she said it, and curtsied before the King.

  “Mille, I want you to be
Yana
’s guide and show her the palace.”

  “Yes Sire,” she said. “Come,
Yana
!” she motioned with a friendly wave.
Yana
approached her. She had friendly eyes. She turned and took one last look at Bastion. He looked handsome on the throne. Her heart was heavy for him.

  “I will come for you soon,” Bastion assured her.
Yana
and Mille both curtsied, and left.

  Bastion looked to Otta and Obadiah. He did not mind some formality as a Captain, but these were his trusted friends. He got up from the throne, and paced as he spoke.

  “I want more black riders,” he said to Otta.

  “You cannot be a black rider any longer,” Otta reminded him.

  “I will have Nico head up the team. Have him select the top men from our regular militia and begin training them immediately.”

  “Yes Sire,” Otta replied. He liked the move.

  “How is the building coming along?” he asked Obadiah.

  “Very well,” Obadiah replied. “We have an abundance of stone and mortar on hand, and our crews are ahead of schedule.”

  “Thank you,” Bastion said. “I will inspect your progress soon.”

  “Of course.”

  “What other matters are at hand?” Bastion asked.

  “The King’s funeral,” the Chamberlain said. “It is set to be held on the morrow.”

  “Very well,” Bastion said. “Have you made all the arrangements?”

  “They will be in place, Sire.”

  “Is that all?” Bastion asked.

  “There is the matter of your Coronation ceremony,” the Chamberlain said. Bastion had not even considered that.

  “When will that take place?”

  “Fifteen days hence,” the Chamberlain replied. “It is customary to notify other
kingdom
s and invite the attendance of their dignitaries.” Bastion nodded in relief. He was glad for the delay. 

  “Is there anything you require in order to prepare?” he asked.

  “I have the resources of the
kingdom
ready. We will need a few things from you, but it is not urgent.”

  “A few things?”

  “Well... we must measure your head, to prepare your crown.”

  “Ugg
h,” Bastion said, unable to hide his disdain. Wearing a crown did not appeal to him in the least, and he knew he would have to more often than he would like.

  “Don’t worry- I’ll make sure it is as comfortable as possible,” the Chamberlain said with a smile.

  “Thank you. We can deal with that soon. For now, I will retire to my chamber,” Bastion said, exhausted. His journey was successful, but difficult, and this day had been every bit as hard. It was a tough ride in, for such terrible news.

  “Uhhh... there is one other matter Sire, if I may
,
” the Chamberlain said.

  “Yes?”

  “It’s the gypsy girl.
Yana
.”

  “That is not the
kingdom
’s business, right now,” Bastion said, annoyed.

  “Begging your pardon, Sire, but it is. The whole city has been talking about her. She is a hero right now, in some eyes. You’d have gotten a hero’s welcome when you got in today, had it not been for the King.”

  Bastion smiled at that, remembering the gypsies dancing around her, and with her, calling her hero of the gypsies. She had fought hard and faithfully, and was worthy of recognition.

  “Even befor
e that, when she played in the Great H
all, and you danced with her, there was talk.”

  “Let them talk,” Bastion said.

  “Yes, Sire,” the Chamberlain continued, “but there are people in
Jedikai
that are none too pleased. People who don’t think much of gypsies. Many of the wealthy families in
Jedikai
regard you with disfavor for it. They do not want a gypsy queen.”

  “Tell me, Chamberlain- what’s to be done about it tonight?”

  “Uh...” he stammered...
“
If I could pass along your encouragement to the concerned citizens, assure them somehow...”

  “Assure them that they will not have a gypsy queen?” Bastion’s tone was one of offense. The Chamberlain was wishing he had said nothing.

  “Apologies, Sire,” he said.

  “You can assure them of this, if you like: The King will do as he wishes.” Bastion said.

  “That is no good,” Otta spoke up. “Unrest is bad for the citizens. If they have uncertainty, adding to it with arrogant statements will not help.”

  “I have fought for the
kingdom
, protected the
kingdom
, and prospered the
kingdom
, and I am expected to soothe the rattled bones of ignorant citizens who are
too full of unfounded angst
to trust me?”

  “It’s not so simple as that,” Otta said.

  “Then tell them whatever tickles their ea
rs, if that is what they need.”

  “You could do well to learn from me, Bastion. I understand politics. I understand kingship.”

  “I am sure you mean ‘
King
Bastion’, Otta,” Bastion said with a terse expression.

  “Forgive me, Sire. I forget myself. Please, forgive us for keeping you. Please, just one more thing- I was with my brother, the King, when he passed. Whatever his ailments, his last illness came on quickly. I want you to know that he got the news of your heroic mission, and was exceedingly glad for it. He spoke of you with great pride.”

  Bastion calmed himself. “Thank you,” he said.

  “He asked me to tell you two things, words he abided his whole life. First, ‘Those who wish for freedom must undergo the fatigue of supporting it.’”

  “He also said to tell you:
‘
The commitment of the decision maker is more important than the quality of the decision. Be careful what you ask of those who cannot say no. A leader of people is also a servant.
’
”

  Bastion nodded. His father had always told him those things.

  “Is that all?” Bastion asked. Otta smiled at the answer they both knew he would give.

  “He said to mind the periwinkle.” Bastion laughed, as they all laughed together, remembering the King and his quirks.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Yana and Mille roamed the
palace
of
Jedikai
together.
Yana
was fascinated as Mille explained some of the affects and features.

  “This tapestry was crafted in
Egyp
t
,” she said, as they passed it.

  “This is the passage to the galley,” Mille motioned.

  “Oh yes. Take me to the galley!”
Yana
said.

  “You want to see the galley?” Mille asked. Usually people would want her to show them the artifacts and history, the opulence of the palace.
Yana
grinned at her.

  “Off to the galley then,” she said, nearly hopping down the passage,
Yana
following. They entered in, and Mille began to introduce her to some of the servant girls as they worked. Some were washing crockery, some were chopping fresh food, some were going up and down from t
he cool cellar where was
food was stored. The blended smells were enticing, as
Yana
had hoped. One of the girls brought them a pastry, and
Yana
eagerly accepted, recognizing the girl who brought it. She had spoken with her at the King’s table before they left for the Lower Reach.

  “Welcome
Yana
,” she said. “All of us are so happy that you made it back!”
Yana
tried to hurry and swallow the bite she had stuffed
in her mouth
.

  “Thank you,” she said through more than a few crumbs.

  “You and the King are heroes of
Jedikai
!” she beamed.
Yana
smiled as she stuffed another bite. She had not realized how hungry she was. Her and the King, she thought. That sounded strange. It was not long ago that she had been just a gypsy on a hillside, no one important.

  “Can I ask you a question,
Yana
?” the servant girl asked.

  “Of course,”
Yana
asked.

  “Are you with the new King? Will you marry him and be queen?” Mmmph!
Yana
choked on her pastry. She struggled to clear her throat to speak.

  “Me? Marry a King?” she said in disbelief. “I am only a gypsy,” she said.

  “The King does not have to marry royalty,” the girl replied eagerly. “He could choose you!”
Yana
laughed. “He could? But why in the world would I ever choose
him
?” 

  The servant girl looked at her like it was the stupidest question she had ever heard. It had not even occurred to her that a girl would even question it.
Yana
decided to clarify.

  “I... I travel. I am not the homecoming kind,” she said.

  “But he’s the
King
.”

  “Yes. He is wonderful,”
Yana
agreed. “But I do not know if I could spend all my life in his courts.”

  “Well, we want you to be queen!” she said, the looks on the other girls’ faces who had gathered all showed agreement.

  “I imagine that not everyone in
Jedikai
wants that,” she said, considering it. “Gypsies have always had trouble with city folk.”

  “Not here, you don’t,” the girl said. “We would love to serve you!”
Yana
had never heard anyone say such a thing to her before.

  “Do you not hate serving in the palace, serving others?”

  “Serving the King...” she said, “The King was a good man, we have always been happy to serve him. To serve the new King.. King Bastion...” her eyes sparkled with imagination. “Serving him would be an honor.”

 
Yana
gasped. “Then
maybe it’s you who should marry
him!” The galley girls all giggled relentlessly at that.

  Mille spoke up. “It’s clear that the one he wants is you,
Yana
.”

  “Bosh. I would probably be a terrible queen,”
Yana
joked.

  “He loves you,
Yana
. That’s what we think,” Mille said, tones of agreement chiming in. The servant girl grinned, excited.