The Gypsy Queen (36 page)

  “What’s all this then?” the old man asked as he rubbed his eyes.

  “I need your help,” Bastion said. The Chamberlain blinked, recognizing the voice.

  “King Bastion, what are you doing up at this hour?” he mumbled through his boozy haze.

  “I need you to get the smithy,” he replied.

  “I expect the smithy is sleeping, Sire,” the Chamberlain said.

  “Wake him.”

  Bastion entered the galley, after rousting the Chamberlain. It was
dimly
lit, but he saw no one. There were several pots with steam rising from them, above the fire in the stone oven built into the wall. Bastion hoped they were the source of the roasted aroma that greeted him.

  “Your m
ajesty!” Della exclaimed
, coming up from the root cellar with an armful of food.

  “Della,” he said. “I am glad to see you.”

  “Me?” s
he said, blushing in the faint light
of the galley. She set her goods down on the counter, and curtsied for the King.

  “Yes. I need you to do something for me,” said Bastion.

  “Anything, Sire,” she said. She looked up at him, and then back to the floor, and then back at him. She couldn’t decide between looking at the King, which she had always loved doing, or looking down in deference.

  “I need you to tell me that there is coffee in that pot over there.”

  Della brightened. “Yes Sire,” she said. “I had gotten up early to brew it for you… well, both of you.”

  “Did I mention a raise in wages to you?” Bastion said.

  “Well, I… yes Sire. You did mention that.”

  “They are doubled. I shall tell the Chamberlain to see to it. Just don’t tell the other girls,” he said with a wink. Della was rattled, trying to keep her composure.

  “Shall I pour some for you to take to your room, Sire?”

  “Aye. Just a pitcher, and two cups.”

  “Yes
,
Sire,” she said, relieved to have something to do. She lifted out the pot with a staff and poured some steaming hot coffee into a stone urn.

  “Shall I bring you in some breakfast
as well
, Sire?” she asked, trying to make conversation.

  “No, I believe we will come to the galley together later,” Bastion said.

  “We like
Yana
,” Della said. “She is lovely.”

  “I’m rather fond of her myself,” Bastion said with a smile.

  “Will she join you at your Coronation today?” Della asked. Bastion took two cups, and the urn that she had prepared.

  “I hope so,” he said.

  Bastion sat next to
Yana
, watching the sun rise over the city from its western wall. Sipping the hot delicacy known as coffee, he considered his future, as the sounds of the city and the meadow slowly sprouted like a flower opening its bloom for the morning sun.

  Upon accepting the crown today, his course would be set. Perhaps it had been set his whole life, but the vows required to receive the crown were vows that no man would utter lightly. One last sunrise, before the commitment. He thought about running away with
Yana
, and shirking the crown entirely. Otta might take it, or either way,
Jedikai
would likely go on just fine without him. Or, perhaps, it could be overrun with suffering and collapse, if poorly directed. Bastion could not allow such an outcome.

  Still, Bastion knew that he wanted
Yana
to be with him, and it might be too much to ask, for her to make that sacrifice. Yet, the sacrifice he would have to make to pursue a gypsy life with her would be far greater, including the cost that the citizens might suffer. Running off was only a fantasy, accepting the burden of the crown was the reality.

 
Yana
stirred, and Bastion smoothed her hair lightly. No matter the outcome, no matter the future- he loved to be with her. Bastion sipped a bit more coffee, as he looked out on the gypsy caravans of the west meadows. No doubt they were missing
Yana
. Bastion thought
anyone who had ever known her would
likely
miss her when she was gone.

 
Yana
opened her eyes, seeing her darling Bastion looking out over the countryside. She adjusted, and got up on one elbow.

  “What is that smell?”
Yana
greeted him with. Bastion looked over, raising his cup.

  “Coffee!” he said.
Yana
looked over and saw a second cup along with an urn. Bastion never missed a trick. As if to reinforce that very thought, Bastion poured her a cup, and handed it to her while she stayed nestled in the blankets.
Yana
took a few sips, enjoying it thoroughly.

  “Thank you, Bastion,”
Yana
said.

  “Good morning, little gypsy.”

  “So, will I have to call you King Bastion after today?”

  “Yep.”

  “What if I want to call you something else?”
Yana
said, teasing.

  “Well then, ‘Master’ will do. Or ‘His Mighty Lordship and Grace’,” Bastion said with a laugh.
Yana
shook her head.

  “That last one is too long. How about ‘darling boy’?”

  “I should think not. At least, maybe only in private,” Bastion said. He did like the way she said it. She made it sound like she really had been in love with him her whole life.

  “I liked your title ‘Captain’,”
Yana
said.

  “I suppose the real question is,” Bastion pointed out-

  “after the Coronation, what shall I call
you
?”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  “Pook!” Gumi shouted. “It’s time to ring the bell!”

  “I know, I know,” Pook said. “See all those gypsies coming in?”

  “You think the gypsies want a new King too?”

  “Maybe they know something we don’t know!”

  “Everybody knows more than you!” Gumi said with a hearty laugh.

  “I know everything,” Pook said. “Why do you think they gave me this job?”

  “I thought they did it because you couldn’t bake biscuits worth a damn!”

  “You love my biscuits,” Pook said. “Better than yours.”

  “Just ring the bell, you old dog,” Gumi said. Pook raised the hammer to give the b
ell 12 solid rings
.

  “I think I’m getting too old for this,” Pook said. “Maybe I’ll git me one o’ them gypsy girls like the King!”

  “A gypsy girl would be the death of ya,” Gumi said. “But you go right ahead. Just let me be in charge of the telescope this time!” Pook took a big breath, and began clanging the bell.

  Bastion and
Yana
took the stage, at the Coronation ceremony. There were so many people in attendance,
Yana
thought she could not possibly even guess how many. Th
ousands, she figured
. She was glad to see so many gypsy faces in the crowd. They were not right up front, mostly, but they were recognizable by their scarves, hats, and colors.

 
Yana
was amazed by the extent of the pageantry. There were banners, flags from different
kingdom
s, especially for the
kingdom
of
Jedikai
. Ribbons and streamers adorned buildings and homes alike. The festive mood and music of the citizens made
Yana
want to dance.

  “Bastion,”
Yana
said, “Why do Kings merit so much fanfare? So much splendor?”

  “The fact is that I am just a man, like any other,” Bastion said. “You and I know that. But the people of the
kingdom
want to believe something more. As they elevate
the King to greatness
, it gives them comfort. It gives them confidence.

  “So many people think it is to pay homage to a person of great import... but the fact is, the only reason I am allowing it is for the people themselves. If it were up to me, my Coronation would have been this morning, with you and I drinking coffee.”

  “You know what, Bastion?”
Yana
said. “I know you are just a man. But just as you have said I am no common gypsy... you are no common man.   You might be King just because of your heritage. But I call you King because of who you are. You
are
a King- crown or no crown. City or no city.”

  “If ever there was a man worthy of such splendor, it would be you.”

  “I feel exactly the same way about you,
Yana
,” Bastion said.

  “Behold,” Otta announced, “The time has come for the
kingdom
of
Jedikai
to designate its new leader. To establish traditions of old, and welcome the new age, and new rule.”

  “Behold,” the Magistrate said, stepping forth, “The time has come for our new leader to take his oaths, and accept his duty!”

  The officials in charge of the ceremony came forward in kind, speaking their parts. Many people from other cities were in attendance. It was not just for the ceremony, but because of the story of heroics that had circulated, about the gypsy warrior, and the exploits to crush the slave traders. Slavers were a concern to every community, and Bastion had not just defended his territory, he had lashed out and struck down an extensive underground threat.

 
Yana
waved a welcome to her caravan near the stage, whom the Chamberlain had been kind enough to accommodate. Luba, Emilee, Dimmie, Jaelle, Kizzy and Nadya, and even old Lyubov had come to take part.
Yana
couldn’t remember a time when Lyubov had actually entered a city. She wondered if the old woman knew something. Finally, it was Bastion’s turn to speak.

  “Citizens of
Jedikai
, and people from every land! We are here today to carry on the purpose of our forefathers- to thrive, to build, to work hard, and to live a good life.” The crowd cheered him.
Yana
marveled at the way he presented himself as a King. He wore the red and gold mantle that Kizzy and Nadya made for him, as good as his word.
Yana
wore her matching shawl.

  “To rule a
kingdom
is a difficult task. It takes diligence,
perseverance, and vision
. It also takes sacrifice. I ask each of you- as I take on the mandate to rule this
kingdom
, I ask that each of you take on the mandate as well. To make certain that ours is a prosperous and strong community, we must take that responsibility together. Your own excellence, to a man, will be the cornerstone of your future, just as mine will be.” The crowd cheered at length, at Bastion’s words.

  “May we take the time to recognize those who have made the greatest sacrifice, for the good of those they love and serve.” Bastion began to list men who had died in service to the King, emphasizing his own black riders who had died recently under his command.

  “May we also recognize those whom no duty was required, but who have sacrificed for us all as well!” Bastion announced.
Yana
was surprised as her entire caravan was escorted onto the stage. Not just those who had swore an oath to Bastion when he was Captain, but even Lyubov, the other girls, and everyone in their group. The crowd cheered, as everyone had heard of the gypsy warriors, especially from the captives who aggrandized all their deeds out of deep gratitude.

  “Welcome, the clan of
Yana
!” Bastion said, working the crowd up to a loud roar.
Yana
was impressed at how well he worked t
he crowd. She hugged her friends
that had just joined them on the platform. She wondered if ever a moment had come, where gypsies were so honored in a city, instead of scorned. Her heart was grateful for Bastion’s recognition. His display of them to the people here was excessively generous.

  Bastion let them revel in the moment, as
Yana
had not gotten the hero’s welcome she had deserved after their mission. As far as he was concerned, a gypsy girl of her valor, rushing to save his life, was deserving of much more. He smiled as he saw the gypsies in the crowd wave their colors.

  Otta brought forth the crown, to complete the Coronation. It was gold and silver, embedded with several jewels, bearing significance of his ancestry. Bastion saw it anew, for its new jewel, in the center.