The Gypsy Queen (37 page)

  Alexandrite.

 
Yana
had turned her attention back to Bastion, as his oath was about to commence. Her eyes widene
d at the sight of A
lexandrite in the crown. She couldn’t take her eyes off of it, until Bastion began to speak. He spoke his oaths from memory.

  “I promise to serve every soul in the
kingdom
, even as they serve me. I promise to uphold the law established by the commonwealth, and by my father, the King before me.” Bastion voiced choked just a bit, at the mention of his father.

  “I promise to make whatever sacrifice necessary, for the good of the people. I promise to fulfill this duty-
my
duty- to the end of my days.”
Yana
was speechless. Those were some serious vows, but the gravity in Bastion’s voice revealed his conviction and determination to see them through. She wondered if she had ever uttered such words. It was not like a gypsy to make vows and agreements. They were not a people who made many promises.

  She realized that only since Bastion had come into her life once more, had she made such vows- to protect Bastion, and to follow his orders. She was not entirely sure how she felt about that. She didn’t like to tell lies, but her way to avoid that was to make no promises at all. Bastion had a way of inspiring her to do all sorts of things above her usual ways. 

  Most of all, she could not stop looking at the Alexandrite in Bastion’s sleek new crown. She had expected the crown to be clunky and cumbersome, but it was manageable, masculine, and truly gorgeous. The stone at the center was the same shape as what she had given him. He must have somehow had it inlaid when he went for that wonderful coffee.

  Bastion stepped forth, to the front edge of the stage, and knelt before all the people of
Jedikai
. Otta took the crown from its cushioned mount, and set it upon his head. King Bastion stood, and
Yana
was astounded. The crowd gave a mighty roar of applause, as did everyone on the stage. From
Yana
, to Mille the jester, to the dignitaries of other lands.
Yana
thought he must be the most magnificent man she had ever known.

  Bastion signaled the Chamberlain, who brought forth an elegant chest. It was much more feminine than the one that had held Bastion’s crown. He signaled for the crowd to hush.

“Citizens of
Jedikai
!” he boomed, “I require your silence.” Bastion waved his arms downward a little, getting the calm he requested. He came to
Yana
, with the Chamberlain beside him.

  “
Yana
, I love you. I have brought you forth to honor you, for your heart and your character have inspired me more than you know.”
Yana
was fully unable to speak. Bastion spoke in a low voice, for just the two of them.

  “I ask now that you honor me as well. I ask of you, your best, your everything. In turn, I offer you my everything as well.”

  “
Yana
, I ask you to be my wife.” 

  Bastion lifted the crown from the chest. It was the crown of a queen.

 
Yana
gazed at it with wonder. In the center, was an alexandrite stone, just as the one in Bastion’s crown. She looked up at him, and looked him in the eye, as the countless crowd looked on.

  “Bastion..
. tell me that we will not fail,
” she said, as tears began to cascade gently down her face.

  “We will not fail,
Yana
. We will be invincible.”

 
Yana
believed him. 

  She thought of the sacrifice that her beloved King had just undertaken. The burdens he would bear. She didn’t want him to bear them alone- she just did not know how to bear them as well. She was built differently than Bastion... but she had come to trust her Captain, the King, to all ends. If he said they would make it, then they would. She knew he would make sure.

 
Yana
dropped to one knee, and knelt before him.

  “I accept you, my King. Ya tebya lublu.”
Yana
’s wit and eloquence escaped her, as love and emotion engulfed her. She had no other words. Bastion’s aura was glowing, brighter than she had ever seen.

  Bastion took her hand, and lifted it, for her to stand up. He placed the exquisite crown in her hands.

  “When we take our vows, you shall wear this crown, and rule beside me,” Bastion said. He brought her before the crowd, as they remained faithfully silent, straining for good views to see.

  “Citizens of
Jedikai
,” he boomed once more, “For my first official act as King, I am honored to present to you,
Yana-
the next queen of
Jedikai
!” He raised her hand with his, and the crowd roared more than ever, more than
Yana
could imagine. It was surreal beyond all description, for the young gypsy.

 
Yana
kissed him desperately, needing to feel his assurance, his safety, and his love for her. She needed to partake of his courage, as the scope of this moment was far beyond anything she had ever imagined. Just as she hoped, she felt emboldened and relieved, in his embrace.

  They faced the crowd, and
Yana
smiled with appreciation that so many would support them, and cheer for them.

 
Yana
’s eye, just for the slightest glimpse, caught the face of Draiman out in the crowd, looking right at her. She looked again, and it vanished. Her smile remained, even as his words echoed in her ears...

_________________________

The Gypsy Queen- CHAPTER 22- “gathering”

  Bastion and
Yana
climbed aboard the large, flat wagon that awaited them. It was decorated with more ribbons and stre
amers, part of a small parade with
several other wagons.
Yana
recognized the two horses that were hitched to the King’s float were the ones that they rode together when they went to save Kizzy and Nadya. Huge animals, perfectly groomed, and handsome in their own way.

  There were five wagons, at
Yana
’s count, none more ornate than the King’s. She took his hand and boarded it, as the band struck up their tune in front of them. They began with the King’s song, but blended into a happy medley of music that included some of the gypsy music that
Yana
and Mille had introduced them to recently.

  The parade progressed slowly, a spectacle to the citizens that celebrated them. It was a strange feeling for
Yana
, to be celebrated. Didn’t seem natural. It was no more surreal than the high of having accepted Bastion’s proposal.
Yana
had never thought much of marriage until recently. She was only about twenty years old, and starting a family had been far from her mind. Suddenly it was at the forefront.

  Bastion would want an heir.

  The thought of bearing his children, and becoming a mother to them, set her mind spinning. Bearing a son for Bastion... a son who would one day become King himself... was difficult and spectacular to imagine.
Yana
looked at her lover, now her betrothed, with a smile- I wonder what our child might look like, she thought.

  The parade continued, as
Yana
played her part, waving to the people in attendance along with Bastion. Bastion had honored her and elevated her to great heights, by proposing at his own Coronation. She was proud to be at his side. Still, she found herself craving to be alone with him and escape the crowds. She tried to be patient and just enjoy the obligation of letting everyone heap adulation on her and the King.

  Queen Yana. It sounded so foreign, as she let those words ring in her ears. The people were saying it, or rather, shouting it- as the parade progressed.
Yana
had never thought it possible. She had even stayed away from
Jedikai
, and Bastion, because it was so impossible.

  Good luck, she thought, for everything that had happened. She would finally get to be with the man she had loved since they were both children. The man she used to long for on many a night, in the cave near Jofranka. Here he was, beside her. Loving her. Wearing a crown.

  “Bastion,”
Yana
asked, “how did you get the Alexandrite I gave you into your crown?”

  “I had it done this morning, while you slept,” Bastion said.
Yana
looked at it again, as he spoke.

  “It’s perfect. It’s just perfect,” she said, admiring it. “But... how is there Alexandrite in the other crown? The queen’s crown?”

  “That stone was set there for my mother, the queen, by my father. When you gave me that stone, I knew there was only one place for it. The center of my own crown. This way, I can always have you close to me.” Bastion waved some more, and reached down to say hello to one of the well-wishers.

  “Do you know why I gave you that stone? What it means?”

  Bastion looked at her expectantly, as more people swarmed their wagon, reaching out and interrupting them both. They accommodated the crowd, and Bastion looked back to
Yana
for her answer.

  “I will tell you later,” she said, as they made their last turn to head back to the palace.

  “Well, I can say this- I will enjoy wearing this crown, instead of hating it.”

  “I love you, King Bastion,”
Yana
said. “It suits you.”

  The parade made its way toward the palace, to
Yana
’s relief. She wanted just to rest with Bastion and be alone with him. It was him that she wanted, not the trappings of royalty. It terrified her still, though
it did hold a certain
excitement to it. The thrill and fear of the unknown,
Yana
thought. The wagon stopped, as the crowd was overly thick, so Bastion and
Yana
greeted more citizens.
Yana
found that gypsies were gravitating to her side, giving her greetings of old country and old tradition.

  “
Yana
!” A voice called out. She had heard her name ten thousand times already, but she knew that voice. She looked up with dread.

  It was Draiman.

  “So it’s true, is it?” he asked, more friendly than she knew him to be. “
Yana
, the gypsy q
ueen?”
Yana
said nothing, but tugged at Bastion.

  “Your majesty,” she addressed him, “This is Draiman, leader of a tribe of Ursari gypsies.” Bastion reached out graciously to greet him in a gypsy handshake. Draiman returned it, as though he was an avid supporter.

  “Greetings, Draiman,” Bastion said as they shook.

  “Oi, King of
Jedikai
,” Draiman said. He hung back slightly, letting Bastion’s attention shift away.
Yana
wanted desperately for the wagon to get moving. After Bastion looked away, Draiman leaned back in towards her, speaking in hushed tones.

  “When you fail as queen, you will ruin
Jedikai
for all gypsies,” he said. It was not a threatening tone he used. It was a helpful one.

  “You should run. You will ruin your dear King, and then ruin us all,” he said. “One way or another, you will be a gypsy slave. He will reject you when you don’t obey.”
Yana
tugged on Bastion again, needing his help.

  “Draiman here
says we won’t make it
,”
Yana
said, unable to say it any other way. Bastion’s demeanor changed quickly, as he pulled
Yana
away and set himself between them.

  “If you make trouble for this
kingdom
, you won’t live to see the sunrise,” he said. “Believe it.”

  “Oh yes,” Draiman said, “the black riders. The black cowards. I am not too worried about them. Besides, with this damn gypsy thief you are marrying, I’d say your
kingdom
will have more trouble than it can stand without any help from me.”

  “Your own trouble is upon you,” Bastion said. Nico stood behind Draiman, and jerked him away from the King.