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Authors: Ariel Paiement
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Coronation now.” I said.
Yvette smiled proudly. “You’re lovely, my Lady. You make me so proud.”
I smiled back. “Thank you, Yvette. Let’s go now!”
“Indeed, we should be heading out.” She walked over to the wardrobe, pulled out my Coronation robe, velvet blue with creamy white sprays of fur along the edges.
It settled heavily over my shoulders, but it felt warm and good against my uncovered arms and shoulders. I was ready. I would be crowned today, and become Queen of my people. I would lead them into battle, and we would be victorious. I had to believe it when I was dressed like this. I could do anything now.
Chapter 8: Crypt
We sat side by side in the little three-walled shack.
Dairdra had insisted on coming to the front herself to see the damage done to the fortresses and men.
It heartened the soldiers to see their young queen, vibrant and lovely, dressed like them and striding through the fort examining everything.
I had to admit that I was against the idea of her going to the front. It was hard to protect her there, and if she had stayed in the palace, I would have had an easier time of it. I didn’t want her hurt, but she seemed intent on making it nearly impossible to keep her safe. She often walked along the buttresses, gazing down at the soldiers of Cyril encamped before the fortress.
My gaze flitted over her quickly, taking in the rosiness of her cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes. She was enjoying being among the men and boys who fought to protect her and Argent. She needed to see that people wanted her, that her presence heartened them.
Perhaps it made her feel helpful to be out examining the forts so that she could form strategies later. I figured it would make me feel a little more useful too. Especially if every soldier in the fort was getting a boost in confidence just because I was there.
Dairdra looked over at me. “You aren’t happy. Why not?”
“We’re at war, my Queen. Why should I be happy?”
“No, Crypt. You’re unhappy about the war, yes. All of us are. But it’s something else. What?”
I looked away from her inviting eyes. She really wanted to know, but it wasn’t my place to say, and there were soldiers everywhere looking on.
“What?” She asked again.
“This isn’t the place to discuss our problems, my Lady.” My shoulders tensed as I prayed she wouldn’t pursue the question.
“What is the matter, Crypt?” Her jaw clenched, a sure sign she was determined to figure me out.
I sighed and got up. “If you’ll excuse me, My Lady. I have duties to see to.”
I bowed to her, and walked off. She still didn’t drop it. The thing about Dairdra was that she never seemed to give up. Most days, I admired that about her, but on days like this, it drove me nuts.
She ran to catch up with me. “We can talk while you work.”
Dairdra gave me the alluring smile that always seemed to melt my resistance.
“Fine. But we’ll do it in private, if you don’t mind, my Lady.” I glared down at the ground.
Soldiers were looking at us now, smirking and laughing at my discomfort. I hissed softly in annoyance, a blush rising to my cheeks. Why did she have to embarrass me? Why not ask me when we went over the day’s discoveries at night?
We reached my little, enclosed hut, and I held the door open for her. She ducked her head and walked in.
I entered after her, and then closed the door before walking over to the table. I sat in a chair and buried my face in my hands. “Why did you do that?”
“Do what?”
I looked up at her. She had a confused look on her face.
“You just embarrassed me in front of all the soldiers, Dairdra. Why?” I kept my voice low, knowing that sound leaked through walls easily in the building.
“I… I’m sorry, Crypt! I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I mean…” Her gaze dropped from mine.
Sighing, I walked over to her, and gave her a hesitant hug. “It’s okay. I
Yvette smiled proudly. “You’re lovely, my Lady. You make me so proud.”
I smiled back. “Thank you, Yvette. Let’s go now!”
“Indeed, we should be heading out.” She walked over to the wardrobe, pulled out my Coronation robe, velvet blue with creamy white sprays of fur along the edges.
It settled heavily over my shoulders, but it felt warm and good against my uncovered arms and shoulders. I was ready. I would be crowned today, and become Queen of my people. I would lead them into battle, and we would be victorious. I had to believe it when I was dressed like this. I could do anything now.
Chapter 8: Crypt
We sat side by side in the little three-walled shack.
Dairdra had insisted on coming to the front herself to see the damage done to the fortresses and men.
It heartened the soldiers to see their young queen, vibrant and lovely, dressed like them and striding through the fort examining everything.
I had to admit that I was against the idea of her going to the front. It was hard to protect her there, and if she had stayed in the palace, I would have had an easier time of it. I didn’t want her hurt, but she seemed intent on making it nearly impossible to keep her safe. She often walked along the buttresses, gazing down at the soldiers of Cyril encamped before the fortress.
My gaze flitted over her quickly, taking in the rosiness of her cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes. She was enjoying being among the men and boys who fought to protect her and Argent. She needed to see that people wanted her, that her presence heartened them.
Perhaps it made her feel helpful to be out examining the forts so that she could form strategies later. I figured it would make me feel a little more useful too. Especially if every soldier in the fort was getting a boost in confidence just because I was there.
Dairdra looked over at me. “You aren’t happy. Why not?”
“We’re at war, my Queen. Why should I be happy?”
“No, Crypt. You’re unhappy about the war, yes. All of us are. But it’s something else. What?”
I looked away from her inviting eyes. She really wanted to know, but it wasn’t my place to say, and there were soldiers everywhere looking on.
“What?” She asked again.
“This isn’t the place to discuss our problems, my Lady.” My shoulders tensed as I prayed she wouldn’t pursue the question.
“What is the matter, Crypt?” Her jaw clenched, a sure sign she was determined to figure me out.
I sighed and got up. “If you’ll excuse me, My Lady. I have duties to see to.”
I bowed to her, and walked off. She still didn’t drop it. The thing about Dairdra was that she never seemed to give up. Most days, I admired that about her, but on days like this, it drove me nuts.
She ran to catch up with me. “We can talk while you work.”
Dairdra gave me the alluring smile that always seemed to melt my resistance.
“Fine. But we’ll do it in private, if you don’t mind, my Lady.” I glared down at the ground.
Soldiers were looking at us now, smirking and laughing at my discomfort. I hissed softly in annoyance, a blush rising to my cheeks. Why did she have to embarrass me? Why not ask me when we went over the day’s discoveries at night?
We reached my little, enclosed hut, and I held the door open for her. She ducked her head and walked in.
I entered after her, and then closed the door before walking over to the table. I sat in a chair and buried my face in my hands. “Why did you do that?”
“Do what?”
I looked up at her. She had a confused look on her face.
“You just embarrassed me in front of all the soldiers, Dairdra. Why?” I kept my voice low, knowing that sound leaked through walls easily in the building.
“I… I’m sorry, Crypt! I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I mean…” Her gaze dropped from mine.
Sighing, I walked over to her, and gave her a hesitant hug. “It’s okay. I
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