Page 65 of Their Queen

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Arthur,” Rhowyn said politely.

“And you as well. I was just telling Arryn that it seemed we were late with our arrival,” his eyes cut to my mother playfully, “per usual.”

My mother just laughed. “Nonsense. We’re always here just when we are needed. Like Baer said, the Keep could use our supplies and troops to provide protection while they’re gone.”

“We would greatly appreciate all the help you can give us,” Rhowyn said, her gratitude shining through. Callum’s sister walked up then. “I hate to rush out, but we have a strict timetable to follow. However, I’ll leave you in the worthy hands of Lady Aurelia Ivey. She can help you get settled in, and we can spend more time together when we return,” Rhowyn said.

“Of course. Please don’t let our arrival keep you. You’re a busy woman, after all. We’ll be fine with Lady Ivey,” my mother said, giving Rhowyn a hug. She turned to me, kissing me on the cheek before hugging me. “Come back safe,” she instructed me like she had when I was a youngling, her fear shining in her eyes when she stepped back.

“I’ll make sure of it,” Rhowyn vowed to my mother, who just nodded. She hated that I had chosen to be a soldier, but she never tried to hold me back. She knew I had to follow my heart one way or another.

Rhowyn and I walked down to the courtyard as groups started arranging themselves for transport. She looked at Lennox, Arryn, and myself. “You ready?”

“As we’ll ever be,” I told her. Arryn and Lennox nodded. Satisfied, we each placed a hand on her. She would transport us while Brannoc and Cyerra provided transport for the other soldiers. She nodded once, her eyes darting over the Keep as if to commit it to memory before she turned us to smoke, darting away without another word.

Chapter Forty Five: Rhowyn

We traveled in silence, soaring over the desolate land of Autumn until we reached the border with Summer, then turned south toward the castle. The rolling plains were still filled with grass and flowers, trees full of life near the heart of Avalon. Such a stark contrast to the scraps in the Autumn territory. Titania had taken and drained so much from Autumn already. Even so, patches of barrenness sprang up within Summer Territory. Clear lines delineated the healthy from the deterioration of the magic. Irrefutable evidence to show that Titania would eventually turn all of Avalon into a wasteland.

I could feel the shock from the guys that mimicked my own through the bond. Seeing the scope of the leeching from this vantage point was startling. Sure, we had seen patches here and there and heard about it from the refugees. We had even visited the temples that held the heart of the destruction, but we had never seen it like this. A bird’s eye view of just how all-encompassing it truly was.

Arryn squeezed my shoulder, indicating we had reached our predetermined staging area. It was far enough away from the meeting’s location that Titania wouldn’t have a clue that we’d brought our forces. I had wanted her to think she had the upper hand, and if she saw our troops, she’d immediately be on guard. Hence the need to gather everyone in a location far enough away, hidden from direct line of sight, yet still close enough that we could call on them quickly. This valley met those criteria, although it was a little further away than I had wanted. However, it was the best option out of all the sites that we had.

I set us down in the tall grass that brushed against the tops of my greaves, the new armor a gift from Juniper as promised. The pieces would offer protection, but the joints were flexible, allowing me to move easily and freely. I could still utilize my fighting skills if it came down to that. My rope was attached to one side of my hip, a short sword on the other. Another gift from the blacksmith. It was light and easy for me to swing. My enchanted dagger was tucked into one of the knife slots sewn into my cuirass. Backups were also in their slots, just in case. In a fight, you could never be too prepared.

I stood just before the top of the hill nearest to our meeting point, waiting for the rest to arrive. In quick order, the valley filled with soldiers and Ravens, all with their battle faces on and ready to follow my orders. They all looked to me as they settled in for the wait. Hopefully, I wouldn’t need them, but I highly doubted that we’d get out of here without a fight.

Turning to Arryn, I asked, “How much time do we have?”

He looked at his watch that had been tucked into a pocket. “We’ve got about thirty-five minutes before we need to be at the meeting.”

I nodded, turning back to those that had gathered there: my army, healers, armorers, and the Ravens. Needing to say something before the battle and confrontation, I let my mind focus on words of encouragement that would bolster their resolve and lessen their anxiety about what was to come. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and then began speaking, my voice carrying across the valley to reach everyone’s ears. “Today, we fight for Avalon. Today, we meet with Titania to strike a blow to her power and her reign. Today, we will fight with bravery and honor as we seek to follow Avalonia’s will. For too long, Titania has ruled with an iron fist, strangling the land and its magic. For too long, she has ruled with tyranny, striking down any who might oppose her, many who were innocent of wrongdoing. That all ends here. We take the fight to her, and we reclaim our kingdom. Through our blood, sweat, and tears, we will prevail. We fight with everything we have, and we cannot lose!”

Soldiers raised their swords, and their cheers were absorbed by the tall grasses but still reached me with a deafening roar. I stood there, drawing my own sword to raise it up high above my head, feet planted apart. Swords banged on armor and shields as the soldiers all yelled their agreement. Nodding, I turned my back to them and marched to the top of the hill, the war cries sending me onward with determination and fortitude.

As previously planned, the others joined me, and we sped away again. This time, there wasn’t any need to tell me we had reached our destination. The temple rose up in the middle of nowhere, fields stretching as far as the eye could see all around it. Behind the temple stretched Titania’s own forces, which far outnumbered our own. However, we fought for a cause, which was something Titania’s army couldn’t say. I’d take fifty soldiers who were devoted to a cause over three hundred poorly committed ones.

A cause gave you something to fight for. It allowed you to push yourself to limits that you didn’t know you had. When others would crumble and succumb to the fatigue and pressures, a devoted fighter would rise up to crush them. They’d surpass expectations and beliefs all in the name of their cause.

So, while Titania had more power and more forces, I wasn’t intimidated. I knew we had the superior warriors, and our plan would give us the upper hand. Now, I just had to keep playing my part for a little longer. Had to make Titania believe she would be the victor in our exchange today. If that took my begging and my submission, then so be it. It would only be for a little while?just long enough so that all the pieces could fall into place.

I deposited us just outside the doors of the temple, which were closed. There was no telling what was waiting inside for us, but that didn’t matter. Even if it tipped the odds in Titania’s favor, I would still go in there after my father and Callum. Brannoc and Cyerra landed behind me with their charges. A few selected allies who were necessary for what was about to happen.

I nodded at them, and they moved into their places, disappearing from my sight. Squaring my shoulders, I took a deep breath. The temple’s stone walls had streaks of black along the sides, evidence of the weather, with patches of green moss marring the gray-toned surface. Even with the signs of neglect, it remained an imposing sight. Stained glass windows lined the sides and above the double wooden doors, reminding me of an ancient Celtic church, more at home in the Irish countryside instead of the middle of nowhere in Avalon.

Not glancing at my men who flanked me, I strode forward, head high and shoulders back, as I marched up the three steps to the doors. Throwing them both wide, I found Titania at the back, sitting in a throne that must have been transported just for this meeting. The marble seat was out of place amongst the rotting pews and rusting décor. She leaned back in the chair, one leg crossed over the other in a casual pose, but I could see the tension in her eyes. A subtle stiffness in the way her smile was fixed on her face, the slight crinkles at the corners of her eyes and brow, which indicated she was trying not to narrow them at my appearance, the way prey watched a predator.

At her feet were my father and Callum, both on their knees with heads bowed. They wore collars with a chain leading back to Titania’s throne, tied up like beasts. I inhaled deeply to prevent my temper from getting the best of me at the sight, knowing that was just what she wanted.

My eyes darted to her consorts, who stood proudly behind her throne. Soldiers lined both walls, and a simple carpet was stretched out to form an aisle. I gave them all barely any notice, only cataloguing where everyone was in case this meeting devolved quickly.

“Welcome, child,” Titania cooed. “Did you bring the book?” Her eyes narrowed on me. I dipped my head in acknowledgment, the signal for Arryn to hold it up for her perusal. “Perfect.”

“Release them,” I told her, striding forward to get closer, stopping almost in the middle of the aisle. My men followed me, staying tight on my heels. “And then, you can have the book.”

She laughed. “Do you think I’m a fool?” When I lifted an eyebrow as if to answer that question with an affirmative, she snarled. “I get the book, and then I will release them. The deal we made means I have to, whether I like it or not.”

I let my face show anxiety, turning to Arryn and then Lennox on my other side as if to question what I should do. My response had the desired effect as she smiled at me smugly. They both nodded at me, indicating I should hand it over. “You swear you won’t harm them after you get the book? That you’ll let us walk out of here?” I asked, concern and fear leaking into my voice as I spoke.

---