Page 9 of Bearing Secrets
Still, the losses had mounted. Many Title Holders, those who held important positions in the House, had been killed in the fighting, including the Knight, heir to the Queen.
Life must go on, however, and that is why he was now marching down the Grand Hallway, Kellas on his right, and another loyal soldier, Kedd, on his left. All three of them were decked out in the martial uniform afforded to soldiers of House Ursa. The all-black outfit was decorated with white stripes down the pant legs, the rank chevrons on the arms a deep brown, along with his braided belt and a ring around his cap, representing the various types of bears that made up the Ursidae.
“You ready?” Kellas asked calmly as they paused outside of the doors.
“Oh sure. No big deal. I do this every day,” he said with a powerful snort.
Kedd just grunted; the quiet type, he wasn’t prone to speaking much unless spoken to, a trait that Kirell sometimes wished Kellas would adopt.
The doors creaked open in front of them.
“Here it goes. No pressure, big guy.”
Though his hands were at his sides, Kirell knew his friend would spot the gesture as he curled all his fingers but one upward for a brief moment.
“That’s the spirit,” Kellas whispered one last time as the doors finished opening.
Kirell swallowed as he saw the sight before him. The Queen, on her throne, was no longer alone. Besides her bodyguards, the remaining Title Holders occupied the stone chairs to either side of her. The gaps, where nothing but empty seats were seen, ate at his heart; for the first time in a long time, Kirell hesitated.
Shortly, he would be sitting up there as well. This was to be his nomination ceremony, where the Queen would present him to the assembled members of the House for a three-day review period, after which he would be confirmed as the Captain of High House Ursa.
No pressure. Just like Kellas had said.
A guardsman boomed out the formal words introducing him, and on his cue, Kirell strode forward into the empty space in front of the assembled leaders. Behind him and to the sides, on three levels, the non-ranking members of the House filled pews or stood against railings, watching the proceedings.
The attention shouldn’t have bothered him, but it did. Kirell knew what many of them were thinking, and he hated what his Queen was asking of him. To lie to his kin was a terrible thing, but how could he argue with his ruler? The Queen knew what she was doing.
Hopefully.
“Kirell Ursa.”
He came to attention as the Queen rose from her seat.
“You have been nominated to the position of Captain within High House Ursa. Do you accept this nomination and state that you fulfill all the nomination requirements?”
“I do.” His voice rang out solidly, without so much as a waver as it filled the Throne Room.
The requirements of being nominated were quite simple. Be over twenty-five. Be an Ursa. And lastly, be mated. It was this last one that he was lying about to all of his assembled kin. Many of them had flown in from other places across the world after word of the attempted rebellion had spread, and they had no idea who he was, but they would accept the word of their Queen.
“If any would challenge this nomination, you have seventy-two hours from this moment to declare your intent.” The Queen fell silent, looking around the crowd to see if anyone would say anything.
It wasn’t the newcomers that concerned Kirell, but the other members, those who’d already been positioned at Ursidae Manor. Those were the ones who not only knew he was unmated but would also have the strongest claim to his position. Only the most powerful stayed at the manor. Those weaker, either politically or physically, lived elsewhere around the world, overseeing the interests of the House.
Silence descended as his voice faded, and Kirell held his breath. If there was going to be trouble, it would come now, but nobody was speaking out. Although technically there were a full seventy-two hours for a challenge to come forth, tradition dictated that any who disagreed should speak up now, before the Queen turned to other business.
Kirell felt hope form, but a poignant clearing of a throat killed it before it could gain any traction.
“I challenge this nomination,” a voice snarled, stepping into the light.
Only barely able to hold back a snarl, Kirell’s hands curled into fists as Klebra stepped into the light. Behind him, he heard hisses from both Kellas and Kedd.
Although he’d supposedly fought on the side of the Queen, Kirell knew the man would have turned in a heartbeat if he’d thought that Kven and his ilk had a chance to win. He was no more loyal to the throne than any of the dead traitors had been; the only difference was, he hadn’t fought against them.
“On what grounds do you challenge the nomination?” the Queen asked calmly.
“This man is unmated, and therefore unfit to be a Title Holder of House Ursa. I fulfill all the requirements, and I am a senior member of the House. This position is rightfully mine,” Klebra growled, glaring at Kirell with eyes that dripped hatred.
The Queen turned to him. “How do you respond to these accusations, nominee Kirell?”
