Page 12 of MidKnight
“My Lord,” I made my voice nasal in response.
“Would you do me the honor of sneaking into the kitchen with me later tonight?” his pompous tone and his words were so ill-matched that it took a moment before I burst into surprised laughter.
“Secret dessert date?” I asked.
“’Secret dessert date,” he responded.
My chest swelled with excitement. It was something we’d done as teenagers, sneaking down at midnight, when most the palace inhabitants were sleeping. “I’d be honored.”
Connor’s grin was infectious. He turned to Ginnifer and said, “As her maid, your job is to help her sneak out, without any of the other knights noticing.”
Timid little Ginnifer had a gleam in her eye as she saluted Connor, my sapphire necklace flopping in her hand. “Challenge accepted, My Lord.”
* * *
Queen Isla knew the power of appearances. She rode the black winged bear all the way to the throne room. Her huge blue velvet cape (blue being the royal color of her house) trailed on the ground behind her.
Quinn sent me a very unhelpful image of her bear shitting as he walked, causing that cape to drag through a steaming pile of bear scat. It kind of ruined the effect of the pomp for me since I had to focus on containing my laughter.
The bear spread his huge black wings, making several of my nobles duck, before Isla was helped down. Her cloak was removed, and the bear was led away. Then Queen Isla slowly walked up the burnt orange carpet that was lined on either side by Evaness nobility. There were no hushed whispers in her wake. There was only a sense of awe, intimidation, and maybe even a ripple of tension in the room. Isla held her head high, appearing unaffected as she reached the middle of the carpet and waited for me to come greet her.
When our musicians began playing Rasle’s most popular ballad, I left the throne and went down the steps, flanked by my knights, Connor on my right side, holding my arm.
When I stood before Isla, I realized she was taller than me by several inches. She had cheekbones sharp enough to cut. A circlet covered her head, a plain one suited to travel. But that didn’t lower the amount of power the woman seemed to exude. She had no magic that I knew of, nor did the daughter she trained, but the woman’s personality was sharp as an axe.
Finally, it came time for me to clasp Isla’s hand.
“Well met, Your Majesty.”
“Well met, and my congratulations to you on your coronation,” Isla’s eyes roamed over my crown.
My mind blanked. Absolutely and completely blanked. I wasn’t ready for this moment. What the hell was I supposed to say? Hi, I’m queen and my mother’s dead and sister stolen. And by the way, no you can’t have your hills back? Shite. I was shite at this royalty business.
I opened my mouth, and nothing came out. I tried again. This time, words just spilled out. I wasn’t even certain exactly what they were until I replayed them in my mind. “What happens when you cross a grizzly and a harp?”
Isla didn’t answer my question. She simply tilted her head, her small court-smile pasted on her face.
I started to sweat. I couldn’t look at Connor, who was squeezing my arm tightly, trying to signal me to change the subject. Or stop. Or something. But my mouth—my stupid mouth just kept talking. “You get a bear-faced lyre.”
A corner of Isla’s lip curled up. That was the only response I got. “Well, you’re the first monarch who’s ever greeted me with a joke. Was there an insinuation in there?”
I nearly face-palmed. Shite! “No, absolutely not. I just wanted to start things off light-hearted and when I heard I only had one official line, I …”
Isla grabbed my forearm gently. “I’m only teasing, Bloss. I’ve known you since you were born.”
“Oh.” Relief flooded my system. “I’m sorry.” Gods be damned. Now I looked like a sarding idiot.
Isla’s smile was slightly wider. Like a crocodile’s before it eats its prey. She definitely thought I’d be easy pickings. She linked her arm with mine. “Now, if you want to exchange jokes with a fellow monarch, I’d suggest you choose something more like the following: What’s the scariest kind of bear?”
I pressed my lips together in thought, but Isla didn’t give me much time.
“My husband’s bare bum.”
It was very difficult not to snort. But that would have echoed throughout the throne room, so I resisted. Instead I gave a half nod, to hide just how huge my grin was. “Well done, Your Majesty.” Dammit. I’d made myself look stupid. And she’d just made me look stupider by having a better joke than me. This visit was off to a shite start.
Isla nodded demurely. “I am sorry to hear about your mother.”
“Thank you.” Pain lanced my side. The loss was still too fresh. “I’m sorry for your loss as well. I know you were great friends and allies.”
