Page 165 of Flameborne: Chosen
Ronen nodded.
I took a deep breath. I wanted my hands on that little prick so bad—
‘Be at ease, Donavyn. It’s far better for anobjectiveparty to determine the young man’s future. Then you cannot be accused of making things easier for her.’
I nodded. I couldn’t help but smile.‘As it happens, I need to report in. I know just the person.”
“You’re certain?” The Queen’s question was sharp, but quiet.
“I’m certain that only two men have demonstrated a desire to thwart her, and this was found in the tack room of one of them.
Diaan’s lips pursed. Alexi, the King, humphed. “It’s child’s play. Who among us didn’t do stupid things when we were young? Especially in competition.”
“But, Sire—”
“Dear, Donavyn is right to be concerned. You’ve bemoaned the lack of strength of character in our youth at Court, and here he observes the same among the Furyknight—the Flameborne,” she corrected herself when I opened my mouth. I nodded as she continued, addressing her husband. “Atruemistake, a willful decision made in haste that is regretted would leave the soul with a conscience, don’t you think? Admitted fault?” she said softly, turning to her husband.
Diaan often made me squirm, but it could not be denied that she respected her husband’s throne, and knew how to address him.
I stayed quiet, knowing he would likely hear her before he’d hear me.
Alexi frowned. “Perhaps,” he said. I did my best not to conjecture about why he seemed suddenly uncomfortable. “I only know that decisions I made as a youth I would no longer make. You propose cutting the lad off from his shot at Furyknight, is that right, Donavyn?”
“Sire, only because he put another Flameborne in physical risk—and did harm to her dragon. And he has, apparently, gone out celebrating about it.”
The King frowned again.
Diaan met my eyes and offered a half smile, with a hand extended, palm down.Wait. Be patient.
“It makes sense,” she said to her husband, with another glance at me. “She’s pretty and strong and entirely unique. They half-want her, and are half-threatened by her.”
The King huffed. “Donavyn’s just described her being overcome without effort! The man hardly sees her as athreat.”
“Come, dear. Not all threats are physical,” the Queen said patiently. “She vies for the attention of the most powerful men.” She glancedmeaningfully at me. I pretended I didn’t notice and kept my frown focused on the King. “She draws admiration, and conversation. Most men either want her for themselves, or want what she has. Namely the attention of men like yourself.”
The King frowned. It was very astute of the Queen, but it bothered me that she could articulate such manipulative tactics clearly.
‘You’re right to be cautious with her, Donavyn.’
I didn’t respond because we both knew I already knew that. As much as I admired the Queen’s strength—and was grateful that if anything happened to Alexi, we had a capable ruler to step immediately into his seat—Diaan made me uncomfortable.
I tried to imagine how it felt for Bren to attract attention from people who could physically overpower her, not just politically, and it made my skin crawl.
“She’s a girl in a man’s world. She should expect some struggles,” Alexi said darkly.
“Husband—the poor girl is likely wanted by every man in her presence, yet they cannot have her. Not every man has your strength of character to simply deny himself. Some become bitter. Or worse.” She gave a little shudder that didn’t seem faked and I frowned.
“I don’t believeallof them want her. But I do agree that she poses a challenge to them. After all, she’s entirely new. And she draws attention. The Flameborne in particular feel a need to prove themselves—”
“And we all know how men are driven crazy by the combination of an inaccessible and unknown woman,” the Queen finished for me.
Alexi was sprawled in a wide seat, and though I had his attention, it was clear he’d rather be done for the night. I’d caught him leaving yet another council about the threat from a neighboring Kingdom. If they were meeting this late, it had to be important, and likely related to the team we’d sent into Draeventhall. But if the King wasn’t telling me, either he didn’t wish me to know, or he didn’t want to discuss in front of the Queen.
Regardless, it was the small hours of morning and we were all here discussing the Flameborne. If I knew the King, he would lose patience soon, believing he had much more important issues to address. I cleared my throat, ready to move the discussion to a solution, but the Queen shot me a look and turned to her husband again.
“You told me yourself, you wish you could have an entire legion of Donavyn’s to protect us,” she said with a smile. “Now, here, our Donavyn is telling you that he measures this manunworthy.If we truly want to build an entire legion like our fair Commander,” she sent me a warm look, “then we should listen when he raises a concern about one of those that might need your intervention. You’re the King, Alexi. Where anyone else gives instruction, you need only offer a word and it could change a man’s mind—and his heart!”
She laid it all on a bit thick, but the King shifted his weight and looked at his wife thoughtfully, rubbing his stubbled chin and frowning.
