“Not a chance.”
“And Russal is safe.”
Gordy patted her hand. “King Russal has beenstanding at the king’s doors for the past two hours with acontingent of guards. He is safe, albeit a mite anxious.”
“He wouldn’t change his mind, would he?”
“I think he’s worried that you will.”
She snorted. No, she would not change hermind.
A mellow pipe sounded three pips, thendropped into a melodic beat that made her envision a forest, treelimbs shifting in the breeze overhead, beams of light dappling theshadowed ground.
Gordy nodded at the guards waiting with theirhands to the door handles.
Kambry gasped. During her entire processionthrough the castle corridors, she hadn’t examined the guards. Lessastood to the right holding the door open, Cole to the left. Bothhad faces filled with delight and pride. Drew was in the line ofguards along with Dorvea, both standing stiff, eyes forward, theirjaws quivering against grins that twitched on and off likefractures of light.
She was among friends. Surely none of themwould betray her.
The audience chamber was divided intoquadrants by strips of satin on the floor. Looking through thedoors, her gaze followed the green runner, a match to her dress, tothe center of the room, where a purple runner crossed it. On theother side, a second runner ran in chocolate satin toward theking’s door. People lined the aisles, but she couldn’t focus on asingle watching face. At the end of the dark runner, Russal stoodat the threshold of the king’s entry point.
Their gazes caught, and she relaxed, smilingat the grin on his face.
Even with all the people present, she heardno sound in the room other than the soft piping.
“Go on,” Gordy whispered, and she steppedforward.
As she crossed the threshold, Cole and Lessafiled in with her, the guards’ near silent steps proving her honorguard continued with her. The change in texture beneath her feetpunctuated her excitement. Under the thin layer of satin, she feltthe solid base of the audience chamber. The symbolism wasn’t loston her. It all looked lovely, but beneath their fairy-tale momentlay the stout stone of Kavin and the difficulties that lay ahead instrengthening their kingdom.
Across the way, guards flanked Russal.
What would happen when they met in themiddle? They were to turn and head down the purple runner to thethrone to her right. Russal had said it was a very simple ceremony.His description had made it sound humble for a kingdom crowning aqueen.
The center aisle seemed to charge toward her,and in no time, Russal was a mere step from her. He turned, takingher hand in his own shaking grasp.
“Does your crown pinch?” she whispered.
“I only know you’re here. I’m uncertain Ibrought along my head, never mind a crown.”
Lessa continued along with them, a guardstriding just behind Russal from his left. Did forty-eight guardsstream out in their wake? Gordy was rather definite about theirsafety.
Glancing down, she glimpsed Russal’s feet,bare like her own. “They didn’t give you lace to wear atop yourfeet,” she said.
“My feet need no adornment.”
He grinned at her, and the rise of emotion inher chest nearly toppled her. He bumped her shoulder, his eyestwinkling. And she raised her chin. “Are you saying mine do?”
Leaning toward her, he whispered, “If youuncovered them, other men would covet them, and I would have tofight for the right to have you as queen. It is a safetymeasure.”
“You are a silly king.”
“I remember you mentioning that once before.Since you are walking down this aisle with me willingly, you mustnot mind.”
“I adore your silliness.” Giggling, she foundthe courage to look at the people standing to her right. She sawthe smiling face of her old scribe master and remembered LadyLaurents had said a section in the chamber held her family andfriends. She hadn’t expected it to be a full fourth of the room.Paddlyrun citizens pressed up to the edge of the runner. Her oldscribe teacher, Master Muntrac, clutched a cane, his bent backpulled as straight as he could make it. His eyes, slightly clouded,were merry.
Tears smarted in her eyes. The quadrantwasn’t as full as the other three, but her own people were there towatch her join with the king of Kavin and to see her recognized asits queen. Of course, she had known her family would be there. Butso many from her hometown had not been among her expectations.
Where were her parents? Had she passed themalready? What of Stahn and Tia? She turned, tugging slightly atRussal’s grip. She couldn’t find them. Had her nervousness causedher to walk past them? She clenched Russal’s hand, and he squeezedgently, raising her hand to his lips briefly.
“You are doing fine. Only a few moresteps.”
Kambry raised her chin and looked straightahead. She would not disappoint Paddlyrun. Dad and Mom were theresomewhere. Where the throne usually sat stood three people. To theleft was Marshal Burtram, on the right Sybil, and between them LordLaurents, the new Lord Chamberlain. His grandfatherly smile greetedher. Each wore Kavin colors, and overhead, the stained-glass sealsent rays of colored light to pool at their feet.
When Russal and Kambry reached the end of theaisle, they stood in the seal's light. The bright-purple glintsplayed across her satin skirt and over her arms. Russal looked asif ghostly proilis flowers were marching across his deep-browndoublet with every breath he took.
Kambry pulled in rib-stretching breaths, butlittle would calm her heartbeat. It was Russal’s grip on her handand the melodic piping that turned her attention forward. Hervision narrowed on Lord Laurents, but the hum that filled her earsdrowned out his voice. I’m to be queen of Kavin.
She didn’t know how much time passed, butRussal took her other hand and turned her to face him. “Let me takeit off,” he said.
She blinked. Take what off?
He held their hands up between them. Histhumb and forefinger on the ring that encircled her thumb. Itglowed a brilliant purple. He had said there would be an exchangeof rings.
But she’d never been able to remove theking’s ring.
“Ask for Kavin’s help,” he said.
Kavin, let him remove the ring.
It slid off easily into his hand and lost allcolor. Just a smooth silver ring.
It worked. How? She looked intoRussal’s eyes.
“It’s okay,” he
