Whispers of a Throne Page 7

  With my head held high I turned toward the crowd and that fountain. He huddled with Chaus and I tried to slip away. A moment later he followed me away from the battle practice, though he kept his distance.

  The soldiers and the women of the castle stood outside in bright daylight as the sun bore down on all of them. The men had swords and battle scars, and the women wore fancy dresses. I swore I heard laughter from both sexes as they spoke to each other.

  The further I stepped away from Thor, the more the sense of home left me. Nothing smelled as nice as his testosterone and sweat, though I would never admit that to him. "I should have never bothered to speak to you again."

  He bowed down, respectful. "Take care of yourself."

  As he walked away from me, I rubbed my arms. "I always do."

  I didn't need a king. I didn't need protection. I'd find my own way. No one ever said a queen needed a king, and as far as I was concerned, there was no need for Thor.

  Chapter 8

  As I marched back to the fortress, Chaus followed me. I steered toward the fountain, but I saw the faces of Thor's people. My cheeks pricked. They probably wondered the same thing I did about Chaus. If he was here, then who was with Thor?

  Most of them kept out of my way, but from the corner of my eye, I saw Morgana with a group of women as they slipped out a side entrance. I grinded my teeth and glanced behind me. I now had Chaus with me when he should protect Thor. Thor intended to guard me at every moment.

  If I was to stay here, then I needed to clear the air with Morgana. He shouldn't have to speak to his sister for me. I cracked my knuckles and tried to follow Morgana's footsteps.

  The town was in the other direction.

  I huffed as I entered a sea of women in white as they walked up a hill carrying candles. Morgana led the procession. It was still morning. Candles made no sense. As we turned the corner, I saw a line of women all following a path up a hill. Everyone wore white except Morgana. I walked toward her. I couldn't live here and wonder if she would sneak into my room again. I had to tell her to stay out of my chambers.

  My poufy dress and having the only guard in the group made me stick out. I tried to ignore him, but every step he took his footsteps jingled with metal. Thor did this to me. Now I'd have behave as my mother always wanted me to be, a lady.

  My heart fluttered near Thor but being around Morgana brought a darker emotion.

  We passed a pair of columns and in the distance there was a well where a few simple women washed clothes in big basins. The contrast between them and the people in white was jarring.

  With the glare in my eyes, it took me a moment, but then I saw Nel beneath the archway. She opened her arms in a questioning gesture, pointing from me to Morgana and shaking her head. I slowed down as she ran toward me, adjusting the kerchief over her hair.

  Chaus' face reddened into a blush as he stood beside me.

  Nel retied the green fabric that must be to protect her head from the blazing sun. She caught her breath as we followed the crowd. Nel pulled me into a hedge of green bushes along the side of the fortress. "What are you doing out here?"

  All I had in the world were a few small possessions and Morgana had no right to touch my dress. I swallowed and fisted my hands at my side. "I'm going to tell Morgana to leave my things alone."

  Nel's face paled. "Please don't. Not right now."

  I uncurled my fingers. Nel had been nice to me, so I waited for her to explain. I didn't have any other friends here. "Why?"

  Nel pointed to the women that walked up the path. "She's meeting with the Acolytes."

  On the top of the hill the small crowd gathered in a circle around Morgana and the clean white made her red dress stick out. This seemed religious in nature, but I had no idea what she believed in. Morgana brought her candle to the pyre of dry firewood and started a flame. Others followed her and lowered their candles. It was way too hot for fire. Perhaps Nel was right and now wasn't a good time. "Who are they?"

  Nel rolled her eyes. "Women who think she'll be the one to bring peace to this land."

  A savior of any sort wouldn't be so destructive of my things. Then a bubble of laughter grew in my throat. Nothing made sense. A smile grew wide on my face, but then I covered my mouth. "Morgana?"

  Nel's eyebrows elevated. "Yes."

  It must be because she also tested with the queen gene. I fidgeted in my borrowed dress. Two kings meant there are two queens. Morgana play-acted her part and people believed her. I wasn't capable of this theater. No one would believe me capable of anything in Morgana's clothes. I tugged at the square neckline. "What do they think of me?"

  Nel lowered her gaze. "You are Thor's future wife."

  I was so much more than someone's future wife. My shoulders tightened. "And that is all?"

  "No one knows anything about you," Nel said, her face red.

  The women on the hill all screamed about something. They seemed happy. The women in the field near the well packed their stuff and ran. My stomach tightened. "My blood test said I was to be queen and I don't want to be. Morgana is already here. She can have the job."

  Nel reached out and massaged my arm. She was like Cyna in how she always calmed me, just the same. Nel stared right into my eyes. "Once the kingdom is united, there will be only one king and one queen. King Thor, and you."

  She believed that. I saw how earnestly she looked at me, and for one moment, she reminded me of my other sister Jax with her firm opinions on everything that she deemed important, including the legends people believed. "Then how are there two of us with the marker?"

  "Notice that not everyone is an Acolyte," Nel said. "It's mostly young unmarried girls."

  There was no way that Nel was older than me. "Like us."

  She laughed and her arms fell to her sides. "Not like us. Neither of us are joining the 'worship Morgana' crowd."

  True. I pretended to shiver and Nel laughed. We stared at the Acolytes and Morgana holding court. She said something to them I couldn't hear. I whispered, "What do we call the people who serve Thor or Rex?"

  Nel crossed her arms now. "That would be everyone."

  Even my father had joined the masses in the end. He chose Thor, and I was beginning to suspect why. Sometimes I misspeak, though I wish I didn't. I shook my head. "Not everyone."

  A smile grew on Nel's face. "No one knows anything about you other than you are here with Thor and that he looks at you with such intensity."

  My face heated. All Thor and I did was fight. She must be mistaken. "What are you talking about?"

  Nel turned around to ensure no one heard her. Chaus stayed on guard at the bushes, but he didn't seem to listen to us. I stayed back and licked my lips in hopes that the heat in my body cooled down.

  "None of the ladies here have turned his head," she whispered. "Or gotten his attention the way you do."

  My heartbeat raced. "What do you mean?"

  Nel seemed surprised by my reaction. She pointed toward the women who circled Morgana as if she was some divine goddess here on earth. "Thor has been the leader for his closest advisors since he was thirteen years old. He's twenty-five now. He's set up a headquarters for us all to be safe in. He controls an army. He has ships. Soon he will have enough supplies to storm the Capital, London, and make Rex bow down. He needs a queen."

  My mind whirled with information. I knew most of this already, but Nel clearly adored her king. Life in the forest had no acolytes, no soldiers preparing for battle, and my heart hadn't stirred for anyone or anything there. I used to be safe, and that was what I wanted now. "I don't belong here."

  In a low voice, Nel asked, "Your home is gone now, my lady. Where do you think you belong?"

  My lips parted to answer, but I didn't know what to say. She was right.

  On the hill the women suddenly screamed in a higher pitch, and a cloud of dust grew in the air. The ground shook. Chaus stepped in front of Nel and me as the acolytes raced down the hill past us toward the side door in the wall. I peer
ed into the storm and noticed that it wasn't coming from the sky. "What's that?"

  Nel took my hand and nudged me toward the castle gate. "We better go."

  The guard backed up with his sword and shield in front of him. I refused to run, not yet. I stood my ground though the dust forced me to cough. "Where is Morgana?"

  Nel tugged her hand free from mine, pulling on my arm. "There's something wrong. Run."

  No. Perhaps I should listen. I'd be safe as Father intended. But my heart needed to know. If this castle was destroyed I truly had nowhere else. I tilted my head to see around Chaus. "You go."

  Nel squared her shoulders. "I won't leave you and neither will your guard."

  I tried to shuffle around them. The mass of women had thinned. I turned toward a high-pitched scream and saw a flash of red. Morgana's shriek pierced the air. I poised to help her, but the dust made it impossible to see details. I swallowed, pushing Nel toward the castle. "I just want to make sure she's fairly well."

  Nel blocked my path. "She'd not do the same for you."

  The dirt flew around us, and I covered my lips to breathe, swaying. "I have a bad feeling about it."

  The shouts of men and battle sounded from the gate as arrows flew over us. Chaus knocked me and Nel down into the bushes. I lifted my head and realized Thor's army had cannon balls that flew in the air with the arrows. I'd never seen anything like it.

  Dust settled on the hill. I rubbed my eyes as I stared at two knights dressed in black who had Morgana tied to a horse.

  Chaus charged, so he must have seen the danger too. Thor's men were right behind them. Nel knelt next to me, crouched on the ground as we watched Chaus chase after the black horses on foot. The men in black turned in their saddles and let fly a series of arrows.

  I threw myself on Nel to ensure she stayed out of range but I heard Chaus cry out and glanced up to see him fall.

  I ran back to him, and helped him stand. Thor had to be safe, but I worried since he'd given me his personal guard. Chaus pushed me back toward the castle and Nel. Nel covered my head with her arms to keep me down. I followed and the three of us ran toward the castle, but as more men poured out the gate, we fell into the bushes. I turned and stared as the two men with Morgana charged in the trees and we lost sight of her.

  A large gray metallic foot blocked my view. I gazed up, and then helped Nel stand. Thor's men rushed by us. Merlin, whose foot I stared at, shouted something in a strange language at the men's backs. I dusted off my blue dress, realizing that one of my puffy sleeves was now torn.

  I tried to hide under the branches with Nel, but a huge male hand came down from a white horse. Chaus rushed Nel to the wall as Thor's fingers held me. "Hurry. Let's get you inside the gates."

  Thor's blue eyes shined with intensity, where a storm of emotions churned. He was clearly conflicted. I bit my lips together but didn't tear my gaze away from his. "Go. We are fine. They are getting away with your sister."

  Thor's huge muscles were not natural for a man his age. Every young man I’d ever met was rail thin. He kept his sword next to him, though he shook his head and waved his arm to command the men to gather. "I can't lose you both today."

  Behind us the gates closed. Nel was likely safe, inside. I petted his horse's nose and it neighed for me. My fingers trembled. He truly was handsome. "Thor, you're losing time."

  The horse stepped forward and he lowered his arm. "Will you ride with me?"

  He could lose his sister or his castle if he slowed. I'd not let him. I reached for his saddle, but then he said, "Give me your hand."

  I swallowed. "I know the woods better than anyone. I know every short cut and path in the forest."

  The dirt settled near us, and we both saw how his men were chasing the two men in black through a field that led deeper into the forest. There was no time to waste. I nodded, and reached for his arm to take his offer. "Aye."

  My arms wrapped around his waist as he charged forward with his men. I clutched him. My mind focused on one question, though my entire body heated. Would he go into battle with me on his back? I swallowed the thought. It's impossible. He'd leave me locked in my room before putting me in harm's way.

  I inhaled the hot-blooded leather, sweat and testosterone on Thor and closed my eyes. He should not remind me of how home in the forest smelled, but he did. With the wind in my hair, we galloped forward, and for once I had a smile on my face.

  Finally, I had something to contribute. We were heading back into the forest.

  Chapter 9

  We galloped into the throng of his knights on horseback that rode through the fields and toward the forest. His soldiers parted for us. I lifted my head higher. Merlin rode closer and said, "We've lost them, sire."

  No. We'd win. I squeezed against his metallic breast plate. "Thor, the trees don't swallow people."

  At a clearing, Thor slowed his stallion as his knights searched the area for a sign of which way to go. He didn't turn around in the saddle to look at me as he said, "One of my men will bring you back."

  That wasn't going to happen. I was staying with him. I hugged his waist and brushed my chest into his metal armor. "No. You'll need me with you."

  He slowed his horse. He adjusted his metal suit, and sword, and then he squeezed my hand. "I need you safe."

  I held onto his waist and didn't let go. "I can help."

  He loosened the reins and his stallion galloped. Now that we were moving I brushed my dress, and saw another rip. So much for this mythical future queen staying clean. I clutched his shoulder. My heart beat wildly from the excitement. "Morgana was right outside your castle wall. Now she's gone."

  He crossed his arms, but didn't move out of my embrace. "From now on, you'll stay inside."

  I moistened my lips. This wasn't the end. The men shouted to each other. Thor's gloved hand grasped mine. I didn't move, but something in my heart shifted. His touch wasn't that bad, despite the metal. I adjusted my seat. "I can help in the forest."

  Merlin pointed in one direction through the thickest of trees and half a dozen men raced. Thor sped up. "I don't see how."

  I ran my hand across his metal armor and could feel his metal suit but my heart understood he had feelings too. His heartbeat was steady and awareness of him grew in my stomach. I coughed to stop myself, but my heart raced. "As I said, I know this forest better than anyone. As they took Morgana through my home, I am your best hope at finding your sister before they get her on a ship."

  He turned his horse around, as if he'd go back to the fortress. "If she's taken to London and Rex, it will be harder to free her."

  My mind whirled. If we went back, the walls would drive me mad. If my mother's amulet was from London, then I had to find out about her life. I hugged his waist. "You are wasting time. Let's go."

  He turned around and stared into my eyes. His shined with the afternoon sun. "I don't trust you."

  My breath caught in my throat. I was parched from the dust storm. "Why?"

  His eyes narrowed into slits. "You keep talking about how you intend to escape."

  True. I haven't been nice to him. I nodded my head. "I promise I'll help you get her back."

  He pointed back toward where we came. "Then you'll come back with me to my fortress and stay where you are safe?"

  I tugged my arms free and shook my head no. "I will help you get Morgana back and go back to the fortress when you do. Do we have a deal now?"

  He pressed his lips together. He seemed larger than life most of the time, but right now, he seemed kind. "I promised your father I'd keep you safe."

  I ran my hand up his armor and to his neck, the only exposed skin I ever saw. Then I leaned my head closer to his. "I'm with you. If you're dead then there is no way for you to keep that promise."

  He rubbed his helmet like it massaged his forehead. "This doesn't seem smart."

  At least he hadn't been a tyrant and thrown me back in my room. He had listened. Though my hands trembled, I stuck my hand out in front of m
e, stared into his eyes and said, "Shake my hand and agree."

  He stared at me and then my hand. For a few moments, I thought he'd not do it. My mind raced with the question of what I'd do next. He took off his metal glove. My mouth became moist though I said nothing. Then fireworks went off inside me as his fingers brushed against mine. The shift inside left me raw. Thor shook more firmly. The smile grew on my face. Then he stopped, replaced his gauntlet, and I knew he'd let me stay with him. As he turned around on his horse, he said, "You have a deal."

  "Let's go."

  Though I'd never get married, it might be nice to have someone like Thor in my life. He knew what he wanted and went after it. He seemed patient with me. As we galloped through the forest, I said, "There's a place after the forest and over the river, where the burned ruins jet in the sky. It's the best place for a ship to disappear."

  "I don't have my navy here."

  "Let's hope we meet them on land so you don't need ships." I held my thought that the part of the rivers where ships have to pass through Camelot and the air was poisoned there. If anyone spent too much time in those zones, they usually ended up with a horrible disease. Yet the tall, straight buildings must have been impressive once and served some purpose. As we galloped, I asked more questions. "How have you seen that?"

  He followed his men to keep up. "From the higher floors of my home."

  My mind returned to days when I fished with my father on the river. Father and his patrol kept us far away from the blackened ruins. Not many people dared to go where I lived. "I've seen them from the shore."

  He rode closer to Merlin. "Does this make us friends now, Gwen?"

  My heart stirred. Perhaps friendship might cool me down. "Would you like to be friends?"

  He didn't turn as we rode ahead. "I'd like for you not to yell at me all the time."

  A giggle escaped my throat. I could be nice to Thor. He hadn't attacked me or locked me away.

  We caught up to Merlin, who I assumed was Thor's closest advisor. Merlin's dark hair, opposite of Thor's blond, curled at his neck. Merlin lifted his helmet to reveal a serious expression, far from the joker who had helped me yesterday. Was it only yesterday? I pressed my lips together. "Why does Merlin seem so solemn?"