Page 78 of Ashborne Forged

I straightened from my curtsey, keeping my eyes on the ground, but raising my posture to the place of dignity, praying that the etiquette here in Vosgaarde mirrored ours in Fyrehold.

“The Lady Grace Barnslow, I have been following your progress. I’ve heard much of you,” the queen said casually. Because she had addressed me directly, I was permitted to meet her eyes.

“Only good things, I pray,” I said sincerely.

“Of course, and I must say I am pleased to meet a Furyknight who knows the correct forms—at last,” she added dryly.

“I thank you, Your Majesty, but I am not yet a Furyknight.”

To my surprise, she laughed. “Yet. Oh, very good. I’ll enjoy watching this one,” she said to Donavyn, who nodded, but maintained his stern countenance. “Grace, how have you found your weeks in Vosgaarde?”

“Very enlightening and… fulfilling, Your Majesty.” My heart pounded.

“Excellent. And is your squad sister assisting you in finding your feet?”

“Brennan has been my dearest friend and help,” I said honestly. “And the General, as well. My brothers have also—”

“Your Majesty, the girl seeks to impress you, which speaks well of her family’s training, however we have an issue of greatest urgency, and I must ask you to address it with haste,” Breckon said, offering a sweeping bow and returning to stand with an arrogant smile.

Oh dear.

The queen’s smile froze, then faded as she slowly turned to look at Breckon like an insect she wished to squish.

I prayed she would.

“You’ll forgive me, of course,” she said dryly, “But I seem to have forgotten your name?”

I sucked in. For her to have addressed me by name, then forgotten his would raise Breckon’s ire. But I’d forgotten what a fawn he was to power. He hurried to reassure the queen and offer his name, along with half his family tree.

“…my family hailed from high ranking Vosgaardians, many generations ago. Perhaps we share a blood relative!”

“Perhaps,” Diaan sniffed. She didn’t appear to like the idea. “Tell me, Lord Breckon, what issue of such urgency brings you to my kingdom without an invitation or announcement?”

I dropped my chin and pressed my lips together to suppress a nervous laugh. While Fyrehold and Vosgaarde both allowed free travel, a noble of Breckon’s standing should have notified the castle of his presence. As one of the Fyrehold court he could be viewed as a political threat if he was discovered unexpectedly.

“You have my sincerest apologies that I was remiss, but our travels have been extensive, in pursuit of our prey. Only late last night did I uncover her presence here.”

“Her?”

“The Lady Grace Barnslow. She disappeared from Fyrehold weeks ago. From the castle, as it happens.”

Diaan’s expression didn’t change, but her eyes flicked to Donavyn, then to me. I let my eyes plead my case. Please, see deeper. Please.

Breckon continued, unaware of the byplay. “She has ingratiated herself here and your… men, were hesitant to let her go without your oversight. However, I knew you would understand what is proper. Lady Grace is my betrothed. The king will, of course, be ecstatic to learn that I have found her, but she has evaded her duties, and so I beg you to order your servants aside, so we might return to Fyrehold forthwith.”

Diaan stared at me for a beat. My heart, already racing, sped faster. But now that he’d spoken to her directly, I couldn’t speak unless she invited me to.

“General,” Diaan said after a moment. “Is Lord Breckon’s summary accurate?”

“To a point, Your Majesty,” Donavyn said, his voice low and gruff.

“To which point? And where do points diverge?”

“Lord Breckon claims the Lady Grace as his betrothed. And we are sympathetic, if that proves true. However, her disappearance was a direct result of a dragon’s Choosing. Her dragon is mated to one of my men’s—which, as you understand, means she has bonded with that dragon’s rider, in the same manner Bren and I are bonded. To take her away now, not only interferes with her very crucial training, it will cause distress among the dragons, and between Grace and her mate.”

Diaan’s brows arched. “Oh dear. Lord Breckon. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with the dragon bonds, but our General is a man of much esteem—he recently visited Fyrehold and was received by the king, with honor. He has explained the bonds to me. I don’t believe this is something with which we can interfere.”

Breckon’s smile grew tight. “I appreciate Your Majesty’s thought for her servants’ comfort. The Crown of Vosgaarde is a compassionate one. However, I fear the beasts must be asked to endure their discomfort. Lady Grace was betrothed to me months before she met the dragons, or arrived here. Her disappearance has caused great distress in the castle, and to her parents. Her father and I are dear friends—and trade partners. Our agreement precedes events that brought about the Lady Grace’s disappearance. And I have been tasked by the king himself with returning her home for our imminent wedding.”