Page 86 of Ashborne Forged

“I was not highborn, so please forgive my ignorance, but… are there no protections for a woman in Vosgaarde, being taken by a man against her will?”

The queen’s lips pursed and she turned to regard Breckon. “A woman? Yes. A wife? The law is clear that it is a man’s responsibility to protect and guide his wife and children, and he must be given freedom to do so.”

“I’m not yet married—” I started breathlessly.

“Hush!” Breckon snapped. “The contract terms are clear.”

“Yes, they are,” the queen said. “And never let Vosgaarde be accused of impinging the rights of a man of another kingdom’s power. I could not even conceive of it,” she said with such apparent sarcasm, I would have laughed when Breckon nodded if it hadn’t been so terrifying. “Sadly, while one man, acting on his own, might believe he has right to breach the law, as a Crown, I cannot do so. The effects on our society would be swift, and far-ranging.” My heart sank. Hope spiraled. But the queen wasn’t finished. She eyed me, then stared pointedly at Voski. “The law is my word among the people. I cannot break it.” There was a strange beat. Voski didn’t move, but his entire countenance quivered. The queen’s gaze glittered, then she turned to Breckon as if she were merely carrying on conversation. “I must compliment you on the ironclad terms of your agreement, Lord Breckon. Our scribes could learn from your foresight.”

Breckon was smug. “I had been forewarned she could be tricky, Your Majesty. Her father agreed it was best to make the contract binding in all terms.”

I felt sick to my stomach.

Just feet away, Voski trembled with rage—a roaring fire that blistered the bond. Ronen and Gil, on either side of him, watched him warily. But he didn’t move.

Neither did I.

We both clung to that cord that tied our hearts together.

“If your concerns have been sated, then I would ask you to remove these well meaning servants, so we might make the final arrangements. Our travel has been long, and I wish to return to my estates as quickly as possible. Grace and I have much to do,” he said with a sly smile that threatened to make me vomit.

“Oh, we will make sure you are safely on your way, once I have given my formal ruling,” the queen sighed. “But this man is Grace’s superior officer, and her dragon’s bonded mate. Now that Grace will not be taking her place in the ranks, his input is required as we arrange the separation of their dragons, and its implications.”

“I couldn’t care less about the beasts—except where they might empower our people,” Breckon snapped. “You said that the contract was in order and—”

“Yes, I did. And if you speak out of turn again, I will be forced to make this judgment without your presence,” the queen said sharply.

Breckon snapped his mouth closed, and bowed again, though quickly.

The queen left her eyes on him for an uncomfortably long pause, then raised her chin to scan everyone in the room. “Is there any other pertinent information available from among you, before I make my final decision?”

Ronen stepped forward and bowed again. “Might I speak, Your Majesty?”

“Of course,” the queen said, looking at him with interest.

Ronen cleared his throat. “I’m not certain if the nature of a bond has been explained, and the Lord’s comments imply he might benefit from a more thorough understanding. For his own profit.”

“Explain, please,” she said.

“Grace has been bonded by a dragon—which means their bodies are connected, as well as their minds. If they are separated for long periods, they will each suffer for it. Not only emotionally, but with physical weakness, sometimes illness, and in very extreme cases, death. It is not a simple equation. That means that Grace’s dragon must accompany her.”

I could feel Breckon’s anger rising.

“And furthermore, the bond cannot be undone by a piece of paper, or shifts in proximity. It will not lessen with time. Though the law doesn’t recognize it, a bond is like a marriage—but actually even more permanent. More fully consuming. And cannot simply be dissolved. It’s almost impossible to destroy. It cannot be removed, or even dulled, by anyone’s will beyond those involved. It is, literally eternal—”

“No doubt the dragon will follow, and who am I to restrain the beast any more than I would a wild boar? My account is for the Lady Grace Barnslow, and if she now attends with a dragon in tow, then so be it.”

“Your Majesty,” Ronen insisted patiently. “Her bond with Voski is just as deep, and just as—”

“Then he will have to wait his turn!” Breckon whirled, not on Ronen, but on Voski, who stood, frozen, his face blank… and slowly put his hands in his pockets while the Lord spluttered at him.

“A real man fights his own battles, so I will not bring another in to make my arguments,” Breckon snapped. “But let us not pretend those words were yours. And you, sir, will not prevail in this. She is mine, and has belonged to me since that contract was signed, months before any other agreements were made, or vows given. You have made your point, and I have conceded to it. After she has married and whelped, if she so chooses, she will be allowed to return and ride whatever—or whomever—she wishes.”

I wanted to scream, watching Voski slowly turn to face the angry man, his dark eyes gleaming, but his expression giving nothing away.

I felt the roar of his rage in the bond.

I felt the fire coursing in his veins.