THE CROWN AND THE FLAME by ROCHELLE PIETERSE (the little red hen read aloud .txt) 📖

walk into the heart of our camp?”

“We took their weapons. And they wanted to talk to you,” Greine said annoyed. “Like I said.”

“Give us a minute,” Justin dismissed the two mercenaries. As they left Justin turns to Sir Luke furiously, “You brought her here? You’re supposed to be her bodyguard. Do you have any idea what danger you’ve put her in?”

“The entire world is dangerous for her now. Obviously we’d hoped for a better reception than this,” Sir Luke replied heatedly.

“A better reception?” Justin almost laughed, “This isn’t the grand hall, Luke. That life is over, for all of us. There’s no returning to it.”

“You were the defender of my family, of our people. Help us now,” her voice was soft and clear.

“Weren’t you listening? I’m not the same man. I’ve done things…things you can’t even imagine,” He said irritated.

“Nothing that you can’t be forgiven for. Remember who you once were, before these terrible times,” Skyelar said without heat

“You’re two years too late for that speech.”

“It’s not too late,” Skyelar urged. “I have close to 250 troops who pledged to help me retake Dragonstead.”

“You do?” Justin asked surprised.

“You sound impressed,” Skyelar said with a smile.

“I am. But it doesn’t change everything. The best I can do now is sneak you both out before the others realize who you are.” Justin shrugged. “I’m sorry, but I can do no more. You…” he looked down avoiding her eyes as he walked to the tent flap, “You remind me so much of your mother. I wish we had more time.”

As Justin opened the tent flap for them to leave, Skyelar sees an enormous man waiting on the other side.

“What the hell’s this, Justin? You meeting without me?!” the man roared.

“This is personal, Liath. I was just meeting with an old friend…” Justin defended.

“Old friend, my ass. You’re an awful liar, Justin,” Liath grinned but turned stern. “And I hate being lied to!” he reached down and grabs Skyelars chin so he can get a better look at her. “You’re the queen. I know a royal, pampered face when I see one,” Liath exclaimed.

“I… you’re mistaken,” Skyelar said.

“Am I?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. He holds up a crumpled WANTED poster with her face sketched on it. “You know the Blood king, Jameel Beaumont?”

“I…” Skyelar started but he cut her off.

“Well, he knows you,” he continued. “Turns out, his whelp put a bounty on your head, your majesty.” Liath laughed, “Ha! Turning you in will be the easiest coin I’ve ever made!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 5

 

CHAPTER 5 : THE CHALLENGE

 

Liath grabbed Skyelars arm and heads to the center of the camp which is filled with mercenaries and former Dragonstead soldiers. In the center he stops. In front of Skyelar is Justin, the former guard captain of Dragonstead, and next to him Liath, the leader of the mercenaries.

“Everyone, take a good look!” Liath shouts out, turning in a circle. “For the first time, we’ve got royalty in our camp. Too bad it’s just till we turn her in for Prince Andrew’s award…”

“It’s true,” Skyelar said in a clear voice as she takes a step forward. “I’m Queen Skyelar Thorksson of Dragonstead. And I intend to take back the five kingdoms!”

The people in the crowd all start murmuring. One former Dragonstead soldier spoke out, “You’re the one people are talking about!”

“The lost queen who’s gathering an army,” Cian half asked half said.

“It’s really her!” the soldier shouted again, “The legends true…”

“I say we let them be on their way. We don’t need to turn her over to Andrew,” Justin interrupted.

“Ha! We’ve got the queen here, and you’re just going to let her walk away?” Liath said in disbelief. “The bounty Prince Andrew put on her head is three thousand gold coins.” The mercenaries cheered!

“We’ll eat for months off of that,” Greine called out.

“Greine!” Skyelar thundered.

“Sorry Skyelar. But money is money,” Greine replied.

“Turn her over, and Andrew will have her head,” Justin insisted.

“So? Who’s she to us?” Liath said and the mercenaries began to jeer.

“There’s another way. You could join me. All of you. We’ll retake this land and restore our kingdom to glory,” Skyelar spoke again.

“Glory?” Liath spat, “You mean your glory. You want to be some queen in a castle, sitting on a throne of pillows while real men like me do the dirty work! A real leader fights his own fights. Everyone else is just a weakling waiting till someone stronger crushes them. Your mother learned that the hard way, didn’t she?”

“Liath, you’ll bleed for that,” Skyelar shouted as she lunches for him and punch him squarely in the jaw. He takes a step back.

“She’s fast…” Greine breathed.

Liath glares at Skyelar… then starts laughing, “Ooh, so the little girl has a temper! That almost tickled.”

“My mother was a great woman,” Skyelar said.

“And now she’s a dead one. That’s how things go. We live in the real world out here. And in the real world, there’s a mighty price on your pretty head.”

“Liath, I can’t let you hand her over,” Justin started

“Don’t be a fool. You can’t seriously want to join her cause,” Liath asked.

“I don’t. But we can release her and Sir Luke. There’s no reason to have their blood on our hands,” Justin tried to make Liath see reason.

“I can think of about three thousand reasons!” Liath turned around again and shouted, “Who’s with me?”

“I am!” Greine shouted followed by more mercenaries’ cheers. Some of the former Dragonstead soldiers joined in, but others looked conflicted.

“Besides, it’s my call.” Liath turned to Justin, “The strong lead, the weak bleed. And I’m the strongest one here.” He turned to Skyelar and held his hand out to her, “Get over here, queen Skyelar. You’re coming with me.”

Liath starts towards her but before he can reach her, Sir Luke steps in front of her, “I challenge you, Liath”

“Huh?” Liath stopped in his tracks staring dumbfounded at Sir Luke.

“As you said, strength leads among your people. If you’re the strongest one here, prove it. Fight me,” Sir Luke challenged.

“What?!” Skyelar exclaimed, wide eyed.

 

In the kitchens, Zayden found Lucy baking bread for the night’s dinner.

“Have you learned anything about our friend in the dungeon?” Zayden asked quietly.

“Oh Zayden…it’s so sad,” her face was pale, “He’s bleeding from a dozen wounds and can barely move his arm. They must have broken it. He needs real food to recover, but they only let me bring him scraps.”

“They don’t care if he recovers,” Zayden replied. “You heard Andrew in the courtyard. They mean to kill him. It’s only a question of when.”

“The guards told me I’d be bringing him food until the end of the week…” Lucy whispered softly.

“Then we’ll have to act before then. With any luck, I’ll save our friend before he’s tortured into giving up any information about Skyelar,” Zayden stated, his chin assuming an alarmingly obstinate tilt.

“The princess…,” Lucy asked cautiously, “You were in love with her, weren’t you?”

“Me and Skyelar? In love?” Zayden asked calmly then continued his face saddening,

“ We were just fiends.”

“Really?” Lucy exclaimed confused and dumbstruck.

“We were close as children, but that’s it,” Zayden replied softly fighting his emotions welling up inside him.

Lucy blushed, “ I just thought…the way you care so much about her…”

“She’s the rightful queen. I want to see her back on the throne.” Zayden said calmly.

“As do I. how can I help?” Lucy offered.

“You’ve done enough. Leave the rest to me.”

“Pardon me?” Lucy said taken aback, “we’re in this together.”

“It’s one thing for me to risk my own life, but I don’t want to see you in danger,” Zayden admitted.

Lucy regarded him in silence for a moment. Does he feel something more for me? But he loves Skyelar even if he won’t admit it to himself everyone else isn’t as blind. “Every day we live here, we’re in danger. Last week, Andrew had a servant flogged to death for spilling wine on his tunic.”

He shook his head, “Fair enough. But Lucy…you’ve always been cautious. I couldn’t live with myself if you got into trouble because of me.”

Lucy blushed, “Oh…well. Being near you makes me brave.”

“Lucy…” Zayden started but she smiled and nodding gently said,

“I’d follow you anywhere, Zayden. So…what’s your plan?

Zayden felt so confused. He knew what she felt but didn’t take it to heart for his heart only belongs to one even though he tried to deny it. Skyelar but does she feel the same way? He spoke at last, “If you’re bringing the prisoner his food, then we can use that. Maybe today… I can go with you?”

Lucy looked uncomfortable but said, “It’s a plan then.”

 

Skyelar and Sir Luke have been placed in Justin’s tent and put under guard while the mercenaries gather for the duel.

“At least they had the decency to return my sword to me,” Sir Luke remarked as he twirls his sword and practices a strike while she watched, frowning.

“It was a cunning move,” Skyelar said

“I wasn’t entirely sure it would work,” Sir Luke added.

“It worked on Liath because you challenged him publicly. Challenging Liath in front of his people meant he couldn’t back down without looking weak,” she smiled. “And he holds onto his power here because of his strength. The moment he looks weak, the other mercenaries would turn on him.”

“Precisely,” he said slyly as he practices a lunge.

“But Sir Luke…” she said looking uncomfortable, “I wish you weren’t doing this…”

“Funny. I thought I was supposed to be your bodyguard.”

“Just because you’ve spend your life worrying about me doesn’t mean I can’t worry about you, too.”

“My queen, this duel is the only answer to our predicament.”

“I’m just not sure this is a good idea.”

“There’s still enough fight in me to defend you,” he reassured.

She gave him a sharp glance, “I know you would die to protect me, Sir Luke. It’s the dying part I’d rather avoid. You’ve been like a father. For as long as I can remember, you’ve always been there for me.”

“And it was my pleasure, always.” He smiled, “you’ve grown so quickly. Do you remember when you were just a little girl…? The ball your mother held in your honor? When I found you in tears?” he questioned.

“Is this really the time to dredge up that embarrassing memory?” she blushed.

“You learned a valuable lesson that day. Or do you not remember?”

“The ball when I was a little girl? I remember. I do.” Skyelar closed her eyes as the memory flooded back to the ball that happened years ago…

She was sniffling in a corner when Sir Luke found her.

“Come now, little princess. It’s time for you to be presented at court,” Sir Luke said.

“I don’t want to go!” she cried, “Can’t we just stay and play?”

“I would enjoy that very much, but a princess has a responsibility to her people,” he smiled.

“I know…”

“Do you want me to go in your place? As your bodyguard, it is my sworn duty to defend and protect you,” he eyed her as she looked at him confused. “I’ll put on a tiny princess dress and a tiny princess crown, and no one would ever know the difference between me and the real princess Skyelar.”

She was bent over with laughter, “Sir Luke! That’s silly. You don’t look like me.”

He tried looking wounded, “No? Then perhaps you’d better tell me why you don’t want