Chapter Fifteen
"Easy, dear one…" Coran whispered softly to Devona, "They can't see us… but they could possibly hear us if you get too agitated."
"Yes… I know…" she replied as breathlessly as she could manage. "I trust you, but it is disconcerting."
They were talking about the sounds of Charr at the top of the ravine that they were currently at the bottom of, following the first group of fleeing Hylan colonists led by Grazz and Yuu. Her every instinct was to locate the beasts and have them slain… even though her rational mind was going through the varied reasons why that would not be a legitimate option.
Because they were engrossed in their own conversation, Coran actually bumped into Aidan, who had stopped to examine one of the path markers Grazz had placed with the glowing green "chemical light" that was on his wrist. The ranger stumbled, falling onto his stomach with a loud grunt.
The party instantly froze as Coran called everyone to silence. A nervous tension spread through the small group as the sounds of Charr above stopped save for a few inquisitive barks. They must have heard Aidan's fall…
After roughly a minute, the more passive grumblings resumed from the dog-like beings, as they had apparently given up on what had initially drawn their attention. Aiden was about ready to give the all clear when they heard a familiar voice that shouldn't have been there.
"So… what's the hold up?" Cynn asked curiously.
Devona had to slap a hand over Coran's mouth to keep him from yelping in surprise, and alerting the Charr yet again. She turned towards the direction of Cynn's voice, the elementalist barely visible (much less recognizable), in the full body suit and mask that everyone else was wearing.
"We had to lay low from the Charr patrol above." Devona replied. "Everything is fine. Return to your team this instant."
Somehow, Devona knew that Cynn was smirking like she had just heard an amusing joke. The elementalist kneeled down reverently, then said with a hint of humor, "Of course, my queen, I shall do as you require immediately." Then Cynn hopped to her feet, and swiftly jogged back down the trail towards the third group where she had been assigned.
By that time, Aiden had resumed the trek, forcing Devona and Coran to increase their stride in order to catch up. It then took about five minutes for the implication of what Cynn had said to sink into the young warrior's mind.
When it did, Devona stopped dead in her tracks. Cynn had called her, "my queen". Of course, it made sense. Greatly premature, of course, but accurate; Devona was engaged to Coran. Coran was returning to Ascalon to succeed his departed father's throne. Coran would be annointed King, and once his marriage to Devona was confirmed (which, despite coming before the Searing, had no reason to be annulled as far as she knew); she would in essence become Queen Devona.
There was a scary thought.
It was one thing to be married to a young prince who likely would have been appointed High Priest of Dwayna in Ascalon. She would have been granted the title, "Princess", but it would have meant little, really. Her life probably wouldn't have changed much save for the occasional bow and "your highness" from others in public venues.
But being wed to the King of Ascalon was another matter entirely. To be "Queen" in the Ascalon model would grant Devona a right to power as Coran's "left hand". She would have a rank equal to his chief advisor (called the "right hand"), who in Adelbern's case had been Duke Barradin, and with an authority in all matters of state and person only overruled by her husband. In fact, until she were to give birth to a successor, if anything were to happen to Coran, then she would ascend to the throne as the official monarch of the whole kingdom, and even if she did have a child, she would remain the head of state until her son or daughter were to come of age…
Yikes.
While Devona had no problems being a leader, it was one thing to give orders to people who followed her by choice; and entirely another to give orders as a mouthpiece of law, to be obeyed regardless of opinion. That sort of responsibility, often to people she would never meet, began to bog down her mind with an unbearable weight.
Good gods, how must she have appeared to Duke Barradin and Lord Darrin? A power grabbing commoner wench, giddy with the idea of suddenly having the opportunity to sit her butt in a throne never meant for her…
"Devona, dear, what is wrong?" Coran asked, his voice breaking through her deeply entrenched, thoughtful state.
"I…" She began then remembered exactly where they were… in the middle of a ravine in which Charr were prowling about at the top. Not exactly a place to be discussing marital issues. She shook her head violently, as if trying to shake her thoughts from her brain, and said, "I'm sorry. It's nothing that we can waste time worrying over right now."
"Are you sure?"
"Very. Right now, far too many people are counting on us to allow myself to distract you along with me."
"Very well, I won't pry further, but only if you promise to discuss with me whatever is on your mind either when day breaks, or if that proves impossible, when we return to Ascalon."
"I promise."
Then, once again, Cynn's voice interrupted. "Dwayna save you two, what is the delay now?"
"Nothing to concern you, fair Cynn." Coran answered, "I have merely hobbled myself with a misplaced step, and Devona was ensuring I was alright." He then addressed Devona, "Speaking of which, my dear, I do believe I we should proceed on."
It was near noon when Grazz and Yuu reached the outer boundaries of their knowledge of the terrain, along the banks of one of the few pure water lakes remaining in the Northern Lands. Coran and Idori had deemed it an ideal spot for the colonists to rest, regroup, and readjust their ranks for the second leg of their journey.
That meant Aiden took charge of the lead group, with Devona, Cynn, Mhenlo, Coran, Yuu, and Idori forming the remainder of the party. Grazz would join them as added support just in case, but would retreat back into Charr territory as they neared the wall to lookout for the remaining colonists.
"So, are you willing to talk now?" Coran asked politely
Devona's head jerked up from her meal, and she blinked twice before her mind clicked on what he had been referring to. She wanted to say "no"… Grenth take it, she wanted to wish it all away, and never discuss it again. But she also knew that wouldn't be fair, to him, to her, to the entire kingdom.
"I don't think we should marry."
Devona's heart instantly lurched as she saw the expression on Coran's face. She might as well have struck him for no reason.
"Why? Have I done something?" Coran asked, the hurt in his voice evident. He sat down next to her, but kept some distance, as if afraid of appearing to make any unwelcome moves.
Devona closed that distance, hoping to be reassuring, "You haven't done anything, Coran. It's… just… I shouldn't be Queen."
"Why not? The bonding we have is more than legit, witnessed by Barradin, and accepted by the Conclave." Coran answered, "Any objections by anyone would be dismissed immediately."
"Coran, I was never meant to be a queen. You know that. I'm not a noble, and the only reason the Lords and Dukes accepted your father's proposal was with the knowledge I'd never see a throne."
"And I was never meant to be king, either… but it's going to happen, anyway." He reminded. "As for the Lords and your nobility, I am of the knowledge that very question was broached during the discussion of our engagement. It clearly did not hinder the process."
Finally, Devona said in frustration, "But what if I don't want to be queen?"
Coran shrugged, "Then you don't have to be. The laws of Ascalon state quite clearly that my wife need not take the Monarch's Oath. In fact, Doric's wife refused that title as well, which was why my ancestor established that very law; and I would contend it turned out just fine indeed."
Devona found it very sweet how Coran was doing everything he could to convince her, and it served to calm her tone of voice, "Coran, I can't do that. The people of Ascalon will expect a queen, and they deserve one… you deserve one. I don't think I could handle that…"
The would-be king took Devona's hands, "How about this; before you make any permanent decision… give it some time. When we settle back in Ascalon, perhaps you'll change your mind. There are many other options that I haven't even mentioned, and perhaps one will suit you better than totally severing our bond."
Devona highly doubted that, but she found she couldn't say no to him. Instead she nodded silently… even as she knew it would prolong the war between her heart and her head.
"Thank you. I don't want to lose you to some paltry title." Coran said endearingly, placing a kiss on her cheek. "At any rate, Aiden suggests we should be on our way quickly. The longer we are in this large group, the more likely we'll be spotted."
Cynn watched as Coran stood, and left Devona to her own devices. The elementalist scowled in frustration. As much as she may have teased Devona, Cynn wasn't about to let the warrior just throw it all away. Once again, Cynn was going to have to save the woman from herself… and had just the plan in mind…
"Greetings, Devona." Cynn said cheerily, plopping down beside the warrior.
"Hello." Devona grumped sourly. This was the last thing the older woman needed.
"I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation with Coran, honest." The elementalist began. "But I did overhear nonetheless. Is it true you wish to break the bonding?"
"If you heard, then you would already know that is precisely what I requested." Devona growled. What was cooking in that girl's devious little brain?
"Good."
Devona's scowled deepened, and her lips turned downward into a suspicious frown. "What do you mean, 'good'?"
"Well… I mean… if you're no longer interested… that means that Coran is available again, right? And while you may balk at becoming queen, I have no such qualms at all."
For a brief moment, Devona moved to slap the little brat for her audacity. But even as her heart wanted to strangle Cynn and warn the elementalist off from now until the end of time, her head was being contrary.
Indeed, Cynn came from a noble family, and supposedly a rather major one. The elementalist would be much more suited and accepted in the role of a monarch, even if her family hadn't been among the power elite in Rin. And Devona had to admit Cynn was pretty and graceful and elegant… and even polite, charming, and lady-like when she wanted to be… everything that was expected of a queen, and certainly more than Devona could claim of herself.
"If you think you would make an appropriate match… I'd accept it." Devona finally said, even as it felt like she had to rip the words right out of her lungs.
Cynn could also could observe the difficulty Devona had giving such… permission, and the bold distaste reflected in the warrior's eyes. Cynn smirked triumphantly, which she knew Devona would mistake for the elementalist's near arrogant confidence.
This was going to be far too easy…