Page 51 of The Last Dragon King
“I do,” I said, projecting my voice for all to hear.
The crowd erupted into applause. I went to stand, then the king held out his hands, indicating everyone to quiet.
I stayed where I was.
“And do you swear to never harm me with your magic?” he added.
Hurt rose up inside of me as my throat tightened with emotion. I could tell from the look on Regina’s face that he didn’t ask everyone that, and the fact that hestilldidn’t fully trust me stung like salt on a wound.
“I do, my king,” I all but growled.
His face relaxed, and the crowd again broke into applause, but I stayed where I kneeled.
“May I rise now? Or would you like to ask me anything else?” I said to him. The people gathered were clapping so loudly that only Regina and the king probably heard me.
He gave me a smirk. “You may rise, my lady.”
I stood, brushing off my knees. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a breast plate fitted with the Royal Guard insignia. The background was black with a gold dragon emblem. The only thing missing was the red that designated a Drayken elite guard, but I planned to move my way up through the ranks over the years and get that too.
“Welcome to the Royal Guard, Arwen.” He handed me the plate, and I couldn’t help the foolish grin that graced my face.
“Good luck with practice,” he told me, and then turned and left the room.
Okay, that was a slightly weird and overdone event for a mere five minutes. The people present didn’t seem to mind that the king had left them, because they all continued to chat among themselves, and the Royal Guard rushed forward to congratulate me.
I smiled and thanked them. Regina leaned into my shoulder to whisper in my ear: “I know you haven’t had an easy time here, and I’m about to become your commanding officer, so I can’t show special treatment.” I nodded and her lips peeled back into a huge smile. “But as a woman, I have to say, I’m damned proud to have you in the guard. It’s a pleasure, Arwen.”
My heart felt light and fluttery. I’d been obsessed with stories of Regina Wayfeather since I was a wee babe. I would pass the tavern and hear the men talk about her and all of the amazing battles she fought in.
“The pleasure is mine, Regina.”
Her face then fell into a cool mask of calm. “You can call me Commander now.”
“Yes, Commander.” I guess that thirty seconds of bonding was all we were going to get. She looked like she was about to put me through Hades.
“Calston!” Regina called someone away from a group of other warriors that he’d been talking to.
A tall man a few winters older than me with broad shoulders and sandy-blond hair approached us. He wore his hair in the same style as the king, the sides shaved and a long braid down the back. The designation of a warrior of high ranking.
He stood at stiff attention before Regina. “Yes, Commander?”
“Can you show Lady Arwen to the armory, and then bring her to the pup training field? I need to get down there.”
Pup training field? That was what they called us?
He nodded to her and she left.
He then turned and faced me. “Lady Arwen.” He bowed.
It was weird to be bowed to and to be called a lady, but I guessed it was protocol now that the king had outed me as a highborn.
“Er, Calston?” I curtsied and he grinned, causing me to be taken aback by his handsomeness. There was a deep dimple in his right cheek.
“You don’t curtsy to me, I’m not a highborn,” he told me. “And now that you are in the king’s Royal Guard, you only have to bow your head to him briefly.”
I swallowed hard, my cheeks reddening. “Noted. I’m not really a highborn either. I mean, I guess by blood, but I grew up in Cinder Village.”
He smiled easily at me, flashing bright white straight teeth. “I’m from a tiny village outside Grim Hollow, and my friends call me Cal.”
