Page 43 (1/2)

As Blade moved to one side, Quaid, Ryder and Falcon caht line in front of the throne Then, Mike came into view My heart skipped audibly in my chest andspin as he took the last step toward htly His sandy hair was brushed back, revealing most of his face--the scruffy, half-shaven look he usually sports was gone, giving way to the sht s up the spirit behind those caramel eyes, but absent on his lips

As I walked toward theht dropped to one knee, his head lowered

I’d been given a few options on the knighting cerehts were slapped hard with a glove or a hand to make them remember their oath But I didn’t like the idea of that, or the whole tapping the shoulder with a sword thing We opted for a different rin, Ihim

"You have sworn your promise in blood" I spoke loud so the whole Court would hear "You are bound to the throne for eternity, to serve with your honour" I touched Mike "Your strength" I touched Falcon "Your blood, your soul" I touched Ryder and Quaid "And with your heart" I touched Blade, and he sertips He looked down instantly when I scowled at him

"For eternity, you will serve your queen and your people with these gifts you possess Today, you kneel before ain "But arise as knights Sir Michael Christopher White" Mike stood as Iinto physical contact with hiain "Sir Brett Wesley Falcon" He stood too, and I touched Ryder’s shoulder "Sir Zeidyn Gable Ryder Sir Shamus Arian Quaid, and--" My hand warmed as it fell on Blade and the sudden jump to his heart made me smile "Sir Thomas James Blade"

He looked up at me, eyes wide, lips parted into a half smile

"New life, new surna vampires, would have heard it anyway

Blade rose to his feet as the others had done, and they all turned on their heels to face the crowd; their hands behind their backs, chins high I straightened entlemen of the Court, I present to you--" I held my hand out "The Queen’s Guard"

As the joyous applause unified the court arht foot and marched down the red carpet I sat back down in iant, overgrown cushion as far as I was concerned--and sluhts broke apart suddenly and a few gasps caain

"Yourfro a er"

He thrust the htening his clothes "How dare you treat e of the step above hiain, lared at Orion "I do It is frohed

"There is no Blood King," Walter said "Only a queen"

The unifore I must be on my way"

Walter took an envelope from the man "Would you like to read it, Majesty, or shall I do the honours?"

I hadn’t noticed hts stayed in the room until Mike stepped up from behind me and held his hand out "I’ll read it"

"Very well" Walter passed hi it up "Dearest Niece, it saddens me that we have come to war after centuries of peace If you turn yourself over and hand back the manor and the throne, I will be merciful" His voice slowed a little; he looked at the crowd then continued reading; "Your death will be quick, as will that of your people You have until sunset, a month from today, to turn yourself over, or I will attack and forcefully take back what is rightfully hed, even er "Tell your king he will have word in a fortnight"

The er nodded and spun on his heel, then walked down the aisle, with Orion behind hiht, but he was gone

"Ladies and gentlemen," Walter said "I announce this session of Court closed" He banged his stick three times and the crowd turned away, quiet chatters of both joy and fear ahts "Is he serious? Drake?"

Walter came up and took the note from Mike then laid it out on the House table so the others could paw over it We watched for a second

"Sounded pretty serious," Eric said, popping up beside me

"It sounded like an unreasonable de his ared him "I think it’s a distraction fro else"

"What makes you think that?" I asked

"Think about it" Mike moved away from Em so he could pace Walter and the others looked up with interest "He knows his opponent He knows you won’t accept those terht sacrifice yourself, but never your people"

I smiled; it was nice that Mike, for all his opinions on ree," Falcon said "He’s up to so on an attack--it’s a trick of the hand"

"I concur," Walter said, turning back to us, with the letter in hand "Question is, what doesn’t he want us focusing on?"

"Good question," Blade said, rubbing his jaw

"Well, clearly he knows you’ve been crowned now, and clearly knows you’re alive," Quaid said "Maybe he knoe plan to attack hi himself more time"

I nodded "Yeah, er like a drumstick "He wouldn’t send a de Ara would accept--then he’d just attack"

"Well, he’s waiting for a reply in a fortnight, right?" Quaid said "I say we continue with our plan to attack next week--take him by surprise"

"No We have to cancel the attack," Mike said

"Why?" I said

"Because he’s probably aware of our plans," Falcon said "He would know about the crowning process, the powers it will give you I bet he’s expecting us to attack"

"I agree," Mike said

"So…we don’t attack?" I asked

Everyone looked at everyone else

"We could wait," Morgaine suggested "We could send out spies to investigate Elysiuainst"