An Oath Of Lords And Ladies (ARTK, Book 1)

Chapter 45

Ocono 2nd, 3328 A.G

After leaving her horse with a stablehand and handing everything but her sword to a servant, Nara followed another young servant- breastfeeding her babe as they walked to the library. Nara was struck by how much younger than her she looked, and hoped that it was just that; her appearing younger than she was.

"How old are you?" Nara asked suddenly.

"Fourteen, your grace. Or is it my queen? Does it matter? I was never properly educated. Especially not on royal addresses."

It didn't matter, and Nara told her that. She sighed. Sure, her own father and grandparents would have married her off at twelve if her blood had been regular enough then- but she couldn't imagine actually being a mother when she'd just began to get rid of her childhood things. She was struck then by how much she'd matured in four years, that she was actively trying to become with child when she'd played parents with Terricus just those four years ago. She knew she shouldn't, but she kept talking.

"What's it's name?" She asked the servant girl.

  "Pierce, after my elder brother." The servant girl said as they went inside, while Nara let out a sigh of relief when the heat from nearby fires hit her."He made sure I had everything I needed while with child and has continued to... I'm sorry your grace, I'm sure you have far more important matters to attend to that don't involve my life-"

  "What kind of queen would I be if I did not know the lives of those I rule?" Nara interrupted. "If you don't mind me asking... what is your name? And why have you not taken time away from the work? He couldn't  be... more than a month old?"

  "Lunette, my queen. Five weeks, if I've kept the time well enough." Lunet tensed up. "My babe is....a bastard of rape. My brother Pierce killed the man and when five bundles of wheat sprouted, he offered to punch me in the stomach or have the witch to make me a tea to clean my womb out but.... I couldn't make myself do either and I haven't regretted it for a second. This babe is the best thing that's ever happened to me but it's just my brother and I in our cottage and one servant's pay is not enough to support three here. And because we can't afford a wet nurse and have none who will watch the babe for nothing in return.... I wear him while working."

  Nara's eyes softened. Lunette's story was tragic, and it helped her remember why she wanted to make the word her empire in the first place.

  "Go to one of your lords or ladies about having a few female servant's- who have had at least one child of their own - work changed to caring for the babe's of mothers like you, who have no choice but to work. I am sure they will be happy to help and possibly even pay you more."

  "Why can't you?" Lunette asked boldly as they rounded a corner to the hallway in front of the library. "Make them pay me more?"

  "You would know more than I do -" Nara replied. "That the Beckett family is full of... mostly kind people. They will listen and help if you just ask. Maybe just... don't go to Ade... if the things I've heard from a servant of mine that used to work here are true."

As Nara had heard, Ade was difficult for servants to be around because of her constant demands and the way she spoke to them. She doubted Ade would help anybody but herself with anything unless a dagger was put to her throat.

"Thank you, your gra-"

"It isn't me you'll have to thank. Thank you for escorting me." Nara said as they stopped in front of the library doors. Still, Lunet bowed and said your grace before walking away. Andrew Beckett's guard's stood outside the doors, and immediately opened them after a glance from Nara.

Nara found him at the largest table, yawning over the largest book she'd ever seen.

"I've never understood how you could make yourself read even a single page of this thing. There's nothing grossly entertaining in it except that Torcull Whittaker married his sister two years ago and the ancient Ashhand line used to be purely incestual- " He jumped a little when he looked up and saw Nara instead of Maude. "My queen I am......I-"

"There is no need to apologize. Most of my ancestors were- hells, even my father was a disgusting person." Nara shrugged.

  "Did he..... Forgive me I shouldn't ask something like that, My queen-"

  "It's alright." Nara interrupted, pulling a chair out for herself. "Not me. Never me but.... I did have one bastard brother by a servant he made my handmaiden after. Of course.... I didn't know any of this until after he was dead."

  "I'm sorry."

  "I'm only sorry that I didn't know so I could cut his throat sooner. It felt pretty damned good to be rid of him." Nara said bluntly, much to Andrew's shock.  As she sat, his eyes followed hers. He'd met a few people who'd killed their mother or father, brother or sister- but none were so casual about it. At House Beckett, they put killers in the dungeons until they could appear before the Beckett family with their reasons. If the reasons were just, they were let go. If not- the brutality of the killing would determine whether they stayed in the dungeons for the rest of their lives or would be executed then and there.

  He had no such powers over a queen, especially not Nara- nor did he want to. Though if she had been put to trial for the killing of a rapist, she certainly would have come out alive.

  "I can...only imagine it would. My father was pretty horrendous and my mother is only a little better than he, but they never...." Andrew's voice trailed off, unsure of what to say- so he blurted the first thing that came to mind. "Where are your guards?"

  "I've decided I don't need them anymore." Nara shrugged and opened her whaleskin coat to show the sword strapped to her waist. "I'm better with this thing than anyone else I've ever met, and from the things I've heard there are maybe... two people in the world who could survive me in battle."

  "Have you ever been in battle?" Andrew raised an eyebrow.

  "Of course not, but-"

  "Then how can you say that? Nobody alive knows how good they'd be with a sword when hundreds of people are dying all around them." Andrew coughed. "Why are you here, Nara?"

  "You know why."

  "Ah yes, the incident with Voryn. Humorous how unnecessary killings can cause wars like that, isn't it?" Andrew shook his head. "She was a child."

"If she was a child then so am I." Nara rolled her eyes. "And we are not in an active war yet. I just want to be prepared for when we are. I do still plan on creating a better world, but to do that I'll need a larger army so I can de-crown the corrupt commanding lords and ladies-"

"Even if you could unite every army in the world they wouldn't be able to stand against the vorenian and you provoked them. They say Esabell Raynerus was kind to almost everybody. Their numbers will go up because of this and-"

"How many fighting men and women are in the Kaelesi forces?" Nara interrupted.

"About four thousand, but that we can spare?" Andrew sighed. "Around two th-"

"Perfect- I'm going to go put Queen's clothes on. Gather them. Now."