The Pirate's Legacy: New Horizons

Chapter 46: Stepping Stones

The queen of Tarym stood in front of the council room's double doors. She shifted onto one foot, and when that didn't satisfy her, she moved her weight to the other. She gnawed on her bottom lip. Behind her, the expensive gowns of her ladies-in-waiting rustled against each other as the women settled on the ground in the hallway. In front of her rumbled low male voices which rose in angry outburst every few seconds. After closing her eyes and praying swiftly to Helena for strength, the queen reached forth and pushed open the double doors.

"Her Royal Majesty, Queen Emelia," the guards announced before they shut the doors.

The men's talk ceased as their monarch stepped into the council room. With her head held high, only the small frown on her lips betrayed her emotions. Various facial expressions beheld the queen. Some, like Baron Wardmin, barely concealed jaw-clenching anger. Others, like Baron Phillas and Baron Arlov, were in wide-eyed shock or brow-furrowed confusion respectively. Only Baron Odina couldn't meet her eyes. He had guilt written all over his face.

As the queen swept around the left side of the room, the barons remembered their etiquette. They jumped onto their feet to bow to her, but even then their show of respect was not unanimous. Many eyes were on the bump of her stomach as she passed. When she reached her seat at the center of the three tables, she placed a hand on Baron Phoenicus's empty chair. Her barons settled into their seats. The queen stayed on her feet. Her hand slipped back to her side before she addressed the men.

"We are aware that Baron Odina has had some words with you."

"Oh, quite a few actually," said Baron Wardmin in a low growl. "Is it true? Is that sea-devil Dread Pirate Robin a Draconian? Is what you carry a half-breed abomination?"

Em's hands clenched into fists. Her anger was directed at the man to her right, however. She wanted to reach over and strangle Leo. After days raging by himself about the true identity of her child's father, he confessed finally of Roger's true identity during dinner in Baron Phillas's apartments. From there, the truth spread quickly amongst the other council members.

Whether the news has leaked outside the council was what she wanted to know.

Em said, "To be exact, Dread Robin is half-Draconian." She raised her voice when the barons scoffed or shouted in outrage. "So this child will be a quarter Draconian."

"Semantics!" Baron Stratford said, banging his fist on the table. The balding man, like Baron Wardmin, was a northern baron. "You can split hairs, but both have Draconian blood. Do you not deny that Dread Robin is the father of your child?"

"No, I do not," the queen said. If the potential fallout from the meeting would not be so grave, she would have laughed at the barons' faces. Instead of humor, Em felt a touch of fear pinch at her gut.

"I demand that you terminate that thing and arrest that Draconian pirate!"

In a thunderous voice, the queen of Tarym said, "We shall not arrest Dread Pirate Robin. We shall keep this child." She placed her hand over her abdomen for emphasis. Her other hand went up to still the ruckus. "Let this child be a bastard," she declared. "I shall give it what Annalyn never had—a mother's love. Surely, my lords, you would not want to have the stain of innocent blood on your hands?"

"That is not innocent blood, Your Majesty," Baron Kallus said. He was red in the face. " 'Tis Draconian blood. No amount of love can overrule its nature!"

"A fine sentiment coming from a former traitor," the queen retorted, earning winces or shaking heads. "If I had not overlooked the nature in which you sucked at my sister's teat when I was exiled, you and your house would not exist." Her dark brown eyes stared hard into Baron Kallus's, watching the red drain out of his face until he, white as a ghost, dropped his eyes. One down, Em thought. Aloud, she said, "Only at my mercy were you allowed to keep your title and your lands, Baron Kallus. Once again, my mercy calls for the lives of Dread Robin and this unborn child to be spared by your blanket prejudice. The first has done more good than harm to Tarym. The second has not a chance to show that it can do either."