Hoodwinked: The Summoning Book One

Chapter 23

Otswana entered the grand hall dressed in a white and blue frock. Her hair was plaited and fastened in a spiral against the back of her head. She insisted on wearing her white cloak with the fur lining. It had once belonged to her mother. Otti had taken care of it just as much as she cherished it.

She walked down the center aisle towards the council members. King Ceravius II, King Nathar, and Prince Henzir each stood at the front of the hall wearing the colors of their kingdoms as well as golden crowns upon their heads.

Otswana kept her chin up and eyes straight forward as she passed several rows of standing nobles and guards. Some, she did not recognize. She thought of the manor residents. It was they, who should be here to witness her coronation, not strangers. She was, however, happy to recognize a few faces.

Prince Matteais and Prince Greggor stood with Captain Greypol on the left side of the congregation near the front. Her father stood off to the opposite side of them. Once she reached the end of the aisle, she bowed to the council and rose to her full height. She listened to the king of Tigeir address the crowd. He turned to Otswana.

He gave a brief history of the four kingdoms and how they came to be. He then spoke of the goddesses that reigned over each kingdom. Otti did not have much belief in the deity. Being raised by a sorcerer, it was to the magic of the earth that the princess owed her allegiance. But, to each their own.

When prompted, she answered in the affirmative. When directed, she knelt before the three councilmen. She bowed her head and received a golden crown that fit loosely a top her head.

"Rise and greet your people as their new queen," King Ceravius II instructed.

Otswana turned to the crowd. The audience appeared larger from the front view. Her eyes swept over them as King Ceravius II announced her new title.

"Queen Otswana Briggon of Loboria."

Lord Briggon appeared next to her. He held out his arm and she placed her hand in the crook of his elbow. As Otswana was escorted by her father to the southeast doors, Otti noticed the audience bowing to her. No one tried to catch her eye, or wave. They simply bowed in silence. All Otti heard was her father's boots as he calmly escorted her to take their leave.

"To the gardens then? You know, it's not too late to change course."

"No, father. We must hurry, for we have much traveling to do this night," Otswana whispered.

Once they reached the castle entrance, they quickly marched to the gardens where they waited only a few minutes for Captain Greypol to arrive. He was followed by the princes and King Nathar. All of them were frowning. They obviously still did not approve of the elopement.

"Queen Otswana, I must once again voice my disapproval and disappointment in this secret wedding. This is not the proper way for a queen to be wed. My sister will have my head for this," King Nathar stated.

"We may yet have a large ceremony. As I mentioned before, this is a necessary precaution in the chance I may not survive our mission, your majesty. Klav Greypol must be husband to the queen in order to be king of Loboria. I ask all of you here to accept our decision. If you cannot, you may take leave and we shall meet in the northern fields to saddle the dragons once the captain and I are wed," Otswana spoke boldly.

"Then let me bind you, as is the way of Draconia, before Lord Briggon officiates the ceremony," King Nathar offered.

"We would be honored," Klav said before Otswana could respond.

Otswana was unfamiliar with binding, but when the king pulled out a thin leather strap from his coat, and a knife from his belt, Otti began to envision what binding entailed.