Reign Queen by L. Gibbs (10 ebook reader txt) 📕

Kambry stood, uncertain who stood before heruntil they both turned to face into the lantern light at her back.“Dad!” She rushed to him and blinked at the man who stood besidehim. “Mr. Konnelby?”

Cole squeezed by her and dashed out after thefleeing man.

“Your Majesty.” Konnelby bowed deeply.

“Where’s Mom?” She grabbed Dad’s hand.

“I’m over here, dear.” From the shadows, Momrose to her feet.

“You and Lessa, take a perimeter,” Kambrysaid. She watched them respond instantly. The additional guard’seyes widened.

Lessa grinned.

“Now what happened here?” Kambry tugged atDad’s hand, giving both her parents a quick perusal. They were bothunharmed.

In the silence before they spoke, sherealized the other battle was over as well. No more sounds ofclashing steel broke the evening quiet. Was Russal safe?

Dad pointed at the route the man had escapedthrough. “That fellow burst out at us and grabbed your mother.Before I could even react, Mr. Konnelby here arrived swinging ashovel.”

Mr. Konnelby picked up the garden tool layingat his feet, his stance reminding Kambry of a knight grasping apike. He looked quite pleased with himself. She gave him anacknowledging nod.

Dad continued, “Together we held him, butyour arrival startled me. I thought we had more trouble to dealwith, and I suppose I loosened my grip on him.”

“Why would someone go after Mom?” Kambry putout her hand, reaching for her mother, who stepped to her side.“Are you okay?”

“He quite disconcerted me.” She held out herhands. “I’m still shaking, but I’m fine. I’d like to know why I washis target, too.”

Cole returned through the hedge opening. “Hegot away, Your Majesty. I saw him take a corner, but once I reachedthe turn, he was out of sight and no sound gave away hiscourse.”

Lessa touched Kambry’s shoulder. “We shouldget everyone back to King Russal. He’s going to be worried to findyou gone from the center courtyard.”

Kambry knew what she was leaving unsaid. Hewould wonder why his guards didn’t follow his orders and keep herthere. She was going to have to chat with him about what orders hemay give regarding her. For now, she needed to get her parentssafely back into the castle and a detail of guards assigned tothem. She had a spare twenty about somewhere. She could assign agroup herself if she could get them to show themselves. What hadRussal yelled? “Guards, to me,” or something like that.

“Guards, I want a detail of five in line,here, now!” There, that sounded assertive and queenly.

Uniformed men and women stepped into thelight of the lone lamp, a straight and meticulous line forming atonce.

“Who’s your senior?” she addressed the fiveguards.

One stepped forward. “Justinia, YourMajesty.”

Justinia was a formidable woman in herforties with broad shoulders and black hair worn tightly cropped toher head. She held a pike, and Kambry ogled it, amazed she had keptit out of sight among the hedges.

Smoothing her features and turning her gazeto look into the experienced eyes of Guard Justinia, Kambry gaveher orders. “I now assign you to the so Kon and do Runiya. See themsafely to their quarters, ensure the room is secure and arrange forround-the-clock protection. You will report to me twice daily.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll inform the marshalof the change in our orders.”

Kambry appreciated the woman not assertingshe couldn’t countermand the marshal’s prior assignment. “Ofcourse. Do not let the action impinge on your protection of myparents.”

“Your orders stand above all others. It willbe as you state.” Justinia stepped back into the line.

Kambry turned back to her mom and dad. “Iwant you both to return to your quarters until we get everythingsorted out.” She caught their worried glances. “I know you’d ratherstay close and assured I’m safe. Don’t worry. I have guards hangingabout in trees, under rocks and stuffed into other strange littlespaces everywhere about.” She gazed suspiciously at the hedges.Justinia’s mouth twitched. Her queen amused her, apparently. “I’llfeel better knowing you are safe. Please go with Justinia and hersquad.”

Dad looked ready to balk, but Mom took hishand and said, “I think that would be best. The fewer targetsabout, the more the guards can focus on Kambry and Russal.” Shesqueezed Kambry’s hand. “See us before you head to bed tonight.We’ll sleep better knowing you’re safe, too. If safety ispossible.”

Mom’s last words made Kambry pause. Wassafety possible when Covey and his unknown supporters could movefreely about the castle grounds attacking people with impunity?

Tia and Stahn nearly collided with the squadleader as they raced around a corner. “What happened?” Stahn said,his voice rushed.

Mom looked back at Kambry. “Come with us.Your sister has things well in hand.” She took his arm and noddedat Tia. “We’ll explain as we head back to our rooms.”

Stahn looked ready to argue for stayingbehind, but Mom tugged on his arm, and Tia pushed him along.

Her mother’s last words echoed in Kambry’shead. She needed to discuss safety with Russal. There had to besomething they could do.

“I’ll come by and say goodnight once we havethings settled down.” She thought of the Laurents and Russal. Sheneeded to find them and assure herself they were unharmed. “Pleasehead out now.” She nodded at Guard Justinia, who set her squadaround Kambry’s family. She tipped her head at them, and Dadtightened his grip on Mom’s hand. They left looking less calm thanMom sounded, both looking back at Kambry as if they wanted theirlast view of her to be one showing she was still safe from attack.She watched them turn a corner before facing Cole, Lessa, and thethird guard she’d didn’t know personally and didn’t even recognize.He must be one of the hidden guards. She shook her head at thethought there was an entire regiment of them she probably didn’tknow existed. Well, she did now, just not by face or figure.

“So, assuming the three that followed Russalwere part of his contingent of guards, I still have fifteen wedgedin various places close by.” She eyed the hedges again and lookedoverhead at the clear night sky. Could there be small pockets ofhedged-in space where guards could stand sentry out of sight? Thatwould make sense. “Let’s find our king.”

Cole’s face took on a constipated grimacewhen she stepped toward the exit from