The Silent Shield (Kingfountain #5)(63)

“Thank you, Trynne Kiskaddon. A simple village maid once offered her help to the Prince of Occitania. And look what she accomplished.” He gave her a grateful smile and a nod. “Open the door.”

Trynne beamed at him as she tugged open the door. With one hand on the hilt of Firebos, Drew marched ahead of her and was greeted by a thrum of cheers from the Oath Maidens assembled in the yard below. An even louder cheer sounded when she appeared behind him.

King Drew marched down the steps of the battlement wall and entered the throng of warriors who gathered around him eagerly. Haley from Dundrennan stood near the front, taller than many of the others. She’d be helpful in securing assistance from the garrison. Maciel, the thief’s daughter. Gillian of Passey. Brooke was grinning as if she were ready to rush an army all by herself. The group of them gathered together, anxious to see the king up close.

“Stand at arms!” Captain Staeli roared, his command breaking the spell of adoration.

At his command, all the women separated into even rows and columns, legs spread in a martial stance, one hand behind their backs, their faces at attention.

Staeli walked slowly and deliberately, pausing to gaze sternly at the girls who had not fully stifled their excitement.

“My lord,” Staeli said with a sniff, bowing before the king, “I present to you the Oath Maidens of Averanche. All have been trained and will serve you faithfully. There is not a one of them whom I wouldn’t trust your life with, my lord king. They will fight to the last. Every single one of them.”

King Drew nodded his head at the little speech. He began to stride in front of the first row of warriors. “Last night, I was driven from the palace of Kingfountain by treachery,” he said. “My wife and daughter, I presume, have made it to the sanctuary of Our Lady. I know not for certain. I have no Espion to give me reports. I have none of my knights or captains. You,” he said, pausing in his walk and gazing at them, “are all that I have. We go to battle, my friends. I will not relinquish this crown willingly. Our enemy has magic in his words. He has persuaded many to bend the knee and serve him. He has replaced kings with men of his choosing. But our most dangerous foes are his Wizrs, who scheme and plot and murder. They do not know us or our customs very well. And they do not know that our people will not be ruled by a stranger.”

He unsheathed the sword Firebos, and a shimmering blue light emanated from the naked blade as he held it aloft. “The Fountain gave me this weapon just as it gave me this crown.” He lowered his sword. “And it has given me all of you.” Drew paused, his voice becoming thick with emotion. “I may not deserve such blessings, but I am grateful for them. I accept your oath of service. Serve the Fountain, and you serve me. We ride to the North. I will defend my kingdom at Dundrennan. Ride with me, my sisters. Fight with me. You each have the courage of a hundred men.”

A shout of energy throbbed in the air as the Oath Maidens united their voices in a thunderous cheer.



The army of Averanche camped that night in a meadow beside an ancient grove of yew trees. Everyone would sleep out of doors on blankets, including the king. While the men from Trynne’s garrison in Averanche had chosen to camp in the meadow itself, the women had sought the shelter of the yew trees. There were no cookfires to reveal the army’s position. The horses were being tended to.

Trynne stifled a yawn on the back of her hand, her body weary from the hard riding that day and from the events of the last few days.

“You’re exhausted, Trynne,” Drew said as he walked alongside her. They had just visited the camp of the men, where Drew had spoken to the soldiers. They had fought at the Battle of Guilme, and some were anxious at the prospect of facing Gahalatine’s forces again. They had invited the king to camp amongst them, but he had declined, saying that the Oath Maidens were charged with protecting his royal person. A gibbous moon hung in the sky, bathing the meadow in silver light.

“I am fine,” Trynne answered, struggling to conceal another yawn.

“How long has it been since you last rested?” he asked her pointedly.

She couldn’t even remember. The previous night had been a flurry of nonstop action, from her journey to the Forbidden Court to their return to Averanche. The army of Oath Maidens had begun its march immediately, and couriers had been sent out to summon the rest to Dundrennan. They had ridden hard and changed horses at Beestone castle, where they’d put the castellan on alert and sent out word via the Espion that the true king was on the march. Part of the garrison had ridden with them.

“I may have dozed a bit in the saddle,” Trynne said.

“Well, let’s remedy that. You’ll be of no use to anyone if you’re too tired. I’d like to send one of the maidens to Grand Duke Elwis. I know he wishes to reclaim Brugia, but I need his help defending the realm. Whom would you trust on such a mission?”

Trynne thought about it. “Rani Reya. I will ask her to go.”

“I trust your judgment. Send her in the morning. We all need to rest.”

Several Oath Maidens were standing guard around the grove, including Emilia, the master archer. She lowered her bow when she saw who it was.

“If any of the other men try to visit our camp during the night,” she asked the king with a sly voice, “do we have your permission to rebuff them . . . sharply?”

Drew chuckled. “Indeed. They won’t make the mistake twice.”