He was knocked to the ground and the Urkan soldier was about to strike.
“Surrender!” Elea yelled. “Surrender. Drop your weapons and not one more soul will have to meet Màthair today.”
The soldier turned from Gerard, his weapon still poised to attack. “If we drop our weapons, you will only kill us.”
“I will not,” she said, and her voice carried in the wind. “You are all my people, and we can build a new Yakura together. One of fairness and equality for all. If you are willing to do so, put down your swords and join us. Join me! You aremypeople.”
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Elea glanced down at the sword in her hands and she set it on the ground. She held out her scarred palms. “Come, we are all children of Màthair. Swear an oath of loyalty to me and you may go free. Back to your families. To your friends. We can build a new country together. One where everyone is equal. One worthy of our goddess.”
The soldier gave a shuddering breath before dropping his sword next to Gerard’s body on the ground. Elea longed to run to the man she loved, but she didn’t. Right now, she needed to be a queen.
The same soldier walked toward her and kneeled down. “I pledge my loyalty to you, Queen Eleanora.”
“What is your name?”
“Rhys Hughes.”
She held her hand out to him and helped him to his feet. “I am pleased to meet you, Rhys.”
He released her hand and bowed to her once more before walking past her. Elea watched as more of the Urkan army set down their weapons and came toward her. One by one, more than half of the remaining men wearing green uniforms came to her, kneeling and pledging their loyalty.
Gerard’s arm was bleeding. She watched him tear his shirt to shreds and bind up his wound before coming to her. The expression on his face was unsure. Elea held out her hand to him and he intertwined his fingers in hers. “You came at the perfect time again. One would almost think that you had the sight.”
“I will always come when you need me.”
Elea’s lips curled upward as she looked into his eyes. “And I will always need you.”
A yell sounded in the air. A group of the Urkan Army hadn’t surrendered. They lifted their weapons and charged toward Elea and Gerard. He pulled her behind him, but Gerard was wounded and he had no weapon with which to defend them.
A second cry filled the air. Nora was charging into the oncoming soldiers. With one hand, she held her ether sword and in the other, Laird Lochdon’s famous hammer. She was a glorious woman warrior, worthy of the goddess armor that she wore. Matteo was right behind her with the rest of their makeshift cavalry. They surrounded the last of the green-uniformed soldiers and killed each and every one of them. Elea watched, with tears running down her face, as Nora slaughtered the last man who refused to call her queen. More of her people had died. She had not been able to save them from their own choices.
Her cousin swung off her horse, took off her helmet, and knelt before Elea. “The victory is yours, my queen.”
Elea released Gerard’s hand and dropped to her own knees and threw her arms around her cousin. It was a most uncomfortable embrace, with blood, armor, and sweat. Still, Elea squeezed her cousin tighter. Over her shoulder, she could see the towers of Bhailmore Castle and the outline of the capital city. “Let’s go home.”
“Do you think our old rooms are still there?” Nora asked, helping Elea to her feet. “I want to sleep for a week.”
Elea didn’t know what they would find at the castle where they had grown up. But it didn’t matter. What was important were the people she was bringing with her.
She saw Matteo standing there. Elea found that her admiration for him had taken a more appropriate turn. She could love him as a member of her family. As her cousin’s husband. Elea bowed to him. “Thank you, King Matteo, for your help. If there is anything that I or my people might do for you or for Sania, please let me know.”
He swept her a perfect, courtly bow. “It was my honor . . . and since you mentioned it, I would like—”
“Don’t say it,” Nora said, covering her face with her hand and shaking her head. Elea could see that she was trying hard not to laugh.
Matteo grinned at her cousin. “A bath. A nice, hot bath with bubbles . . . lots of bubbles.”
Nora snorted and finally laughed, loudly.
Elea took Gerard’s hand again before returning Matteo’s smile. “I think that can be arranged.”
49
MATTEO