Free A Reign of Steel by Morgan Rice Page B

precious things. She
took one long last look at this castle chamber, then went to the window and
looked out at King’s Court for the last time. She knew she would never see it
again.
    *
    Gwendolyn
stood in the center of the courtyard of King’s Court in the early morning sun,
surrounded by thousands of her people, an agitated and angry mob. Beside her
stood Steffen and Aberthol and all her counselors, along with her brothers, Godfrey
and Kendrick. They stood by her side, in support of the Queen, as the mob
confronted her angrily. Around the periphery of King’s Court stood hundreds of
her soldiers, watching warily, holding their weapons, prepared, on her nod, to
take action on those people who refused to evacuate.
    After
the horns had sounded, her people had all gathered here in the courtyard,
soldiers forcing them from their homes; now here they stood, bleary-eyed, an
angry mob facing her, demanding answers. She had never seen her people so upset
with her, and she did not like the feeling. This was not the experience of
being Queen that she had come to know.
    “We
demand answers!” someone yelled from the crowd, and the huge mob cheered angrily.
    “You
cannot just take us all from our homes like this!” cried out another.
    “Why
are you demanding evacuation? We’re not under attack!”
    “I
shall not run from my birth-given home while in the most fortified city on
earth!”
    “We
want answers!”
    The
crowd cheered again. Gwendolyn faced them all, feeling hated by her people. Yet
deep down, however hard it was, she knew she was doing the right thing.
    Gwen
stepped forward and there came a lull, as all eyes turned to her in the
silence.
    “I
had a dream,” Gwen called out to the crowd. “A dream of destruction, coming for
us.”
    “A
dream!” someone yelled.
    The
entire crowd laughed derisively.
    “Are
we to uproot and leave our whole lives behind for your dreams?”
    The
crowd cheered, and Gwendolyn felt her face flush, embarrassed.
    “Gwendolyn
is your queen, and you shall treat her respectfully!” Steffen yelled out
angrily.
    Gwendolyn
laid a reassuring hand on his wrist; she appreciated his support, but she did
not want him to incite the crowd further.
     “If
you wish to leave based on your dreams,” one of them yelled out, “then do so!
We shall find ourselves a new ruler!”
    Another
cheer.
    “We
will not leave!” another yelled.
    The
crowd shouted, rising to a fever pitch.
    Godfrey
rushed forward beside her and faced the crowd, waving his arms.
    “Gwendolyn
has always been a good and fair queen to you!” he yelled. “She has stood by you
through thick and thin. Now you must return the favor. If she has cause to
believe we should evacuate, then you must listen!”
    “Even
good queens can make bad decisions!” a crowd member yelled, to the cheers of
others.
    Gwen
looked out at the faces, and she could see every one of them was angry,
determined, and perhaps afraid. None of them wanted to venture out into the
unknown. She could understand.
    “I
understand how you feel!” Gwendolyn yelled out. “But my decision is not based
on dreams alone. It is based on prophecies. Ancient prophecies that I’ve read. Portents
that I’ve seen coming. Argon’s predictions. I do not believe King’s Court will stand
much longer. I want you all in safety before it happens. I know it is hard for
you to leave your homes. I myself do not wish to leave my home. I love King’s
Court. But I ask you to trust me. I understand the unknown is hard. But it will
be safer than where we are now.”
    “How
can we trust you when you show us no danger?” one of them yelled, and the crowd
cheered in agreement.
    “We
shall not leave           !” another yelled.
    As
the crowd roared and cheered, Gwendolyn could not believe what she saw before
her. Were the masses so fickle? Could they really love her one moment, and hate
her the next?
    Gwen
recalled something her father had once said to her, something she