Free An Oath Of The Kings (Book 4) by Valerie Zambito Page B

ladies of the Court walked down from the dais and stood in a single line before her. She wasn’t surprised to see Gage Gregaros at the front.
    “Gage of House Gregaros,” she said loudly, “on this day and in front of these witnesses, I demand your sword and your allegiance to House Everard. What say you?”
    Gage stepped forward and knelt with his sword held out in front of him parallel to the ground. “By my oath, my sword is yours to command, Your Grace.”     
    Kiernan nodded and Gage stepped to the side.
    Lady Mila Stowe came next.
    “Mila of House Stowe, on this day and in front of these witnesses, I demand your sword and your allegiance to House Everard. What say you?”
    Not surprisingly, the young noble knelt and gave her oath as did Lady Lillian Knapp and Lord Johan Hamilton.
    When Lord Duncan Bartlett approached, Kiernan couldn’t help but notice that his sword remained firmly sheathed in the scabbard at his hip.
    Kiernan narrowed her gaze. “Duncan of House Bartlett, on this day and in front of these witnesses, I demand your sword and your allegiance to House Everard. What say you?”
    He paused and all in the room waited for his response.
    “Lord Bartlett?” Kiernan prompted.
    “Your Grace, I would like to enquire of Master Asher if it is permitted to have additional time to swear the oath.”
    The crowd murmured angrily.
    “I mean no disrespect,” Duncan said, “but matters have moved rather quickly. I arrived in Nysa only a few days ago for a meeting of the Court and this morning find myself attending the funeral of the King. I simply wish more time for members of House Bartlett to arrive in Nysa for the crowning of a new monarch.”
    Smooth, Duncan. Are you really stalling in order for your army to arrive?
    Kiernan glanced at the scribe, who was furiously flipping through the pages of a large tome on his desk. All was quiet as he researched the answer. Kiernan noticed him wipe his brow several times under the scrutiny before finally standing. “Yes, yes, here it is,” he said, pointing his finger down at a passage in the book. “Vassals of a deceased monarch have three days to swear allegiance to the ruling heir or…or to make their own bid for the throne.”
    The crowd erupted once again.
    Kiernan kept her composure, quieting the crowd with raised arms.
    “Lady Morningstar?” She let the question hang in the air, not bothering to recite the formal words.
    Elinor nodded. “I, too, will delay taking the oath, Your Grace.”
    “Very well, Lord Bartlett, Lady Morningstar, your requests for delay have been granted. We will meet back here in three days’ time.” She leaned forward and whispered so that only the two nobles could hear. “And, mark my words. I will have your swords then.”

Chapter 11
    Dark Shadows
     
     
    The darkness descended out of nowhere and Kiernan realized she had been out on her ride longer than she intended. Chirping birds, buzzing insects, croaking frogs—all the ambient sounds of the Grayan Forest—had lulled her racing thoughts into a welcome calm and she had lost all track of time. Now, though, gray shadows crept closer to the path she rode and whispered cloyingly through the branches overhead. The creatures had all gone quiet, and a sudden sense of unease formed in her chest.
    She turned Bluebell around and kicked her into a trot, anxious now to return to the city.
    Up ahead, she noticed a fallen log on the path that had not been there previously. She looked at it curiously and prepared to go around. That was when the first silhouette took shape in between the trees on the right. Whether animal or human, she couldn’t tell, but it began to keep pace with her, slithering effortlessly through the dense forest. A hint of motion at the corner of her left eye swung her head the other way and another figure appeared. Then, another.
    A surge of adrenaline shot straight to her heart. “Git!” She slapped Bluebell’s rump with her hand, startling the mare