The Queen

Copyright © 2015 by Suzanna Lynn

The Queen – The Bed Wife Chronicles

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved. Any unauthorized reprint
or use of this material is strictly prohibited. No part of this
book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without express
written permission from the author except for the use of brief
quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters,
places, events and incidents are the product of the author’s
imagination and any resemblance to any persons, living or dead,
events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Edited by Hollie the Editor

Cover Art by Funky Book Designs

Formatted by Sharon Kay of Amber Leaf
Publishing

(The following story contains mature themes
and sexual situations. It is intended for adult readers.)

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Baylin paced the floor. His eyes were heavy,
having remained with Luana and the newest heir to Grasmere the
entire night. The young handmaid, Meg, dozed in a chair near the
bed. She had refused to leave Luana and the baby for a moment, even
after the Prince’s urging.

The labor had exhausted Luana beyond
measure, nearly claiming her life. Yet she refused to let go of the
sleeping little boy in her arms. She allowed Master Keon a few
moments to examine them both, but only while she held the
child.

Luana was now resting comfortably, unable to
fight the sleep that demanded to take over. Baylin’s mother gently
wiped a warm, wet cloth over Luana’s forehead, cleaning her as she
slept.

Throughout the night, Baylin explained the
treachery of Lord Cadman and the Kingdom of Mirstone to Queen
Valasca and Master Keon. The long silence that followed was finally
broken by the Queen.

Valasca looked at her son in shock. “I knew
Cadman was a vile creature, but to do such a thing.” She paused as
tears formed in her eyes. “Oh Baylin, your poor father. How can we
ever tell him? It would kill him!”

“The Queen is right,” Master Keon said
gravely. “With the King already in such failing health, this sad
news would certainly cause him great distress.”

“But we must tell Father,” Baylin said. “We
are on the brink of war with Mirstone. Grasmere needs their
King.”

Master Keon gave a soft sigh as Queen
Valasca lowered her head sadly.

“What?” Baylin demanded. “What are you not
telling me?”

The old physician walked over to Baylin and
placed a feeble hand on his shoulder. “My Prince, I’m afraid…” The
words wouldn’t come.

Baylin searched the Queen’s face as he saw
tears forming in her eyes. “Mother?”

“Oh Baylin,” Valasca said as tears began to
wet her cheeks. “I believe your father is beyond fighting any wars.
I fear his days with us are numbered.”

Shock and disbelief took the young Prince as
the reality of everything crashed down around him.
My uncle, my
own flesh and blood, has betrayed the Kingdom he swore to protect.
Now when I need him most, my father is to die.
The pain was too
great for Baylin to bear. He sank to his knees beside the bed and
let the anger, fear and agony flow over him.

His mother stood from her chair, rushing to
her son’s side to wrap her arms around him. “If I could take this
sorrow from you, know that I would.” Tears rolled down her face as
she spoke. “Today is a joyous day, a day that should be celebrated.
You are a father, Baylin. You have a son.” She broke the embrace
and tilted his chin to look at her. “Let us grieve and make battle
plans tomorrow. Today, we must rejoice.”

He gave his mother a weak smile, knowing she
was hurting as deeply as he was.
Yet she still has the strength
to carry on for me.
“All right, Mother, today we will be
merry.”

She gave him a tight embrace and kissed him
on the forehead. “I will make arrangements for the news to be
spread throughout the Kingdom. Grasmere has a new heir!”

Master Keon began packing up his bagful of
various instruments and bottles of tonic and herbs. “Yes, quite
right. I believe a little celebration would be good for the morale
of the entire Kingdom.”

The Prince nodded; his strength was
beginning to wane. He was exhausted, having been in battle for
months, then fighting his way out of Mirstone and riding day and
night to get to Grasmere. However, his fear for Luana and his son
outweighed his heavy eyelids and aching muscles.
I know Cadman
has men here. Luana and my son are in danger. He said he would have
them killed.

“My Prince, you must rest,” Master Keon
pleaded.

“He is right,” Valasca said gently. “We will
look after her while you sleep.”

“No, Mother, you should rest,” Baylin
interjected. “Plus, you have a celebration to plan.” He smiled at
her.

“Meg,” the Queen called to the handmaid who
had woke and was stirring the fire to warm more water.

“Yes, Your Grace,” the girl said, giving a
slight bow.

“Would you be so kind as to help me with the
plans for the celebration?” the Queen asked. “I know Luana favors
you so. I’m certain you would know what she would most enjoy eating
and sharing with the Kingdom.”

Master Keon, Baylin and Meg all looked at
the Queen with the same expression—utter confusion. It was the old
physician, however, who finally spoke. “My Queen, I am afraid I do
not understand. Do you mean to have the young bed wife present for
the celebration?”

The Queen rose a rebellious eyebrow at the
old man. “I most certainly do. She is the baby’s mother, after
all.”

Meg lit up with a big smile that spread over
her face as she let out a gasp. She quickly covered her mouth, her
cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “I’m sorry, Your Grace.”

Baylin smiled at the girl. “Not at all. I
believe you are right to be happy by such news.”

Worry shown in the deep wrinkles on Master
Keon’s face. “Your Graces, I mean no disrespect. You must know that
I have become very fond of the young woman. However, to display a
bed wife at a celebration is strictly forbidden. We are committing
a crime by just allowing her to hold the little boy.”

“You let us worry on that, Master Keon,” the
Queen said in a sharp tone. “I believe it is time for new
traditions to be made. The dark days of stealing young girls from
the villages just so they can have their own children stolen from
their arms is over.”

“Yes, I agree it does seem a bit barbaric
when you say it that way,” mumbled the old man. “But the fact
remains, she is not royalty, nor is she of the Keld bloodline.”

“Keld?” Valasca laughed. “You know as well
as I the Keld bloodlines are peppered with the blood of commoners
and even that of some servants. Royal blood. What really makes
someone royal? By all rights, Cadman is royal. Does that make him
better than our Luana?”

“Certainly not!” Master Keon gasped. “Lord
Cadman is a traitor to the crown.”

“Exactly,” she said. “A person’s heart and
loyalty to those around them should be considered over their
bloodline.”

Baylin could not believe what he was
hearing.
Mother is going to break the law for Luana and our
son?

“Your Grace,” the old man argued. “Without
the King’s permission, this could cause a great deal of discourse
in the Kingdom. We must tread lightly.”

Valasca ignored his warning and turned her
attention back to Meg. “My dear, could you please begin making
preparations for the celebration? We have much to do, and very
little time to do it in. I will meet with you shortly to work out
some of the details.”

Meg smiled and gave a curtsey. “Yes, Your
Grace.” The young girl turned and hurried from the room.

Though Baylin was overjoyed by the idea of
allowing Luana to finally venture out of the bedchamber and to hold
her by his side for all to see, he was also worried. “Mother,
Master Keon does speak the truth. Without Father giving a public
declaration denouncing the Bed Wife Law, we could be seen as
rebelling against the laws of the realm.”

The Queen’s expression softened and she
placed a gentle hand against his cheek. “My dear, I think it is
time you went to see your father.”

It took a great deal of persuasion to get
the Prince to leave Luana’s side. In the end, the Queen requested
the presence of his closest friend, Ferric, to keep watch over the
bedchamber in Baylin’s absence.

Baylin and his mother walked to the King’s
bedchamber through the dim halls in silence. Even during the warm
summer days, the castle was cool and dark deep within the
mountain.

When they arrived at the King’s chamber, a
steward guided them into the room. The sun was shining over the
Kingdom, however the dark indigo curtains had been drawn, giving
the illusion of a moonless night. The room was lit with candles and
two blazing hearths, creating a heat that was already causing the
Prince to sweat.

Queen Valasca crossed the large room and sat
in a chair placed beside Ashmur’s bed.

Baylin’s heart sank as he looked at his
father lying in the bed. The once great man appeared as though he
had aged fifteen years in the few short months the Prince had been
away at Mirstone. Ashmur’s hair was now a pale white, with only a
few strands of darker silver showing through. His face was sunken,
exaggerating the deep wrinkles that covered it. Even in the orange
glow of the candles, Baylin could see how ashen the King’s
complexion had become.
He looks like Death himself! By the gods,
how can this be?

The Prince knelt beside the bed. “Father?
Father, I am here.”

Slowly, King Ashmur’s eyes fluttered open,
revealing grey eyes where blue ones once shined. “Baylin? My son,
is that you?” He reached out a feeble hand, turning to gaze upon
his wife and son.

“Yes, Father,” Baylin said, grabbing his
hand. “I’m here. I have returned from Mirstone.”

The King gave a slight smile. “Ah, good.” He
coughed and tried to pull himself up in the bed. “It was a success
then? Not that I had any doubts.”

Baylin smiled at his father while helping
him sit up more comfortably in the bed. It was so strange to see
his father’s body so broken, yet he sounded exactly like the strong
man he’d grown up admiring.
It’s as though only his body is
dying. A shell holding the man within. If there was only a way to
heal him.
“It was, Father. We burned the mountain pass and
slayed them as they retreated. It appears to have been a success.
We trenched the base of the mountain pass and set the mountainside
ablaze after dawn. Many burned. Those that fled down the mountain
were slain by our men. The vermin didn’t stand a chance,
Father.”

The King smiled at the story, appearing as
though he was imagining himself on the battlefield alongside his
son. “And what of your uncle? Has he returned, or does he remain in
Mirstone?” The King began to cough again.

Baylin used the distraction to give a
questioning glance at his mother. He was unsure what to say. She
shook her head slightly.
She doesn’t want me to speak of
Cadman’s betrayal.

An apprentice to Master Keon came over and
handed the King a small cup of steaming hot liquid. “Please, Your
Grace, you must drink.”

The King accepted the cup and took a long,
slow draw. He moaned as he swallowed the hot liquid. “Thank you,
young man.” He handed the cup back to the boy and turned his
attention to Baylin. “So, your uncle Cadman. Where is he?”