Kneel Before The Dragon Queen novel · Chapter 23 of 24

Chapter 23: The Warden Stands

The council met in my father's long chamber at dusk, and the first thing they did was argue about Torin's knees.

There were nine of them, lords of Halvard and the coast and the river.

Not one of them had said a word against my uncle in five years.

They said plenty now.

"The oath is old, Majesty," said the eldest, a lean man with an inky thumb.

"Every lord of Aurend kneels to the crown."

"If the Warden is excused, the others will ask why."

"He has not asked to be excused," I said.

"I did not," said Torin from the window. "I said I will not."

The council turned and looked at him.

He was leaning on the sill with his arms folded and the last of the daylight on his scarred brow.

He looked about as worried as a man waiting for his supper.

"My lord Warden," the thin man said carefully. "It is a courtesy. A bend of the knee."

"I've never bent it for anyone."

"For the Queen of Aurend."

"I'd cut my own leg off first," Torin said. "She'd tell you the same."

I would have.

I looked at the nine of them.

They were frightened men, and I could not blame them, because the stone had just shown them what they had let happen.

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