That was when I heard a low, warning growl come from deep in Ghost’s throat. I turned my head to her to see her head was turned to the top of the stairs. Then she gracefully gained her feet but in a watchful, guarded way that made me brace and I looked to the stairs.
Bohtan and Bain were ascending them. I started to smile but caught the looks on their faces, felt the vibe and heard Ghost growl again and I realized something was wrong.
I knew it definitely when Bain ordered my girls, “Prepare your queen to take her throne. Official business. Do it swiftly, we cannot delay.” His eyes came to me. “We await you at the front with Zephyr.”
He said no more before he turned and both warriors disappeared down the stairs.
What on earth?
“What’s happening, Circe?” Sabine asked in a hushed, worried voice as I watched all five of my girls scurry to me, leaving their fabric where it lay.
I didn’t know.
What I did know was that very soon I was going to find out.
And I was queen so I needed to get my ass in gear.
So I rose to my feet and whispered, “All is well, I’m certain, but I must hurry.”
And without a look back, I hurried.
* * * * *
“The beast remains here,” Bain ordered and I looked down at Ghost who was standing beside where I was mounted on Zephyr at the front of the house.
“I –” I started.
“Order it to the house,” Bain commanded, I started at his tone, one he’d never used on me. Then I nodded and looked down at Ghost.
“Ghost, go into the house, my baby.”
She growled in a scary way that I heard as “me” or “no” but she didn’t move.
“House, now, Ghost,” I demanded, she growled her denial again and still didn’t move.
“We have no time for this, brother,” Bohtan muttered.
“Very well,” Bain muttered back, jerked his chin at Bohtan then jerked his reins and his horse turned. He took point. I moved Zephyr behind him, Ghost prowling at my side. Bohtan fell in at the rear.
“Bain, can you –” I called.
“No talking, my golden queen,” he ordered and I bit my lip.
Something was wrong. Bain wasn’t like this. Not with me.
Shit.
I rode to the top plateau with my guards and my tigress in silence. I was wearing a gold sarong shot with white, a white halter top, gold bands at biceps and forearms, gold hoop earrings, gold dust on cheekbones and around my temples and my gold crown of feathers.
Definitely, as always, the Golden Queen.
As we rounded the top of the plateau, however, I sucked in a very unqueenly breath.
This was because I could see from afar, well beyond the plateau on the rise leading up to it from behind Korwahn, there was a wide sea of riders, so many there would be no way to count, thousands, maybe tens of thousands. It was now full on dark but I still saw them as they carried torches and not a small amount of fires had been lit on the ground. I couldn’t make them out but I knew they weren’t Korwahk for there were many flying pennants flowing in the light breeze that stirred the night air.
Korwahk warriors didn’t bother with pennants or, at least, I’d never seen any.
And on top of the vast plateau in the official clearing there was a throng of Korwahk warriors, maybe two hundred, none painted except those who were in my guard.