Heart of the Guardians: Adoring Destiny by Adrianna Adore (best big ereader .TXT) 📗

top of the stairs and bowed to the cheering and clapping crowd. They’d had a treat, it had been a decade since the last telling of the tale of Galadors beginnings in the palace and this time it had been a little different. The added bear queen was something none of them had seen, even the oldest dignitaries who had been going to balls for years. With a final wave, they left the grand hall and started the short walk to the village.

“That was so fun!” Claire exclaimed. “You have to tell me the history, what was that all about?”

Frank and Dana joined them, their own bear cloaks draped over their shoulders. James tried to get Frank to recount the story but he claimed he didn’t remember it very well.

“You’re a terrible liar,” he said. “But feel free to interrupt and set me straight if I mess it up.”

He quickly told the legend of ancient Galador, then an isolated farming village with a wooden fortress. The people led a simple life deep in a vast uncharted forest. A band of barbarians discovered them and came to rape, pillage and plunder. They killed many, burnt down homes and when the villagers thought all was lost, the creatures of the forest came to their aide. Because they had been kind to them, the bears, wolves and lions charged out of the woods and drove the invaders away. No one suspected it was the King and his guardians in their animal forms. Over the centuries, it became traditional for the King to dress as the wild beast and chase away the marauders.

“The celebration is held every year here in town,” Frank added “It’s a little like your Halloween but all of the costumes are animals, no witches or monsters. There’s no door to door knocking for treats but the parties are known for elaborate cakes and chocolate candies.”

“This year is the most crowded I’ve ever seen it,” James said. “Between the funeral, the coronation and the Animalia Festiva, we’re near to bursting.”

“I hope the infrastructure, the water pipes and, um other facilities can stand the extra load,” Frank said. “The treatment plants are working overtime.”

“They will or they won’t,” James said and pulled his mask on. “No talk of kingdom business, Frank. Tonight, we mingle, we drink and dance until the cock crows.”

It was another ancient tradition that had meant a lot more centuries ago. The royal family would come out of the castle, hidden behind masks, and socialize with the common people. One never knew if they shared a drink and a laugh with the King or a farmer. A prince or a cobbler. In the modern times, the royal family was known to everyone from the papers, social media or occasional appearances on the news and it wasn’t quite the thrill it had been hundreds of years ago but it was still one of the biggest events of the year.

It usually didn’t take long as they wandered from bar to bar and party to party for them to be recognized. The revelers would be congratulated, selfies would be taken, and then everyone would be sworn to secrecy as the royal entourage hurried off to another gathering.

Claire was having the time of her life. She tried not to over indulge, only sipped at drinks that kept filling her hand but by four in the morning she was tipsy and her face hurt from so much laughter. It turned out that Frank was a fantastic dancer and didn’t hesitate to grab Dana’s hand and pull her to the dance floor or create his own if there wasn’t one. They discoed and waltzed, tangoed and salsa’d and a few others that she’d never seen before. Frank bellowed laughter, seemed to know everyone by their first name and turned the dullest party into one that would be talked about for weeks. James wasn’t quite so gregarious but once they realized who had dropped in on them, the merrymakers would surround him, wish him well and ladies from nine to ninety would want to dance with the King on the one night he was approachable.

“In here,” Frank said, a little bit unsteady on his feet as he led them through a darkened alley. “I need to rest a moment, catch my breath, this is a quiet place.”

He pushed through an unmarked door beside a couple of overflowing trash cans and into a cool, dim room with low ceilings. Fragrant hookah smoke hung in the air and quiet conversation instead of loud music filled the room. The walls were lined with books, ornamental medieval weapons, musical instruments and the room felt ancient. They were in the old part of town with cobblestone streets and squat buildings that hadn’t changed much since the middle ages. Conduits ran along the walls for electricity and bathrooms had been added hundreds of years after the original construction. Most of the people knew Frank and greeted him warmly. They recognized James also but no one rushed over for a picture or to shake his hand. It was an older and more dignified crowd for the most part who acknowledged him with nods or a raised glass of mead.

“A pale ale for me,” Frank told the barkeep as he sat on a padded stool and groaned in relief. “And whatever his majesty and the ladies are having.”

“Something without alcohol!” both girls said in unison and giggled.

“Your Grace?” the barman asked.

“Just James tonight please,” he said “And I’ll have one of your house brews. Frank tells me they are the finest in Galador.”

“Which way to the ladies?” Dana asked then grabbed Claire and dragged her along with her when Frank pointed down the stairs to the lower level.

“So this is the infamous Green Dragon I’ve heard you talk about,” James said and looked around the bar. “Longest continually open establishment in the kingdom? It’s been in business in the same location since the fifteen hundreds?”

“Fourteen eighty-seven, sir,” the barman said as he placed