Vampire Regent by D. C. Young

Author:D. C. Young [Young, D. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 38613236
Publisher: Kindle Worlds
Published: 2018-02-05T00:00:00+00:00

***

The day of the joust turned out to be a hot, humid one and even beneath the royal canopies in the stands, Marie and Margaret shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

AS the program finally came to a close Henry was matched against Gabriel, Count of Montgomery, and an equally talented jouster to the king The two set up at opposite ends of the run and readied their horses while steeling their nerves. Each knew he others prowess with the lance for what it was; excellence. They started their walk towards each other for the tipping of the visors, and then proceeded to walk their horses around the parade to promenade before the Royal Seats.

The crowd, though stifled by the heat of the day, held their breath as King Henry extended his lance to Diane de Poitiers for her favor instead of Catherine, his wife. A soft murmur went up from the spectators.

Marie watched as Catherine, ever noble and dignified ceremoniously leaned over and kissed her son Philip, the Dauphin, on the cheek. A cheer rose up from the crowd at the sight of the Queen's loving gesture to the prince, which greatly contrasted the response King Henry and Diane had received.

Enraged, Henry galloped to the starting end of the jousting run and as soon as the trumpet sounded he bolted down it straight at Count Montgomery, lance leveled. His opponent had to act fast to counter the charge and the outcome was devastating.

Montgomery managed to bring up his lance just as he approached Henry along the line. So frantically did he have to ready himself for the hit that the tip of his weapon went high and struck Henry square in the visor and shattered on impact.

The King tumbled from his horse while squires and knights ran to his aid. Count Montgomery dismounted and as soon as the heavy armor was unbuckled from his shoulders, he ran to Henry's side.

Meanwhile, Marie, Margaret and Antoinette were busy ushering Catherine de Medici and the royal children as quickly as possible out of the stands and back towards the palace interior. The men took Henry into his chambers and the surgeon was called to attend to him.

Someone would be sent to inform the women of any news as it arose.

Marie and Margaret took their evening meal together in Marie's rooms while the Queen and her children ate quietly together in her own chambers. After their meal, and when the children had been sent off to bed, the two joined Catherine in her salon to wait for any word about the King.

After a long uncomfortable silence, Catherine said, “It was bad luck for him to do that. The astronomers told me his bad luck would follow him to the end.”

Marie and Margaret stared at the Queen in horror, but they said nothing; agreeing silently that it must be her grief talking. Catherine was known to be both denigrating and spiteful, but she wasn't without cause for that.

She scoffed, then chuckled a little.

“I can just imagine

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