dragon archives 04 - dance with a dragon by linda k hopkins Read Free Book Online Page B

“Yes. I know you would like to be in Civitas, but we are not so far away, and can come in anytime.”
    “But … are you sure?” Anna could not help smiling.
    “Yes. We would all welcome your company. Bronwyn is very fond of you, you know.”
    “Oh, yes, that would be wonderful!” Anna said. She turned to Keira, and her smile dimmed slightly. “But what about Zach and Lydia?”
    “We will all miss you, Anna, but you can come home to Storbrook anytime.” Keira took Anna’s hand in hers. “I know you have not been happy lately,” she said. “It is time for you to discover your own destiny.” She paused for a moment. “Is there anything else that would hold you back at Storbrook?” Anna glanced down at the hand that lay in her sister’s, then lifted her head to meet Keira’s gaze.
    “No,” she said. She smiled. “I would love to remain with Cathryn and Favian.”
    “Well, you don’t have to decide right away,” Keira said, but Anna was already shaking her head.
    “I won’t change my mind,” she said. She turned to look at Cathryn again. “Thank you so much for the offer, and I would love to stay with you at Drake Manor.”
    Cathryn smiled. “Excellent,” she said.
     

Chapter 8
    The good weather held, and coronation day dawned fair and bright. The excitement in the city was palpable, and along every street and alley people were in a joyous mood. Children danced and sang in the streets, women smiled and laughed as they chatted with their neighbors, and the men nodded to one another in friendly greeting. By order of King Alfred, mourning clothes had been set aside, and the citizens of Civitas wore their brightest hues. The procession route had been laid with branches and petals, while hanging overhead were brightly colored banners. Pageants and pantomimes, extolling the virtues of the new monarch, had been written by the greatest playwrights and musicians in the city, and had been performed in the streets and on the stage throughout the week.
    Once again, Favian had ferreted out a good spot for the family to watch the passing procession, and they stood waiting amongst the crowds on the street. As they waited, bells began to toll in the distance. “The king and queen are leaving the palace,” Cathryn told the children.
    Lydia nodded wisely. “We’ll see them here,” she said, pointing to the road in front of where they were standing.
    “That’s right,” Cathryn said.
    The royal couple were to travel along the river by barge from the palace to the city steps, where they would be met by the Lord Chamberlain, the Mayor, and the city Aldermen. The bells continued to toll in the distance as they waited, and after a while they were joined by others, their notes ringing out much nearer.
    “Listen,” Cathryn said. “The king and queen are drawing closer. As they pass each church, the bells will begin to ring.”
    “We see them soon?” Lydia asked.
    “Soon,” Cathryn promised.
    But the sun was high in the sky and little trickles of sweat were running down Anna’s neck by the time the royal couple finally came into view. The king rode a magnificent white stallion, while behind him came the queen, traveling in an open litter mounted between two white horses. The bells in the surrounding steeples pealed furiously as the royal couple waved to their loyal subjects. The queen wore an exquisite gown of cream silk overlaid with gold lace, and the jewels in her hair glittered in the sun. The king was just as splendidly arrayed, with breeches made of gold cloth and a purple doublet embroidered with gold thread. The queen smiled and waved at the adoring subjects as the procession moved on. A chatter rose amid the crowd, but the people remained standing where they were, aware that the newly crowned king and queen would pass this way again at the end of the ceremony.
    If it was possible for the bells to peal more joyously, they did so an hour later when the ceremony was complete, and the doors swung open to