A shiver ran down her spine. She nodded a little and gathered her skirts to ascend the dais. She was glad she had let Elspeth talk her into the second fine dress, green and glowing in the lamplight, which only had elbow-length sleeves.
“Do you vow the same, my wife?” Kendrick asked in a carrying voice.
A susurrus of whispers swept the crowd.
Genevieve unbuttoned her glove and let it drop before copying his motion to wet the sword with her blood. She set her hand on the blade. “This I vow to the inhabitants of the Ossuary: to speak and advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves, to protect the lowly, to make a better life for all vampires so we may enjoy true peace, that the gracious and compassionate God who lives and reigns may grant us all His everlasting mercy.”
“Have I not chosen well?” Kendrick said, eyes still on hers. “Your queen has future vision for her people, even in the dark.”
Genevieve smiled.
“Hail Kendrick and Genevieve, first King and Queen of the Ossuary!” Etienne called in a loud voice. “Hail!” Joseph and Robbie took up the call, and soon much of the room was chanting it. Genevieve leaned against Kendrick’s side to hide her trembling.
He held up his hand. “Who will exchange oaths with me?”
Joseph stepped forward and knelt, slicing his hand and laying it on the outstretched blade. He spoke in a voice that carried to the far corners of the room: “I will to Kendrick be faithful and true, loving all that he loves and shunning all that he shuns, according to the law of God and the custom of the world; and never by will or by force, in word or in deed, will I do anything that is hateful to him; on condition that he will hold me as I deserve and will furnish all that was agreed between us when I bowed myself before him and submitted to his will.”
“Kings in my time were known as givers of rings,” Kendrick said, reaching for the pouch at his waist. “Take this ring as a sealing of the oaths between us.” He proffered the gold band in his free hand. Joseph took it and slipped it on his bloody finger.
“Who else will exchange oaths with me?” Kendrick called.
The cavern echoed with the cries. “I!”
“I will swear!”
“I!”
“You should’ve seen it, Elspeth,” Genevieve whispered. “I know it wasn’t everyone, but a good number—so much so that blood started to pool from where it dripped off the sword. He gave out nearly all the rings he had forged. He’s going to make more, for future,” she added. “And afterwards, he set out the main dooms for the Ossuary: that anyone who kills a fellow vampire or a human shall be punished with death, but those who go mad and have not killed shall be offered a chance to regain their sanity. That those who have been abused can petition us for protection and aid, and they can bring their abusers to justice. And he has promised to improve the living conditions of the Ossuary. Kendrick and Joseph are meeting to discuss opportunities for the Ossuary to employ people and give them support.” She shook her head. “It’s more than I dreamed. And I can do all of that on my own, just as he promised.”
“No one objected, as you feared?” Elspeth asked.
“We heard reports of mutterings afterwards, which I expected, but no one openly challenged it.” Genevieve lifted her head. “I think this really is the start of true change.”
“I can scarcely believe it,” her friend whispered.
Genevieve squeezed her hand. “It’s nearly dawn. Thank you for all your help these past days. I’ll keep watch over Fletcher. Why don’t you pick out a room for your own?”
Elspeth returned the press and slipped out of the room.
She sat there for a while, soothing the puppy when it roused to wakefulness and watching the boy breathe. He was bouncing back at a quick pace; the blessing of youth, Joseph had said. But he was still thin and undernourished. She started her mental list.
New clothes for Fletcher, and teaching him to read to keep him from mischief.
Furniture for the empty rooms.
A place to begin receiving guests and hearing petitions.
Meeting more of the vampires who did not live in the Ossuary. She didn’t know many of them. How many did Kendrick know? They would need to call on them and make sure that they knew they were not exempt from the new laws. Perhaps a census?
Settling those who were alone or without defenders into families or support networks to look out for each other.
They would need some way to handle daylight deliveries and callers, Genevieve knew. She wasn’t sure how others managed that.
And she’d need to inform Sally that she wouldn’t be able to look after the children anymore. Genevieve’s pang of regret was stronger than she’d expected. She would miss them greatly, and it would certainly put a strain on Sally and the other women. Tomorrow, she’d have to speak with her and perhaps find another solution beyond just tendering her resignation.
“Still awake?” Kendrick murmured from the doorway.
“Just thinking. There’s such a lot to do,” she said, looking at him over her shoulder.
