by Drae Box
Raneth shook his head. “Never. And with her thinking we’re engaged, she’ll be on her best behaviour.”
“Good,” she said, before falling silent.
After a few minutes of comfortable quietness between them, Aldora pointed at the bars across her window. “Is Queen Regina hated by her people?”
“Sometimes. Sort of.” Raneth shrugged. “It gets complicated really quickly, but the short explanation is that the Newer people are fed up and ready for a change.”
“Fed up of what?”
“Their kingdom’s situation. They know their law enforcers are mostly corrupt and go around doing whatever they please. Their crime is high – most cases go unsolved or are not even looked into, which causes more upset. Hundreds, maybe a few thousand citizens go missing every year, without any resolution. Then there’s the distrust of Giftens, yet the border between our two kingdoms allows us to travel. Newers rarely go to Giften for their holidays, but Giftens usually come here, or go to Seaus Island or the Southern Kingdom. When we come here, we make tensions worse. It would be better if all Giftens went elsewhere for their holidays but the average Giften doesn’t worry about Newer’s issues. They just want to go somewhere different that they can afford to travel to.” He paused as a squeak came from the door, followed by a grumbling meow. “Pedibastet,” he muttered, before standing and opening the door.
Aldora watched as the Prince of the Cats strolled into her room, licking his lips repeatedly as he made his way to the table. He jumped up and sat next to Aldora’s elbow.
“Regina’s chef is wonderfully talented. You two should sleep so you may eat sooner,” uttered the cat.
“We will,” promised Aldora. “Raneth, how does all that put Regina in danger?”
“She’s the one the Newers expect to fix the things they’re not happy with and every now and then, someone takes advantage of the situation and tries to kill the queen to improve things. But they never think about afterwards or how it will affect the kingdom if they fail. Thankfully nothing has been tried since the Northern Barbaric Islands and their Eastern Barbarian cousins attacked here in 2002 and caused the Newer Kingdom to join the Alliance Treaty.”
Aldora nodded. “I remember a little bit about that,” she said. “Cray sent two hundred royal officials on loan to Regina. I don’t remember hearing why or when they came back.”
“That’s because a lot of it is hush-hush,” admitted Raneth as he petted Prince Pedibastet under the chin. “Not many of us came back.”
Aldora frowned at Raneth.
“Yes, I was here at the time. That’s when I mastered my Common Gift of Ice.” He stood up and cleared his throat. “I need a nap or I’m gonna be useless by this afternoon and might not understand what I agree to with Regina.” He gently kissed Aldora’s cheek. “Goodnight, Aldora.”
“Goodnight, Raneth.” She watched Raneth close the door then turned to Pedibastet “I know I should sleep, but I bet you have more I need to know?”
“Of course,” said Prince Pedibastet with a purr. “Commander Algernon and Regina will both seek to use Raneth’s training for their own uses. They may also have plans to keep you as far from him as possible, so they may try to get him and Regina suitably… distracted by one another.”
“Raneth’s not interested in Regina.”
“You’re correct. He openly stated in his younger years that he never wants to be an active member of a royal family, and I can tell he remains of the same view. The Bayres’ importance to the Giften and Southern Kingdoms is only as a back-up, as it were – additional legal rulers should anything happen to the immediate royal family. They’re the ones who must take back control of either kingdom should something happen, even if the immediate royal families are not dead but have their hands tied. You should also know the Bayres were lords when they married into the Apocolletio family, and still are. After the Bayres, you are the next legal ruler of the Giften Kingdom, due to your official occupation as the Dagger Bearer.”
“Does that mean if something does happen to Cray, Louise and Lemuela, I have to help Raneth and his father to seize control or rescue the royals?”
“Yes. Was that not why you helped Raneth relocate Cray in 2006?”
Aldora shook her head.
“That’s concerning. I’d assumed that you understood what your responsibilities were.”
Instead of defending herself, Aldora opted to change the subject. “Should I be careful with the Commander?”
“Definitely. I don’t feel he would have you killed, but you mustn’t trust him.”
Why would I be worth killing?
“Cray and the Southern Kingdom king, Philander, have felt for some years that Algernon plans to quietly overthrow Regina, if he’s not already controlling her from the background. Anyway, to sleep, Aldora. You will need to have strength for all the chinwagging to come.”
Pedibastet stretched before he jumped from the table. He strolled over to the bed to look for a way in through the curtains. When he couldn’t find one, he looked pointedly at her. Aldora sighed and walked over to the bed.
“Lunching with the Prince of the Cats, the royal official captain and the Dagger Bearer is quite the pleasure,” stated Queen Regina as the four of them took their seats at a large square table in the dining room. A fifth seat at the eight-chair table was taken by Commander Algernon, positioned opposite his queen. Eight of Regina’s guards stood with their backs to the cream walls of the room, including Rena. Aldora smiled at her in silent greeting.
“I must confess, Aldora,” continued Queen Regina, “I only just researched why the Giften people adore you. I knew you had saved your village’s magic weapon–”
“Weapon of Protection,” corrected Algernon.
Regina nodded. “Yes, the Dagger of Protection, but I did not realise the implications it has had for your kingdom. People feel safer with the Dagger in use and children look up to you as their role model. The Giften citizens must be happy.”
“We seem to be,” said Raneth, next to Aldora, who was trying to stop blushing down at her lap. “Although things have gotten a tad difficult for royal detectives and officials lately, so maybe not too happy.”
“True. Crime does seem to have been on the rise since the Dagger’s theft,” stated Regina. “Cray is increasingly concerned for your life, Raneth. He wants you two to hurry up and get married and have your heir.”
I’m not sure I like the idea of her and Cray discussing us. “Does Cray talk about us a lot?” asked Aldora.
Regina nodded. “Of course! In the Kingdoms Conferences and in his last letter to me. We discuss you two all the time.”
“I hope we don’t distract too much from the important discussions,” muttered Raneth.
Regina and Algernon glanced his way. He smiled the most sickly sweet smile Aldora had ever seen erupt on his lips and leaned back in his chair. He must not like them talking about us a lot either.
“I just hope Cray sees to it that he raises the number of training royal officials. You specialised Giften army boys are useful,” said Regina.
“Yes,” agreed Commander Algernon, turning to wave at a woman looking into the room from a side door. She nodded and stepped out of sight; the door swung shut by itself.
As the queen, Raneth and the commander quietened, Aldora glanced at Pedibastet. He sat on the table opposite Aldora. He wasn’t interested in chatting – he was too busy licking his front paws clean between his toes.
The woman returned almost immediately with a silver tray in her hand. She was accompanied by two other women, each holding trays. The first woman stepped over to Commander Algernon and deftly slid a plate from the tray into the space in front of the commander. He thanked her with a nod. The young woman made her way to the queen next, and then Pedibastet, while one of the other women appeared at Aldora’s left side and gently placed a plate in front of her. The heavy smell of baked salmon weaved its way to her as she observed the plate.
“It’s a Giften dish,”
stated one of the serving women as she placed glasses within reach of each person at the table, and a crystal bowl for Pedibastet. “Stonebaked salmon with a lettuce salad. The kitchen cooked the salmon after lathering it in a hand-ground spread of garlic, salt, tahini, vanilla yoghurt, almonds and lemon juice. Please do enjoy.”
She placed a pitcher of fresh raspberry and lemon juice near the commander and lowered her head in respect to those in the room. She then backed away and out of the swinging door.
Aldora glanced at Pedibastet. One of his crystal bowls held milk – with froth, she noticed – and the other plain baked salmon. She peered at her own plate, observing the gentle way in which an additional but more yoghurt-like version of the paste on the salmon had been dripped beside it, and the salad had been placed to form the letters D and B, for Dagger Bearer. Aldora glanced at Raneth, checking to see if there was any sort of expectation of Algernon or Regina eating first, but Pedibastet made it clear; he licked his lips and went straight for his milk, lapping it up with little gulps. Returning her attention to Raneth, Aldora noted that he was picking up the only fork at his setting. He started eating too. Content that she wasn’t about to mess anything up, Aldora settled into eating her lunch too.
“So, you three seek the Shotput of Power, the only Weapon of Protection unaccounted for,” stated Commander Algernon, a good while into their meal.
Aldora nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“You’re not here for any other reason?”
“None that concerns either kingdom,” stated Pedibastet firmly. “Cray sent Raneth here to relieve him of some of the many assignments piling up for those of his rank. They can only do so much when a crime rise happens. Besides, I’m sure you would prefer that a powerful Giften artefact be returned so it can’t be used to hurt your kingdom.”
“Yes,” replied the commander, eyeing Raneth.
Aldora frowned at his careful observation of her partner. Does he think Raneth’s here for another reason?
“Aldora, can anyone use a Weapon of Protection?” asked Queen Regina.
Is she trying to help us avoid Algernon’s nosiness? “No, Your Majesty,” admitted Aldora. “Some of them are choosy about who can wield them, but the Dagger doesn’t mind. It likes being used.”
“But there’s a fine line between what you can and can’t use it for,” added Raneth, his words rushed. “The Dagger won’t just let you go around killing people.”
Aldora frowned at Raneth. What’s the matter? He gave her a tight smile, then glanced at Pedibastet. Aldora noted the cat’s fur was standing a little more on end than it should; something had caught his attention and he had even stopped eating to glare at her. Oh. They must not want the commander getting ideas about taking the Dagger from me so he can use it. “There was a ceremony,” she added. “The Dagger recognised me as its official Bearer. From what I’ve read about the old Dagger Bearers and the Dagger itself, it will only let me use more than one of its abilities.”
“I feel such things cause more fear than damage,” said Commander Algernon. “But such a piece of kit would be very handy to have. Just like the Common Gifts you Giftens have. Do you have a gift, Miss Leoma?”
“The Animal’s Tongue,” she admitted. She noticed the commander seemed to be expecting more. “It’s full potential is still being tested.” This is like trying to spar with watermelons instead of swords, thought Aldora. I hope we get away from Algernon soon.
“Despite my kingdom’s fear of gifts, I’ve always admired how so many Giftens can resist the urge to use them illegally,” said Regina, giving Aldora a smile. “I’m sure yours will prove invaluable for law enforcement, Aldora, and speaking of law enforcement, I’d like to show you both to my mission room after we’ve eaten.”
“In we go,” said Queen Regina after lunch, holding a door open for the Giftens. Prince Pedibastet strolled through first, followed by Aldora and then Raneth. “Head over to the map on the table, Raneth, sweetie.”
Aldora frowned at Queen Regina over her shoulder. Stop calling him pet names! She briefly looked at Raneth; he wasn’t reacting to the name. I don’t have any reason to get possessive, she told herself, striding over to the circular table in the centre of the room. Raneth stood by her side and gave her a smile.
Pedibastet jumped up onto the table, but kept his tail dangling off the side. “What are these, Regina?” he asked, stepping carefully across the map to sniff at the small red marble cubes placed atop it.
“Locations of unusual disturbances,” stated the queen, closing the door and giving it a good shove until it clicked. “As you can see, Oreg has quite the collection.”
“What sort of disturbances, Queen Regina?” asked Aldora.
The Newer queen frowned at the cubes scattered across her map and folded her skinny arms. “Magic, I think. Coupled with crime or the corrupt actions of my inspectors. You may need to upset the inspectors whilst you’re here. It wouldn’t surprise me if they have the Shotput of Power.”
“That’s easy enough to find out though, isn’t it?” asked Raneth. “You could just ask them, or send some of your guard to audit their confiscated items.”
“Yes and no. Whilst you two were being shown your rooms, Pedibastet explained that word of your coming reached Oreg before you arrived – that there’s a leak either at my palace or Cray’s. If I conduct an audit now, at Oreg or Cole, it will mostly definitely cause a big upset that’s best avoided. It would make you fail in your assignment too. If the inspectors have the Shotput of Power, they’ll move it just so it doesn’t get back to Giften. I hate that my inspectors are so corrupt that they often rebel against my orders, but I’m hoping that with my efforts to clean them up, time and Cray’s guidance will change that.”
“So what do we do?” asked Raneth.
“You could investigate these incidents if you feel they might be being caused by the Shotput’s magic. I will organise the paperwork with Cray for a contract assignment to… ‘assist’ my inspectors to do their damn job. Sound plausible?”
“I guess,” uttered Raneth, looking a little uncertain.
I’m not sure this will help us find the Shotput, thought Aldora, glancing at Pedibastet. He was looking up at her expectantly, tail sweeping side to side against the map. Pedi must want me to make sure I keep us on track, rather than doing errands for Queen Regina. How do I do that?
“Regina, have you ordered any inspectors in Oreg to be on duty without uniform?” asked Raneth.
Regina frowned then shook her head. “I haven’t, but perhaps Algernon has. The only reason he could have for doing that would be if he expected something big to happen – something that could affect the economy. He’d tell me of such things, and he hasn’t. ”
“Would he still tell you if he was planning on overthrowing you any time soon?” asked Raneth.
“I believe he would. The economy being in good condition would create less problems for him if Algernon is aiming to remove me.”
Aldora pointed at Oreg on the map. “If we’re going to do this, then do we want to go back there first?” she asked, looking first at Raneth and then Regina. “We can see if the incidents there are related to the Shotput and move on pretty quickly if not.”
“I wouldn’t advise it,” said the queen, folding her arms and frowning at the map. “The inspectors there have since found Cray’s royal official safehouse and set it on fire.”
“On fire?” exclaimed Pedibastet, his ears back. “What on Giften soil do they think they are doing?”
“I know the Oreg inspectors are a particularly tight bunch,” stated Regina. “Always up to something. They will have their reasons for excessive cleansing. Algernon may have allies there you could benefit from, but just be aware that using his network means he might try and position you for his own reasons, if he hasn’t been already.”
“How worried are you right now about the commander? Does he pose an immediate risk to you?” asked Raneth.
I know Regina said Algernon’s corrupt, but R
aneth’s getting distracted by it. Aldora folded her arms.
“It’s sweet you care,” uttered Regina, placing a hand against Raneth’s nearest bicep. “But not at the moment. He still needs me, I’m certain of it. Rena is keeping tabs on him as best she can. If I need help I will send word with one of the birds or dogs.”
Raneth nodded and then tapped a solitary cube near Oreg on the map.
“That’s an odd one,” said Regina, scowling. “No inspectors or criminals laid claim to it; I had to send Rena to clean it up.”
“What was it?” asked Aldora.
“A body. There were odd burn marks on his palms and fingers, but no other sign of injury or cause of death that Rena could see. She’s not trained to investigate that sort of thing, though – she’s a guard.”
Aldora nodded, thinking. “The Shotput’s main power is fire – the creation and manipulating of it. Like the Dagger being able to create and manipulate lightning. Was there anything nearby that could have been hot enough to burn his hands?”
Regina shook her head. “Nothing but grass. Could it be some sort of gift provocation gone wrong?”
“Not one of the Common Class, Your Majesty,” said Raneth. “Fire generally blows people up, ice shatters bones outwards, air suffocates, earth buries them alive.” He shrugged. “It could be a unique gift, which overall are more common than the Common Class gifts, but you kill Newers with gifts so I doubt it. Unless he was Giften?”
“Couldn’t identify him,” admitted the queen. “And we don’t kill gifted individuals these days, not since Newer became an official ally of Giften. We’re not supposed to be suspicious of people with gifts anymore. Aldora, what do you think?”
Aldora hesitated, mulling over what had been said, then gave an uncertain shrug. “If we can go and take a look at the body, maybe Raneth will recognise him if he’s a Giften criminal. If not, then we might be able to piece some things together, and then we can investigate whether his death was because of the Shotput.”