Death's Queen (The Complete Series)

by Janeal Falor

  “I heard what happened. Why didn't you tell me sooner? I can’t believe someone tried to kill you, and you don’t want to return to the palace. I want my little girl safe.”

  I glance at the crowd watching us. Some are close enough to hear our words. I give them a smile and a wave before turning my attention back to her.

  Carver comes up behind her and puts a hand on her shoulder. “We don’t want to frighten everyone off,” he says in a low voice.

  I give him a genuine smile. I appreciate the effort he’s going to. “I’m safe. We’re taking extra precautions. Everything will be fine, but I need to be with the people now. Why don’t you both go on ahead and get ready for dinner? I’d be happy if you would join me there.”

  “We would love to,” Carver says, guiding his wife the way Fulla went.

  For a moment, she looks as if she’s going to protest, but then she goes along with him smoothly.

  There’s a tingling at my back. I turn, ready to draw my daggers.

  “It’s just me,” Nash whispers.

  Great. I overreacted in front of a crowd. As if they don’t already have reason to fear the Shadow Wraith.

  “Do you want to go out among the people or to follow Fulla?”

  What I want is some alone time to talk to him. And to kiss his face off. “Let me go among the people.”

  He motions to the guards, and they reform into two lines, one on each side of me in the middle of the crowd, nothing between them but hard packed dirt. Nash holds a hand out in front of him, indicating I should go first.

  I walk forward, anxious. Whether it’s to meet the people or because of them, I’m uncertain. I step through the pathway and grin first at one side, and then the other. Some people smile back while others scowl. I pretend they’re all smiling.

  A little girl waves wildly at me, eyes wide. I stop and bend down to her level. “What’s your name?”

  “Wapli.”

  “How old are you?”

  “This many.” She holds up a hand with all her fingers extended.

  “Five years old is a big girl.”

  “I always wanted to meet the queen.”

  I grin at her. “And I always wanted to meet a five-year-old girl named Wapli.”

  Her eyes grow wider. “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  “Wow.”

  Nash bends down beside me and holds out a gold coin. “For the beautiful girl named Wapli, who the queen always wanted to meet.”

  “For me?”

  “It is.”

  She takes the coin from Nash. “Thank you, sir. Thank you both.”

  She holds the coin close to her. I stand up straight and walk on. When I make eye contact with Nash, he winks. A flutter goes through my stomach. It takes great strength not to take hold of his hand. Instead, I wave to the crowd.

  I stop and talk to a few more townsfolk, but none as interesting as the little girl. Nash passes out more coins. The crowd is eager to get to him, and hold their coins with a reverence I’ve never seen. Judging by their thinness and drab clothing, they need them.

  The part of the crowd that looked on with scowls before doesn’t try to approach. They stay far away, watching. The guards walk with me, maintaining the alley. The houses on both sides of us are bigger than before but dilapidated.

  * * *

  There’s one house ahead that stands out from all the others. It’s a mini palace in its own right. It towers over the rest of the buildings. A yellow wall surrounds it, making it so you have to go through the front gate. The group avoids that gate, only following us until we near it.

  My guards cluster around me and Nash as we go through the gate, some leading the way and some staying behind. The great building looms over us, not nearly as big as the palace but so much bigger than everything else here that it’s disarming.

  A servant shows us in and to our own rooms. I force myself not to make eye contact with Nash when we part. Inkga helps me freshen up for dinner, and I soon find myself waiting beside Inyi, Shillian, and Carver. The host has not yet arrived, which surprises me since she left before us. That, and everyone usually makes the world revolve around me. Not that I like it, but the difference is noticeable.

  I turn to Shillian and Carver after the others bow at my entrance and make small talk. “How are you enjoying the trip so far?”

  “It was lovely until someone tried to kill you,” Shillian says. “How often does this happen?”

  More than I care to admit. At least to her. “Often enough we have precautions in place. I’m apt at keeping myself from harm.”

  “How do you do it?” Carver asks.

  I shrug. “I had a lot of training growing up. Where Daros was a horrid father figure, he was a great example of self-preservation.”

  “I’m sorry we left you with a madman, but I’m glad you were able to learn the things you needed to keep yourself alive.”

  I wave away his concern, though it stirs something inside me. “It is what it is. Being immune to most poisons and keeping up the skills that will protect my life is a good trade off.” Now anyway. Before, I would have given anything to grow up differently, but it’s made me the person I am.

  “It’s good you’re able to protect yourself. I wish I’d made a better judgment call,” Shillian says.

  I want to reach out to her. To comfort her. But I can’t risk her life. Family should be allowed to touch, but no. Not even that is allowed. According to the rules, they might tarnish me with their common nature. It's daft.

  “Welcome to my home,” Fulla says from behind me.

  I turn to find her dressed in an even more elaborate dress. It’s green with lace flounces and more ruffles than I’ve seen on one dress. Her wide skirt is split to reveal a pink underskirt with even more ruffles.

  She walks straight to me. “I hope you find everything to your liking.”

  “It rivals the palace.”

  She grins.

  It wasn’t a compliment.

  “Dinner is served,” a servant says from the door.

  Fulla moves toward the dining room and then stops herself with a giggle. “Forgive me. You first, of course.”

  I’d rather not put my back to everyone, but I’ll have to trust my guards and daggers. I move forward, ready to turn and attack should things come to it. I am directed to the head of the table, and Fulla takes the place across from me. Members of my party sit between us—Nash at her side, Inyi and Sidle by me.

  The first course is brought out—a plate of light, fluffy biscuits, butter, and jam. Not something I’d normally have for the first course, but Fulla must like it.

  As I butter my biscuit, Sidle asks, “Have you any plans to make visits outside the country?”

  I hadn’t thought about it. “Not at this time. Though perhaps it would be good to do so in the future.”

  He nods. “It’s difficult to travel abroad anyway, and potentially unsafe, depending on where you go.”

  “I’m not sure we should share our resources outside of Valcora,” Inyi says, surprising me.

  “Why not?” I ask.

  “They are barbarians. Savages, who want our gems and precious stones.”

  “I heard Torhun was run by a person who was more beast than man, but I didn’t know the same held true to other countries.” Which is about all I know. I wish I knew more, but I need to get my country in order before focusing on others.

  “They are dangerous,” Sidle says. “We should be grateful the mountains are so hard to traverse.”

  “Indeed.” Fulla’s voice crosses the table with its vivacity. “We don’t talk of such things during dinner.”

  I want to glare at her, but I restrain myself. “What should we discuss?”

  “Anything fine and grand. We like to keep topics over dinner appetizing.”

  The food would be more appetizing if I could throw my daggers at her hideous dress. What is it about this woman that grates me so? “What would you like to converse about?”

&
nbsp; “I’m dying to know—how did you decide to take the Mortum Tura? It’s a far stretch from being an assassin.” She smiles, but there’s an edge to it.

  My thoughts go dark, as I’m pulled back to that time. I’ve changed much since. I don’t want to ever go back there, and I’ll be daggered if she pulls me down. “Doesn’t every little girl want to be a queen?”

  “Not when it means the possibility of death.” She takes a dainty bite.

  “Those of us who have been with Queen Ryn have seen she has no fear, even for death,” Nash says.

  I refrain from sending him a grateful smile. If only he knew how often I fear things… I don’t show it to many.

  Fulla lifts an eyebrow, as if challenging me to say something for myself. Little does she know a challenge like that is no challenge at all.

  I take a bite of the salad that was just brought out and placed in front of me, the oil and vinegar tangy.

  When I don’t respond, she goes on to other topics. I try not to look relieved, but I am very much so.

  After she’s been talking a while, I catch Nash’s gaze. His expression is so neutral, I’m dying to know what he’s thinking. But I can’t ask. Not now. Not here. I may not get another chance to speak with him until we’re back at the palace. I sigh.

  “Are you all right?” Inyi whispers.

  “Fine. Thinking of my bed back home.” Home. Is that what the palace has become? I’ve lived in a house before, but I never had a place I could call home. The palace is such a strange place to think of as such, but I’m happy to, anyway.

  “I don’t blame you. I’d rather have my own bed as well.”

  The rest of the meal continues with us talking of trivialities. No one makes a misstep, though Fulla keeps a close eye on me. I wonder what she’s thinking.

  When we finish dinner, Fulla says we can go to our rooms because we probably need the rest. Another urge to throw my dagger at her comes to me. The woman is far too bossy. I’ve had more than enough for a lifetime.

  Still, it’s a good excuse to get away from her, so Inkga, Julina, and I converge in our assigned room.

  “It’s not often we have a dinner like that,” Inkga says.

  “No. It isn’t.” I let her unpin my hair.

  “One might think Fulla wanted you to be disgraced in front of everyone.”

  “That’s the feeling I got, too. It wouldn’t have been hard to do a few months ago.”

  “But you’ve grown a lot since.”

  One can only hope.

  Chapter 23

  “I’m going to take a walk,” I announce to Inkga and Julina.

  “I’ll come with you,” Julina replies.

  “Can you be quiet, walking on a roof?”

  Inkga gives me a funny look.

  “She does it all the time,” Julina tells her. “She thinks she’s sneaky, but one of us always follows her.”

  “I know that,” I say. “If I wanted to lose you, I could.”

  She focuses her gaze on me, serious. “I believe it.”

  “What makes you want to climb on the roof here?” Inkga asks.

  “A hunch.” Or my dislike for Fulla is clouding my judgment. Either way, I want to get out, into the cool night air. It will be a welcome relief from the heat of the day.

  “You’re going to do it no matter what I say, so I might as well go with you,” Julina says.

  Good. “Let me change, and we’ll leave.”

  I exchange my dress for black pants and a shirt. I consider letting my hair down to cover my neck but decide against it. If it’s pinned back, it won’t get in my way. I re-stash all my daggers on me. “I’m ready.”

  Julina nods. “We should tell the other guards we’re leaving.”

  “Inkga can tell them where we went if we don’t come back. I want as little attention on us as possible.”

  “I can do that,” Inkga says.

  “I don’t like the sound of this,” Julina says. “It seems like you’re about to do something dangerous.”

  I grin and head for the window. She sighs and follows. I open the window, and four guards look at me from outside.

  “Can we help you, Your Highness?” the nearest one asks.

  “Just going for a stroll. Julina’s coming with me.”

  “Very good.”

  I swing out of the window, careful not to kick anyone in the head. The stone walls of the outer structure are warm beneath my touch, but the night air is cooling them off.

  I begin my ascent, checking back to make sure Julina is making it. She climbs up right behind me. I shimmy up the wall until we reach the third story and, finally, the roof. I ease myself onto it, careful not to make any noise. Julina is just as silent. When she stands beside me, I give an approving nod.

  “What are we looking for?” she whispers.

  “Fulla’s room.”

  “Any idea where that will be?”

  Knowing her, somewhere grand, not that we can tell that from the roof. “Let’s look on the other side. Can we spread out?”

  “I’d rather stick by you, especially since we’re spying on the ruler of this city.”

  I should have known. At least she didn’t protest my coming.

  I cross to the other side of the roof, careful to keep my footsteps stealthy. The back of the mansion is similar to the front, though instead of a grand entrance, there’s an exit that leads to the gardens. It’s too dark to make much out, but I can tell there’s vegetation.

  “There.” I follow where Julina is pointing.

  A balcony on the other side, middle floor, is lit up from the room inside. The light flickers but is bright enough it must be produced by many candles. It’s too hot for such things, but Fulla must not care.

  “That has to be it.” I skirt toward the empty balcony, going more slowly than before to ensure no noise is heard.

  Julina doesn’t have as much luck. A crunching sound comes from behind me. I glare at her. She has the smarts to look sheepish. I make a motion for her to stop there, but she shakes her head. Stubborn woman.

  I ignore her, hoping she doesn’t make more noise that will give us away. It doesn’t take long to reach the side of the mansion we need despite the size of the roof. It’s easier without all the hallways to traverse.

  Making certain there’s no one on the balcony, I skimmer down the wall and end up on the outside of the railing. Moments later, Julina is beside me with a soft plop of a landing.

  “Did you hear that?” Fulla’s voice drifts out from the open doors.

  “No,” says a man.

  “I heard something outside. Please check.”

  I grip the floor and swing down below the balcony with my hands hanging onto the balcony floor so I can’t be seen. Julina follows suit. I hear footsteps coming onto the balcony.

  “I don’t see anything,” the man says.

  “Are you certain?” Fulla’s voice comes nearer. “I could have sworn I heard something.”

  I glare at Julina. She doesn’t look at me. Her eyes are closed, her arms shaking.

  Sure, my arms burn, but I can handle this. I’m not sure she will last much longer. Or perhaps that’s how she lasts.

  “There’s nothing here,” the man says.

  “Hmm.” Fulla’s voice is quite close now. “It is a nice night out. Better than that stifling room. Even worse was dinner. You should have heard the conversations the queen tried to make. Obscene.”

  I make a face.

  “Should we talk out here or in your room?”

  “Out here is so lovely. Let’s stay.”

  I nudge Julina with my foot. She finally glances at me. I tilt my head toward the wall. She nods. As Julina moves toward the wall, Fulla says, “I don’t know what we’re going to do about her presence here.”

  “She shouldn’t stay long. She and her party are set to continue on their country tour the day after tomorrow.”

  Julina is on the wall now, propping herself up with her feet as she flattens herself and mo
ves under the balcony.

  “That is so, but if she discovers what I’ve done, she’ll surely change things.” Fulla whines. “Queen Deedra was much more understanding than the reports we’ve heard of this Ryn girl.”

  I seethe under being called girl. Reminds me too much of Daros. And what will I want to change? If Deedra liked it, it might have been hard for the people. My arms burn, the weight of my body held fully on them starting to take its toll. I shift over one hand at a time, heading toward the wall.

  “Queen Deedra was the one who suggested you tax the city if you weren’t getting enough money from the crown. Of course she was all right with it. You don’t think the new queen will approve?”

  No, I won’t. My arms tremble with more than the strain of holding myself up.

  “I don’t know. The reports don’t sound good.”

  I get to the wall and press my feet up against it, finding a purchase. I shift my hands so I hold on to it, as well. Though the stones don’t stick out as far as my fingers and toes would like, it’s much easier to support my weight with four limbs instead of two.

  I’m right next to Julina, though if someone were to look over the edge, they would only see me and not her since she’s fully under the balcony.

  “Things will be fine,” the man says. “We need to wine and dine her while she’s here, and all will be well.”

  “If you say so.”

  “Come here, love.” There’s a rustling sound. “You worry too much.”

  The response is so low, I can’t make it out. It’s quiet.

  Julina sneezes.

  “What was that?” Fulla asks.

  Julina is already on the move, making room for me, but there won’t be time judging by the footsteps coming closer. I swing down and make it under the balcony. The question is, was I quick enough?

  I pause and hold my breath as I cling to the wall.

  “There’s nothing here,” the man says.

  “No, I heard something. I know I did.” Fulla sounds frustrated.

  “I heard it too, but there’s nothing here. We’d best go inside.”

  The footsteps fade, and so do Fulla’s complaints. I give a relieved sigh when I hear a door close. And now they’re back in their stuffy room. We can get back to ours, but I want to stay outside longer. There are things I need to think about, and it's easier to do that out here.