Death's Queen (The Complete Series)

by Janeal Falor

  “She heals fast and will be fine in a day or two. It’s doubtful you will notice a difference when you see her next.”

  “Where is she now?”

  “Resting under the bed in your old room.”

  “I’d hate to be a would-be assassin that stumbled in that room right now,” Inkga says.

  Everyone looks at her.

  “Well, it’s true. She may be a sweet thing when she wants to, but she’s also ruthless. I don’t think her injury changed that.”

  “Indeed, it has not,” Venda says. “Shall we get on with your magic work for the day?”

  “We should.” It’s urgent that I learn more than I have. I’m barely passable at making the luck charm that I've given to Inkga to be passed on to others. Once I get a little better at it, I’ll be able to send for Daros and hopefully learn the real spell I need to defeat the First Queen.

  Asking Venda about Daros’s plan might be a good idea. I don’t want to give her more information than she already has, but there has to be a way to gain knowledge from her. “Is it true you need to learn easier spells before bigger ones?”

  Her keen gaze locks onto me. “You are planning a bigger spell?”

  “Perhaps.”

  She continues to look me over, before saying, “It is much more realistic to learn easier spells first.”

  Makes perfect sense. Maybe I should tell her all about Androlla and ask for help. The question dances around my tongue, but I can’t get it to come out. Can’t risk her knowing.

  I wish Nash was here. I could use his strength and knowledge. I sent him home, but I wonder when he’ll come visit. Is he too angry at me to do so? My heart aches, but I do my best to ignore it. I have work that needs doing without my losing focus.

  Chapter 16

  Jaku stands in my sitting room, ready to give his report. Eldim is the only other person here.

  Jaku says, “So far, the prisoner has not attempted escape.”

  Drat. “Very well. Keep the guard on it.”

  I clench and unclench my fist as we talk. “Send Inkga and Venda in. Eldim, you’re excused for the day. Go get some rest.”

  “Thank you, Ryn. Stay safe while I’m gone.”

  “Always do.”

  He snorts, but leaves the room without another word.

  Venda and Inkga enter, and soon we’re practicing enchanting different objects. We’ve been working about an hour when we decide to take a break.

  Inkga goes to get lunch and returns with a lot of food. “All this has been through two tasters so we should be good.”

  Guilt that someone else is putting their life on the line for me punches me, like it does every time I’m reminded that I have tasters. I push it aside. It’s their job. They accepted the risks that came with it. I can’t do anything about it and should stop worrying.

  Usually I eat alone or with Inkga, but Venda’s here and I offer her food. Despite that, I’m about to protest, saying I’ll eat later while they enjoy lunch, when she says, “Feel free to eat in front of me, Ryn. I know you don’t like doing so, but it doesn’t bother me.”

  “Oh. All right.” I glance at Inkga, who gives me an encouraging smile.

  “Sounds good to me.” Inkga gets herself a plate and makes me one while Venda gets a plate of her own. I want to feed Jaku too, but know that he never eats on duty.

  While we eat, I practice moving my hands as much as possible. It’s a difficult task, but if I ever want to have full control of my body again, I have to do something. I flex my hand and let it rest on my lap as there’s a knock on the door.

  A servant enters with my mail. Inkga takes it and opens each letter for me to read one at a time while she discreetly looks away. She’s the best. What would I ever do without her?

  “This one’s interesting,” I say.

  “What’s it about?” Inkga asks, keeping her gaze averted from the note.

  “You can put it down. I’m done. Thank you. It’s from Inyi. She’ll be arriving at Indell soon.” I left my lady-in-waiting in a city after the old ruler there proved treasonous and took advantage of the people for personal gain. “It says that the people of Trentin have elected a new leader. She sounds like someone I’ll be able to work with, and the people love her.”

  “That’s good news.” Inkga gathers my documents into a pile, to be taken care of later. “Dessert?”

  Without exercise and with all this food, I may end up a fashionable size, though I’d rather be able to wield my daggers. “Not right now. You go ahead, though.”

  I don’t have to tell her twice before she’s digging into a puffy treat. Venda refrains and instead guides me through more magic.

  “You must feel it,” she says. “The more you believe, the easier it will be.”

  It’s hard to believe something when I’ve spent my life thinking it didn’t exist. I continue to try, though. Venda’s words are soft as she takes me through the process. I strain to make the mixture, my hand cramping after several attempts. I do my best to shake it out and struggle through again until I feel something inside me move as I chant the words.

  Venda places a little rock where I can reach. The words move through me, helping me focus on the part deep within. It flows out, and the rock glows. “I did it.”

  Faster than ever. I’m finally ready for something more advanced. Something that can take down the First Queen.

  Chapter 17

  A glance in the mirror tells me my hair is lighter than it’s ever been. I dart my gaze away. I don’t want to see me become her. I want to be me.

  The paintings of other queens never looked completely like the First Queen. They must have been made right after each woman claimed the throne, or there would be a hall of portraits that looked the same.

  Mine hangs among them, and I look so different. Why hasn't anyone commented on this? Maybe they think I want to change my appearance. I wish Androlla wasn’t overcoming me so fast, but I suppose I’ve given her no choice.

  Inkga wheels me out to the sitting room, where Jem is waiting, Afet and Eldim trailing after us.

  “What is the plan today?” Jem asks.

  “I’d like you to send someone for Daros. I need to meet with him first and foremost.”

  Jem’s eyes tighten. “Why do you need to meet with that scumbag?”

  I wish I could tell her. “It’s not something I’m free to disclose.”

  She stands, crossing her arms. “I don’t know if I can be a party to this.”

  Inkga excuses herself from the room, and my guards look like they wish they could do the same.

  What can I give Jem to make her understand without disclosing everything? “I know this is hard. Trust me, if I had any other choice, I would have him executed instead of working with him. But this is something I have to do, and I need your support if you are to remain my Head Advisor.”

  She paces. Though the walls have landscape paintings on them, it’s not the same as having a window to the outside. The room is stuffy, almost closing in on me despite its large size.

  Jem stops in front of me. “Why can’t you tell me what’s going on? I fear he’s using you.”

  “He probably thinks he is,” I admit, “but he has information vital to this country’s security.”

  She shakes her head. “Are you certain he’s not? He wouldn’t help anyone unless it furthered his cause.”

  “Agreed. He definitely thinks it’s furthering his cause, but that doesn’t change the fact that I need him alive for the information only he has.”

  She rubs her temples. “I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

  “Truthfully, I don’t either, but there’s no way around it.”

  She sits back down and gives me a wry grin. “You probably hate him worse than I do.”

  “Hate is a funny thing. It can morph out of control or ebb away. I think I’ve come to grips with what he did to me, but that doesn’t mean I like him or trust him. Or even understand him, for that matter. What he did to me was e
vil, but it made me who I am today.”

  She nods. “I understand that, even if I don’t want him living in Valcora anymore.”

  Maybe that’s what I’ll do. I’ll get Venda to take him to Faner after all this is over, if I can convince her to. Then again, I don’t know if I can bring myself to loft him off onto someone else. It doesn’t seem fair. Why would another country want such a foul being?

  “I’ll have Kada set up a meeting with him.” Jem makes a note.

  “I’d prefer if you sent a message to him yourself.”

  “You don’t trust Kada.”

  “It’s not that.” I don’t know much about my Head of Relations with the Queen, other than that her position is a mouthful, and she seems to be warming up to me lately. “It’s that I trust you.”

  She gives a little head-bob. “I’m honored, Ryn. I’ll take care of it, even if I don’t like it.”

  We discuss the rest of what we need to do today. When we’re finished, I expect her to leave. Instead, she stays, playing with the fabric of her skirt.

  “What is it?” I ask. When she says nothing, I persist. “You can tell me.”

  “I don’t want to upset you.”

  Did something happen to Nash? “Just tell me.”

  She sits up straighter. “You haven’t met with the people much since Daros poisoned you. You used to meet with them more often, to hear their concerns. I think they miss that.”

  She’s right; I haven’t. Due to my fears, more than anything else. “Do you think they want to see me… like this?”

  “I think they want to see their queen leading them, no matter the circumstances.”

  I nod. “I’ll take that under advisement.”

  “When you’re ready to set up a meeting with the people, let me know.”

  When, she says, not if. Guess she has more confidence in me than I do. “All right.”

  I’m with Daros, Jaku, Nash, and Puneah. It's been several hours since I spoke with Jem, and I'm feeling the weight of the country on me.

  Jaku insisted on being in a different room, far from my own newly acquired chambers. He also wanted more guards here, and while I wanted to agree, this subject is too sensitive to have a bigger audience.

  All I want to do is stare at Nash. It’s the first time I’ve seen him since he was sent home. I want to tell him how sorry I am, but also how disappointed. That I hope he can do better. Become better. But he came in with Daros, so there wasn’t a chance to speak with him. The only reason Nash is here is that I’m meeting with Daros.

  Though I try to keep my gaze off Nash, the dark circles under his eyes are noticeable. Otherwise, he looks like my Nash. My chest gives a squeeze, and I force myself to focus on Daros.

  “You’ve made a luck charm, then?” he asks.

  “Several,” I say. “I need to know how to defeat the First Queen.”

  He steps closer, and Jaku and Nash raise their swords in his way.

  “I wasn’t going to hurt her,” Daros says. There’s no telling if it’s the truth. “I was getting a better look. Androlla is definitely taking over. Your hair and eyes show that clearly enough. She’s assuming control fast. You haven’t drunk any more of the Mortum Tura, have you?”

  “Not since last we spoke.”

  “She must be pressing hard on you to make the change come about so quickly. Though, from what I heard, you have drunk a lot of the Mortum Tura, so she would have the strength to do so.”

  I clench my jaw. If only I’d known sooner the power the death drink held, I would have only drunk it once, and then demanded answers from Daros. Not that he would have given them at that point. And it doesn’t matter; thinking of what ifs won’t help me. “I need answers, Daros.”

  “And I have them. I’ll even give you this one for free, since I’m feeling generous.”

  I narrow my eyes at him. “You never give anything for free.”

  “You make it sound like I’m not a nice guy. Didn’t I take care of you when you were growing up, girl? Teach you what I know?”

  Nash’s sword is up in a flash. “You will address the queen respectfully.”

  Daros takes a step back with a hand up in the air, like he’s innocent. We all know otherwise. “Sorry. Habits, you see.” He looks right at me. “Habits are hard to break, unless you’re like Her Majesty here and can’t walk anymore. At least she won’t be killing anyone else.”

  I work to keep my breathing steady and even. He’s purposely pushing buttons, and I fear it’s working.

  Jaku puts a free hand on Nash’s shoulder. That seems to calm him down just enough to withdraw his sword.

  “Get to the point, Daros.” My words are crisp.

  “I wanted some conversation, but fine. We’ll move onto business.” He weaves his fingers together and rests them on his stomach, which is much tinier than when I lived with him. Is he eating? “Small charms aren’t always effective, though depending on who makes them, they might be more or less worthwhile. You need to deal in bigger magic. Need to find a way to open your horizons to something big enough to defeat Androlla.”

  “Like what?”

  “I’m getting there. Patience, little queen. Patience.”

  I have no patience for his lies.

  Neither does Nash. He takes another step forward, but doesn’t unsheathe his sword again. “Tell us what we need to know before I knock you unconscious.”

  “Do that, and you’ll never get the information you want.” Daros gives him a smug smile, before turning his attention back to me.

  How unfair is it that Daros was the one to find out about the First Queen and how to defeat her? The man is clearly getting what he wants. Though it’s strange—the cuffs of his sleeves are fraying, his clothing worn. There has to be something to it I’m not seeing.

  It doesn’t matter what state he’s in. He needs to give us answers, but I don’t ask again. Speaking of how he needs to tell us just makes him happier.

  He stays silent. It reminds me of when he would silently dangle torturing me as a consequence. The quiet doesn’t get to me like it used to, but Nash’s fist keeps flexing over the hilt of his sword.

  When none of us speak, Daros’s smile dims. He’s a pathetic little excuse for a person. His joy in bothering other people is sickening, but somehow pitiful at the same time.

  Finally, he says, “You need to practice bigger magic.”

  “What type, and how do I do it?” Not that I’ll take him at his word. Comparing what he tells me with Venda’s teachings will help.

  “A healing spell, I would think,” he says. “And don’t go thinking it can heal you. It’s very intricate and only does the most basic of healing. It will take a lot from you and give little in return.”

  I press my lips together. I was thinking of how a spell like that could heal me. Maybe it still can. Maybe I need to talk to Venda again, and she’ll have ideas to make it better. Probably not, though. I’d like to think that, if she knew how to heal me, she’d have already done it. “Very well. How do I accomplish this spell?”

  “You will need the pollen of a kew tree, fresh honey, basil, and a dollop of cream from a yak. Mix these together over bandages, chanting plo fir muw. That should do it.”

  At least I don’t have to gather the ingredients. “Anything else I should know?”

  “Next time I won’t be so generous with my knowledge.”

  Well, that is a given.

  I can’t believe he knows so much about magic. “Why didn’t you teach me magic when you were training me?”

  “I have my reasons.”

  Reasons like not caring if I died. How much of his criminal talents are magic related? Will I ever know? Does it matter?

  “Now, if you’ll excuse me,” Daros says, “I will be returning to my life.” He practically pushes Nash and Jaku out of his way, though they let him.

  As he goes out the door and joins his guards, I wonder what he’s plotting.

  Chapter 18

  While I wanted to g
et started on the spell right away, there’s no time. I meet with my council, see my ladies-in-waiting, have a late dinner, and it’s time for bed. My eyelids are heavy, and my desire to run and be free is strong.

  Inkga helps me get ready, as usual. I ask her, “Do you ever get tired of assisting me with this?”

  She freezes, holding the blankets in midair, then slowly sets them over me up to my chest, and looks me square in the eye. “I will never tire of helping someone with such a good heart.”

  “Do you really think I have a good heart?” I try, but sometimes it feels like I fail.

  “You’re not perfect—none of us is—but the core of your desire is for the right.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Do you want me to stay with you while you try to sleep?”

  “I’ve got Eldim and Afet to keep me company.” The two are in a corner each, though it feels a little like overkill when there are no windows in my room and the only entrance is the door that others are guarding.

  “All right, then. I’ll see you in the morning, unless you need something sooner.”

  “Thank you, Inkga.”

  “Any time.” She grabs a dirty linen set and is out the door.

  It seems like she’s the only maid who takes care of me. I’ve never thought about it before, but it makes me pause. Is it because of safety reasons or because others don’t want to help me?

  I suppose it doesn’t matter either way, but it is odd. Whatever the case may be, Inkga is a loyal friend more than anything else. I need more people like her in my life.

  I let my eyes close, trying to ignore the guards. Puneah makes a purring sound from under my bed that makes me relax more. I let my mind drift, and it goes to Nash. Seeing him today was hard. I wanted to reach for him so bad, to talk to him and see how things are going, but I don’t want to push him if he’s not ready.

  I push the feelings aside and all goes dark.

  “You won’t conquer me,” the First Queen says. “You should give up now. Surrender to me.”

  “Do I seem like the type of person to surrender?” I don’t know why I’m bothering to talk to her. I stretch out my body, loosening my muscles.