by Janeal Falor
“Don’t worry over it,” Jem says. “Go get a drink and rest.”
Jem would have made a much better queen than I… if she kept Ranen and Fraya from controlling her.
I'm antsy by the time Kada walks in and gives a curtsy. “How can I help you, Your Majesty?”
“I would like a meeting with some of the Kurah tomorrow afternoon. I don’t want to delay this any longer.”
“Certainly. I’ll get something set up, but I must tell you not everyone will be able to come on such short notice.”
“That’s fine. Just get the word out to those you can.”
“If you’ll forgive me, Your Highness, I must be going. There’s much to do.”
“You’re excused.”
I leave as well. Kada’s right; there’s much to do, and I have little time left to do it.
Chapter 27
The group of Kurah are so noisy, I can’t talk over them, though I’ve been trying to for several minutes. They’re loud and unruly, and a pain I wish I didn’t have to deal with on top of my growing headache.
It’s almost as if Androlla is applying pressure to my actual brain, sending shooting spikes of pain through my head.
Perhaps that’s why I haven’t been able to get the Kurah’s attention. I don’t have the fortitude to do so.
I insisted that the council be here to back me up. They stand on both sides of me. I glance at Jem, and she gives me an encouraging smile. As much as I appreciate it, I wish she was Nash. I could really use him right now.
In front of us, guards line the way, blocking the Kurah from getting to us. It’s needed, because even with them, the occasional person slips through, and Afet, Eldim, or Julina has to deal with them. It hardly seems fair that they have to deal with them, but there’s no one else to do it. All the guards are somewhere in this room. And yet, it is still so loud.
“Silence.” Jaku is standing, his voice booming over the room.
That seems to settle them. They quiet and finally turn their attention to the front—not to me, but to Jaku.
He says, “You will listen to what your queen has to say.”
Before they can start talking again, I ignore the pain in my head, hurrying to say, “My people, I know you’re upset at the high taxes, but physical violence isn’t the way handle it. The government has purchased a mine for Medi and Poruah to work at, if they so wish, thus providing them jobs. In return, the profit it will make will enable us to lower your taxes.”
A cheer sounds through the room.
I wait until it dies down and talk over the few still making noise. “I refuse to lower your taxes despite my ability to do so while my councilors and I are being attacked, though.”
That silences them.
I meet as many of their gazes as I can. I want them to know how serious I am and that I’m not going to back down. “I want to lower your taxes, so I suggest you stop fighting and start cooperating.”
I pause, letting the words sink in before changing tactics. “If any of you know who the man behind these attacks is, bring the information to any of my guards. You will be rewarded, and we will see that this person is dealt with.”
A loud noise comes from the back of the room. People are parting, making an aisle for a group that’s growing bigger as they pass, pushing a man in front of them. The man gets to the guards and sneers at me. The rest of the crowd are so loud, it’s difficult to make out what they say.
But that’s not important. The sneering man is wearing a cloak with the hood down. A brown cloak.
“Seize that man,” I say. He moves to flee, and I yell, “Bring him forward.”
He tries to back up, but hands push him forward. Guards go at him as he pulls a sword out from under his cloak. I clench my teeth, wishing I had the ability to go down there and take him out myself. Jaku’s probably grateful I can’t.
A circle forms around him, tight enough it would be difficult to get out of, but big enough there’s plenty of room to fight. Several guards flash forward, surrounding him and protecting the crowd. It’s not adequate, though.
The cloaked man dives, slicing a wound in one of the soldiers’ thigh. The soldier backs away, limping, only to be replaced by another guard. The other guards move at the cloaked man all at once. There’s a scuffle of limbs and torsos, piled atop one another.
I bite my lip, hoping none of my men get hurt and the cloaked man survives to be questioned. “Bring him in alive.”
The men help one another up until they get to the last guard and the cloaked man. The guard has the man’s hands twisted behind his back, his weapon left on the floor, several feet away. A couple other guards help the prisoner stand and take custody of him, while others help their fellow man. They cross toward me, and Eldim steps forward and hands them a rope that they use to tie the man up.
The crowd quiets, waiting in suspense.
“Who are you, and why did you try to escape?”
When he doesn’t answer, a woman in the front of the crowd calls out, “Your Highness, this is the man who tried to get me to join the Kurah attack.”
“How do you know?”
A man steps forward. “Most of us know. He’s been threatening us for months, hiding behind his cloak, but I know his build and voice.”
“Why didn't you say so sooner then?” I ask
The man who stepped forward glances down. “Personally, I was afraid. I didn't know so many others would back me up, and I worried that something would happen to my family.” He looks up. “I believe this is the right thing to do though, even if it endangers us.”
“We'll do what we can to get this sorted through so no one is endangered.” I glare at the cloaked man. “Is this true? Who are you?”
The man is unfamiliar. Why would someone who doesn’t know me try to have me killed? It makes no sense. “Tell me.”
He offers no response, his gaze darting around, watching my council.
Threatening him with my dart flinger might get him talking. Not that I would use it, but he doesn’t have to know how soft I’ve become.
Jaku steps forward and whispers something in his ear.
The cloaked man jerks his head into a bowing position. “I did it for the money.”
Whatever Jaku said must have worked.
“What money?” Something isn’t adding up. What is he talking about?
“Kada Pinoch offered me money to lead a group of Kurah to rebel against you.”
“You dirty son of a maggot.” Kada stands and throws a dagger at him.
It misses by several inches. No wonder she had to hire someone else to do her dirty work; she can’t even hit a large target.
“Guards, arrest Kada Pinoch for crimes against the crown,” I say.
She runs for the door, but Julina is quicker, stopping her before she’s halfway there. Julina drags her in front of me, and Jaku comes forward to help hold her.
“Why did you do it?” I ask, still in shock that she was the culprit behind this plot.
“Because you have what I want. I’m stuck, being Head of Relations with the Queen. Do you know what that means? I book your appointments. That’s it. I’m nothing but a glorified secretary. Of course, I betrayed you. I want nothing to do with you and would give everything to be you. Not the queen, but the one with all the power.” Her face grows snarlier with each word until she’s raving.
“Why didn’t you come to me? I could have given you a different job. Given you some recourse besides attacking innocent people.”
The room is silent, watching on as we converse. Maybe we should take this somewhere else? Then again, this might be good for them to see.
“What? And be turned away, like by every other queen I’ve been under? No. I wasn’t going to risk it again. I saw an opportunity to exploit the Kurah, and I took it. I took it, and I used them to get to you. But no, you had to be so blasted powerful, taking down everyone I sent at you. Even with you maimed, you still have protectors, and I hate it, and I hate you.”
&nb
sp; “I’m sorry you feel that way.” I keep my voice soft. “The council will decide your fate tomorrow.” To the guards I say, “Take her to the dungeons.”
The pressure in my head is pounding to the point I feel sick. Or maybe that’s the feeling of being betrayed by someone on my council. What was she going to do? Kill me, and have someone she controlled drink the Mortum Tura? It likely wouldn't have worked. She wanted the throne too bad. Right now, I would be more than happy to give it to her.
Chapter 28
Sleep is my only relief from the headache, but it’s its own type of torture with Androlla taunting me the entire time.
The council sentenced Kada to execution. I want no part of it, but as the queen, I don’t get much choice. The council refused to have her just locked up, like I talked them into doing with Daros. Now that he’s free despite his crimes, they don’t want that happening to another criminal.
Sure, she was wrong and cost people their lives, but I’d rather lock her up for life. Maybe try to help her see where she went wrong. We’ve seen how well locking people up works, though. We need something stronger than that. It hurts to have to do, though, even if the council is the one doing it.
We interrogated Mina thoroughly, and Jaku had guards searching through her things and past. Despite this, we never found anything against her. She seems to be worthy of staying on the council, despite being detained by the attackers.
A servant enters the room. “Kapeni Nola is here, Your Majesty.”
“Send her in.”
She enters the room with grace and poise, moving like she’s going to curtsy.
“You don’t have to do that,” I say.
She bends low. “Of course, I do. You are the queen.”
“And you are my friend.”
She beams. “That doesn’t change the fact you are the queen. You wished to see me?”
“I have a proposition for you.” And it would be much easier to think about it if the pounding in my head eased. “I am in a conundrum. My Head of Relations with the Queen had some problems.”
“I heard, but what has that got to do with me?”
And this is the hard part. “I was wondering if you would be willing to take the position.”
“Me?” She stumbles backward until her legs hit a chair. She sits in it. “Why me?”
“Because I know you and trust you. This would be a good position for someone like yourself, who has experience in dealing with things such as the sale of your mine. I heard you helped with the sale.”
“That is true, but I’m not sure I’m qualified to do such a job.”
“Not qualified or not sure you’re up for the task? I know this is a hard thing I’m asking of you, and if you’re unwilling to do it, there’s no hard feelings.”
She’s quiet for a moment. “I think—I believe I can do the job. I’m just not certain you’re picking the right person.”
“As far as I’m concerned, you’re perfect for it, but I don’t want to push it onto you.”
“Why do you think I'll be a good fit?”
How do I tell her? I suppose there’s no better way than to say it. “There aren't many people I can trust.”
“What about the sale of the mine? Will that create a conflict of interest?”
“Not since it’s already sold and dealt with,” I say. “Listen, if you don’t want the job, that’s fine. Or if you need time to think about it, that’s fine as well, but I would consider it a great favor if you were to assist me in this matter.” Thank you, ladies-in-waiting, for helping me know what to say in a situation like this. Whoever thought I’d believe that? It’s true, though. My time with them has become vital, even if it doesn’t feel like it on a day-to-day basis.
“You make it a hard choice.”
“I don’t mean to. You really are welcome to turn it down.” But please, please don’t. There’s no one else I trust more with the position. “Like I said, you can have some time to think about it.”
“I don’t need the time.”
Great. She’s going to say no. “You can speak with your husband about it, at least.”
“Unneeded. Coplo will support my choice whatever it is, and yes, I would like to help you. I will take the position of Head of Relations with the Queen.”
Relief fills me. I don’t know what I would do if she rejected me. “Thank you. I know it can’t be an easy decision.”
She sits up straight, looking much more like herself than she did a moment ago. “I don’t know about that. It was a shock, all right. I didn’t expect anything like it. But, if truth be told, I’m excited you asked me. I need something to do with my time, now that the mine is sold, since I was assisting Coplo in running it. He is the one who wanted to retire, and I supported him. But since we sold the mine, life has been boring. This will be perfect for me.”
I give her a wide grin. “I’m grateful it works out so well for the both of us. You will attend the next council meeting, and I will announce you there.”
“Perfect. Thank you for this, Your Majesty.”
“Please, call me Ryn.”
“All right, Ryn. I look forward to working with you.”
“And I with you.”
One less thing to worry about. Someone I trust on the council besides Jaku and Jem. There’s still a long way to go if I’m to do a good job as the queen, though. I need to find ways to help my people. Ways to keep them in mind. In any case, Kapeni is a great start.
Chapter 29
“Are you well?” Venda asks me.
“Sorry. I was thinking.” About more than I should, with such wracking anguish.
“More practicing, less thinking, then. It will do you good.”
“We’ve been practicing for three hours,” Inkga says. “Isn’t it time for a break?”
“Ah, perhaps you are right.” Venda gathers the ingredients we were using. “We will eat and begin again.”
As much as I want to protest, because of the pain in my head, I have to press on for that same reason.
Inkga goes to bring lunch. When she returns and helps me eat, the pressure in my head suddenly releases. It’s like a cool breeze slipped across my head. It’s a welcome relief—until I realize that I’m not the one moving my mouth and hands.
I struggle to take over as Androlla says, “You know you are all doomed to fail.”
“What are you talking about, Ryn?” Inkga pauses with the fork halfway back to the plate, a look of pure confusion spread across her face.
I struggle to regain control. It comes crashing in with the pain. I wince. “Nothing. Sorry. I’m not feeling well.”
“Perhaps we should break from eating,” Inkga says.
Jaku speaks for the first time from his corner. “Maybe you’re right.” I almost forgot he was there.
I didn’t forget about Nash, though. I’ve been trying to pretend he’s not here for the moment. Jaku insisted on him guarding me. He says, “She’s looking a little pale.”
“No. We need to continue.” The words come out harsher than I intend, but they are my own. “I’m not even hungry anymore. Just help me with the spell.”
There’s a knock on the door. When Inkga answers, it’s Jem. “I thought I would check in on you. No one has seen you in several hours,” Jem says.
“Come in. Maybe you can help us.”
She takes in the ingredients on the table and hurries to close the door. “Magic?”
“What else?”
“She knows?” Inkga asks.
“She does, and she’ll keep our secret. Maybe even help us.” The pain ebbs and flows, moving through my skull.
“Of course I’ll help.” She pulls a small book from her skirts. “I’ve been reading up on magic, and although I haven’t found the spell I want to”—she gives me a meaningful look—“it’s very interesting stuff. Did you know the only way to make a spell is to enchant an object, and then that object casts the spell according to the user, usually in a manner tied to them?”
&n
bsp; “We did,” Inkga says. “But it’s good you’ve found that. It means you might be able to find more on magic.”
If only she knew what we’re looking for…She’d probably take it well, but I don’t want to burden her more than she already is.
“What spell are we working on, again?” I ask.
“Are you certain you’re all right, Ryn?” Venda asks.
“Fine.” Puneah, curled up at my feet, nudges my hand. I pet her, enjoying how soft she feels. The pain eases. “The healing spell, right?”
“Yes.” Venda sounds matter-of-fact again. “Here are the ingredients, Jem. Will you help Ryn with the mortar and pestle?”
“Of course.”
“I’ve gotten pretty good at it,” I say as she brings over the mortar and pestle.
My hand aches as I grind the items together, but it’s a feel-good sort of ache. A nice change from the throbbing in my head. I’ve gained much mobility compared to how I was previously but still get tired more easily than I used to. As I chant, the rhythm feels familiar. I’ve gotten close with this spell several times but never quite got it.
There’s another knock on the door. Inkga throws a piece of fabric over the items, and Jem hides the mortar and pestle behind her back.
“Begging your pardon, Your Highness, but Daros Durkin is here to see you. Said you would want to see him,” a servant says.
I exchange a glance with Jaku. “That’d be fine. Tell him I’ll meet him the receiving room,” I say.
“Or you could meet me here.” Daros shoves his way past the servant, his guards coming in after him. “My… this room is quaint and squishy.”
He takes in everything, from the flickering candles everywhere, to the fabric laid across the ingredients and the fact that Venda’s here, to Jaku.
“If you wish to discuss anything with me, you’ll have to do it elsewhere.” I keep my voice firm. Despite that, he ambles in and takes a seat next to Venda.