The advisor dressed in red, yellow, and blue, the most put together of the group, stepped forward and asked, “Do you have a female in mind, your majesty?”
“Not yet. Kristar shall aid in my decision.”
The advisors turned their attention to her and she smiled at them.
“And what qualifies this human over us, if I am allowed to ask?” asked the tri-colored advisor.
Kitty snorted. “Do I look human to you?”
“Your appearance aside, you are human. As well, you are a court entertainer and thus not qualified to make such a weighty decision.”
“And that’s where you’re wrong.” She pulled a nearby chair over to Melchior’s desk and sat down. To Melchior she said, “I’ll need a few sheets of paper and something to write with.”
Melchior pushed the requested supplies toward her. “What else?”
“I’ll need a question. A thorough one. You need to ask for exactly what you want in order to get a satisfactory answer.”
“If I am to take a second wife, I want a woman with whom Serenity will get along. Rivalry might develop but I want it to be good-natured. I have seen the results of a rivalry built on malice. I won’t have that mistake repeated.”
Kitty grinned at him. “It would be good if you got along with her too. You will be sleeping with her, after all.”
“That is not as important. She will be an outlet.”
“Do me a favor and never tell her that.” Kitty scribbled out a few notes on the page in front of her. “What else?”
The tri-colored advisor said, “If I might suggest, your majesty, your second wife should be able to rule. Queen Serenity, while qualified, cannot attend meetings of state because of your distraction with one another.”
Melchior’s jaw clenched but he nodded.
Kitty got the feeling he didn’t want anyone else to know what had transpired earlier. She wouldn’t be the one to volunteer the information, so she busied herself taking notes.
The red advisor said, “As well, your majesty, your second wife should be from a good background. A bhresya from a bloodline above reproach.”
Kitty stopped writing and lifted her gaze to the man. “What the hell does that mean?”
Melchior said in a calm voice, “He means my second wife should be a female capable of making the country forget I have a human queen at my side, which will never happen. I care not for my second wife’s background so long as she is healthy, mentally whole, and lacks ambition to become more than a second wife.”
“That’s better.” Kitty jotted down the notes.
The red advisor said, “I meant no insult, your majesty.”
“And yet I choose to take it as such.” Melchior’s tone held a wealth of warning.
Kitty said to the red advisor, “You need to keep your mouth shut for the rest of this meeting. You’ve officially lost your right to have an opinion on this matter.”
“I agree.” Melchior turned his attention to the others. “Any other suggestions?”
The men appeared uneasy.
The tri-colored advisor asked, “Do you have a preference to her appearance, your majesty?”
Melchior started to speak and then stopped and appeared thoughtful. He blew out a breath. “Yes. No female who is pink or light red or any shade thereof.”
Kitty shook her head. “I don’t even want to know.”
“Good, because I had not planned to volunteer an explanation.”
From the way the advisors all nodded and made sounds of agreement, Kitty guessed they knew the reason behind Melchior’s color preference. She made a note of it. “What else?”
The blue advisor said, “A warrior or a mage or both. The second wife must be able to protect herself. The only guards allowed in the royal wing are the Hell Hounds and their loyalty and priority is Queen Serenity and Crown Princess Nilam.”
The yellow advisor said, “I agree. A female able to protect herself would also be able to protect Queen Serenity.”
Melchior said, “Protection is not her purpose but you are correct, a female able to protect herself will have the ability to protect Serenity as well, should the situation call for it.”
Without asking or the ability to read minds, Kitty knew Melchior’s thoughts strayed to his bedroom. A second wife would have been able to stop him before Serenity had been so badly hurt. He didn’t have to say the words, but his clenched jaw and dark expression gave him away.
He didn’t let his bad mood interfere with the conversation, which Kitty appreciated. She wrote out notes from all the advisors’ suggestions. Half an hour and a heated debate later, Kitty had two pages worth of attributes for Melchior’s future wife.
Kitty spread the two pages on the desk for everyone to see and prepared a clean sheet of paper. “We’ve hashed out what Melchior wants in a second wife, we need to form all this”—she gestured to the two pages—“into a question.” She grinned at the men. “Good luck with that.”
The tri-colored advisor asked, “Why? What was the purpose of this exercise? This list is good to have but will not aid in the search for his majesty’s second wife.”
“It needs to be a question for me to answer it. You see, I have the ability to answer almost any question with absolute truth. It’s an ability I don’t like to use but I’m offering it to Melchior this one time.”
“As king of Nexeu, King Melchior has the right—”
“Silence,” Melchior said in a disinterested voice. “I have told Kristar already I will not utilize this talent of hers. What she offers is a gift. View it as such and leave it be.”
The advisors all nodded.
Kitty gave them a smug smile. She tapped the paper closest to her. “In the form of a question, if you please.”
It took an hour of debate before they formed the question to the satisfaction of all. Kitty wanted to make certain the entity that inhabited her body couldn’t interpret any part of the question incorrectly. Melchior and Serenity’s future happiness depended on it. Kitty had already screwed up once. She didn’t plan to do it again.
Kitty took a few calming breaths and placed her hands flat on the desk. She asked Melchior, “You’re clear on this, right? You have to write the question in its entirety in order for me to answer it. When you have your answer, write Done or Finished on the paper and I come back.”
“I understand.”
“Good.” She nodded. “Good.” Closing her eyes, she thought of the words of the ancient spell spoken in a long-dead language. She mumbled the spell and hoped those present didn’t hear it. They might not understand the language, but if they managed to repeat the spell, they could put her under whenever they pleased.
She couldn’t send them away until she finished speaking, either. The entity only manifested to those present when the spell was spoken. A new addition ended the spell. And Kitty doubted the advisors would want to be left out of this.
The spell invoked and sent Kitty into her usual catatonic state with her head bowed until someone wrote a question for her to answer. Though this time seemed different. Kitty’s spirit usually separated from her body and she floated in the between realm—the place between life and death—until the entity vacated, allowing her reentry.
This time Kitty’s spirit didn’t separate. She remained present and aware as the entity that was the truth of the universe invaded her body. The entity didn’t seem surprised that Kitty’s spirit was still present. In fact, the entity gave Kitty the spiritual equivalent of a fond hug.
Kitty didn’t know how to react so returned the embrace. The gesture was warm and inviting. Kitty had always hated the entity because of the way it pushed her aside. Through the hug Kitty learned the entity had nothing to do with Kitty’s separation from her body. Kitty’s inexperience and untrained state caused it. The two of them were supposed to exist together, not apart from one another, because Kitty was an extension of the entity born into a mortal form.
“Do you write the question now, your majesty?”
The question, asked by one of the advisors, interrupted Kitty’s thoughts and brought her back to the present. She could think about her new found knowledge at a later time. Right now was for Melchior. The entity agreed. As one they both focused on the room of men and awaited the question. Kitty knew the question because she’d helped create it, but it had to be written out by the one asking in order for her to answer.
A thrill coursed over her as Melchior touched the pen and started writing. She felt his intent in each word he wrote. All his emotions poured into every letter. He did this for Serenity, not himself. He didn’t want a second wife but, if he had to have one, then he wanted the woman to be a sister to Serenity, for the two women to get along even if that meant Melchior didn’t like her.
Kitty wanted to hug him. She did the next best thing. She lifted her head once he finished writing the question and started drawing the woman the question invoked. Kitty could see the woman and drew her with photographic accuracy, a talent she didn’t have when she wasn’t in a trance. Kitty could barely draw stick figures.
She finished the drawing and laid down the pen.
Melchior stared at the picture in awe for several breaths before he set it aside and wrote on a new sheet of paper, “What is her name?”
Kitty flipped the page and wrote, “Nyeki.”
“Where can she be found?”
“She is a teacher in the warrior-mage academy of Guriah.”
That answer got several approving sounds from the advisors. Kitty couldn’t get over her amazement at being present and able to witness everything. She’d never had an experience like this one.
Melchior wrote another question. “Will she say yes if I ask her to become my second wife?”
“She will agree.”
“Out of duty to the crown?”
“Yes.”
“Will this marriage make her happy?”
“Yes.” Kitty would have smiled at him if she could have. Melchior was a thoughtful man. Not even for Serenity would he subject an unknown woman to a loveless marriage of convenience.
Melchior wrote, “Thank you. I have finished.”
The entity of truth released her hug and slipped from Kitty’s body with a wave of farewell and promise to see each other again soon. While Kitty didn’t know what soon meant, she was happy they would have a chance to meet again and wished she had known such a meeting was possible in the first place.
She drew in a deep breath as the spell dissipated and then let it out in a soft sigh.
Melchior said, “Thank you, Kristar.”
“You’re very welcome.”
He held the picture out to her. “This is Nyeki.”
Kitty didn’t take it. “I know. I heard.” She hugged her arms as the wonder of the moment returned. She’d been present for the whole thing. “I heard.”
“I remember you said you were absent when utilizing your power.”
“I usually am. This time was different.” She glanced down at her orange arm. Was it her new bhresya additions that had changed the situation? Or maybe the past life working magic through Kitty had been the catalyst? Kitty couldn’t offer a definite answer so she credited both.
The red and yellow advisor said, “Your gift is an amazing one. I have not seen or heard of the like. To answer any—”
“Almost any,” Kitty said, but then wondered if that statement was still true. Though Kitty hadn’t received any training since she’d run away from home, did her new awareness mean she had gained more power?
Though curious, she decided she didn’t want an answer to the question. So long as her powers remained limited, she was safe. Being a full oracle meant she would be coveted and that would put everyone she cared about in danger.
The red and yellow advisor said, “Almost any then. Your gift is still amazing. You could aid the kingdom of Nexeu—”
Melchior growled, glaring the advisor into silence. He pinned the others with the same pointed look of anger and said, “Dismissed.”
The advisors bowed as one and left the room. The tri-colored advisor was the last to leave. His gaze lingered on Kitty longer than she liked.
She asked once the door closed, “Am I going to have to worry about those five?”
“They are loyal to me and to Nexeu. They will do nothing to harm you.”
“So long as you stand in their way.”
“They will do nothing to harm you.” Melchior picked up the picture of Nyeki and stared at it.
“She’s pretty.”
“Yes.” His response was neutral, as though he was agreeing the planet was round or birds flew.
“When are you going to get her?”
“Now.” Melchior pulled a clean sheet of paper and scrawled out a quick note. He then folded and sealed the message with a glowing symbol of a battleaxe surrounded by a crown—the crest of his house. The message disappeared in a flash of light. “It is done. She will see the message when she wakes.”
“Efficient.” Kitty reached across the desk and grasped his hand. “You okay?”
In a move that surprised Kitty, Melchior moved closer to her and hunched over her hand. He asked in a dejected whisper, “How do I face her when she wakes?”
Kitty snorted. “You mean how do you get past the Hell Hounds to face her when she wakes?”
“They are right to bar me from her.”
She snatched her hand away. “Would you stop? Please. I mean seriously. You lost control. One slip after—what?—five years of marriage. Considering what happened, you should be commended for holding back for so long. How did you, by the way?”
Melchior lifted his head and sat straight. “A great deal of masturbation.” He met her gaze. “Serenity does not know.”
“She won’t hear it from me. Promise. You know our conversations are in confidence.”
“Yes. Yes, they are. Thank you, Kristar.”
The usual retort for him not to use her real name didn’t come to her lips. Her real name no longer grated on her nerves. She guessed because she no longer heard her mother’s voice and intent behind it. Or maybe Chigaru shouting her real name during sex had made Kitty start associating it with good things.
“You seem pleased.”
“Sorry.” Kitty cleared her throat and folded her lips into her mouth to hide her smile.
“I do not expect you to be upset because I am. You don’t have to hide your good cheer. What has you so happy?”
“I was present and aware when you asked your question. That’s never happened before. I actually got to meet the entity. We hugged, oddly enough. She was warm and welcoming and really happy to see me.”
“Your powers have grown, perhaps?”
“That’s my guess but I haven’t done anything to improve myself in seven years. It’s either this”—she gestured to her left arm—“or something to do with my past life.”
“Past life?”
Kitty frowned a little, debating internally if she wanted to tell Melchior about her disappearing act. No sooner did she have the thought then she chastised herself for it. Melchior trusted her. She should afford him the same courtesy.
“Silny’s spell awakened a past life of mine. It seems the woman was a powerful mage from Gezane. I don’t know her name, not that it would matter if I did. She’s working magic through me. Chigaru and I were having an argument and mid-sentence my past life transported me to Silny.”
“Do you know why?”
“You and Serenity. My past life is offended by the situation with Chigaru and Serenity and wants to shield me from it, except I don’t want the assist.”
Melchior sat back, a thoughtful expression creasing his brow. “A powerful mage from a past life. To carry her gifts with her in death means she must have been powerful in life. Such a mage would be known in our history.”
Kitty held up her hands in a halting motion. “I really don’t want to know. I have enough to deal with being a demi-oracle. I don’t want the burden of some legendary mage hanging ov
er me as well.”
“I understand your reluctance, Kristar, but not knowing the identity of your past life could put you in danger. If she were human and died shortly before you were born, she could have enemies still alive who would seek to harm you to get at her.”
“All the more reason not to poke around. If we don’t know, then her enemies won’t either.”
“Not necessarily true. Magic is unique to the user and can be traced. If she is working it through you then any enemies, if they exist, might have already been alerted to her return.”
“How about we put that in the column of things to deal with when they happen?”
“Have you spoken to Chigaru about this?”
“No, though he’s aware of the situation since he’s seen her.” She shrugged. “Besides, we’ve been arguing and making up. Not much time to talk about anything else.”
Silence descended. Melchior appeared deep in thought so Kitty left him to it. She let her mind drift to Chigaru and the others. Were they standing around watching Serenity sleep? She hoped Chigaru had at least gotten dressed.
“Silny confuses me,” Melchior said.
Kitty startled and then looked at him. “How so?”
“I was unaware of any bhresya living in Night Creature Forest. As well, Silny appeared to be a mage of incredible power. Such a one should be known to me and yet I did not become aware of her until the day you arrived.”
“I don’t know what to tell you. From what I’ve seen of Silny and Trent’s home, Silny’s been there a long time.”
He shook his head. “I lost touch with so much after the death of my first wife. I wasn’t aware of bhresyas living in Cheslav and guarding Serenity before our marriage.”
“Whoa. Wait a minute. First wife? I thought Serenity was your first wife.”
Melchior’s lips lifted in a sad smile. “No. Serenity is my second.” It appeared as if the weight of years settled on his shoulders, bearing him down until he sagged in his seat. “My first wife was assassinated by Serenity’s grandfather.”
“Seriously? I didn’t think stuff like this happened outside of soap operas.” She waved a hand at him. “Never mind what a soap opera is. Tell me about this assassination and first wife and does this have anything to do with you not wanting a second…third wife who is pink?”
Kristar (Bookstrand Publishing Romance) Page 23