Cooks, cook's assistants and retainers, I said.
What?
I read it somewhere—servants were sometimes called retainers. I like that better.
I suggest you approach them with it; they may have never heard the word retainer. I'm fine with the other titles.
I think you're selling them short, I countered. They all know how to read. Some do it whenever they have time and access to reading material. I also suggest a library at Secondary Camp.
Sherra, he sounded weary. We have a battle to plan, remember? When you return, as Queen-heir, you can collect as many books as you can find and place them in an empty space at Secondary Camp.
I will.
I know how stubborn you are. Of course you will.
We don't have anyone writing new fiction, I said. It's all as old as Kyri, I suspect. We need writers. I know there have to be people in Az-ca who want to do that.
Most of them are engaged in the daily task of finding food and water for their family, he frowned. If you find someone with the will and imagination, I'll provide writing supplies.
Thank you.
Drink your wine. Battle. Remember?
I do.
Good.
Ny-nes
Kaakos
I'd have to restrain my anger in the future; I'd killed twenty this time—guards and servants. With most of the population scattering across the river, my warrior-priests would have to be sent out farther to fetch suitable replacements.
Not only did I curse the healer—again—for destroying the last plane I had, he'd destroyed the hangar with it.
It wasn't my fault that I'd been turned away from collecting information from Merrin's Uncle Hunter, when the bitch Queen of Az-ca interfered and placed herself between us.
If North had come from Az-ca, there'd been no report from anyone about it. Even Jubal hadn't known anything, and that meant it was likely the healer had somehow escaped my notice—and Ruarke's—for years.
Information from one or two informants—before they'd died—said the healer came from the far south of Ny-nes.
Nothing ever shows up from there—it's all swamp and alligators, Ruarke often said. Perhaps he'd just preferred not to search the area for power holders.
One had certainly escaped our notice, and now ran amuck in my country, flaunting what he had under my nose.
"Blast you, Ruarke," I hissed. "Damn you to the hells, Merrin," I added. Both had gotten themselves killed, when they should still be in my service and advancing my agenda.
As for Narvin—he'd been a weaker version of Merrin. He was also Merrin's half-brother, although Narvin never realized it. Narvin hadn't known who his father was. Merrin's father was much like Merrin in that regard, and too fond of sex with anything possessing female parts. He'd told Merrin he suspected Narvin was his after Narvin was taken to the training camps to become a warrior.
I'd wanted to rape Hunter's mind like I had Merrin's—to learn everything he knew to further my cause.
After he'd killed the King of Az-ca for me.
I'd spent the last of Merrin's collected blood to do it, too, thinking I could always go back to the source. The effort I spent on Hunter had come to naught, thanks to the Queen's intervention.
Merrin was now beyond reach, and the source of that blood gone. How had things come to this? Ruarke had seen to it long ago that a queen in Az-ca would never again have power, and women would only be allowed training as escorts in the army. He'd also manipulated everything, so that no escort would receive proper training. No matter how good they were, no escort would last longer than five years of continuous battle.
I'd planned this—to kill the power gene in Az-ca, with my goal to destroy it completely, allowing me to walk into Az-ca one day and have them bow to me—before I killed all of them.
Somehow, all those new rules and traditions had been cast aside, and things had gone back to the way they were before, and right in front of our eyes, too. The bitch Queen had much to answer for, and I wanted her throat in my hands as I watched her die.
Kerok
"Here's the palace," Doret pointed to the oddly-shaped outline of it. "Over here, two miles away, is the factory and storage facility for their trucks." She tapped two large rectangles.
"Now," she continued, "This is where the three planes came from that were sent recently. The word I have is that they're still empty, but it could be used as a mustering position for our troops."
"We need an image or an icon to focus on to step there, once we cross the barrier," I said.
"I can provide that." She slid a photograph over the selected rectangles, covering those lines.
"What the hell is that?" Armon breathed.
"It's an ancient plane—one of the first ever built, long before the End-War," Doret explained. "It was originally covered in cloth, but you see it's only the frame, now."
"I don't understand how it could fly, but then flying something made of metal escapes me, too," Barth said.
"The first ones to arrive need to step in next to this. The next wave need to step in near the first ones, and so on. We don't need troops landing atop one another."
"You mean the first wave focuses on this," I tapped the image. "The next wave focuses on the ones who went before?"
"It's an old trick, and it works," Doret sniffed. "It's described in the history I'm writing. It's almost the same when you step to a dining hall—a designated corner is where you step, and then you get the hell out of the way for the next one."
"Interesting. I want to read that history when I return."
"It's almost finished."
"I suggest stepping bubble shields there, one at a time," Sherra said. "And lay out the order now, so that everyone knows when they're supposed to go and who or what they're supposed to focus on."
"Good plan," I said. Doret nodded her agreement.
"Once all the troops are gathered, then those chosen beforehand will create the strongest mirror shields they can, and step to the truck facility. The second wave will head toward the barracks containing the troops remaining in the city, and the third wave will fly their shields toward the warrior-priests' temple. A mindspeaker will go with each wave, to signal my commands."
"It's important to kill the warrior-priests especially, so I suggest their temple be fired upon first," Doret said.
"We'll take them out first, then," I agreed. "In addition to the blasts we level against them, we'll toss trucks at their buildings. That should take them out quickly enough. Now, our second target is Kaakos's troops. Once their barracks are destroyed using the same method, those sent to take out the warrior-priests and the troops will gather near the palace. We've been told the shield around it extends to here," I pointed to a circular line drawn around the building.
"Kaakos' quarters are here," Doret indicated a wing of the palace. "His meeting room and audience chamber are close by, here." She tapped a secondary wing. "Those who've gone to the truck facility should begin throwing the remaining vehicles at the palace, as hard and fast as they can. If the shield is breached, both by lobbing blasts by the two designated groups and by the trucks hitting it, then Kaakos' likely hiding places should be targeted simultaneously," she tapped the two wings again. "This will ensure the best chance of forcing him into the open, if you don't kill him outright in the initial attack, once the shield is down."
"That may be too much to hope for," Sherra frowned. "He has power we haven't seen yet, I think."
"He's never had combined blasts leveled against him, either. We have that ability, now, and you, Sherra, may be able to get past the palace shield anyway. Should that happen, then get other bubble shields inside as quickly as possible."
"If we can do that, I may call in the troops from the truck facility," I said. "To join our efforts at attacking him directly."
"Yes—but only if you breach the shield," Doret said. "Now, all of you listen carefully to what I say next. Never forget that every cell in Kaakos' body is evil. Show no mer
cy, ever. Remember that. Don't wait for him to attack first, as you've done in the past. Destroy him quickly, before he has the opportunity to kill you first."
Ny-nes
Kyri
"You can do it—you've done it before," I glared at North.
"She's just a kitchen drudge."
"And a friend," I argued. "You can get past the shield around the palace and bring her out of there. Besides, we need someone to keep an eye on Jubal, just in case."
Jubal grunted his displeasure from his usual seat on the floor. The hard concrete pained his hip, but North refused to give him any sort of comfort by healing misshapen bones.
As a traitor to Az-ca, he deserved worse, but it still pained me to look at him. "You healed her before she was taken for the kitchens," I pointed out maliciously. "So it's your fault she's in there to begin with."
"Fine." North replied before stepping away. Jubal moved uncomfortably on the concrete, once North disappeared. Like a true male, he didn't want to show weakness.
"Garkus, stand by and fry Jubal if he tries anything," I said as I moved toward our captive. I intended to fix a few things in North's absence.
"Just give me the chance, please," Garkus' gleaming, dark eyes held a threat for Jubal, who attempted to make himself smaller.
North
Soobi's eyes were round with fright and wonder, while my hand clamped tightly over her mouth to keep her quiet.
"We have to remove your chain, first, before I can take you out of here," I whispered.
A slight nod told me she understood. Grabbing her chain-encircled wrist so there'd be no sound when I removed it, I cast the spell to deactivate it for only a blink. Certainly not long enough for Kaakos to notice—not that he'd be able to, anyway.
I wanted to laugh at his ignorance in the matter, but held it back.
Setting the chain on the edge of Soobi's bed, I helped her rise, before lifting her over my shoulder and stepping away from the palace. In my haste to get away, one of Soobi's swinging hands behind my back knocked the chain onto the stone floor.
My heart pounding and the escaping servant alarm sounding, I stepped through the shield before Kaakos had a chance to strengthen it.
Kyri
I made things worse, North snapped at me. He'd set Soobi down near me, so she'd know there was nothing to fear.
His anger was directed at me, however, and me only.
How? I shot back.
When her chain accidentally dropped to the floor, it set off the alarm, he said. I barely got out before Kaakos had a chance to increase the power of the shield. When the attack comes, they'll have a harder time breaching it, now.
Fuck, I replied. I didn't want to lay blame—he'd done what I'd asked him to do and knew he'd never have set off the alarm intentionally.
He'd just made it harder to attack the palace. No, we'd made it harder to attack the palace.
Soobi was alive, though. I was grateful for that much, anyway. Jubal, too, sat easier on the floor, once I'd readjusted an ancient hip injury, employing power to align and curve bone to fit easier in the socket.
I doubt Jubal had experienced this much relief since before his initial injury. If North noticed what I'd done, he didn't say anything. We'd had too many arguments lately, and neither of us had the strength or the liking for another.
We may have made things more difficult for you, I sent to Doret. Kaakos increased the power of the shield around his palace tonight, after we rescued a servant.
Kyri, we've discussed this failing of yours in the past. She already knew the whole thing was at my request. I hope her life is worth it, she added.
I hope that too, and I already feel shame, I admitted. I just couldn't leave her there to die.
Right. We could lose many more lives than that one as a result, and more important ones, on top of that, because you couldn't leave her there to die.
I know.
You know, and you'll remember—until the next time. And the time after that.
I know.
Chapter 21
Kerok
"Let your troops sleep late," I told Armon before he left for the training camp. They wouldn't go back to Secondary Camp until after we attacked Ny-nes. Caral and Misten were invited to spend their bonding night at the palace, in Sherra's private suite.
"We're going tomorrow night, aren't we?" Armon asked.
"Yes. Doret says Ny-nes—the part we're attacking, anyway, is three hours earlier according to the clock. If we leave at midnight our time, then it'll be very early morning, and most of Kaakos' palace should be asleep. I prefer to catch them unaware, if we can."
"I agree with that assessment."
"I just received mindspeak from Kyri," Doret touched my arm. "She says Kaakos just increased the shield around the palace."
"Does he know we're coming?" I breathed, suddenly fearful that all our plans were falling apart.
"No—it was something boneheaded that Kyri did, and we'll pay for it in the long term," Doret replied. "Let's hope combined blasts and shields will hold sway over what Kaakos can do."
"We leave at midnight tomorrow," I told her.
"Good. It'll be deep in the night in Ny-nes. Kaakos sleeps soundly when he sleeps," she said. I didn't think to ask her how she knew that until later, and she'd already gone home to find her own bed.
Sherra had already taken Caral and Misten to their suite for the night, so she wasn't there to ask questions, either.
Armon shrugged and walked out the door, with Levi close behind. Only Barth was left in the room with me.
"I expect you to watch over everyone, Claude and Kage included," I told him. "I've left a signed document in the vault, if anyone questions your authority. The other person who will help you if needed, is Doret. She won't be going with us, and she was once Queen of Az-ca."
"I was hoping you wouldn't leave it all to me—I'd like more firepower to stand with me if necessary," Barth remarked dryly.
"I'll let Doret know before we leave, that she's your backup, should the need arise."
"You won't be gone that long—or you shouldn't be," Barth said, his words and voice tight with emotion.
"Barth, don't worry unless it's warranted," I clapped a hand against his shoulder.
"Then don't do anything foolish. You, and Sherra, too. I've gotten used to having you here at the palace."
He was concerned for Hunter—and the condition the former heir was in. Hunter had been his closest friend for years uncounted, and now—Hunter couldn't speak, didn't recognize anyone, and was learning how to feed himself again.
"I don't know how you did it, all those years in the army," Barth said softly. "Losing friends. Losing escorts—losing Grae, too. It didn't register until recently."
"I know. It never gets easier, Barth. Come, now, our beds are waiting and it's late. We need sleep if we're to do battle."
Sherra
Misten and Caral asked if I wanted to stay and share the bottle of wine delivered to the suite I'd lent them.
"No," I held up a hand. "This is your private celebration, not mine." I stood at the door, ready to leave.
"Thank you, then—for this," Caral pulled Misten against her. "Without you—we wouldn't be here or bonded."
"Stop," I said. "It's right and it's fair, and I think somebody would have realized it eventually. Enjoy your stay at the palace. Tomorrow will be hard work—but we'll sleep late." I grinned at them.
Misten giggled and pulled Caral's head down for a kiss. I shut the door softly behind me and headed for the royal suite.
Kerok's shirt was off, as were his boots, but he still wore his pants as he gazed out the wide window of our suite.
I could see the scar that began at his lower back, before curving around and down a leg.
It wasn't as deep as those he bore on the front, but it could have killed him, had the physicians not worked so hard to save his life.
"Kerok?" I moved behind him and placed my arms about his waist.
> "Just thinking," he said.
"I know." Likely we were thinking the same—what would happen if we failed? If we spent our best and strongest resources against Ny-nes, and it wasn't enough—well.
Laying my cheek against the hard muscle of his back, I closed my eyes and breathed in the scent of him. Touching him like that, if I wanted, I could reach out with my power to see the fire within. For me, he'd always had the strongest of any I'd felt. I never told anyone else, for fear they'd feel less capable.
And, as I couldn't gauge my own fire, I had no idea how it looked to anyone else.
"I'm going to let those three young ones go with us—Cole will be with them, as he was when they helped destroy those planes. I'll give him instructions to get them away if things aren't going well."
"Thank you. I think they'd have seen themselves as failures if you left them behind."
"What if they're killed?" His voice sounded anguished.
"They understand the risks, Kerok. They have ever since they watched Merrin burn their neighbors to death in front of them."
"Fucking Merrin." Kerok's chin dipped with a weighted sigh. "How much of this is his fault? That Kaakos could take whatever he wanted from that weak-minded fool and use it as a weapon against us?"
The bitterness over Hunter's condition lay heavy on Kerok's heart, and he was letting it out, now. "Merrin may as well have stood on a mountaintop and waved a white flag at the enemy, begging him to come and take him."
I didn't argue. Merrin wasn't the only one in this, though. Drenn had put many things in Merrin's mind—promised him many things, including Kerok's position at the head of the army.
Would Drenn have done the same, if he'd know what the ultimate result would be? That Merrin could have a hand in the final destruction of Az-ca?
Drenn had effectively taken himself out of the equation, whether he intended it or not. Everything that happened afterward was strictly Merrin's fault.
And now he was dead—killed by the one who called himself North, with help from Kyri and Garkus. A sudden, unexpected end to a life lived far beneath its potential.
Black Rose Queen: Black Rose Sorceress, Book 3 Page 29