Through it all, the Guard behind her looked completely indifferent to what she said. Xylina wondered for a moment, looking up at her, if there was anything that could make the Guard change her statue-like calm.
“Did this demon tell you his name?” Adria asked.
“He said that it was ‘Ware,’ Queen Adria,” she replied softly. “I can’t say if it was his true name. I did not even know he was a demon until he told me-I have never seen a demon before.”
The Queen smiled, just a little, and she picked up an ebony stick that sat beside her and tapped the bronze gong set into the floor beside her throne with it. The majordomo appeared immediately.
“Is Ware in attendance with the court?” she asked. The majordomo bowed and answered in the affirmative. “Then summon him here, before us,” she ordered. She turned to Xylina. “You can tell us if this is the demon who contracted with you.”
The servant disappeared, and returned in a heartbeat or two, Ware pacing elegantly at his side. The demon bowed low before the Queen, and raised a long, tapered eyebrow at Xylina. He had already changed his costume; now he wore shirt and breeches of scarlet silk, and a tunic of crimson velvet. With them he wore belt, gorget, and rings of rubies and gold.
“Did you contract a debt with this young woman?” Adria demanded. “A debt that you knew she could not repay?”
Ware smiled. “It is within my rights, my Queen,” he said pointedly. “Yes, I did. I have only exercised a right that every creature of my kind has, as granted by long tradition and the law. You can not deny me that right.”
“We are not disputing that,” Adria replied. “We only wish to know if you offered a more-physical way of discharging the debt, when this Mazonite could not make her payment. There are certain outgrowths of that proposition that we are not certain the young woman was aware of.”
“That is also within my rights, Majesty,” Ware reminded her. “It is not incumbent upon a demon to keep your subjects from disporting themselves with my kind. And my kind favor congress with yours, as you well know. If she should choose to exercise that option, the price is more than fair, considering the magnitude of her debt.”
He would have said more, but the Queen cut him off with an imperious gesture. “Enough,” she said, and turned to Xylina. Now she wore an expression of interest and amusement. “This is intolerable, of course,” she said warmly. “But there is nothing we can do about the contract or the offer. Ware is right; there are no lawsagainst what he offered. These creatures twist and turn their just rights about until they no longer resemble anything like the original intentions of our fore-mothers. However, we do not care for his presumption, and we feel that he has tricked you. You have certainly not had justice; something must be done here. Allow us a moment to think; this must be something that will not violate the law, nor make exceptions to it.”
She appeared to think for a moment, then turned again to Ware. “You have entrapped this young woman, and that is certainly not to be permitted. We will guarantee the debt,” she told him severely.
Ware only bowed, and said nothing. Xylina thought she saw his eyes glinting with amusement, but she could not be certain.
The Queen turned to Xylina, and explained, as if to a very small child, “This does not mean, Xylina, that you no longer owe this demon his agreed-upon sum. You contracted a debt, and it has not been discharged. You will still owe it to him, with interest-but with the guarantee of the Crown, no annual payment will be required. This means that you do not owe him anything at this time, nor next year, and so on, until the full term of the debt is over.”
Xylina nodded, and blinked, trying to look innocent and not irritated at having all this explained to her. But she felt free to show her amazement at the Queen’s action, as this gave her three more years to make good.
The Queen continued. “If the term of your debt-or you-expire without the debt being paid, the Crown will pay it off. That is what the guarantee means.” She glanced at Ware, obliquely, and there was no doubt in Xylina’s mind that something about this arrangement pleased her immensely. “Now, this also means that this demon must make every possible effort to see that you repay him; he must, therefore, forfeit his other interests and accompany you wherever you may go until the debt is paid. You must offer him lodging in your home, if he wishes it, or you may move into his if he prefers that. If you go somewhere, he must go with you.”
Xylina paled as she realized what the Queen had just done. With the demon following her everywhere, there would be many opportunities for him to get what he wanted from her. In fact, only by being extremely careful to have witnesses about her at all times could sheavoid the imputation that Ware had obtained congress with her. She was thankful only that Faro was so devoted to her; she must get him registered as able to serve as a witness, so that no one could contest his word. Ordinarily a slave could not be a legal witness, but it was possible to have one certified in advance so that he could provide signatures on a contract or testify in a court. She did not think that the Queen realized she knew this, and that was a chink in whatever plan Adria had in mind.
“Now, we cannot leave you destitute, and with no means of repaying this creature,” the Queen continued smoothly, her eyes glinting with enjoyment. “Obviously, your efforts up until this moment have not been sufficient. And you must also repay the service that the Crown is doing you. We have a plan that will serve in both cases. In recompense for our generous action, we will require a service of you.”
Her tone left no doubt in Xylina’s mind: Adria would not accept “no” for an answer. Xylina had agreed to this simply by asking the Queen for a solution. She was now bound to whatever the Queen asked.
Still, until she heard what this service was, she should not reject it out of hand-her only other choices were the ones she had before, and they were all impossible.
“If you complete this service successfully,” the Queen continued, “we will be happy-very happy-to pay off the debt immediately. That is a Crown promise, Xylina, and we will contract to it if you choose. So, you see, this is a good solution for everyone.”
As Adria leaned back in her throne, a pleased and smug smile now openly on her face, Xylina knew that this “little service” was going to be neither “little” nor easy. But what choice did she have?
If she refused, Adria would have every reason to simply cast her into prison or send her into exile at once. Xylina had in effect given the Queen license, so there would be no impropriety in such action.
“What is this service, Queen Adria?” she asked, stalling for time to think. “Please, I would like to know what it is before I say anything.”
“We need a stone-a jewel of a kind,” the Queen replied, regarding Xylina from beneath long eyelashes. “It is quite unique and very valuable, one of the last of its land in existence.”
A stone-a gem. Probably it was hundreds of leagues away, and guarded by monsters.
The Queen appeared to be thinking, but Xylina had the impression that she was only pausing in order to savor Xylina’s discomfiture. Her next words confirmed Xylina’s fears. “It is actually a fragment of a crystal, rather than a jewel or a gem. It is only fair to warn you that it is in a very dangerous place, well outside our realm. Those who have it now will fight to retain possession.”
Meaning they probably were monsters.
The Queen paused again, this time for what appeared to be a moment of genuine thought. There was a gleam in her eyes that Xylina did not immediately recognize until she looked at Ware out of the comer of her eye. He was regarding her with a certain peculiar expression that seemed compounded equally of greed and acquisitiveness. The Queen wore the same expression, talking about this stone. “Additionally, once you have it, there is another problem. The stone itself is treacherous. Stones like it have been known to turn upon their possessors.”
As Xylina listened, she became aware that this really was the emotion that possessed the Queen whenever she contemplated the notion of this gem. It
was an avariciousness that surprised her. Adria reallywanted this stone, deeply, greedily-whatever, wherever it was. There was a different kind of gleam in Adria’s eyes when she spoke of it, a gleam that had nothing to do with eliminating her putative rival.
“It is also fair to warn you that it is possible that you will die in this quest, child,” the Queen continued, her tone replete with satisfaction. “Only a truly talented, resolute, and powerful woman will be able to accomplish what we are offering you as a quest. But you have already proved your ability in the arena-you are exceptional. If anyone can bring this stone back to us, it is you. We believe that you should do this, that you would be an ungrateful fool if you did not accept our offer.”
There it was: her marching orders. And theywere orders; there was no mistaking the iron under the silk of Adria’s voice. Xylina felt her voice quavering, and she did not try to stop it. Let the Queen think that it was fear and not anger. “Am I to attempt this alone, Queen Adria? This hardly seems better than the choice I have without your quest! Is this not a kind of exile? Do I not face death equally if exiled from Mazonia or on your mission? Prison would be safer!” She did not mention acceding to Ware’s desires.
The Queen laughed. Oddly, it did not sound as if she was gloating, but as if she were truly amused. “Alone? Hardly, child! You are one of our best and brightest subjects, and if you survive you will be invaluable to us in the wars of the future. It is not in our interest for you to fail, after all; we want this stone, and we can make use of your abilities when you bring it back. We will not force you into an impossible task; we will give you whatever assistance you might need. We will send you with an ample entourage: servants, guards, supplies, and whatever gold and silver you might require. It will be a military party, in fact, of which you will be the leader. We send you to a far and hostile land, but we will not send you alone or unprepared. You will represent Mazonia on this mission.”
Xylina pondered the “solution”; certainly if she were killed, this would solve Adria’s problem, with no guilt or censure being attached to the Queen afterward. But she was making the offer of help and supplies with Ware still present as a witness, and demons were acceptable as witnesses. Her promise of help was genuine. She truly wanted that stone; this was no ruse. Perhaps even more than she wanted Xylina dead or compromised.
“Do think,” the Queen added, coaxingly. “You will be the head of a military expedition. When you return, you will already have had experience commanding in the field. We would not be averse to granting you a high position in our Guard or our Council based on that experience. Ware will go with you, of course, but the presence of our guards should guarantee your safety with him. This is an excellent chance for you. There are many among my Guard who would be glad of such an opportunity.”
Then why not offer it to them? Xylina thought wryly. She knew, of course, that it probably had been offered to Guards in the past-and that since the Queen still did not have the stone, they had in all probability died in the attempt to fetch it.
Xylina was not particularly sanguine about her own survival, as far as that went. Still-this would be better than being escorted to the edge of Mazonia and left there with only the clothes on her back. It was preferable to prison. And it was much preferable to giving in to the demon. She had been maneuvered into this commitment, but it did have its points.
“You are right, Queen Adria,” she said, trying to sound naive and sincere. “This is a good solution to the entire situation. I must accept your offer with all gratitude. I would, indeed, be a fool if I did not.”
“Excellent.” The Queen applauded. She rang again for the major-domo, and directed him to bring her seal and paper. When he returned, she wrote out a note under her seal, guaranteeing the debt and specifying both the “service” and that the debt would be paid when Xylina returned with the stone. This she gave to Ware, who accepted it with a bow.
“It will take about a week to assemble the party and supplies,” the Queen said, when she had finished. “If you can think of anything you might need, simply send word to my majordomo and he will arrange for it to be added to the expedition. We will send for you when the party is complete, to give you your final instructions and send you off.”
“Thank you, Queen Adria,” Xylina said.
The Queen smiled winningly. “We simply do our best for a loyal subject. Now remember, Ware must accompany you wherever you go, and this must begin from this moment.”
Xylina had forgotten that, and it irked her, but she nodded her agreement. Ware, too, had maneuvered her rather more neatly man she liked.
The majordomo escorted them both out a side door. Ware looked about for observers, but there was no one in sight. Nevertheless, he waited until they were some distance from the walls before he said anything. “This is rather what I had expected her to do,” he said, as Xylina wondered if he were more her foe than the Queen. “This is the most serious challenge that the Queen could have arranged for you, but I did not expect less from her.”
“You might tell me something I could not have guessed for myself!” she snapped. “The likelihood is that I am going to be killed on this foolish quest!”
But Ware only smiled. “This is where she miscalculated. She still does not realize that I intend to help you. Without me, you would certainly die. But my desire for you is extraordinarily greater than incidental lust. With me, and with my help, you can complete this task. However, there are special precautions that you must take.”
Once again, Xylina was taken aback by both how human and inhuman he was. And by how accurate his reading of the Queen was. Certainly, if Adria had thought that Ware intended to aid her rival, she would have done something to prevent him from going along, instead of the opposite. Now that she thought about it, she realized that Adria could have assumed the debt herself, buying it from Ware. Xylina would still have been forced to go on this quest, but without Ware’s help. Surely the Queen assumed that the only action Ware might take would be to whisk her away from certain death, and take advantage of her. And inthat case, Adria would not even have to assume the guilt for sending Xylina into a fatal situation.
“What must I do?” she asked quickly, but Ware only shook his head, and made a cautioning movement.
“It is too public here,” he replied. “Let us wait until we are within your walls-and let us wait until you have Faro with you. He will likely play an important role in this; he should be fully informed.”
She could hardly restrain her impatience, but Ware was right. Faro should be present, and not just to receive information. She held her tongue until they were within her gate and she had sent for Faro to come to her little office.
Faro knew only what had occurred up until this afternoon. He had no idea of what Ware had said and done since he had arrived in Xylina’s office this day. The slave drew himself up protectively, glared angrily at Ware, and he said, threateningly, “I do not care what you are, demon, nor what your powers are. If you hurt my little mistress in anyway, or dare to do anything she finds repugnant, I shall rend your limbs from your body, pull what passes for your heart from your chest, and stuff it into your deceitful mouth! You may have tricked her, but I am bound by no vows regarding you.”
Xylina blinked, astonished by his protective vehemence, but Ware only nodded with approval. The demon seemed completely undisturbed by the threat. “Good,” he said. “It is as I hoped, and as Adria does not guess.” He turned to Xylina. “She thinks that this slave hates you, as he most likely hates all Mazonites, and will do nothing to protect you when he has no obvious responsibility, Xylina. That his performance in street fights will not be echoed when the threats are more subtle. We must not let her become aware that she is wrong.”
Faro was clearly taken aback by Ware’s casual acceptance of his threat. And a moment later, he was deeply absorbed in everything the demon had to say, as Ware explained all that had happened since he arrived in Xylina’s office.
“Now you understand why your wil
lingness to protect Xylina is so important,” Ware concluded, speaking to Faro as he would to an equal, which also surprised Xylina. “Xylina can protect herself, but only while she is awake, and not against overwhelming odds,” Ware continued. “She must sleep sometimes. I doubt that Adria will send any females with her. The armed guards she sends will be all male slaves, licensed to be armed outside of Mazonia, and as the only female with a Mazonite expedition, she will be the obvious target in an attack. Anyone who has faced Mazonites before knows who the leaders are in any group, and they will know that without Xylina, the slaves will be free to run away. The guards that Adria sends may be halfhearted in their defense because of that-but not if they know that you, Faro, will beat them senseless, then remove limbs, if she comes to grief.”
Faro actually smiled, a feral, hungry stretching of the lips. The smile of a man who had been trained for the arena.
“Are we all agreed, then?” Ware said. “Are we to work as a team? Our purposes differ, but on this mission I believe we have a common cause. We all want it to succeed. Faro, I pledge you my word that I will do nothing with Xylina that she does not herself approve. In fact, she will tell you what she wishes in that respect.”
“Agreed,” Faro said positively, knowing Xylina’s strength of will in this matter. Xylina nodded.
Ware sat back, in a relaxed pose. “Now, let me tell you all that I know about this stone that we are to retrieve. If you have any questions, please ask them at any time. I do not wish to leave anything out, and your questions may prompt my memory.” He grinned. “It is at times as fallible as any mere humans.”
Somehow, despite everything he had done to her, directly or indirectly, Xylina found herself beginning to like the demon. So far, except for what he wanted of her, and that deception about the contract, he had been completely honorable with her.
“This crystal-or rather, crystal shard-dates from a time long forgotten by your people, Xylina.” Ware’s face took on an absent and thoughtful expression, almost as if he was dreaming of something. His eyes swirled with many colors, an effect that Xylina had never before seen when she looked at him. His face changed as he spoke of the remote past, subtly, but unmistakably. At this moment, she knew he was truly unhuman; there was something about the angular shape of his face and that remote expression that made him appear truly alien. Now she wondered just how old Ware really was, how much he had seen.
If I Pay Thee Not in Gold Page 18