by B. T. Narro
Shara tilted her head. “Does this mean you’re going back down now?”
“Are you bored?”
“Yes, but I don’t care about that. I’m just worried.”
“It’s likely she’ll eat at that table near the window because it’s the only one in her room. So I can watch from here.”
Shara beamed. “Good. Now I believe you said something about teaching me to juggle?”
*****
Between juggling lessons, he and Shara watched the table near the window in the queen’s room. Shara seemed more at ease being near the edge than before, though she still wouldn’t watch for longer than the span of a few breaths.
Somewhere around noon, they could see Wendi absently moving her food around on her plate with her fork.
Shara clicked her tongue. “Horse piss. That food is going to go to waste.”
So Shara was just as unsatisfied with their miniscule meals as he was. “Did Effie or Steffen ever tell you how the students of the academy in Ovira are fed?”
“They have their own dining hall. They’re allowed as much food as they want during three mealtimes a day,” Shara replied.
“As much as they want? But they must have to pay.”
“It’s no charge to them.”
“Oh my gods…” Neeko had to suck back drool at the thought of endless food.
“Although, they are students. You would be an instructor. I don’t know if it’s different.”
It was too strange to think of demonstrating pyforial energy to a room full of men and women who were mostly older. He chose to think about the food instead.
“You should return to your little cave,” Shara suggested. “They might be coming in to take her tray soon.”
“You’re right.”
They said goodbye in the way they were accustomed to, with a hug and a kiss. Though, this time Shara lingered, pulling his hips into hers as their lips pressed.
“Come back safely.”
He gathered the energy but then let it dissipate as he thought of something. He looked at Shara over his shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here with me. This would’ve been much harder on my own.”
She gave him a quick nod as she smiled.
Neeko returned to his alcove and watched the queen idle over her plate of food for a while longer. He contemplated standing and waving his arms to get her attention before flying over, for she might need to unlatch the window, but he decided against it. It would be better if he was close when she noticed him so he could speak.
He felt his heart speeding up when a set of swordsmen came for her. Are they taking her to be sacrificed? She seemed startled, then annoyed as she stood and looked to be speaking harshly. They grabbed her tray and exited immediately. Wendi stomped her foot and screamed at the closed door.
She paced as she appeared to be speaking to herself. He waited for a half hour to ensure no one else would come to her room, then decided this was the best opportunity he would get.
He checked the other rooms, ensuring no one was looking out a window. Then he pulled in two clusters of py from the air and maneuvered out of the alcove. He glided straight across, hoping the queen wouldn’t look until he was there.
Luck was on his side. He reached her window while she was turned the other way.
“Queen Wendi,” he called out softly. She spun around and gasped. “I’m here to help you, so please keep your voice down. Will you let me in?”
She stared at him as if he were a ghost.
“Wendi, please. I can’t hold myself much longer. If you aren’t going to let me in, I’ll have to leave and I won’t return.”
She hurried to the window and pulled it open. He ducked and lifted his knees as he navigated through. She pulled one of the swords from his belt as he hovered past her.
“Who are you?” she muttered in a hostile tone, aiming his sword at him in an inexperienced stance. “Speak quietly. There are guards outside.”
He put up his hands. “I’m Neeko Aquin, a pyforial mage from the North. I wish to help you.”
“How could you possibly know that I need help?”
“I came here to spy on the king.” It wasn’t the truth, but he wasn’t ready to admit that he was here to take her husband’s life. “But I noticed you were being held captive in your room. From what I’ve seen, it seems like Marteph plans to sacrifice you. Is this right?”
His words seemed to strike her deeply, her face contorting as she lowered his sword. “You learned that just from watching my room?”
“I have a brilliant companion with me who figured it out. We’ve been watching from the mountain.”
“But why would you want to help me?” Her face brightened. “Did Quince send you?”
Everything he’d read was coming to life: her piercing green eyes, her long red hair, her gentle nature as she gripped his sword incorrectly. He knew this woman. He knew what her childhood was like, and he knew that she was to marry Quince until her father had an argument with the late king, Quince’s father, and took her with him to the South.
There was only one right answer to her question.
“Yes he did. He still loves you.”
Her eyes glistened. Then she collapsed to her knees and began to cry. Neeko smiled at her, but then she said something that filled him with dread.
“We’ll need to get my son before you get us out of here.”
Horse piss, I gave her the wrong idea.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
SHARA
Shara looked down into the queen’s room to find Wendi pointing Neeko’s sword at him. Shara couldn’t see Neeko anymore and was too frightened to move closer to the edge for a chance at a glimpse. Eventually, Wendi let down the sword and walked farther into her room until she disappeared from view as well. For some time after, Shara could see nothing.
Then Neeko appeared at the window. After a quick wave in her direction, he disappeared. So all was safe, at least for now. Shara watched a while longer, but no one else came to the window.
It remained that way for too long of a time. She became too worried to practice her atrocious juggling. What could Neeko be discussing with the queen for the better part of an hour?
She suddenly realized she had no way down from this mountain range if Neeko never came back for her. She’d die of thirst without ever knowing what had happened to him. A chill ran through her.
Finally, the window opened and Neeko soared out. He took a sharp angle, climbing through the sky while the queen poked her head out of her window to watch.
Neeko came over the ledge at a quick speed, then jerked to a stop. With a lack of grace, he landed roughly and rolled several times. He was panting when Shara came to help him up.
“What did she say?”
“You were right about Wendi being a human sacrifice,” he managed between gasps for breath. “Marteph is waiting for the army to return from Tramberr. They’re to gather in the courtyard to watch the religious ceremony. He believes this will give them a boost of morale for the next battle because they know the gods will be on their side.”
“Ridiculous,” Shara couldn’t help but interrupt. “He must not care that all the women of his kingdom will despise him after he kills his queen. When is the army supposed to arrive?”
“By noon tomorrow. Wendi will tuck in the two chairs near her table by the window when the guards come for her. That’s how we’ll know it’s beginning.”
“You were with the queen for a long time. What else did you speak about?”
“I got all the information I could about the sacrifice. Then I told her I’m planning to kill the king. She encouraged it. She’s wanted him dead for some time now. Apparently Quince has been trying to find a way to get a poison to her that she could put in Marteph’s food, but they couldn’t work out the details over so many miles.”
“That makes sense. I’d heard talk of poison during our time in the castle. So it’s true that they still love each other?”
“Wendi says s
he does.” Neeko turned up his palms. “But they haven’t seen each other for years so how can they know?”
“Neeko…what if we’re separated tomorrow and don’t see each other for years. Will you stop loving me?”
“That’s a good point.”
“Did Wendi confirm whether Brimber will stop the war once he comes to power?”
“Unfortunately, she believes Brimber won’t have the authority to do that.”
“Why not?”
Neeko took on a grave look. “Wendi’s father is likely to usurp the crown, and he certainly won’t agree to peace. I’ll have to kill him as well.”
“Wendi…told you to kill her own father?”
“I was surprised too, but she reminded me that he’s in favor of sacrificing her for the sake of this war.”
“Two hells.”
They became silent.
“What else did she say?” Shara asked.
“She told me she would’ve killed herself to spite Marteph by jumping out her window, but then Brimber would be sacrificed in her place. He’s the only ally she has, and he’s still trying to convince Marteph not to do this.”
Shara had no response. If young girls knew the truth about what it was like to be queen, the fantasy games they played with each other would have a different theme altogether.
“There was something interesting she mentioned,” Neeko continued. “She told me there’s more to this war than a disagreement about sacrifices. Marteph, like many people, knows about her past with Quince. He even knows that she still loves his enemy, and so he hates her and Quince for this. Marteph has wanted to kill Quince for years. Wendi believes the disagreement over the sacrifices was just the spark that finally ignited the flame. In her mind, Quince wanted an excuse to go to war as well so he could take her back from Marteph.”
Shara sneered. “The queen of the South must think very highly of herself to believe two men would go to war over her. Could she really be that beautiful?”
She didn’t like the long pause that followed.
He seemed to notice her folded arms and answered quickly. “Certainly not! If anyone’s beautiful enough to start a war over, it’s you!”
*****
They spent the following hours talking about the details of the sacrifice and forming a plan. But the more they talked about it, the more Shara realized it was impossible for Neeko to kill both Marteph and Wendi’s father and escape with his life. The roof of the palace was too high over the courtyard for Neeko. He wouldn’t be able to control pyforial energy at the range he’d need.
Yet she could shoot a fireball down onto the courtyard with ease.
Neeko’s face contorted at her mentioning it. “Certainly not!”
Shara was terrified at the thought of going with him, but there was one thing that she feared more, and that was letting him go by himself.
With a firm voice devoid of emotion she said, “There’s nothing you can say to convince me otherwise. If you’re going, then I’m going. I know you can carry me.”
They argued for some time. By nightfall, Neeko had finally accepted it would be suicide to go without her.
They plotted for each possible scenario and then tried to sleep.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
NEEKO
Neeko and Shara agreed it was unlikely that archers would bring their bows and arrows to the ceremony. However, mages tended to carry their wands everywhere, and there would be hundreds of them.
They tried several times to hold a conversation as they watched for Wendi to move her chairs, but no topic seemed to stick, the tension too thick.
There was one thing Shara said that managed to catch Neeko’s interest, though.
“The storm has finally stopped.” He turned for a glimpse. The volcano was dormant and the sky was clear. “If it returns after we kill the Southern king, they’ll think the gods have become upset,” she added.
“If we do everything right, it shouldn’t matter what they think.” He glanced back into Wendi’s window with his seescope. The chairs had been moved beneath the table, and suddenly his nerves were tingling. “Shara.”
She hurried to look, then became silent for some time.
“You can still change your mind,” he said.
“I’m going. Are you ready?”
He was, though she didn’t seem to be based on the fear in her voice.
They left their bags and seescopes behind as Shara climbed onto his back. He could feel her hands shaking as they wrapped around him.
“Wait.” She slid off and reached into her bag to take out Terren’s instructional note for finding the tunnel. She folded it and put it in her pocket. “Just in case.”
He nodded.
Shara sounded as if she was holding in a scream as they lurched from the ground and went up and over the side of the mountain. The city stretched out before them. Not wanting to be seen, Neeko was quick to descend.
He couldn’t make it to the palace in one flight with Shara, so they landed at the base of the mountain where he could catch his breath. Dozens of palace windows faced them, though no one would be looking to the south when there was such a spectacle in the courtyard on the other side.
They hurried to close the distance to the palace on foot. The sound of a crowd grew as they neared the back of the enormous building. Shara took his hand and squeezed firmly.
“Last chance to change your mind,” he told her, half hoping and half terrified she would.
She shook her head and positioned herself behind him. Soon they were flying up the backside of the palace. Neeko slowed as they came to the flat roof. There was a circular tower at its center with a pole jutting out. A Southern flag flapped in the gentle breeze.
Two towers stood at opposite ends of the palace, each square and lined with parapets. Neeko had used his seescope to determine there was no one on them, but that didn’t mean they would remain empty. Shara came down from his back, and they stayed between chimneys where they wouldn’t be seen by any archers who might come up to the towers during the ceremony.
Unfortunately, they wouldn’t be able to see anything, either, until they ventured forward to the edge of the roof—where they could be seen by every soldier in the audience.
According to Wendi, the dais was supposed to be right in front of the palace. She would be bound and laid on an altar. Her death would come at the hand of the most revered priest, her father, when he stabbed her through the heart. She’d told Neeko she wasn’t sure how long the introduction to the ceremony would last, so he should act as soon as the king and her father took their spots.
If only there was some way of checking, without being seen, that her husband and father were there. He and Shara waited for voices, but they could hear nothing above the general noise of the crowd.
“The king would certainly speak before it happens, right?” Neeko asked.
“Yes, I can’t imagine him killing his queen without an explanation to his troops.”
So they waited longer.
“The king, Marteph Mallen!” someone announced, and the crowd broke into applause.
When it settled, a man’s voice boomed out, “We suffered an unfortunate loss at Tramberr, but to give up hope now would be foolish. We fight for the gods, but we have lost their blessing. Without the yearly sacrifice of a faith-bound man or woman to both the water and the fire gods, they have grown angry at all of us…in the North and the South. We must show them once again that we have faith. Then we can ask for their blessing. So today, I will sacrifice my own queen to show not only the gods, but my army as well, that I will do anything to win this war and save Sumar from certain destruction.”
The crowd responded with surprised murmurs. Neeko thought he could hear the clank of chains among the noise and assumed Wendi had been brought out.
“Killing me will do nothing!” she yelled.
Neeko ignored the king’s response so he could speak to Shara. “It sounds like Marteph’s to the right of us and Wendi is straig
ht ahead, so her father should be somewhere near her. We’ve planned for this. Are you ready?”
Shara shut her eyes and rocked back and forth. “Oh two hells.”
Neeko grabbed her shoulders and her eyes popped open. “You don’t have to do this. I can kill them both.”
She shook her head. “No, I can do this.”
“It will take me a moment to get in position. Can I go now and you’ll be ready?”
She bit down on her lip and gave a stiff nod. “Go.”
Neeko’s heart slammed against his chest as he scurried across the palace roof to the eastern tower. It was still clear for now. He hovered down its backside, then peered around the corner of its base for a glimpse at the army.
Men filled the enormous courtyard. If there were women in the audience, he didn’t see any. Everyone’s rapt attention seemed to be on the dais, which Neeko wouldn’t see until he turned one more corner around the tower. As he flipped up his hood, he hoped the king hadn’t moved.
Neeko wouldn’t be recognized, though he certainly would arouse suspicion coming from behind the palace tower. He set into a pace between a walk and a jog. A few heads turned his way. He didn’t have time to read their expressions before making it to the end of the tower. The entire crowd came into view as he put himself out in the open.
The sight of the dais before him nearly made him stop. A line of guards, some with bows, stood between him and the stairs of the stage. One looked right at Neeko as he approached, then said something to his fellow guardsman.
His instincts told him to run. King Marteph hadn’t noticed, still addressing his men, but he was a good thirty yards away. On his other side, Wendi was strapped to a statue of an angelic woman. Next to her was her father, dressed in a red robe.
The guards blocking Neeko from the dais drew their swords and bows. “Stop,” one whispered roughly.