by Jess Allison
“Her neck was broken.” He took a deep breath, as if in unbearable pain. “Her neck was broken,” he repeated.
“I was told, from a fall.”
“So it is assumed, but what better way to distract me? What better way to get me out of Cordia?”
Even though it was obviously a rhetorical question, she answered automatically. “You could be killed.”
He stared at her, nonplused, and then shook his head irritably. “I’m a good deal harder to kill than a woman. This is why I will not leave you unprotected. You have my word.”
“Thank you. But palace security…”
“Did not save your mother.”
“The militia is loyal,” she protested.
“Probably,” he agreed. “But there is only one platoon left in the city.”
“One?”
“Remember most of the militia has been sent east to aid the flood victims and impose civil order. At this time, Cordia is dangerously unprotected, as are you.”
Could her mother really have been killed? Lil'Li shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. “But my mother was very popular. That’s not just rhetoric, she really was beloved.”
“It only takes a small handful of the disaffected to murder a Queen.”
Murder. Lil'Li looked around at the familiar room in horror. Was someone out there right now planning her death? What should she do? Who could she trust?
Lord Raptor stepped forward, put his arms around her, and pulled her close. “My dear girl,” he said, his voice warm and comforting. “I know how you are suffering from your mother’s death, and now to realize that your own life is in danger.”
Pressed against his broad, warm chest Lil'Li peered up at him. From her position, this close to him, she was able to observe a certain flabbiness in his neck and jaw line. Also, when he had shaved he’d missed a spot the size of the nail on her little finger, where little green and white hairs grew; by chance they seemed to form a little round face with two green dots for eyes and a straight, almost disapproving mouth. She was so fascinated by this oddity that at first she made no move to extricate herself from his arms.
Lord Raptor smiled to himself; just like any female. He ran one of his hands up and down her back, urging her closer. “You can leave everything to me, my dear girl. I will take care of you.”
Lil’Li barely heard him. She was still focused on the unshaven spot under his chin.
The man has two faces, she thought to herself. Then she played back what he had just said. “Leave everything to you?”
“Both you and the country will be safe.”
She felt a warning buzz go off in her head. “How can you keep the country safe? Surely that is the job of its Queen?”
He lowered his head and kissed her forehead. That feels nice, she thought. It feels as if he cares.
“You are very young, my dear girl,” he said. “A regent will be appointed. You have nothing to fear. You will be protected. You will have all the help and wisdom you could possibly need. Have no fear, you are not alone.”
Lord of the Circle, that was so good to hear. She was young and inexperienced. Lord Raptor’s arms were strong. Their strength just emphasized how little and weak she was. Thank the Lord for him. “Thank the Lord for you,” she said.
He smiled down at her. “You just do as I suggest and everything will be fine.”
Well, of course she would pay attention to his suggestions, that was only sensible.
He was smiling down at her. A slightly predatory smile but nice enough, she thought. Her eyes fastened on that little unshaved spot again. A man with two faces, she thought. Gently she extracted herself from his embrace.
“I had better consult with Captain Y’Nota also,” she said, thinking aloud.
“That won’t be necessary,” said Lord Raptor. She looked at him in surprise. “Let me take care of these minor things for you.”
“Well, I don’t--”
“--You and Lady Bel’Dor should be planning the funeral ceremony for your mother.”
“The priests prescribe the ceremonies,” she reminded him.
“Are they also prescribing your wardrobe?” he asked with a gentle smile.
“My wardrobe?”
“What you will wear to the ceremonies. You’ll need several outfits.”
Was the man out of his mind? First, he tells her that her mother and his wife may have been murdered. Then he tells her she herself is in danger. Now he expects her to concentrate on her wardrobe?
She took a step back from him and looked him over carefully.
Two faces. Remember, he has two faces, warned a voice in her head.
“Yes,” she said to him. “There are a number of things for me to take care of.”
“Good girl,” he approved. “I’ll take my leave now.”
“When can I expect a report?” she asked.
He stopped dead. “What?”
“I would like to be kept informed of any investigations into my mother’s death. Also…also…” Think, she ordered herself, all Cancordia well be depending on you to do the right thing. “Also,” she continued, “I wish to be informed of the extent of the flood damage, the number of dead and injured. How many are homeless? Enough supplies must be provided, transported, healers must be sent.”
He stared at her with narrowed eyes, and then he smiled. “Good for you,” he said. “You will make a fine Queen. I’m proud of you, my girl.”
His praise warmed the cold core of her, even though she wished he’d stop calling her ‘my girl’.
“I had a good teacher,” she said.
“Yes, you did,” he agreed. “I loved your mother very much. How I wished we could have married.”
“You and my mother?”
“Of course, we were very close.”
Lil’Li looked at the man doubtfully. He was very old. He had to be at least forty or forty-five.
“Was it ever discussed?”
“Alas (he actually said ‘alas,’) “by the time she was widowed I was married. I keep my vows and of course your mother’s values were of the highest moral order.”
Lil’Li had never thought one way or the other about her mother’s moral values.
“You remind me of her,” he said reaching out and stroking her cheek.
She moved her head but he caught her chin to hold her still as he looked at her searchingly. “Release me,” she said.
He smiled at her. “I am forty-five years old,” he said. “At the height of my powers.” Lil’Li held herself very stiffly, distaining to fight him. He released her chin and took a step closer. Lil’Li refused to back away from him. He reached down and availed himself of her right hand. He raised her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it. She watched him in amazement. Then he deliberately turned her hand over and kissed the center of her palm. She could feel his tongue stroking her palm for just a moment. Her head snapped up to stare at him, her eyes opened wide. Before she could pull her hand away, he had released it.
He gave her a very scary smile. “Now you go with Lady Bel’Dor and pick out the perfect outfits to honor your mother. I’ll take care of everything else.
He shot the hovering Lady Bel’Dor a stern glance, nodded briskly to the woman, and then exited the princess’s apartment.
Lil’Li looked down at her hand. “By the Circle,” she whispered to herself.
“Oh, he’s so exciting,” squealed Lady Bel’Dor. “You’re such a lucky girl.”
Lil’Li looked at her in amazement. “Lucky?”
“Well, he’s obviously taking an interest in you. So handsome. So masterful.”
“Lady Bel’Dor, I am the Queen Presumptive, of course he’s taking an interest in me. And as for being masterful, I would not advise him to carry that too far.”
Lady Bel’Dor’s mouth opened, and then snapped closed. “Now you listen to me, you silly girl. You should get down on your knees and thank the Lord that Lord Raptor is willing to guide you. The poor man has just los
t his beloved wife. He must be devastated.”
Lil’Li looked down at the hand Lord Raptor had stroked with his tongue and vigorously wiped it against her gown. “Where is Lady Tan’Od?” she asked Lady Bel’Dor. “Why are you here?”
The older woman sniffed. “Lady Tan’Od is an Earther. It’s more fitting for you to be attended by someone of your own race, someone of higher status. Someone who would understand how sensitive and fragile you naturally are. Those Earthers are so coarse.”
Lil’Li looked at Lady Bel’Dor’s fish white, skinny hands with their little pointed nails. “Was it Lord Raptor who rearranged my domestic situation?”
“For the best,” said Lady Bel’Dor. “At a time like this you need the comfort of an older woman who knows what is proper and fitting. After all, you are the Queen Presumptive.”
But Lil’Li had stopped listening to Lady Bel’Dor. What was Lord Raptor up to? “Have any of the other Advisors presented themselves?” she asked.
“No, no one. Just Lord Raptor.”
That didn’t sound right. True, she had been crying her eyes out for the last twenty-five hours but even if they were turned away the advisors should have at least tried to see her.
“What about Captain Y’Nota?” she asked.
Lady Bel’Dor sniffed. “I really don’t see why your mother allowed a Sky Person to rise so high in the militia. Everyone knows what they’re like.”
Where did the woman get these bizarre ideas? ‘A citizen is a citizen,’ her mother had told her over and over again. All are equal in your official regard. Apparently, Lady Bel’Dor was not familiar with The Royal Pledge of Service, although it was read and studied in every school in the land.
“Lady Bel’Dor, I asked you a question. Has Captain Y’Nota presented himself?”
“Well, I’m sure I don’t know. You’ll have to ask the guard.”
“Guard?”
“At the door,” said the lady, waving her hand vaguely in that direction.
Lil’Li looked at the door through which Lord Raptor had exited. There had never been a guard at her door, nor at her mother’s. She opened the door slowly to be confronted by not one but two soldiers. She didn’t recognize either of them. Nor were they wearing the royal colors.
Still, they stood tall and saluted her politely. She nodded to them. “Has Captain Y’Nota presented himself ?” she asked.
“Not on my watch, your highness.”
The other guard grinned at her in a friendly way. “Aye, he was here this morning, but youse wasn’t in no shape to see nobody. That’s what the old lady told us.” He indicated Lady Bel’Dor with a jerk of his chin.
Well that was true enough, thought Lil’Li. “Did you tell her it was Captain Y’Nota?”
“Nay. She just said don’t let nobody in cause a’ the state youse was in.”
Lil’Li blushed a dark green. She had been out of contact for hours. Cancordia deserved better. She would do better from this moment on.
“Please send a message to Captain Y’Nota. I wish to see him immediately.”
The two guards exchanged uneasy glances.
“Well,” said Lil’Li when neither of them made any move.
“Gotta check with Lord Raptor first,” explained the younger guard.
“No you don’t. You have just received a direct order from your Queen Presumptive.
“Ain’t Queen yet,” muttered the other guard.
For the first time Lil’Li felt something other than exasperation at their slowness; she felt fear. “Whose colors are those?” she gestured at their uniforms.
“Lord Raptor’s,” they answered almost simultaneously.
“I see.” She looked up and down the hallway. Empty. Not surprising really. This was a house of mourning. The usual hustle and bustle of servants, messengers, scribes, friends and instructors was naturally missing.
“Very well,” she said. “I need to stretch my legs anyway.” As she stepped through the arched doorway, the older guard stepped in front of her.
“No, ya don’t, ya highness.”
Lil’Li turned her dark eyes on him. To his credit, he looked highly nervous. Unfortunately, he also looked determined.
“Lord Raptor, he said youse was’na to leave ya chambers as there was maybe a murder a stalkin’ these hallways.”
“Likewise we isn’t ta let no ones in without his say so,” added the second guard.
Lil’Li looked at them with cold-as-ice eyes, but inside she was raging with anger. “Are you saying I’m a prisoner?”
They both looked horrified. “Nay, nay. Ya ain’t no prisoner. Not a’tall. We’s only looking out fer ya.”
“By keeping me incommunicado?”
Both guards looked around desperately.
“Do you know the penalty for treason?” she asked.
“Nay,” said the elder guard. “But I know the penalty o’crossing Lord Raptor.”
“I’ll go gets him,” said the other guard. “Get his Jadµ. Be right quick I will.” And he took off running.
“Hey!” yelled the other guard, but the younger one kept running. The older guard turned back to Lil’Li. “Well, there now. Soon’s Lord Raptor, he gives the Jadµ, we’ll send for Y’Nota, we will.”
Lady Bel’Dor was plucking at her arm. “Come inside,” hissed the woman. “You’re making a spectacle of yourself.”
Lil’Li shrugged off the woman’s touch and stalked back into her rooms. Lady Bel’Dor gave the remaining guard an apologetic smile and quietly closed the door. From where she was standing, Lil’Li could hear the sound of the guard locking her door--from the outside. She was a prisoner. Lord Raptor’s prisoner.
CHAPTER 24
Lord Raptor was annoyed, very annoyed. In fact, he was infuriated. He was…Ah to the Circle with it. So the little bitch hadn’t fallen into his arms as expected. She would. And after she had served her purpose… The important thing for now was to keep her isolated. According to his timeline, within a week he should have the reins of government firmly in his hands. The right people would join with him, solidifying his position, and those who didn’t would regret it.
He flung open the door of his office and stalked in, only to be brought up short. Two strangers were sitting on the visitor side of his desk and two of his soldiers were keeping an eye on them.
“What’s this?” he barked.
Both soldiers snapped to attention and saluted. He acknowledged them with an irritated wave of his hand. “What’s this?” he repeated as he looked the two strangers over. He was not impressed. One of them, a female, had jumped to her feet at his entrance and looked as if she longed to run and hide. She was an Earther, he noted with a curled lip, dressed in poor quality tunic and leggings in dull muddy colors. Nothing interesting there.
The other was a teenage boy of a race Lord Raptor had never run into before. The boy was naked from the waist up but his leggings were of a fine quality and well made. He did not rise upon Lord Raptor’s entrance.
“What the Dark Circle are you?” Lord Raptor asked the weird looking boy.
“Dark Circle?” squeaked the girl. She looked horrified.
Lord Raptor rolled his eyes seeking help from the Lord he did not believe in. Another religious nut, he thought. No matter what the priests taught, Lord Raptor knew there was only this one life. Lord Raptor’s philosophy could be summed up in three words; ME. ME. ME.
“That one don’t talk,” offered one of the soldiers. “At least he ain’t yet.”
“I talk,” said Ee'Rick, then he asked, “Who are you?”
“I am Lord Raptor.”
Lord Raptor! Ja’Nil was remembering Lady Fayre’s words. “Avoid him if you can. A nasty type.” It didn’t look as if avoiding Lord Raptor was going to be possible.
“I head the government at this time,” said Lord Raptor. “Now, who and what are you?”
“My name is Ee'Rick, and as to what I am? I am as you see me.”
One of the soldiers tapped the side
of his head. “Simple I think he is,” he confided.
His lordship scowled at the soldiers. “Why did you bring them here?”
“It’s the girl, ya lordship. She wanted to see the Queen.”
“The whole nation wants to see the Queen,” said Lord Raptor. “There’ll be a public viewing starting tomorrow and for the next three days. You can see her tomorrow. Now get out.”
Ja’Nil didn’t need a second invitation; she started for the door.
“Nay, ya lordship,” said the soldier, stepping in front of Ja’Nil and blocking her exit. “I meant she wanted ta talk ta the Queen. Had the passwords and everything.”
“What passwords?”
“To see the Queen.”
“How do you know about passwords?” he snapped at the soldier.
“Only know what the usher said,” muttered the soldier suddenly looking very nervous himself.
“The Queen’s usher?”
“Aye, that’s the one. He says to me ‘There’s two strangers what knows the words ta gets ta see the Queen.’ But whens I go lookin’ for ‘em, they’s already run off.”
“We did not run off,” protested Ja’Nil. “We heard the Queen had died and there was no point in staying. We went to get something to eat.”
“They was at The Red Dog Tavern,” admitted the soldier. “Thought you’d want to know, your lordship.” He saluted again and stepped back a pace. Lord Raptor nodded and turned to Ja’Nil.
“What were the passwords you used?” he asked.
Ja’Nil hesitated, and then blurted, “I’m Fisherfolk.”
“Fascinating,” said Lord Raptor. “That’s not what I asked you.”
“We have no Healer,” said Ja’Nil. “In my village. We haven’t had a Healer in over two years.”
Lord Raptor raised a green eyebrow, “And?” he said.
“And I wanted-- I was sent to ask the Queen to send us a healer.”
Lord Raptor looked her over carefully. What he saw was a teenage girl, unsophisticated, and probably of low status. Her clothes were travel-worn and of no particular style. She was moderately attractive for an Earther, if you liked the type. Lord Raptor didn’t.
“Your village elders sent you?” he asked softly.
She nodded, yes.