She groaned inwardly. That man. At random moments ever since their time together, she was assailed by memories of the way they’d touched and kissed. The memories made her toes curl, and she was happy enough to dive into them, reliving every moment. She couldn’t do that here, even though she wanted to.
Sun and bones, why did she feel so warm?
As if on cue, Ciaska’s mist floated into the room. The sight of it seemed to cool Nicce’s blood. She fumbled around on the table to pour herself some wine. She hadn’t actually made it to the kitchens for breakfast yet. Absalom had wanted her to come straight here, and she hadn’t reminded him that she needed to eat. She probably should have.
Wine on an empty stomach was a terrible idea.
Nicce pushed the goblet away.
One of the women of the court was hurrying away from Ciaska, and the girl tripped over her dress, sprawling directly in the middle of the goddess’s path.
“Clumsy,” said Ciaska. She reached out to one of the guards. “Sword?”
“Exalted One?” came the confused voice of the guard.
The bride was getting to her feet, her eyes wide and terrified. “Exalted One, my apologies. I did not mean—”
“Give me your sword,” Ciaska said the guard.
“No, please,” said the bride. “I’ll go right now. You won’t see me again.” She was backing away.
“Hold still,” said Ciaska to the bride.
The bride ran.
Ciaska’s tendrils went after the girl and wrapped around her, stopping her, pulling her back so that she hovered over Ciaska. The girl struggled and screamed and pleaded.
“Sword.”
The guard gave it to the goddess, who pulled the bride down closer and stabbed her, right in the chest. Her misty tendrils pulled back at once, and the dead body thudded wetly against the floor.
“Eew,” said Ciaska. “I have to remember not to kill people in the throne room because the blood is so gross.” She made a face, tossing the sword aside. She looked at her hands and then wiped them on the skirt of the first handy woman, who was standing rigidly and concentrating on the floor. “Gross, gross, gross,” muttered Ciaska.
Nicce decided maybe a little wine might be just the thing. Her hands shook as she poured some into her goblet.
Ciaska was heading for her.
Nicce gulped down some wine. She didn’t make eye contact with the goddess, hoping that might mean Ciaska would move on. But she wasn’t so lucky.
The goddess sat down at the table opposite Nicce, and the mist wrapped around the table legs. Ciaska smiled. “Good morning, everyone.”
“Good morning, Exalted One,” said Absalom, managing to sound unruffled. How did he do that?
Nicce swallowed. “Good morning, Exalted One.” Her voice, on the other hand, trembled.
Ciaska looked at her hands. “I think I got the blood off, but I can’t be sure. It might smell still. Absalom?” She hovered her fingers under his nose. “Do my fingers smell like blood?”
Absalom sniffed. “I don’t think so.”
“No?” She pulled her hand back and sniffed herself. “Are you sure?”
“Even if they do, Exalted One, it’s a… good thing.”
“Oh?”
Absalom nodded. “Certainly. Strikes terror into everyone’s hearts, reminds them to respect you. I don’t see the down side.”
Ciaska considered. “I suppose. Maybe you’re right. Should we ask Eithan?” She looked around. “Where is Eithan? If I bring him over here, is he going to try to slit your throat? I hear he came to your room and accosted you.”
“Accosted is a rather strong word,” said Absalom. “I am easily a match for Eithan, and he was drunk anyway, so I’m sure I would have come out on top.”
Ciaska snorted. “Oh, dear, this is worse than I thought. You two are in a cock-measuring contest, and I can hardly bear it.” She paused, thinking. “I wonder. Perhaps there should be an actual cock-measuring contest.” She turned to Nicce. “What do you think?”
“M-me?” said Nicce. Her voice was still trembling.
“Yes, you. Do you want to see both of their cocks?”
“No,” said Nicce, perhaps a bit too forcefully.
“No?” said Ciaska.
“I am… frightened of Sir Eithan, Exalted One,” Nicce managed. She drank more wine.
“Well, all the more reason to see him with his pants down,” said Ciaska. “All men look silly with their pants down, and personally, I think cocks are just funny, in general. I mean, don’t you? The way they… stick out. It’s hilarious. Everything about them is a bit ridiculous.”
“Mmm.” Nicce swallowed her wine.
“Don’t you agree, Absalom?”
“Nothing more ridiculous than cocks, Exalted One,” said Absalom sagely.
“I don’t wish to see him… undressed,” said Nicce.
“No?” said Ciaska, narrowing her eyes on Nicce. “But he seems rather desperate for you to see, don’t you think? He mopes around the palace, and I imagine he spends every spare moment wishing he could show you his cock.”
Nicce blinked at the goddess. How was she supposed to respond to that?
“Eithan!” Ciaska had spotted him. “Over here, please. Now.”
Nicce kept her gaze on her goblet, and she didn’t see Eithan, but she somehow… felt him when he was there. Maybe it was only that she saw a hint of a shadow across the table, or maybe she smelled him, or… whatever the case, it was nearly unbearable. She was very uncomfortable with all this talk about men’s… bodies, anyway, especially Eithan’s. This was horrid. If Ciaska made her look at…
No.
“Eithan, finally.” Ciaska put her hand on Eithan’s chest. “I was just talking about how the problem between you and Absalom probably comes down to something simple, and could be settled if we determined which of you has the larger cock.”
“Well, I think you’re the one in possession of that knowledge,” came Eithan’s voice. He sounded faintly amused, not the least bit bothered.
“It wouldn’t be a fair contest,” said Absalom. “Because Eithan’s doesn’t function, and we all know a flaccid cock isn’t quite as impressive as an erect one.”
“True,” said Ciaska. Nicce could see Ciaska’s fingers curling on Eithan’s chest. How was Nicce supposed to bear watching the goddess touch him like that? “Perhaps Nicce could assist?”
Nicce made a squeaking noise in the back of her throat, a noise of horror.
Ciaska turned to her. “You’ve broken my Eithan, you see, and I wish you to fix him. Would you do that? Could you pretend not to be afraid of him, just to restore his faith in himself?” Ciaska’s hand went lower, her fingers dragging over the muscles in his stomach. “My Eithan is very sensitive. You’ve wounded him.”
Nicce didn’t know what to do or what to say. She glanced up at Eithan, who locked gazes with her, and saw her terror reflected in his expression.
Absalom cleared his throat. “You know, Exalted One, I am certain I know what’s troubling you.”
Ciaska turned on him. “Who says anything’s troubling me? I’m having a bit of fun is all. Are you having performance anxiety? Are you worried Eithan’s cock is, in fact, bigger than yours?”
“No one’s cock is bigger than mine,” said Absalom, winking at the goddess. “And I only say what I say, because I know you, darling.”
Ciaska’s fingers trailed back up Eithan’s chest and she preened at the expression of endearment. “You are the most arrogant man I have ever met, Absalom,” she said affectionately.
“Whenever you start randomly killing people, you’re out of sorts, my sweet one.” Absalom covered her hand with his own. “Trust me, I know what’s wrong. You’re bored.”
Ciaska sighed. “I’m always bored.”
“No, you’re more bored than usual.” Absalom poured some wine into a goblet and slid it across the table towards her. “But I’ve had an idea.”
Ciaska picked up the goblet,
but kept stroking Eithan’s chest and stomach, which was going to drive Nicce mad. “An idea about what?”
“Something to entertain you,” said Absalom.
“Oh?” Ciaska’s hand left Eithan. She leaned closer to Absalom. “And not a cock-measuring contest?”
“We could do that too, I suppose, but it’s really pointless. I’ll win.”
“Shut up,” muttered Eithan as if he was really annoyed.
Absalom stood up, his hands going to his breeches. “That’s it, I’ve had it. You’re moping over there, and you’re ruining my idea. Let’s do this.”
Ciaska put her hand on Absalom’s hands, stopping them. “Absalom, don’t keep me in suspense. What’s your idea?”
Absalom sat down slowly, turning to the goddess. “A play.”
“A play?” said Ciaska. “You mean, with costumes and lines and acting things out?”
“I can’t believe we’ve never done one,” said Absalom, grinning widely. “There are quite enough people to populate a cast, I think.”
“Yes,” said Ciaska, absently drinking some wine. “I can’t believe I haven’t thought of it before. It is a marvelous idea, Absalom.”
“I live to serve you, Exalted One.” He winked at her again.
Ciaska giggled. “You’re… oh, Absalom, you are my favorite.”
“Of course I am.”
Ciaska turned to Eithan. “You would be my favorite, you know, if you weren’t dreadful.”
“I shall endeavor to mend my ways,” said Eithan. He sounded sarcastic.
“I should hurt you for that,” said Ciaska, but she didn’t sound angry, just matter-of-fact.
“I am yours to do with as you see fit,” said Eithan.
“That’s the thing, you’re not.” Ciaska turned on Nicce. “And it’s your fault.”
Nicce cringed. What was this play business? Was this part of the plan? Absalom could have clued her in to it this morning. He had said that Eithan doled out only bits of information, but Absalom was easily as bad.
“Absalom,” said Ciaska, still looking at Nicce, “you will make sure that Eithan and Nicce participate in the play, and that she stops being afraid of him? Maybe they could fuck onstage.”
Nicce’s eyes bulged.
Eithan went still.
Ciaska set down her goblet. “On second thought, no. I don’t want that at all.” She pointed at Eithan. “Definitely do not fuck her.”
“Noted,” said Eithan.
“If you do, I will rip her into little pieces and have them baked into a pie and force you to eat them,” said Ciaska.
Nicce gaped at the goddess. She was sitting right in front of the woman. Right exactly in front of her.
“Also noted,” said Eithan. “May I go, Exalted One? Are you done with me?”
Ciaska let out a frustrated noise. “Never. I shall never be done with you. And you will be in the play.”
“Fine.” Eithan shrugged.
“And you can’t leave,” said Ciaska. “You stay here, with them, at this table. I’ll leave.”
Eithan bowed his head in grim acknowledgment.
Ciaska got up from the table and swept off. “I’m very excited about the play,” she called over her shoulder, and then she turned her back on them.
Eithan seized a goblet and poured himself some wine. His voice was very quiet. “Well, that went better than I could have predicted. Nicely done, Absalom.”
“I know we were supposed to wait to ask her about the play,” said Absalom, “but under the circumstances, I thought it was worth it to go ahead with it.”
“Thank you,” said Eithan. He glanced at Nicce. “You all right?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. I thought I might kill her. I don’t know how you two can be near her and not lose your minds. The way she was touching you.”
“Yes, it was rather worse with you here,” said Eithan. “But she does that all the time, so you’d best get used to it.”
Nicce drained her wine goblet. She was feeling a bit lightheaded. Too much wine.
“Besides, you think I enjoy watching you and Absalom?” said Eithan.
“That’s not the same thing,” said Nicce, “and it was your idea.”
“Shut up, both of you, really,” said Absalom. “You’re going to get us all killed.”
Nicce rubbed her forehead. “I need breakfast.”
“Oh!” Absalom cringed. “Sorry, I completely forgot. Let’s get you some food.”
Nicce got up from the table, feeling a little unbalanced. She had to lean on Absalom.
“Really?” said Eithan, shaking his head.
“Wine on an empty stomach makes me tipsy,” said Nicce, glaring at him.
“Stop talking to each other,” said Absalom. “Now.”
* * *
Later that afternoon, Nicce sat with Absalom at a table in the corner of the throne room while Jonas looked over the women in the court, most of whom were lined up, eager to be part of the play.
Nicce had asked Absalom what the play had to do with anything while she was eating her breakfast, and he said it was how they were going to get Lian out of the crystal. “You know about Lian, don’t you?” he said.
She did, and she felt embarrassed about that, knowing that Absalom, unlike Eithan, could truly be the boy’s father, and all of it made her feel horrible. The situation made her a little ill.
But then she hadn’t asked for more details, because she didn’t want to dwell on Lian, and it was only later that she realized that she didn’t understand it at all. How did the play help get Lian out of the crystal? She hadn’t even seen this crystal, or Lian, so she didn’t understand anything.
Back in the throne room, it didn’t seem wise to be discussing the plans, and not looking at Eithan was taking up most of her time. He kept floating into the periphery of her gaze, and every time she saw him, all of her internal organs seemed to turn inside out and she struggled to breathe. Sun and bones, having kissed him shouldn’t make her feel like this, but he was just… there.
So, Jonas was part of this plot in some way, and he had made all the interested women line up so that he could look them over, and now, he was dismissing each of them loudly, saying things like, “Too tall,” or “Hips too wide,” or “Too curvy.”
The women were going off, whispering amongst themselves, obviously hurt at being rejected. They were all attractive women. None of the brides had aged past the time when they’d been changed, and they all looked young and lithe and pretty.
Jonas kept speaking louder and louder, and Nicce began to wonder if this wasn’t for the benefit of the women themselves but part of some elaborate ruse for Ciaska’s benefit. She wanted to ask Absalom, but then the goddess was coming over, having noticed what was going on.
Ciaska inserted herself between Jonas and the woman he was examining. “What is going on over here? Jonas?”
“It’s for the play,” said Jonas. “I’m to be the director. Absalom said so.”
“It’s all right, isn’t it?” spoke up Absalom from next to Nicce. “I think Jonas will be excellent at directing. He’s got stature and a deep voice. People will listen to him.”
Ciaska blinked. “Well, he’s really a bit of a pushover, don’t you think?”
Jonas shrugged. “Absalom says I have to be firm.”
Ciaska giggled, reaching up to squeeze Jonas’s bicep. “Well, you are that.”
Jonas flinched a little at her touch, but he tried to hide it. It made Nicce feel rage rising in her. Was all this really necessary? Couldn’t they just blast Ciaska with her blood? Why did everything have to be so complicated? She wanted a sword, and she wanted to fight. That was what she was good at.
“Anyway,” said Ciaska, “why are you insulting all these women? I admit, I’m enjoying it, because their expressions are… well, wonderful.” She laughed a little. “But truly, I have to admit I don’t understand. Don’t you like curves and hips, Jonas?”
“I suppose,” said Jonas
.
“So, why are you rejecting these women on the basis of such things?” said Ciaska.
“They don’t look like little boys,” said Jonas.
Ciaska furrowed her brow. “What? I’m very, very confused right now.”
Nicce was too.
“There’s a part in the play for a little boy,” said Jonas.
Oh. Nicce was starting to understand it all now.
Ciaska was still confused. “A boy?” Then she nodded. “Oh! I see. You want a woman to play the part.”
“Yes,” said Jonas. “There are no little boys at court, after all.”
“No,” said Ciaska. “There are not.” She looked the women over, tapping her chin. “How young is the boy in the play?”
“Fairly young,” said Jonas.
“A woman can’t play a little boy,” said Ciaska, shaking her head. “I don’t know about that. Maybe you should pick a different play.”
No one said anything. Jonas looked tense. Absalom was tapping his fingers against his knee under the table where Ciaska couldn’t see.
Ciaska glanced at Jonas. “Can’t you just pick a different play?”
“I… I don’t know,” said Jonas.
“I picked the play,” said Absalom brightly. Too brightly. He wasn’t able to pull this off, was he?
Nicce spoke up. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt she needed to come to their rescue. “I don’t see why we can’t use our imaginations. We all know there are no boys at court, so we couldn’t expect a real boy to be in the role. I know that Absalom thought you would really like the play he picked, Exalted One.” She tried a smile.
Ciaska turned on her. “Did he?”
Nicce nodded. “Oh, yes. I think he put a lot of thought into it. Had it picked out before he even spoke to you about it.”
“Well,” said Ciaska, “there is actually a boy at court.”
Nicce pretended to be surprised. “I’ve never seen one.”
“No, you wouldn’t,” said Ciaska. She twirled a strand of her black hair around her forefinger. “He’s very smart, though. Very talented. I think he would be good at memorizing lines and at acting on stage. I think he’d be good at anything he tried, really.”
The Dead and the Dusk (The Nightmare Court Book 2) Page 14