by Janeal Falor
I turn to make sure Julina is following me before I snake forward, slithering up the wall. It takes Julina a lot longer to make her way up, but she gets there in the end.
Without a word, we traverse back toward our side of the building. Over my window, she motions for me to go first.
Instead, I sit on the ledge. “I’d rather stay outside.”
“Fine.” She plops down beside me.
What were that man and Fulla talking about? Taxes that are doing what to my people? I need to talk to those who live here. Need to see what they think—hear for myself what their taxes are like.
Judging from the town, they are mostly Poruah. They should be paying minimal taxes, and to the country only, but who knows what they’re going through if Deedra arranged something else with Fulla?
As far as I understand it, the city should have plenty of money from the crown. I don’t know why we’d hoard away what belongs to them. Besides, the tax collectors in each city bring it to the local ruler’s Head of Treasury, and they take out what is owed the city before sending it on to the capital.
I wish Nash was here to talk this out with.
I could go to sleep and talk it over with the first queen.
“Forgive me if it’s not my place,” Julina whispers, “but I think that there’s something shady going on we need to investigate.”
I look at her in surprise. “You are willing to help me with that?”
“Of course. I care about these people too. It’s clear Fulla doesn’t want you finding out about the taxes. If you can’t get away tomorrow, I could look into this for you.”
“What if someone stops you?”
“It’ll be like when I tried to stop you from coming up here.”
I laugh, low and quiet.
“Queen Ryn, is that you?” a female voice comes from below.
I glance down to find Inkga staring up at me. “What do you need?”
“We’ve got trouble.”
“What trouble?”
Before she can answer, she’s yanked inside. I draw a knife and ready myself to climb down when Jaku pokes his head out of the window.
“You left without telling me,” he says, voice like a blade of its own finding a target.
Daggered. I slide my dagger back into its sheathe. Might as well get this over with.
I climb down and swing into my room. Julina slides in moments after me.
“I had Julina with me,” I tell Jaku, who’s staring me down, his hands on his hips. “I was perfectly safe the whole time.” Except maybe when Julina sneezed, but I’m not going there.
“You are in danger every moment, from attacks on all sides. This isn’t like back at the palace, where we can follow you on the roof and guarantee your safety. You need more than one guard with you at all times.” He runs a hand through his graying hair.
Wait. Graying? When did that happen? It snuck up on me. I can’t help but wonder if I caused some—or all—of it. “I’m better protected than you know. Besides, we found out vital information.”
“Of course you did.” He focuses in on Julina. “You should be ashamed of yourself, letting her go like that. What if there were assassins on the roof?”
I roll my eyes. “She didn’t have a choice. I was determined to go. She should be praised for managing to stick by my side all the time.” Even if she doesn’t know how to hold in a sneeze.
“It’s fine, Your Majesty,” Julina says. “I’ll take whatever punishment he thinks I deserve.”
“It’s Ryn. I’ll start doling out punishments for those who can’t remember that when others aren’t around.”
Jaku looks at the ceiling. “Ryn, you have to be more careful.”
“I knew everything was going to be fine.” All right—I hoped. But it turned out well.
He gives an exasperated sigh. “I don’t know what to do with the two of you. Consider this a warning that I’ll be keeping a closer eye on you both. What did you find out?”
I contemplate telling him, but the more who know about it, the more likely word is to get out. Not that I don’t trust him; he could even help. If I can trust anyone, it’s the people in this room. “We overheard Fulla talking to a man. She was saying something about Queen Deedra telling her to tax the city if she wasn’t getting enough from the crown. They’re trying to hide it from me.”
“I’m going to investigate tomorrow while they try to distract Ryn,” Julina says.
Inkga shakes her head. “If they’re hiding it from you, it can’t be good.”
“Right,” Jaku says. “Julina, take two more guards with you when you go, and dress like the locals do if you can get a hold of some clothes.”
“Will do, sir.”
“I’ll see you in the morning. And Julina? Be careful.”
“I will.”
“Night,” I chirp.
He shakes his head and goes out the door.
Inkga turns to us. “How was it?”
“You should see her in action,” Julina says. “I’ve seen her with a dagger—which is amazing by itself—but sneaking around, she’s like a shadow.”
I look at the carpet, so they won’t see me blush. I wasn’t called Shadow Wraith for nothing. “I wasn’t that great. Though things would have gone better if someone hadn’t sneezed.”
“You sneezed?” Inkga asks Julina.
She has the decency to look embarrassed. “I couldn’t help it. The sneeze came from nowhere.”
“It’s all right,” I say. “No harm was done.”
“Do you think you can find out what’s going on with the taxes by talking to the citizens?” Inkga asks Julina.
“I hope so.”
So do I because we have no other leads.
Chapter 24
As expected, Fulla takes up all my time. Starting from breakfast and all the way to dinner, she has something for me to do. Tour the mini palace. Listen to a musical. Enjoy refreshments. Talk. Talk some more. Talk even more. About the most inane things, too. It’s like she’s trying to kill me with boredom.
I smile through it all, glad I have my group members by my side. The person who spends the most time with Fulla is Shillian. They have the same tastes, maybe? Or perhaps Shillian is trying to get on her good side for me.
Carver approaches me. “It was a good dinner.”
“The food was wonderful.” All I can say while remaining honest.
“Your mother enjoys talking with other women she thinks can help.”
Is it that obvious I’m watching Shillian? “Help with what?”
“With paving the way for those she cares about.”
So my second guess was correct.
“She spent a lot of time trying to help me find work every time I lost my job,” he says.
I want to ask him why he lost his job so much, but Inyi is in the background, reminding me to mind my manners. Instead, I say, “I’m glad she was able to help.”
He gives a sad smile. “She tried, anyway.”
“But didn’t always succeed?”
“No.”
I wonder why it's been so hard. I’m not certain it’s proper to ask in this situation.
It’s getting late. Is Julina back yet? I’m anxious to check, but I don’t want to be an ungrateful guest. Not that the host has paid much attention to me the last half-hour or so. She must think it’s late enough that I won’t wander outside among the people. Shows how much she knows about me.
Night is my friend.
Shillian ends her conversation with Fulla and prances over to me and Carver. “Such a nice lady. Maybe you’d want to invite her to the palace sometime.”
I exchange a glance with Carver. A smile tweaks the corner of his lips. I understand him more than I do her right now.
“We’ll see,” is all I can commit to. If Fulla is doing what I think, she will indeed be coming to the palace. To visit the dungeons. “I think it’s time I retired.”
“But it’s still early, darling,” Shillian says.
“Very well. Have a good evening, darling.”
“Goodnight… Mother. Father.” I nod at them both, wondering why my tongue called them that.
I’m still pondering it as I head toward the door. I plan on leaving straight away but stop when I see Nash talking to Fulla. I miss him. As much as I don’t want to be around her, I need to be around him. Even if it’s not the kind of closeness I desire.
I make my way to them, everyone giving me a wide berth. They stop talking as I join them, each curtsying or bowing to me. I say, “I came to thank you for this day. It’s been… memorable. I’m heading to my room now.”
“Of course,” Fulla says. “We want you to get your beauty rest before you have to leave in the morning.”
I give her what I hope looks like a genuine smile, but it feels tight. “Thank you. I will see you at breakfast. Nash, if you’re done speaking with Fulla, I’d like a word with you.”
“Certainly, Your Majesty.” He gives his regards to Fulla, and we head toward the door together. Jaku falls in line behind us, which makes sense but isn’t what I was hoping for. I want alone time with Nash.
To feel his lips.
To touch his hand.
To be in his embrace.
Oh, well. Inkga will be back at the room, anyway.
“I didn’t think I’d ever get out of talking with her,” Nash says. “That woman grates on one’s nerves.”
“I thought I was the only one who felt that way,” I say.
“Not by a long shot,” Jaku adds from behind us.
I snicker.
As we make our way through the hallways, my hand itches to hold Nash’s. I take it in my other one and clasp them tight. The urge to be with him is stronger than ever. I want to ask how he’s doing. If the nightmares are bothering him while we’re here. What he’s doing to keep from waking the household.
From the dark circles under his eyes, he isn’t sleeping much. Maybe he’s avoiding it so he doesn’t wake the household again. I yearn to comfort him. To give him some measure of the peace I’ve found from my nightmares.
Not that the First Queen’s dreams are perfect, but they’re easier to deal with than a nightmare.
We arrive at my rooms, where a servant opens the door for us. I walk in first, and Julina stops her pacing when she sees me.
We’re all silent until everyone is in the room and the door is closed. As soon as the room is secure, I ask, “What did you find out?”
“It’s worse than I feared,” she says. “Everyone I’ve talked to said she’s gathering a fifty percent tax on top of the one for the country.”
I take a step back. “Fifty percent?”
“It’s true. That’s why the people are in such poverty. Sounds like she’s been doing it for a while.”
“She can’t do that. Can she?” I turn to Nash and Jaku.
Jaku shrugs. “I wish I knew.”
Where’s Timit when I need him? Huh. Never thought I’d think that. “Nash? Do you know?”
“No. But it’s safe to assume it’s against the law or at least shady if she’s hiding it from you.”
“Forgive me, Ryn, but I think I might.” Inkga sits in the corner of the room, sketching something on paper. Probably a new outfit design.
“What do you know and how?”
“I helped serve Queen Deedra before she passed.”
Before I killed her, that is.
Inkga continues. “I heard some conversations she had. I didn’t think much of them at the time, because we weren’t supposed to think. Things are different now, though. It is a law that cities can’t charge taxes, but Queen Deedra gave Fulla permission to charge what she wanted. The two were close friends, and Deedra wanted Fulla to enjoy the comforts of life.”
Maybe I shouldn’t feel bad about killing Deedra.
“How did I not know this?” Nash asks. “I’ve been learning about the laws.”
“I have as well,” I say. “There are so many, it’s hard to keep track of them. Thank you, Inkga, for sharing. I don’t think we should wait until morning to deal with this.”
Jaku says, “Definitely not. Julina, please round up all the guards. We’re going to pay Fulla a visit.”
It doesn’t take long to gather most of the guard since they’re already protecting me. As soon as we’re ready, we make our way across the long building to the room we were gathered in, which is now empty.
We head to her rooms next. We twist through the halls. I wish we were using the roof. It was much simpler that way.
Jaku knocks on her door. I’m in the middle of the guards, standing on my tiptoes so I can barely see. Nash is beside me.
“Just a moment,” a voice calls through the door. A minute later, the door opens. The servant standing there raises her eyebrows.
Jaku doesn’t give her a chance to speak. He barrels into the room. As soon as the guards in front of me go forward, I hurry after them, almost tripping on their heels.
“Move,” I say and press forward.
Guards rush to get out of my way. That’s better. Now I can see. Only I don’t like what I see. Mother gives me a quizzical look as she stands next to Fulla, whose eyes are narrowed.
“What’s going on?” Mother asks.
“We need to take care of something,” I say. “Mother, will you please join me over here?”
“All right.” She sounds confused but takes a step forward.
Before she can move any closer, Fulla grabs her by the arm and jerks her back. “Don’t come any closer.”
From a hidden pocket in her skirt, Fulla pulls out a stiletto and presses the tip of the blade against Mother’s neck.
“No one move,” I shout.
What have I done? Put another person I care about in danger.
Is this all I’m good for?
Despair fills me.
I shove it aside. There’ll be time for that later. “What do you want, Fulla?”
“I want your guarantee that you aren’t going to do anything to me. That you’re going to leave things as they are and you’ll get on your way, never to contact me or my people again. We’ll continue to send taxes, but that’s all. Otherwise, you’ll leave us alone.”
I sigh, as if contemplating it. I don’t want to give away my true thoughts. “If I do this, you’ll let her go?”
“I will.”
“Fine, but you have to give her over to me.”
“I have your word?”
“Yes.”
She smirks. “Then you can have her.”
Fulla pushes Mother forward, and Mother stumbles. I reach out to grab her but stop myself at the last moment. It’s a lonely world not being able to touch anyone.
She staggers to her feet and regains her footing. I hesitate a moment. Something in me wants to hold back, but the biggest part of me wants to do this. Once Mother is among the guards, I stalk my way to Fulla. The smirk on her face flees, leaving a worried gaze. “What are you doing?”
“No one threatens my family.”
“But you gave your word.” Her voice quavers.
“I lied.”
I lift my fist and punch her in the nose.
Chapter 25
Fulla is headed back to the palace, where she’ll find out what the dungeons are like. Unless the council decides to kill her for my coming in contact with her. I think it could be glossed over, but we’ll see what they do. I won’t let myself feel bad if they decide to execute her. There’s no telling how many starved to death under her rule.
A small group of guards are escorting her and will join up with us when finished. The man who was conspiring with her is going to the palace dungeons as well.
Morning dawns, bright and early. Mother flutters around my room, helping Inkga pack the last of my things, though Inkga insisted she didn’t need any help.
“I still say
you didn’t need to punch her,” Mother says.
I want to make a snide remark about being raised by a man who did things much crueler than a simple punch, but refrain. She may be my mother, but she’s not perfect.
“We’re all done here,” Inkga says. “I’ll get some servants to carry the trunks.”
“Thank you, Inkga.” The words are getting easier to say.
“No problem.” She heads out the door.
“Shall we?” Julina asks.
“Might as well.” I follow where Inkga went, though by the time I get out in the hall, she is gone. Plenty of guards mill about, surrounding me and Mother as we go.
“I never thanked you properly for saving my life,” she says to me.
“It was nothing.”
“No. It was something. I’ve never had anyone take care of me like that before. It means a lot.”
My heart gives a little squeeze. “You wouldn’t have been in that situation if it wasn’t for me. It was the least I could do, to get you out of it.”
She puts a hand to her throat as we near the main entrance. “I’ve never had a knife held up to my throat. It was terrifying, but Fulla’s action, not yours.”
I don’t correct her on the stiletto. “She wouldn’t have had the chance to do that had I been more prepared.”
Mother stops, making the group around us come to a halt. She waits to speak until I face her. “You can’t be prepared for everything.”
She turns back toward the gathered crowd and makes her way through the guard. She’s right, but I wish it was different. I’m still staring after her when Julina says, “Are you ready, Your Majesty?”
I finally have a name. I wish everyone would use it all the time, even if it’s not proper. “Let’s go.”
As we did when we first arrived in Trentin, the guards line both my sides, protecting me and creating an alleyway through the gathered crowd. I wave at them and smile, my mind on the words my mother said.
She’s right. I can’t prepare for everything. I can try my hardest, though.
I see a man standing with a woman and little boy. His family? I wish Nash was here to give them a coin, but he went ahead to make sure everything was taken care of.
