The Wolf of Oren-yaro (Annals of the Bitch Queen Book 1)

by K. S. Villoso

  “Be silent, worm!” Nor cried out. She crawled forward, close enough to lay her forehead on my boot.

  “Get up,” I said, pulling her to her feet.

  She did, swaying slightly. Her eyes were red. She grabbed both of my hands, pressing them on her forehead. “You may have my life, only allow me to get you back home first.”

  “I was just suggesting the same thing,” Agos said. “A public suicide hasn’t been seen in Oren-yaro since Warlord Yeshin’s time.”

  She turned, noticing him for the first time. “Agos,” she growled. “What are you doing here?”

  “I had to fix what you fucked up. Don’t tell me you have it under control. Look around you.”

  I expected Nor to argue. Instead, she dropped her head in resignation. “I…don’t. I can admit that. My queen,” she said, giving me another bow. “We were betrayed. Half my men killed the others while you were in The Silver Goose. It happened so quickly. I was surrounded before I knew it.”

  “You hand-picked these men?” Agos asked.

  “I did,” Nor replied. “I had no reason to suspect any of them.”

  “None loyal to Rayyel? To Lushai?”

  “They were all Oren-yaro,” Nor said. There was a hint of desperation in her voice, like she was trying to convince herself instead of me.

  “I think I need to sit down,” I murmured. But I didn’t trust my own feet to take me all the way back to the chair. I didn’t think I’d ever see the day I would hear of Oren-yaro turning against their oaths and killing their brothers in cold blood. And for what? Money? How much money could buy honour? My father’s men died for him, even when the Ikessars were burning their homes and slaughtering their families in secret. Was it me? Did I inspire so little confidence in my people that they were willing to forget their vows and abandon their duties?

  We are swords first. Servants first.

  I glanced at Agos.

  For all their talk, those royals wouldn’t know duty if it bit them in the ass.

  “As heartwarming as this reunion seems to be, I find I must intervene,” Anya Kaz said. “This woman promised me a reward for helping her locate you.”

  “I promised you your head for helping,” Nor replied. “I said you could be rewarded once the queen is back home, sitting on the throne where she belongs.”

  “You didn’t exactly phrase it that way.”

  Nor turned, her hand on her sword.

  Anya held out her hands. “I was just reminding you…”

  “We need to get home. You will help us find passage back. Weren’t you just telling me about some big thing happening in the docks right now? How about you go over there to take a look?”

  Anya pursed her lips, but after a moment, she stepped out and closed the door behind her. I heard Nor give a sigh of relief.

  “I hope this one is more trustworthy than your hand-picked men,” Agos drawled.

  “She’s a bandit,” I answered for Nor.

  Agos was dumbfounded for a moment. And then he broke out in laughter. “You’ve a gift, Nor!” he declared.

  I could see Nor’s face turning red. “We’ve met before,” I spoke up for her. “If Nor promised her a reward, we can at least be reasonably sure she’s working for personal gain and not for our enemy.”

  “Who is the enemy?” Agos asked.

  I licked my lips. “I don’t know,” I said. I turned to Nor. “Do you?”

  Nor shook her head. “During the attack, I escaped over the wall in the alley. After I was able to shake off my pursuers, I went straight to the city watch. The bastards laughed at my face before putting me behind bars for spreading false rumours about The Silver Goose.”

  “I’m surprised they didn’t just kill you.”

  “I half-expected them to. I was there for a few weeks before they let me go. I made my way here to Dar Aso, where I learned Magister Arro had been killed in The Silver Goose and that news of your disappearance had spread to Jin-Sayeng. Someone was bragging about having seen you heading north, and I tracked the information down to this woman, Anya Kaz. I was able to…coerce her…into my service, but we couldn’t find any info on you. The last man who claimed to have any knowledge was this businessman over at Shang Azi, Han Lo Bahn. But he didn’t believe you were the queen. He called you…” Her eyes flicked over to Agos. “Well, it doesn’t matter.”

  “What the hell did he call her?” Agos asked.

  “I said it doesn’t matter.”

  “Everything matters, you crone. This is how shit like half your men killed each other happens.”

  “Are you saying you would have done a better job, Agos?” Nor asked. I had heard her yell at her men before, but not like this. “Because the last time I recalled, you were the one who voluntarily left your post. I didn’t make you do it.”

  “If I had known she would be left in hands as incompetent as yours…”

  “It was not,” I broke in, “your decision, Agos. Enough with this argument.”

  “I don’t know if we should trust her,” Agos insisted.

  “And I don’t know if we can trust you,” Nor replied. “You left the queen once. What’s to stop you from doing it again?”

  “I said enough!” If they were dogs, I would’ve thrown a bucket of water at them by now. I grabbed Agos’ thick arm to try to pull him out of the way. “Maybe if you’re that concerned, you can help the bandit with our travel arrangements.”

  “Like hell if you think I’m leaving you with her.”

  I held my breath and turned to Nor, who looked like she wanted to stick her sword in him. “Agos,” I said. “Out.”

  “But—”

  “Now!”

  That last command came down like a headsman’s axe. He stepped away, slamming the door so hard I thought it would bounce back. I found myself sinking into the chair now, my hand on my head.

  I felt Nor heave a soft sigh of relief. “What happened to him?” she asked. “He was always a hard-ass, but not like this, and never in front of you.” She stopped, as if suddenly aware she was, in fact, speaking to me. “My apologies, my queen. I did not mean…”

  “It’s all right,” I said in a low voice. “I think after everything, we can at least talk more openly, can we?”

  She stared at me.

  “Well, maybe not,” I said with a sigh. “But do me a favour and be patient with him. I’m sure the last few years have been rough.”

  “I…” She stopped herself.

  “Speak freely, Captain Nor.”

  “Some of us thought he had followed Lord Rayyel into his self-imposed exile,” Nor said.

  I smiled. “You don’t have to lie for my sake, Nor. I know you’ve heard the rumours. Don’t even pretend you haven’t. From the highest-ranking lords of Oren-yaro right down to the kitchen maids…we all know about the queen’s debased activities. As if Agos would ever follow Rayyel on purpose. No—you know I sent him away to protect him.”

  “There are always rumours, my queen. Shall I tell you of the ones about Lord Rayyel and the monkey?”

  My lips quirked into a smile. “Maybe another time.” I glanced out the window, but my thoughts had barely had time to wander when I heard stomping out from the hall. The door slid open and Agos walked back in, a scowl on his bearded face.

  “We have a problem,” he said.

  “We have lots of problems,” Nor grumbled. “What’s another one?”

  “Spare me your attempts at humour, captain,” he hissed. He turned to me. “The innkeeper told me on my way out. There was an announcement just now, straight from the docks. There’s an embargo. No ship, chartered or otherwise, is allowed to sail to Jin-Sayeng on pain of death.”

  Chapter Twenty

  The Lord of Shang Azi, Reprised

  After a moment of silence, I felt myself utter a sigh. “Well, of course. The gods rain shit and fire on mere mortals.”

  Agos looked at me, a line of irritation on his face. I think he must’ve expected a better reaction from me—perhap
s one befitting a queen. But I was too exhausted to care what he thought.

  “On pain of death sounds like a pretty harsh punishment,” Nor said. “Even when we were at war with the Empire, they never prohibited ships going to Jin-Sayeng. Even when Dragonlord Reshiro put a stop to our ships going here, they didn’t seem rankled. Why now?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” I asked. “I happened.”

  “They want to stop you from going home,” Nor said.

  “You don’t even know who they is,” Agos said. “Neither of you. And you wouldn’t have had to if you had been wise enough to stay at home.”

  “It’s a little too late for blame,” I mumbled.

  Nor stepped towards him. “I would advise you to watch your tone when speaking with the queen.”

  Agos snorted. “This tone…”

  “Agos,” I said. “Leave it be.”

  Nor turned to me and bowed. “I’m going to find Anya. Perhaps we’ll get to the bottom of this.”

  I got up as soon as they disappeared around the hall. “We should follow them,” I said. “I hate just sitting around, something which probably isn’t the wisest thing to do for me right now, anyway. I’m really not in the mood to deal with assassins right now.”

  Agos blocked me with his arm. “How long since you’ve last slept?”

  “I can still stand. I think I’ll be all right.”

  “I can smell wine on your breath.”

  “Hardly your concern. And it’s beer, if you must really know. Move aside, Agos.”

  He didn’t. “Five years ago…”

  I didn’t meet his eyes. “It is all over. Let us not speak of it again.”

  “And Thanh?”

  “What about your prince?” I kept my voice nonchalant and placed my hands on his arm. I felt him draw a deep breath.

  “My prince? Is he, really?” A question for a question. He lifted my chin with his other hand. Now he kissed me, hard, his tongue grazing my teeth as he drew me deeper in to his arms. I felt my knees buckle before I had the sense to push him away.

  He stared back at me, eyes defiant. I wiped my lips. “To the docks,” I hissed.

  “As my queen commands.”

  ~~~

  We walked in silence all the way to the docks.

  Agos had served as Captain of the Guard for only two years, promoted by Lord General Ozo himself not long before my son was born. Who else to better protect the soon-to-be-queen, Lord Ozo had exclaimed, than the man who had been at her side since birth? The old lord’s fondness for Agos ever since he had gone to his keep to train with the Oren-yaro military was no secret…Lord Ozo had been so disappointed, and so angry with me, when I sent Agos away.

  I could not blame him. He was right about Agos—never was there a man more dutiful, and in his service to me I had never once questioned his loyalty. But I was starting to realize, with a sinking feeling, that the world did not turn on loyalty alone. That even a man who would never betray me had his own definition of what it meant. “Stay away,” I clearly remember telling him, and yet here he was. And I would send him away again, only I was at a point where I could count the number of my friends with one hand. I didn’t want to end up with a closed fist.

  We reached the fisherman’s wharf, where I spotted Anya waiting outside the harbourmaster’s office. Her arms were crossed, and there was a smug look on her face. “Maybe you should tell her that arguing with officials in Anzhao City is the fastest way to get noticed,” she said. “And I don’t mean in a good way.”

  “Nor knows what she’s doing,” I said.

  Agos opened his mouth.

  “I know,” I told him quickly. “Just leave it.” I turned back to Anya. “Is it true, though? An embargo on Jin-Sayeng?”

  “That’s what I was told,” Anya said. “Looks like you’re stuck here.”

  “Which means you’re not going to get paid any time soon.”

  She shrugged. “I could always sell you to Lo Bahn. I hear he’s still looking for you, and he’s pretty generous under the right circumstances.”

  “Don’t be an idiot. Han Lo Bahn will pay you a whore’s ransom, not a queen’s,” I said. “And that’s also supposing I’ll let you walk away with your head intact.”

  Anya rolled her eyes. “You people are so humourless. I’m jesting. Believe me, I know what you’re worth—your Captain Nor made sure I know that much. Still, that embargo isn’t going away anytime soon. I’d suggest taking a different boat to An Mozhi City by the Ruby Grove lands, if you can get there before word of this gets out. Maybe there you’ll find some clueless fisherman willing to risk it all.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked. “This order came from Anzhao?”

  “Requested and signed by Governor Gon Zheshan himself,” Anya said. “A messenger carrying Emperor Yunan’s approval arrived this morning.”

  I felt light-headed. “He’s trying to flush me out.”

  “Gon Zheshan?” Anya asked. She whistled. “You’ve got enemies in high places, I can tell you that. But you can see why I’d rather help you instead. Those bastards would all see me and my husband hanged if they had their way.”

  “I think I understand what’s happening,” I said, looking up just as Nor joined us, a dejected look on her face. I switched to Jinan. “Kora told me that Governor Zheshan has Rayyel in his custody. It was why I went all the way to Zorheng to try and get Governor Ong’s assistance on the matter. I learned there that Ong was nothing more than a puppet to Prince Yuebek, Emperor Yunan’s Fifth Son. Yuebek wanted to force my hand in marriage. A vie for power. I barely escaped from there with my life.”

  Nor absorbed this information without a flicker on her face. “If Zheshan still has Lord Rayyel, we have to save him,” she said.

  “I’d love to know if you have any ideas. I’ve been trying to think of a good one for months.”

  “What for?” Agos broke in. “After what that man did to you, you would come crawling after him like a bitch in heat?”

  “Agos, I’m warning you…” Nor started.

  “My respects, yes, I know. But perhaps the queen needs some sense knocked into her!” Agos roared. “Take my head for it if you want to. He left you. He left Thanh. Have you heard from him at all in five years? Where was he when you were at death’s door with the moon-fever? Or when Darusu was accosted by rebels yet again and you had to ride out there half-dead from your illness? Did he send you a letter when Thanh broke his leg from falling off his horse?”

  I didn’t know he knew these things. Hearing them from his lips made me feel ill. “I don’t know what you’re trying to say, Agos,” I said. “Did you only come here to lecture me?”

  “I came here to save you,” he breathed.

  “Like a hero, come to rescue the maiden?” I asked. “Is that why you decided to break my command? You wanted to rush into my first stumble. Which meant you’ve been watching me, like the rest of Jin-Sayeng, waiting for me to fail.”

  “Think whatever you want. You know it’s not true. And you need me, that much is plain.”

  “I am grateful to have your company, Agos, believe me, but I will not have this argument. Not with you. I’ve had it more times with every pompous fool in the land than I care to remember.” I took several deep breaths in quick succession, trying to control my rage the way Arro taught me once after I had thrown a potted plant near his face. I turned to Anya and spoke in Zirano once more. “Walk with me to Shang Azi. You two,” I said, pointing at Agos and Nor. “Stay here and learn what you can about this whole thing.”

  “My queen,” the both barked at the same time.

  “And learn to get along, while you’re at it. If I had dogs who barked at each other as much as you did, I’d have them castrated.”

  “Why would you want to go to Shang Azi?” Anya asked.

  “I’m tired of having to explain myself,” I said. “Either obey, or find a new employer.” I paused, waiting for her, for any of them, to protest. “Nothing? Good. Then let’s go.” I s
tarted walking.

  “You have interesting guards,” Anya said, catching up to me.

  “They’re stubborn. It is, unfortunately, a trait of our people.”

  “I can believe it,” Anya said. “The things I’ve heard them say you did…”

  “What have you heard?”

  Anya’s face crinkled as she smiled. “Oh, little things. Escaping Lo Bahn’s men not once, but twice. Tricking him into getting you out of Ziori’s. A fine job, by the way, but you should have made it so that she lost money during the whole deal. And of course, we can’t overlook our favourite physician’s infatuation with you. This street leads to his house. But you already know that, don’t you?”

  “He’s not a physician,” I said.

  Anya laughed. “He doesn’t charge us anything, which makes him a damn better doctor than some of the others in the city. And he doesn’t turn us in to the city watch, which makes him the best, guild or no guild. Ah, speak of the devil. Lamang!”

  Khine was outside, sweeping the street in front of his house. At the sight of us, he stopped, and I saw his fingers clench tightly around the broom. “Anya Kaz,” he said. “What is this?”

  “Not what it looks like,” Anya replied. “For once, anyway.” She seemed to find this amusing.

  “It’s a long story,” I added. “She works for me now.” I craned my head at his front door. “Is there anyone at home?”

  “No.”

  “May I come in? I’d like to talk. Alone.” I gave Anya a look.

  Anya grinned at me. “I’ll hang out here, whistle if I see Lo Bahn’s men.” She started down the street to where a group of men was huddled around a table for a card game of some sort. They cheered when she arrived, clearly recognizing her. One even offered her a bowl of his own drink, which she politely declined. That sort of comradery and respect was foreign to me.

  I turned my attention away from them and followed Khine indoors. As soon as the door closed behind me, I felt a wave of relief, as if I had entered a world where my title and my responsibilities were no longer weighing me down. I had not realized how much I had been holding in until that moment. I meticulously removed my shoes and went upstairs, lingering by the top landing. I felt funny, with the sensation of having come home even though I was still so very far from it.