"Merrin was somewhat the same," Hunter offered the book to Doret.
"Keep it. Kyri may not be back for it, you know. This way, you can let your Queen and those you trust in the army know what they're fighting."
"Thank you," I said. "I wish I could read the words that go with this."
"Be grateful you can't. It's all a lie, glorifying a bastard who should have never been born."
"Then we'll be going," I said, rising from my seat. "Thank you again—for this and for the hospitality."
"Next time, send mindspeak. I'll clean up before the King and Crown Prince arrive, if that happens."
Hunter stifled a snicker as we stepped away from Doret's office.
"This is what we're fighting?" Barth examined the photograph with interest while he, Hunter and I had our midday meal together.
"Doret says the book is filled with words glorifying that one. She called him a bastard who shouldn't have been born," Hunter told him.
"I agree with Doret, then, as it would likely make our lives much easier," Barth said, closing the book with a heavy sigh.
"Tell me what you've found so far in the census papers," I said.
"We've found several pairs suitable to send out," Barth replied. "Some pairs and individuals are fence-sitters, who can't make up their minds about a good many things. This includes the new methods, who is now in charge of the army, and varied lists of other things. We've found nothing overt as yet, but we're still looking."
"We're also compiling lists of places the best candidates were from—so they might receive a warmer welcome on their arrival," Hunter added. "If we assign them to home villages and perhaps a few others close by, things should go much easier."
"I'm hoping for that, too, and the sooner we get the information, the better. I'm concerned that Kaakos won't take kindly to his most recent failure, here. What's the word on Narvin and Willa? Any leads?"
"Nothing since Claude's report," Hunter said. "He had the best lead and paid attention, when others may not have."
"Is it possible to put him in charge of a task force?" Barth asked.
"I think that idea has merit," I said. "Hunter, in your copious free time," I teased, "will you divide Az-ca into four quadrants, and find task force leaders for each? The messengers can send all information through them, no matter how unimportant it may seem, and let the leaders decide whether to bring it to our attention."
"I'll have it done by the end of the day," Hunter promised, scribbling on his usual scrap of paper.
"Good. Where is my Queen? I'm surprised she didn't bring her assistants to have a meal with us."
"I believe they're having ah, a working meal," Hunter said.
"What does that mean?"
"I think it means they're working on the bonding law, to allow Misten and Caral to have a ceremony," Barth lifted his tea to drink.
"Well, I see they have their priorities," I laughed.
"Yes, they do."
"My King, Colonel Armon has arrived," a guard announced later, as I went through audience requests from Council members. Hunter usually did this, but he had enough on his plate already.
"Send him in," I said.
Armon strode in seconds later, dipping his head to me as usual. "Have a chair, Armon," I said.
"You sent for me?" he asked, taking one of the chairs before my desk.
"I did. I'd like for you to tell me what it is my Queen has been so secretive about, recently. What is she hatching, Armon? This is your King speaking."
Armon had never looked so uncomfortable to me. "She's breaking the law again?" I queried. "Come on, man, out with it."
"You're asking me to betray a friend," he mumbled, staring at his hands. "And she's not breaking the law. Not that I know of, anyway. I think you should ask her yourself, my King."
His voice was stiff when he used my title.
"Very well." Sherra, I sent, I'd like you to join Armon and me in my study, please. Just you. Leave your assistants behind.
I'm coming, she replied. A few minutes later, she walked into my study, lifting an eyebrow at me after seeing Armon hunkered in his seat.
"Why are you browbeating Armon?" she demanded, crossing arms tightly over her chest.
"I'm not browbeating Armon. I asked him a question. He is reluctant to answer."
She studied me through hooded eyes for a moment, before speaking again. "We don't know that it'll work, it's still in the planning stages," she tossed out a hand. "Armon isn't keeping royal secrets from you, Kerok. I have no idea why you're so worried about that."
"Tell me." I steepled my fingers and frowned at her.
"We want to work on combining shields and fireblasts, if you must know, sir nosey King. Kaakos threatens our very existence, unless we can find a way to take him down. Now, I don't know whether you've noticed, but he's not personally coming to us so that can happen. He's more than happy to use our own people against us, and he's killing entire villages whenever it suits him. That means we need to go to him, and destroy him once and for all, in such a way that anybody who thinks to take his place will be too terrified to attack us again."
I leaned back in my chair, watching my Queen's hair crackle with anger. Her power was coming through her pores, it appeared, she was so angry.
My father told her once that we would never attack Ny-nes, because we didn't know the extent of their weapons, the layout of their cities and the enemy's overall strength.
Sherra was trying to compensate for all of that. "What do you know so far?" I asked gently. "Of this new method of yours?"
"It worked perfectly with those three young ones yesterday. They built a shield strong enough to withstand the worst of Levi's blasts. That's how well it worked."
"Have you combined fireblasts yet?"
"Not yet. We just started working on this yesterday." Her chest heaved with anger, still. I was working to calm her down, while the wonder of what she was attempting made my hopes rise unexpectedly.
"You're saying the three young ones did this? When do you plan to try it with seasoned warriors and escorts?"
"I was hoping to try it with Levi, Armon, Caral, Misten, Cole and me in a few days. We're all familiar with one another's power, so it may be easier to combine it." Her breaths were steadier and farther apart, now.
"That sounds like a workable plan, except I'd like to move up the date. I know you're excited about what you're currently working on, but take the afternoon off and return to Secondary Camp with Armon. I'd like to see what you can come up with by the end of the day."
"Are you serious?" The anger was almost gone, now.
"Yes, of course I am. It more than angers me that Kaakos can reach out his hand from thousands of miles away, to interfere with my country and its citizens. I'm eternally weary of it, in fact. Make this work, my love. Once we have an army trained in this, we will lay plans to move against Ny-nes. Until that time, however, this must remain our deepest secret. When we go to Ny-nes, they must be unaware that we are coming."
I wasn't sure how she'd gone from anger to tears, but Sherra now had a hand at her mouth to stifle a sob. "What is it, sweetheart?" I stood to go to her.
"I'm so—happy," she sobbed.
Armon, who'd sat silently listening to our exchange, burst into laughter.
Sherra
Caral hugged me so tightly, I couldn't breathe for a moment. "He really said that?" she asked. Neither she nor I could believe we'd received Kerok's permission.
Cole was beaming his approval, while Armon was content to watch Caral hug the air from my lungs.
"Come on, let's go to the garden so we can step to Secondary Camp," Armon cleared his throat. "We have work to do this afternoon."
I was still so happy, I wanted to cry again. I didn't like sneaking around behind Kerok's back. I should have known he'd notice something was up. The four of us practically ran through the palace and down stairs to get to the garden. We wanted to see if we could form a working pod.
Doret
>
Kyri, those young ones have sneaked into your library to filch books, I sent mindspeak.
Did they take anything important?
No, just fiction, mostly.
Then it's nothing to worry about, she told me. Let them read as much as they like. You know the most important things there are indecipherable to them, anyway. Besides—the lure of getting away with this will only make them more insatiable for stories and learning.
I know. I just wanted to keep you apprised.
Thank you.
What's the word on the Raver?
Well, there's already a wide swath of killing through the city, she complained. I doubt they'll find what they're looking for, no matter how many civilians they kill.
Always the way, I grumbled my reply. The innocents die, because the powerful and evil among them want to take revenge against someone or something.
True. And there's no reasoning with it, either. When you point out that killing innocents gets them nowhere, they just step up their efforts.
This is his way of doing another purge, without calling it that, Kyri's sending was sarcastic.
No doubt, I agreed. He doesn't care who dies, as long as he isn't bodily harmed.
Always squeamish about his own pain, that one.
Can't take a punch, I countered.
Never could.
Never will.
Kyri wouldn't go after Merrin. I understood that. Her quarry was the same one it had always been in Ny-nes; Kaakos, the bastard. I hoped she'd find a way to end him. More than anything, though, I worried he would end her, instead.
Sherra
"I can't move," Misten complained. She and Caral lay flat on their backs on what little grass grew under an ancient pine tree.
Armon suggested getting away from Secondary Camp for our experiments, so the secret would remain secret.
We'd gone northward, to practice on the only solid ground south of where the land bridge once lay.
We'd exhausted ourselves, combining shields, blasts and anything else we could think of. "I'm in awe," Levi said, leaning his shoulder against Armon's. They sat on the grass not far away, tired and content with what we'd accomplished so far.
Only Cole and I were still on our feet, and Cole wore a very satisfied smile.
"We only have to find others who are comfortable working together, and convince them to keep the secret, too," Armon said. "We can't let the enemy catch even the slightest whiff of this."
"I wonder if King Thorn will be upset that we've carved away sections of Az-ca during practice," Caral joked. We'd done just that, knocking a great deal of land into the ocean while practicing our blasts.
"I don't think he keeps records of that stuff," I teased back. "He won't be worried."
"If we do this many more times, he could start worrying," Misten giggled.
"Who has enough energy to step us back?" Levi asked.
"I'll take you back, before going to the palace," I offered. "Cole needs to go home and get a meal and a bath."
"I think we all need that," Caral attempted to sit up.
"We won't smell good if we don't," Misten agreed.
"I hear that. Come on, then, I'll get you back. Cole, you go home, you've had a long day."
"I'll see you tomorrow in the north," he said before disappearing.
"Help," Caral held up an arm, begging for somebody to lift her to her feet. Armon laughed and went to do just that.
Kerok
How did it go? I sent mindspeak to Sherra during our evening meal. She looked weary and satisfied at the same time.
It was amazing. I wish you'd been there to see it, she responded. With power, I pushed the butter dish in her direction. Nodding her thanks, she buttered her roll and bit into it with a sigh of pleasure.
What did you blast?
Well, Az-ca may be a bit smaller than it was. I told the others you don't keep track of that. Please say you don't keep track of that.
I choked back a laugh.
I ah, have a suggestion, she went on.
What's that, love?
I know Barth is going through the census papers for Secondary Camp.
He is, I acknowledged.
I'm sure he's separating the ones who are most trustworthy from the others.
He is—we'll be sending them out to the villages to take the census for me.
I'd like for Barth to go through those a second time, and find the ones most cooperative with the new methods, if that's possible.
You want to segregate the ones most likely to be successful in your new experiment, don't you?
Yes. Some of those in the army—I don't think they'll be suitable at all. We need to keep this from them, in case, well, I get itchy, thinking Kaakos' spies could be anywhere. I'd like to train the new ones at what used to be North Camp. There's nothing left there to damage, except rocks and hills, so we can pit groups against each other, to protect their territory.
You're assuming they'll be able to do this.
I think we can get them there. You need to impress on them, too, how serious this is, and to keep that secret, no matter what.
Agreed. I'll consider how to approach this with them, too, and let them know they can opt out before we get into the details of the experiment. They'll know first off that it will be dangerous, and it will be their choice to proceed.
I like that idea.
Good. That's settled. Eat your dinner, my love. You must be starved.
"I am starved," she said aloud, stuffing the last bite of her roll in her mouth. "I have to be at Cole's early in the morning, too. Long day ahead."
I found myself wanting to go with her—to see the things she saw and work beside her again. I'd never been to the north, as she had.
There is news, and it isn't good, Hunter sent, causing my hands to still over my plate.
What news? I asked.
Those two from Doret's camp with suppressed power?
Yes?
They've disappeared from the berry farms.
"Fuck," I snapped and rose from my seat.
"What?" Sherra stood almost as quickly as I did.
"Those two young troublemakers have disappeared from the farms," I said. "Come with me. We'll get to the bottom of this if we can."
Sherra
Barth and Kage went with us, with Kerok stepping us to the farm in question. The overseer waited there for us, an angry scowl on his face.
"We have footprints leading to the outer gate, three sets," the overseer growled, slamming a fist into his palm. "We found one of our adult workers missing, too. It's no mystery who went with them, I think."
"When did this happen?" Kerok asked.
"We've done bed checks with those two since the beginning," he said. "They managed to get away between the evening meal and bed check. Alf, the missing worker, didn't turn up to help us search for them. Then, we found three sets of footprints next to the gate—two smaller ones, and an adult male's."
"What can you tell us about Alf?" Barth asked.
"Too quiet, most of the time."
"May I see his quarters?" Barth went on.
"Of course. And those two miscreants' as well."
"Good. Take us to Alf's first," Kerok said.
"Of course, my King."
"Alf has been slipping outside the domes regularly," Barth sighed as he toyed with the man's comb. A few strands of brown hair still clung to it—Barth said that sort of thing made it easier to divine things about the object's owner.
"Spy," Kerok shook his head. If he weren't so weary, he'd be angrier than he was.
"We know that, now," Kage pointed out. "I imagine plenty of people come and go outside the gate. We can't label all of them spies."
"We can keep a better eye on them," Barth huffed. "Beginning now. Who knows whether Narvin and Willa were waiting outside to transport them away? I find that the most likely scenario."
"I worry that Kaakos will restore their power," I said, rubbing my forehead. A tension headache
had formed behind my eyes, and now threatened to become debilitating.
"That would be most unfortunate," Kage breathed.
"I'll have to reset the shields everywhere, to prevent those two from walking into an unsuspecting village," I told Kerok. "They could burn something to the ground if they're not stopped."
"Start with the shields around the domes here," Kerok said, his mouth settling into a grim frown. "I don't want them back inside any part of the domes."
"I'll do it now," I said and rose from my chair in Kerok's study.
"Will you need assistance? I can send for Colonel Armon," Hunter offered. Until now, he'd been busy scribbling notes for the official records, and hadn't spoken.
"No, I'll get this done tonight, and worry about the villages tomorrow. Looks like my plans to supervise training have been changed."
"Take Cole and Caral with you tomorrow," Kerok said. "You know why."
"I will."
Jubal
Sly little bitches, both of them. I wasn't about to give up my bed for them, either. Those two younglings that Narvin and Willa dragged into my house could sleep on the floor. I didn't care what the voice wanted to do with them; I wanted nothing to do with them.
The way Willa fawned on them turned my stomach, too. Like they were her kids instead of somebody else's.
Girls? Faugh.
All her fault. All of this. I should still be in the army, blasting the enemy.
Except now, I was working for the enemy, wasn't I?
All her fault.
Sherra
"You think Kaakos will give their power back?" Caral grimaced. She and I knew what power in the hands of those who'd misuse it meant.
"I hope not, but I think that hope is useless," I muttered.
Cole's slight nod confirmed my words. He thought the same as I—that Kaakos had a definite goal in mind when he took those two.
We stood inside my study, mapping out a plan of which villages to visit first to adjust the shields.
"We just got word that the man who escaped with Jeen and Ferni was found dead outside a small village, fifty miles south of the dome he left behind," Hunter poked his head in the door. "Thorn wants you to investigate, and he's asked Levi and Misten to go with you."
Black Rose Queen: Black Rose Sorceress, Book 3 Page 14
