Belle did so.
“I would prefer to discuss this alone with you,” Melissa told him.
“I’m sure you would.”
“If I truly meant to harm you, do you think they could stop me?”
Belle cracked her knuckles. “Depends, would ripping you in half, do it?”
Melissa scowled at the disguised ogre. “I’ve dealt with your sort before. My spells cut deeper than steel.”
“Well I’ve eaten a few of your sort, you taste just like everyone else.”
Melissa turned to Waldo. “How can you stand to travel with a creature that eats human flesh?”
“It helps with the food bill.” Waldo hadn’t lowered his wand. “What do you want?”
“What I have to say to you is important. Do you really want to have this conversation in front of your ogre and barmaid? Do you trust them?”
“I trust them both with my life.” For a Dark Mage that was a very odd thing to say. Since trust involved daggers and hearts and all that, but it was true. Through the bond, he could sense pleasure from both of them. If Cleptus were here Waldo would have sent him away as fast as he could.
Melissa took a deep, slow breath. “Fine. Why in the name of everything holy and sacred did you go and visit the drow?”
“Ah, yes, you would have an issue with that wouldn’t you?”
“The drow are among the most savage, vile, wicked, immoral, ruthless, cruel, and dangerous creatures to ever be spat out from the bowels of the earth!”
He nodded. “Yes, they are impressive.”
“Do you have any idea how hard I’ve worked to try and convince the queen to expel them? How hard every ambassador before me has worked at it? Their presence here is nothing but a scouting expedition! The treaty Madis signed with them limits their embassy to just six individuals, but they are already plotting and scheming to get her to adjust the treaty and allow more of them to come. If they aren’t driven out there will be a horde of black skinned, red-eyed, savages murdering and burning everything in sight!”
“Given what I’ve seen of this place that might improve things.”
She glared at him. “Is this all just one huge joke to you?”
“Believe me, if this were a joke I wouldn’t be pointing my wand at you.”
“From the moment I met you I knew you were a criminal and capable of some horrific choices,” she sent Belle a quick glance. “And while I despise thieves, I can at least understand selfishness and doing things solely for your own benefit. It is a sad and pathetic existence, but I can understand it. But what POSSIBLE reason could you have for meeting with the drow?!”
“My reasons are strange and enigmatic.”
Her eyebrows leapt. “Are you trying to sound like a White Mage? Don’t! If you hadn’t already made such a public appearance, I’d tear those robes off you!”
“Wonderful, you’re starting to sound like a wife,” Waldo muttered.
“Why did you ever decide to wear white robes? Tell me. Unlike your thieving and other crimes, it’s not out of self-interest. Wearing them makes you an enemy of the Order and puts a target on you. If you’d been wearing any other colored robes when you robbed Roger I would never have sought you out. So why did you put them on when wearing them would only make your life harder? Is it your revenge on Avalon? Do you hate us that much?”
Waldo wondered what her reaction would be if he told her the actual truth. That he’d never actually set out to wear white. That Alice had bought the robes for him in some out of the way village and he’d put them on for no better reason than he had lost his original and wanted to wear mage robes of any sort. He would never, ever, ever have worn white robes if not for those circumstances.
“Yes,” he said. “I hate Avalon, the Order of Mist, and you specifically, Melissa. I want to hurt and shame you as much as possible.”
“I suppose you blame us for whatever wrong was done to you as a child growing up. For whatever turned you into the sort of man who would keep an ogre and seduce a helpless young barmaid.”
“Hey! He didn’t seduce me!” Alice argued. “He rescued me!”
Melissa spared her a pitying look. “I’m sure it seemed that way.” She turned back to Waldo. “It should make you very happy to know you’ve done the Order huge harm. Meeting with them will give the drow here a legitimacy they shouldn’t have. It will taint everything we say and do about them from this point forward. Worst of all, it will make us seem like hypocrites!”
That got a startled laugh from Waldo. “Because you’re not?”
“We believe in everything we preach! Unity, Justice, and Peace are the foundations of a better world we are trying to build!”
“And to get that better world you would never commit any sort of crimes, would you?”
“We do what we have to for the sake of the greater good,” Melissa told him without batting an eye. “So long as the ends are just the means don’t matter.”
Waldo rolled his eyes. “So, being a criminal is fine so long as it’s for a worthy cause? Yes, you’re not hypocrites at all.”
“If you would let me show you some of the good we do, you’d understand. See what being a White Mage is really about and I’m sure you’d want to join us.”
“Is this about you saving me again?”
Melissa nodded. “You do need to be saved, Waldo. You are too dangerous to be allowed to run wild any longer.”
“Thank you, but I’ll have to decline.”
“This isn’t optional.”
“It is so long as I’m the one holding the wand.”
Melissa gave a frustrated shake of her head. “Why must you make things so difficult?”
“It’s a gift I suppose. I-” Waldo suddenly cut off.
Melissa turned back towards the door.
“Is something wrong?” Alice asked.
“I’m not sure,” Waldo said and then directed a question to Melissa. “Friend of yours?”
“No,” she said. “I am the only White Mage in the city.” She gave him a quick glance. “The only genuine White Mage.”
There was a rapid series of knocks. Waldo nodded, and Belle opened the door. Standing in the doorway was Leiznam. As soon as he saw Melissa and Waldo he pointed at them and entered.
“I should have known I’d find you together conspiring!”
Belle shut the door behind him. Waldo quickly put his wand away. “Would you like to come in, Master Leiznam?”
Melissa faced Leiznam and folded both hands in front of her. “I am speaking with my brethren in the Order of Mist. I don’t see how that is conspiring.”
“I demand to know why Master Rabbit met with the drow today!”
“Guess everybody in this city has friends,” Belle said.
“Despite what you seem to believe, Master Leiznam,” Melissa said calmly. “My Order does not answer to you or to your queen. We are independent and will do what we believe best.”
“You were standing outside the embassy yelling that they should all be killed, and their bodies left on pikes! How could you be negotiating with them now?”
“Our ways are strange and enigmatic,” Waldo said. He saw Melissa’s back stiffen, but she did not correct him.
“It’s obvious what this is!” Leiznam said. “You’ve always wanted to drive us out and get control of the queen. I just never imagined you’d be so degenerate as to work with the drow to do it!”
Before Melissa could reply Waldo did. “I did warn you we were plotting to take over the world. As for working with the drow,” Waldo spread his hands. “We’ll do anything so long as the ends justify the means.”
Melissa clenched her jaw. “My associate is a bit more liberal than I am.”
“Are you still pretending he’s not here on orders from Avalon?” Leiznam demanded. “Even though I’ve caught you scheming together?”
“If Master Rabbit told you he is here of his own volition, then that is obviously so,” Melissa said. “The fact we are talking to each other is
not proof of anything other than our being associates. I assume that whenever you speak in private to anyone in your guild it is only to plot something?”
“That a White Mage would talk to the drow is all the proof I need that something underhanded is happening,” Leiznam spoke to Waldo. “What did you and Valeria discuss?”
“Things,” Waldo said. “This and that, nothing of any real importance.”
“And why did you register your barbarian in the queen’s tournament? I thought you White Mages considered the games to be murder.”
“Oh, that was just because it’s easy money. Not entering her would be like throwing gold away.”
Leiznam blinked. He studied Belle for a moment. “You’re that confident?”
“Of course, I wouldn’t have entered her otherwise.”
Leiznam frowned. “My guild has existed for over two hundred years. We built this city and it belongs to us.”
“I was under the impression it belonged to her majesty,” Melissa said.
“Torikai couldn’t survive without my guild.”
“Opinions on that differ,” Melissa said.
Leiznam stared at her. She met his gaze. “My guild is not going anywhere. Not you nor the drow nor anyone else will push us out. Whatever it is you are plotting, we will deal with it.” He glanced back over to Belle. “I wish you much luck in the Arena, Belle of Tarsus. You’ll need it.”
He left, slamming the door shut behind him. As soon as he was gone Melissa rounded on Waldo.
“Can you see the trouble you’ve caused? The queen’s advisor, Garibaldi, will tell her all about this and really make it look like we’re conspiring with the drow!”
“If you’re so worried about that,” Alice asked. “Why didn’t you explain to him that you and Waldo aren’t working together.”
“He would never have believed it,” Melissa said. “Not unless I exposed Waldo as a fraud. And if I did that I would look like an idiot and the credibility of the Order would be damaged even worse than it already is. The Order must always appear united. It’s better to have the guild assume we are up to something than to appear divided.”
“Good to know,” Waldo said.
“It’s not as important as your meeting with the drow,” Melissa said. “But why did you enter your beast in the tournament?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Waldo asked. “Belle is an ogre; how can she lose? Not entering her would be like turning my nose up at a whole chest full of gold.”
“I see,” Melissa said. “How could a Great Monster with a magical weapon possibly lose?”
“Exactly.”
For the first time since coming to his room, she smiled. “Thank you, Waldo.”
“Huh? For what?”
“For reminding me you’re not as smart as you think you are. Good night.” She left.
“Why,” Belle asked. “Do I get the feeling this is going to be harder than I expect?”
Chapter 13
The Queen Of Youth And Beauty
Madis woke up that morning as she did every morning, in a feather soft bed with two of her maids, snuggled against her. She gave Marcella and then Lyla a kiss and stretched. It was time to begin another day.
XXX
Queen Madis was enjoying her morning bath. She was in a ten-foot-wide circular bowl carved into the floor and filled with buckets of warm water. As she lay in the warm, soapy water Geneva and Hinata washed her. A third maid, Katryn, massaged her thighs, arms, and shoulders. As the girls ran their soft hands over her body and through her hair they shared their thoughts.
“Your hair is so beautiful, majesty, like softest silk.” Hinata purred.
“Your skin is so soft to the touch,” Katryn whispered.
“Your body is lovely and supple,” Geneva murmured.
“Mmmmm,” Madis kept her eyes closed and enjoyed their efforts. Being the benevolent ruler of Torikai her life was filled with rituals and various court activities. The daily bath was just one of them. As queen, her people depended on her wisdom. It was vital she follow her schedule of activities and so maintain a relaxed and constant state of mind. It was her royal duty.
When the bath was complete Madis climbed out. Her favorite, Phiaa, waited with silk cloth to dry her. Phiaa was twenty-three and the oldest of her maids. Madis regretted that she would have to arrange for the girl to marry soon. If she waited much longer people would begin to whisper she was an old maid. Madis should have done it a couple years before, but the girl had such an amazing ass she just hadn’t been able to let her go.
“Your skin glistens, like purest silver,” Phiaa whispered as she gently patted her down.
The other maids took their turns brushing her hair, dressing her, scrubbing her teeth. They all knew their tasks and performed them quickly and deftly. Each expressing their heartfelt joy as they worked.
“How beautiful you are, your majesty” Katryn said.
“You are lovely to behold,” Hinata said with a look of adoration.
“Your exquisiteness makes me weep,” Lyla appeared on the verge of tears.
Queen Madis stood there, patiently allowing them to dress and prepare her. She had six personal maids. Their ages ranged from sixteen to twenty-three, all beautiful and of noble birth. She chose her maids for their beauty and their discretion. They performed whatever task was asked of them and never spoke a whisper of it to others. And in return, when the time came, she would arrange a good marriage for them and provide a bag of gold for a dowry. Not to mention granting them her favor. The noble families of Torikai and the neighboring countries were always eager to offer up their daughters whenever there was an opening. A few of the girls had difficulty adjusting to life as a royal maid. Especially with the… special services the queen expected. But they eventually grew used to their duties. In their own small way, they helped Madis rule over her lands with perfect justice and wisdom, so that all her people loved her. What greater honor could any daughter of a noble house have?
And when, on those very rare occasions, a girl let her tongue slip, or failed to perform her duties, she would disappear, and her family would receive a very large bag of gold in recompense. Madis hated when that happened, it would upset her for days.
XXX
When the queen was dressed and ready she sent Phiaa to fetch Garibaldi.
The court mage entered with a smooth gait and dazzling smile. He wore crimson robes with a howling wolf made of gold thread. His skin was bronze, and he had thick curly black hair and deep brown eyes that could pierce a woman’s heart with one glance. Master Garibaldi Sempronius was from the Amoran lands. Where they worshipped the old gods and where vendettas and blood feuds were a way of life. Everyone knew the Amorans were hot-blooded and passionate. Many of the noble houses there traced their roots all the way back to the Empire and held fast to the ancient traditions in worship, dress, and custom. The Amoran kingdoms were famous for love affairs, duels, palace coups, murders, and secret plots.
Garibaldi had come here eight years ago with little more than the clothes on his back. When he’d been introduced to her, he’d confessed all his secrets. He was a prince of one of the nineteen kingdoms, Garibaldi son of the Aulus, rightful ruler of all Trieste. But then, one night, his uncle Gaius had poisoned his father and his two older brothers and seized the throne. Garibaldi had been left with no choice but to flee for his very life! To ever return to his homeland would mean certain death. Madis had wept for him and for all he had suffered. She had immediately elevated him to court mage.
A few years ago, the White Mage ambassador Barton had declared that the ruler of Trieste was King Julius Laelius and that there was, and never had been, any King Gaius Sempronius. In fact, no noble house called Sempronius even existed. It was sad that the White Mages were so intimidated by Garibaldi’s obvious good sense and ability that they’d tried to slander him.
Garibaldi was the only man permitted in her private quarters. He was the one she trusted to perform the daily rituals that would allow
her true beauty to shine through. At that moment, someone looking in would have seen a fifty-three-year-old woman (soon to be fifty-four) who weighed well over three hundred pounds. But that wasn’t the real her.
Garibaldi gave her a deep and elegant bow. “You are as radiant as ever, my beautiful queen.” He held out his wand. “With your permission?”
“Yes, yes, get on with it.”
He cast the illusion. All at once Queen Madis took on the form the court and public were familiar with. She wore the angelic face that appeared on all her portraits and which was carved into statues and busts. Her eyes were a pale blue, her lips were full and thick, and her skin was flawless and shined like polished ivory. This was the face men came from all around the world to look at, the one which inspired songs and love poems. The dress now appeared to fit snuggly and to emphasize large, firm breasts and wide hips. The hem ran down to her ankles, or else long, smooth legs would also be on display. Her form had to be perfect, every single time. Madis would tolerate nothing less. She was the queen of youth and beauty; a beautiful and perfect queen beloved by all her people. An ideal monarch who ruled with absolute justice and wisdom, who was generous and kind, but could also be stern when it was required. A perfect queen to rule a perfect kingdom.
The Rabbit Great And Terrible Page 11
