by Guy Antibes
“Why would he do that?” Her voice rose in pitch. Trak couldn’t understand why she was getting upset.
“He does it to protect Santasia.”
Lia put her fists down at her side. “Protect Santasia? By figuring out how to invade Zamiel?”
“You don’t understand,” Trak said.
“I guess I don’t!” She threw herself on the bed and turned away from him with her face against the wall. “You shouldn’t talk to your Queen that way.”
“My Queen?”
“Yes.”
Trak heard the tinge of a pout in her voice. “I don’t want to get mad at you, but I’m so used to it,” she said quietly.
Trak could hardly hear her voice. He got up and sat next to her on the bed. “I’ve known Misson for a long time. He’s like an uncle to me. Ask Tembul about him. He fought bravely in the Santasian civil war. The Santasians don’t want to fight another one.”
“At least for a while?” Trak could hear the conciliation in Lia’s voice.
“For a very long while. The rebellion burned down a lot of their capital, including Misson’s family mansion. I could tell he was disturbed by it. Since the Kandannan’s are no longer a military threat, he probably visited Zamiel to assess the situation.”
“He won’t invade my country?”
“Would you invade a country with so many different factions? I wouldn’t.”
“Why wouldn’t he want to sweep in here when there is a power struggle, like you talked about?”
Trak put his hand on Lia’s shoulder. “Because he’d have to fight the Eastern Toryans and most of the Western Toryans before any Santasian soldiers would even reach here.”
“So I’m upset about nothing?”
Trak shook his head. He really didn’t have any experience dealing with this kind of a conversation. He thought Lia was more level-headed, but perhaps a bit of Princess Pullia was leaking out. “You have every right to be upset. The factions that Sirul talked about are not to be taken lightly. All Misson did was warn me to be careful because Zamiel was dangerous.”
She rolled back against him and sat up. Lia came disturbingly close. Her face was just inches away from his, and he wanted to move away, but something kept him looking at her beautiful eyes, bigger than he had ever noticed before. Her presence took his breath away.
“He did?” she said, her own breathing seemed as shallow as his own.
Trak could only nod. She leaned forward and put her head on his shoulder. They had slept under the same blanket before, but this intimacy was different…and terrifying. She put her arm on his shoulder. “You’ll protect me?”
“I already said I’d do my best.”
She took a deep breath. “Your best is very good, isn’t it?”
His heart beat in his throat. “Sometimes it is.”
Lia raised up her head and looked at his lips. She took her hand off his shoulder and ruffled his hair, and then traced his lips with her finger, before leaning forward with her eyes closed. Trak sat, immobile, like a deer caught momentarily in the gaze of a predator.
He felt her lips brush his, and then he couldn’t breathe.
The pounding on the door made them jump apart. Trak shot to his feet and straightened his hair.
“I’m sorry. Please forgive me!” he whispered.
Lia mouthed, “For what?” and gave him a seductive smile.
Trak went to the door. “I’m here.”
“It’s time for dinner. Sorry to interrupt your naps,” Tembul said.
Trak ran his fingers through his hair and kept his eyes averted from Lia, who straightened the front of her dress. He unlocked the door. “I’ll see you downstairs when you’re ready,” he said, grabbing his knit hat and jamming it on his head.
The walk down the stairs into the common room seemed like descending from the clouds. He fought for focus when the serving maid showed them an order board.
“What’s up with you?” Tembul said.
“Nothing. Your knocking woke me up.”
Tembul grinned. “Were you really sleeping?”
Trak shook his head. Sirul looked alarmed. “We were talking politics.”
“We heard,” Sirul said, “then everything went quiet.” He looked a Trak accusingly.
“Heard what?” Lia said when she sat down next to Tembul.
“Quiet,” Tembul said. His eyes were full of amused speculation, and that disturbed Trak more than Sirul’s anger. “It became very quiet.”
“Oh, that. Trak became angry and sat on the floor. I tried to reason with him in the sweetest way possible.”
“Did it work?” Tembul said.
“I think it did.” She looked at Trak with amusement.
~
The next day, they all decided to go different directions on the streets of Zamiel, Sirul had relatives to visit, and Tembul wanted to poke around on his own. That left Trak and Lia to either stay in their rooms, which Trak did not want to do after what happened the previous evening, or follow Tembul’s lead and test the tenor of the city.
“Are we still husband and wife?” Lia said, slipping her hand into his as soon as they left the inn.
Trak looked up at the clear cold day. The sun seemed to pierce the air with its sharp light, but it did little to warm them up. Trak wore his Benninese sword at his side, something that Sirul suggested they all do. He noticed plenty of other men and a few women wearing weapons, as well.
“I suppose we are, for now.” He had already apologized for the kiss, and Lia had refused to accept his apology, saying it was all part of their disguise. She laughed it off, but Trak couldn’t shake the feeling of attraction. Lia affected him differently than Valanna had, but Trak couldn’t define what that difference was. He still thought of Valanna, but questioned why he had to consider her feelings, now that she was the wife of Marom. He shook his head to get her out of his mind and squeezed Lia’s hand.
She looked up at him. He cleared his throat. “I just wanted to make sure I had a good grip on you, in case anyone tried to abduct you.”
Lia gave Trak a funny look, but squeezed back. “I don’t give my kisses to just anybody, you know.”
“I thought you had… Lenis…” He turned red.
“Lenis never made it as far as you did last night. I wanted to kiss you, not the other way around.”
Trak wasn’t so sure that he didn’t want to kiss her. “I, uh, don’t want complications for you when you get back what is yours.” He looked around for listeners and reminded himself that he had to watch his comments out in the public.
“I’ll worry about that,” she said. “Where are we going?”
Trak looked ahead. “Back to Maker’s Market. I want to see if Misson Dalistro really left the city.” He shrugged. “Since we are roaming around, it’s nice to have a destination.” He looked at Lia in alarm. “I forgot. This is your city. I didn’t even ask where you wanted to go!”
She smiled and squeezed his hand again. “We might want to wander more towards the castle. I really didn’t get out much, so anywhere is fine, as long as I can see home from afar.”
“Point me in the right direction, once we’ve made it to Maker’s Market.”
She smiled at him and then pointed her face at the sun. “I will.”
They strolled and stopped at windows, looking at what was for sale. It seemed that every large city had lots of shops, and that suited Trak just fine. The goods inside the shops in each country were varied. Bennin’s offerings were the most different. During his only visit to Balbaam, he hadn’t had the time to do much other than save the country.
The thought of Balbaam brought Valanna to his mind. She didn’t have the presence that Lia did. Lia’s stunning beauty came through, even wearing plain clothes and with her face scrubbed. She laughed as she pointed something out to Trak, and her dark curls shook. He could see more of Kulara in her than Valanna.
When they entered Maker’s Market, he could see why Misson left. All of the shops had been tak
en down and people walked straight across the square to the other side while pursuing their own business. A sign stated that the market was held for four days out of every week. He hadn’t really expected to meet with Misson, but Trak could feel the disappointment of not seeing his friend again.
“There is a gathering over there,” Lia pointed to a group of people standing around a man on a box talking excitedly to the others.
Trak adjusted his knit hat and escorted Lia to the outside meeting.
“You are right, sir,” the speaker pointed to a man in the crowd. “Zamiel is a special place, but only one of many special places in Kandanna. I say we bring back the Kandannans. They can protect us from incursions from the West!” He raised his fist to emphasize his point.
“So you want to bring Kandanna in to rule us again? Haven’t they cost us enough in our young men’s lives? If you hadn’t have followed that renegade Santasian magician, I’d have more relatives alive.”
“You scoundrel!” another said.
“What’s so wrong with our brothers in the East?” a woman said. “It’s high time we united once more. After their civil war, the Santasians might be looking to expand their territory again, right through the Lazanti Pass.”
All of a sudden there was pushing and shoving. The crowd grew, and fighting began. Trak couldn’t use his sword on unarmed citizens and dared not use his magic except to throw up a modest shield around Lia and himself. They both stood in the center of a maelstrom until guards ran into the square and began arresting the fighters.
“You two!” a guard said, pointing in their direction, but the riot pushed him away.
Someone slammed into Trak, and suddenly his hat was off.
An unidentified woman called out “A Pestlan spy!”
Pestle wouldn’t be sending any spies to Torya, but before Trak could teleport Lia out of there, a guard grabbed onto her, and a number of guards held on to Trak.
“Don’t fight them,” he called to Lia, as he struggled with the guards to get closer to the princess. He succeeded, and when wagons showed up to take the rioters away, Trak and Lia were tied up together along with the rest of the rioters. He found out that it was illegal to use magic on guards, but everyone was still tied up to keep them from posing.
“What shall we do?” Lia said, whispering.
Trak shrugged. “We wanted to find out what was going on in Zamiel. I think we will find out more than we want to.”
She snuggled in closer to him and grinned. “Will it be fun?”
~~~
Chapter Seventeen
~
After sleeping for the rest of the night, Valanna rose from her makeshift bed on the floor of Asem and Kulara’s bedroom. She had gladly given Snively her bed.
A few of the Vashtans had already risen and were treated to a breakfast cooked by Coffun Cricket. Valanna reluctantly joined them.
“A heroine again, I hear,” Coffun said. “You are an active princess, aren’t you?”
“I’m not a princess,” Valanna said through her teeth, still waking up and not in a particularly good mood.
Coffun chuckled. “Isn’t that the proper title for the fifth wife of a Warish king?”
She had to give Coffun the point. “A Ferezan king,” she nodded, “He gets to make his own rules.”
“So what kind of rules do you get to make when you are a Pestlan queen?”
“Me, as Queen of Pestle? I’ve thought a bit about it, but only in regards to Pestle’s relationship with Warish.”
“You can dissolve the marriage by Pestlan law, you know. It is well known that a Pestlan royal marriage requires consummation, and that hasn’t happened.”
“How did you know?”
Coffun grinned. “I’m very good at asking questions and looking things up, Princess Valanna.”
“So I’m not married to King Marom?”
He took a fingerling sausage from a bowl filled with them and popped it into his mouth. “Have one of these. They are quite good, if I say so myself. Ah, yes. You are married to King Marom until you are Queen, but then you have the power to annul it.” He shrugged. “An annulment might cause a problem or two in Balbaam, but we both know that you can raise a Pestlan army, and the King may be reluctant to risk his Ferezan warriors in battle.”
Valanna’s bad mood had suddenly turned. “I need to bide my time, then.”
He nodded. “You do, but, confidentially, I think even Asem will come to your side, if his children are spirited out of Balbaam. The time is not nearly right, but who knows what the future holds?”
She thought of Trak and her heart leapt within her chest. A chance still existed for something to develop more permanently between them, but they would both have to survive through some dangerous times. Perhaps not for Trak, but she certainly faced more fighting. King Harl and the Vashtans still stood between Valanna and the Pestlan throne. She had found new motivation to overthrow King Harl, and that brought a smile to her face. She chose one of Coffun’s sausages and took a bite. Suddenly, it was delicious.
~
“Take the flyer, if it will hold the Vashtans, Snively, and you three,” Coffun said.
Snively sat on the sofa, still bandaged up. His mood matched the way he looked from Valanna’s viewpoint. “So you want us to leave? Desert the citizens of Pestledown?” he said.
“A strategic retreat,” Asem said. “How can we plan anything when we are being sought within the close confines of Pestledown?” He looked at Snively, and then at Coffun. “I promise that you will return soon enough.”
Coffun looked away evidently deep in thought.
“He’s right, Coffun. What can I do now? You’re next, you know. Esmera has more pull than any of us, but I think she needs to be warned, as well.”
Valanna could sniff defeat in the air. “I think Asem is correct. Where can we go?”
“Darkpuddle, obviously,” Snively said. “We have forces there.”
Coffun glared at Snively, who glared back and spread his hands. “Do you have any other ideas? Who else can fight the Vashtans?” Snively barked.
“Very well,” Asem said. “Let’s get everyone bundled up and teleported out of here to where we hid the flyer outside the city. Then we will flee to Darkpuddle.” Asem shook his head and muttered. “Darkpuddle. Wherever do Pestlans get their names?”
~
Far ahead, Valanna saw plumes of smoke rising in the distance before she noticed the dark splotches of trees and buildings breaking up the rolling farmland of northeastern Pestle.
“That’s it,” Coffun said, pointing ahead.
Valanna looked back at the crowded flyer and let Henrig know of the heading change. Only half of their group rode, while the others, including Asem and Kulara, waited for the next trip.
The city of Darkpuddle looked rather new. It sat on the edge of a rise overlooking a lake. A river ran below, emptying into the body of water that probably gave the city its name.
“Down there,” Coffun pointed to a large field filled with tents and other temporary structures on the edge of the city. It looked like a military encampment to Valanna, and she had seen plenty.
“Off,” Valanna said. “We need to get the others.”
“You come with us. Henrig and one of his fellows can get the others. I have people you need to meet,” Coffun said.
Valanna looked at Snively, who nodded and said, “We need to arrange a place for us all.”
“You can find your way back?” Valanna said to Henrig.
“I can. Bestik will drive, and I can navigate.”
Once all of the bags were taken off the flyer, Valanna followed Coffun over the muddy field. She slipped and slid her way to a two-story building. Men and women went in and out with a lot of purpose in their steps. This must be the rebel headquarters, Valanna thought.
Coffun wiped his feet off, using boot scrapers mounted to an extension of the bottom stair. Valanna did the same and then looked up to see Danson Axlewood standing on the top step
looking down at them with his fists on his hips.
“Princess Valanna, welcome to rebel headquarters.” Danson Axlewood threw out his arm at all the activity. “We are as busy as bees.” He looked at Coffun. “What has happened that brings the Princess to Darkpuddle?”
“Snively was captured and interrogated. He’s over there,” Coffun pointed to a huddle of Vashtans helping Snively to stand.
“Lieutenant?” Axlewood said to a nearby soldier. “Get some men and carry Mr. Snively into my office.” He looked back down at Coffun. “I suppose you want places to stay?”
Coffun merely nodded.
“I’ll get a man on it. The camp buildings are bursting at the seams, you might say. We are building more, but that won’t help you today.”
No, it won’t” Coffun said. “We have another batch of folks coming from Pestledown. There are twelve of us.”
“Beltfeeler’s Inn should have enough rooms. Come into my office and tell me more.”
Axlewood had words with another soldier who left the building to arrange for lodgings. Valanna was shown up the stairs. Axlewood’s office filled most of the upper floor. She saw Axlewood’s large desk, but was shown to a chair at a large conference table. A detailed map of Pestledown covered most of the table. She didn’t sit down, but stood by the proffered chair and tried to make out the location of Esmera’s inn and the house where they stayed.
“Where is your house, Coffun?” she said.
Coffun looked over the map and put his finger down on an area midway from the palace to the northern wall in the opposite direction from The Looking Inn.
The door opened, and soldiers helped Snively to a long bench beneath a window and left, replaced by three Blue Swans. They all took seats. A woman came in with a large bag and checked out Snively’s condition, moving him to a cot on the other side of the big room.
Axlewood blew into the room. His presence was quite a bit stronger in his own element, Valanna thought.
“Snively, would you tell me what happened?”
From the cot, Snively recounted what happened to him, being captured by the guards outside of his flat and dragged to the palace where the Vashtans threw a truth spell on him, and then gave him to King Harl to torture.
