“Does that bother you?” Acronis asked with a slight smile.
“Women rule the household and raise the children. Men govern and fight the wars. That is how the gods intended,” said Skylan. “These people have got everything backward.”
Acronis was now chuckling. Skylan wondered why.
CHAPTER 23
The throne room of the palace was located in the center beneath a domed ceiling decorated with a mosaic that portrayed colorful fish, whales and dolphins, and coral. An opening in the ceiling admitted air and sunlight. The only furniture was the Queen’s throne, which was made of teak adorned with seashells and twelve blue-green sapphires set in a semicircle above the Queen’s head.
A male Aquin, presumably the Queen’s consort, was present when Aylaen entered, along with three young women, who must be the Queen’s daughters, by their resemblance to their mother. The eldest was perhaps Aylaen’s own age and that made Aylaen uncomfortable. Would this woman take her seriously or dismiss her as a child? The Queen introduced herself as Magali and her husband as Tai. He regarded Aylaen with a penetrating gaze and spoke a few words to the Queen. She rested her hand on his briefly, then he and the daughters left the room.
Aylaen stood alone at the far end. She was nervous. She did not want to give offense, yet she intended to be strong, deny these foolish charges that they were invaders, and free herself and her people, and her ship. She adopted a stance that she hoped appeared bold and self-confident, yet tempered with respect.
Queen Magali was perhaps in her forties. Her face was smooth and youthful, though not untouched by care and worry. She wore the simple caftan of her people, no jewels, no golden crown, and only a circlet of seashells that held back her hair from her face. The queen’s expression was serious as she regarded Aylaen, yet there had been a sweetness in her smile when she had spoken to her husband and children that made Aylaen’s heart warm to her. As their business commenced, however, the Queen was no longer smiling.
“Come forward,” Queen Magali commanded.
Aylaen walked to within a few feet of the throne and stopped. Was she supposed to bow, kneel? She decided she would not kneel; that would appear too servile. Before she could do anything, the Queen motioned her nearer.
“Give me your hand.”
Mystified, Aylaen drew close to the throne and stretched out her hand. Queen Magali took hold of her hand, pressed it, turned it over, ran her hand over several calluses before releasing her.
Queen Magali’s eyes were cold. “A hand that wields a sword. You were wearing a sword when my warriors found you.”
The Queen gestured and a servant entered, carrying Aylaen’s sword, the blessed sword of Vindrash.
“Is this weapon yours?” the Queen asked. She seemed disapproving.
“It is mine,” Aylaen answered, adding defensively, “your warriors carry weapons, Your Majesty.”
“My warriors do not carry swords. They carry the trident and the spear in order to fend off sea predators, such as sharks and kraken,” said the Queen. “We do not kill even these predators if we can help it. We do not kill each other. We do not believe that the goal of a man’s life is to die with a sword in his belly and the blood of another on his hands.”
Aylaen was startled. She had never heard the Vindrasi described in such terms. She was about to angrily defend her people when she realized that Queen Magali was simply stating the truth. To die a hero with his sword in his hand was a warrior’s dearest ambition. Those like Skylan’s father, who grew old and died in their beds, were looked upon with pity.
Aylaen realized suddenly she had been standing for long moments in brooding silence and she feared the Queen might think she was sullen or obdurate. She flushed and said, “I did not mean to be rude-”
Queen Magali smiled slightly. “I have been following your thoughts in your eyes. The fire in your eyes, ready to defend your people. The lowering of your eyes, the fire quenched by doubt. The widening of your eyes in wise, sorrowful understanding.”
“I am not certain I understand anything anymore, Your Majesty,” said Aylaen, suddenly feeling very young and vulnerable.
“Tell me your story,” said Queen Magali.
Aylaen drew in a deep breath and wondered where to start. She didn’t want to talk about the Vektia dragon and so she began her tale when they were out at sea.
“Our ship was dragged beneath the waves by a terrible sea monster, Your Majesty,” said Aylaen. “The mast fell … I was drowning and I don’t remember anything else until I was able to breathe again with a mask on my face and your warriors tending to me…”
“And what of your dragon?” asked the Queen with an intent look. “You Vindrasi have sailed our seas in your dragonships for centuries. We have rescued your people from drowning down through the ages. And this is how you repay us-by invading our realm.”
“You misjudge us, Your Majesty,” said Aylaen. “We were made slaves by the Sinarians and managed to escape. We were returning to our homeland when we were attacked by the kraken.” She spread her hands. “If you know Vindrasi, you know that if we were going to invade, we would have had many warriors on our ship and many ships at our command.”
“The Vindrasi delight in battle and conquest,” said the Queen in grim tones. “You were allied with the ogres. The kraken attacked an ogre ship that was near yours and we found the body of a dead ogre godlord on the deck of your ship. A powerful dragon serves you. You have with you a faerie princeling who commands his fae followers to serve you. What are we to think?”
“A faerie princeling?” Aylaen repeated, mystified. “Do you mean Wulfe? Why, he’s just a boy-”
A boy who can change himself into a beast. Aylaen decided it would be best to let that drop. She stopped and tried to think.
“The ogre godlord was a friend of ours who died on our ship. We were going to return his body to his people and that was why we were with the ogres. Your Majesty, we are far, far from the Vindrasi homeland. We have no intention of invading your realm. To be honest, we had no idea your realm even existed!”
“You come at the command of your god, Aelon,” said the Queen in ice-rimmed tones.
Aylaen was about to indignantly deny this accusation, when the thought came to her that this could be a trap. Queen Magali and her people might be followers of Aelon, hoping to inveigle her into denouncing the god. Aylaen’s next words might doom her and her companions. She should tread lightly, feel her way, be diplomatic.
“The hell with that,” Aylaen said to herself wearily. She and her people had done nothing wrong except to be attacked by a sea monster that, for all she knew, this Queen had sent to kill them.
“If you know the Vindrasi as you claim, Your Majesty, then you know that we have always worshipped the Old Gods. I am a priestess of Vindrash. The goddess gave me her blessed sword. The goddess has been at my side since I was a child. I will be true to Vindrash as she has been true to me.”
Queen Magali looked thoughtful. She tapped her fingers on the teak arm of the throne. Aylaen could not tell from the woman’s expression if the Queen believed her or not.
A servant entered and whispered something to the Queen, who nodded and said, “Bring them before me.” The servant departed. The Queen turned to Aylaen.
“Your menfolk are here.”
Aylaen was filled with thankfulness and relief and dismay all at the same time. If there was ever anyone in this world who had no idea how to tread lightly, it was Skylan Ivorson. Aquin guards entered, followed by Skylan, who shook loose of his captors and came crashing into the throne room like a storm-driven wave. Rudely ignoring the Queen, Skylan hurried to Aylaen and took hold of her hands.
“Are you all right?” Skylan moved to embrace her and whispered in her ear. “These people have the Vektan Torque!”
Aylaen stared at him, astonished.
“Say nothing,” Skylan admonished. “Go along with me.”
He drew back and cast the Queen an angry glance, then asked Aylaen
abruptly, “Have these people harmed you?”
“I am fine, Skylan,” said Aylaen, wondering uneasily what he was planning. “Her Majesty has been most gracious to me.”
“Well, Her Majesty hasn’t been gracious to me,” said Skylan furiously. “I’ve been treated like a goddamn slave.”
He turned to the Queen, who was tight-lipped with anger at his insult.
“Please, Skylan,” said Aylaen, “Let me handle this-”
Skylan ignored her. Throwing back his head, he announced proudly, “I am Skylan Ivorson, Chief of Chiefs of the Vindrasi. I speak as Chief of Chiefs, from one ruler to another, and I demand that you set us free! We have done nothing wrong. And I insist that you return to us our property-the golden torque your warriors found.”
His words boomed around the dome of the throne room and went nowhere. They seemed to fall to the floor with a thud. If a kraken had then appeared to drag Aylaen down to the bottom of the ocean, she would have been grateful. No one spoke. Skylan glared around defiantly.
Queen Magali turned to Aylaen.
“Is this male your husband?”
Aylaen bit her lip. “He is … he is my betrothed.”
“So he is unmarried. That explains his lack of manners,” said the Queen. “He claims to be a ruler of your people. Is that true?”
“I do not lie!” Skylan said heatedly.
The Queen cast him a cool glance and indicated Aylaen was to answer.
“Skylan is Chief of Chiefs of the Vindrasi, Your Majesty. That is equivalent to a king.”
“And you are their priestess,” said the Queen.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I am a priestess of my people,” said the Queen. “Who are your other menfolk? Let them come forward.”
The guards had brought in Acronis and Farinn. Aylaen introduced them.
“Legate Acronis. He is from Sinaria-”
“A Legate no longer,” said Acronis with a deep bow. “My past is gone. I am Acronis, Your Majesty. And I am glad beyond telling to be in your beautiful realm.”
The Queen seemed pleased by this, for she smiled at Acronis. Her gaze turned to Farinn, who turned red to the ears and gave a nervous bow.
“Farinn Grimshaw,” said Aylaen.
“A Vindrasi warrior,” said Skylan.
Farinn stood staring at the floor. He very slightly shook his head.
“He is a bard, a poet,” Aylaen said.
Farinn cast her a grateful glance.
“Poets are much revered among my people,” said the Queen.
She shifted her gaze at last to Skylan. “You may be a king in your realm, but not here. Your queen will speak for you. Go stand with the other men. And be warned. If you do not hold your tongue, you will be escorted from the room.”
Skylan looked blank, completely stunned, as though he’d been hit by a lightning bolt. Aylaen felt a surge of laughter bubble up inside her. She worked to suppress her mirth, fearing if she once started laughing, she would end up in tears.
She put her hand on his arm. “Skylan, please do this, for my sake.”
Skylan gave her a withering look. “You want me to go stand with your other ‘menfolk’!”
“Skylan, please!” said Aylaen.
“We have to get the torque back and get out of here,” said Skylan.
Wearing that obstinate look she knew all too well, he turned on his heel and went to stand with Acronis and Farinn. Skylan faced the Queen, his chin jutting out, his arms crossed over his chest. The rage in his eyes could have set the sea boiling.
Aylaen was sweating. She felt drained and exhausted and tried to think what to say. The Queen regarded her thoughtfully, then gestured to a servant who brought forth a box made of seashells studded with gemstones. The Queen opened the box. Aylaen saw the glint of gold, the Vektan Torque. The Queen was about to draw the Torque from the box when Commander Neda entered the throne room.
“I need to speak to Your Majesty,” she said. “The matter is urgent.”
The Queen beckoned Neda to come forward. The commander spoke to her in low tones. The Queen’s jaw set. Her mouth tightened.
“They come in peace?” she asked.
Commander Neda whispered.
“They will be permitted to enter,” said the Queen.
By her expression, the commander did not like this decision. She hesitated a moment, seeming to hope the Queen would change her mind. The Queen had no more to say on the matter, however. Commander Neda saluted and walked off. The Queen shut the box and handed it back to the servant.
“Leave us,” she said. The servant and the box and the Vektan Torque disappeared.
The Queen’s gaze went back to Aylaen and lingered on her. Aylaen had the unsettling feeling that whatever dire news the commander had brought had something to do with them.
A delegation of five women entered the throne room. They bowed to the Queen, who inclined her head with cold politeness. Aylaen felt her stomach clench. The women wore armor bearing an all-too familiar insignia, that of a serpent biting its own tail: the symbol of Aelon. Aylaen cast a sidelong glance at Skylan. His blue eyes were fixed on the armor. He stood braced, tense, his hand reaching unconsciously for the sword that he had lost when the ship sank beneath him.
The leader of the delegation stepped forward. “We come to Queen Magali of the City of the First Daughter with a message from her cousin, Queen Thais of the City of the Fourth Daughter.”
“The delegation from my cousin, the Queen of the City of Fourth Daughter, is welcome,” said the Queen in a frozen tone that indicated quite the opposite. “What message do you bear from my cousin?”
The leader glanced at Aylaen. “Queen Thais commends you on the capture of these land walkers. You are undoubtedly aware that they are dangerous people, wanted criminals. We have come to relieve you of the burden of their care. Give them to us and we will see to it that they are returned to the city of Sinaria and given into the custody of Priest-General Raegar.”
Aylaen turned to Skylan in shock. He looked at her and shook his head. His fist clenched.
“You claim these people are dangerous,” the Queen was saying to the Fourth Daughter’s delegate. “What charges are leveled against them?”
“The woman is an evil sorceress who summoned a dragon that destroyed much of the city of Sinaria and killed many hundreds of its citizens.”
“Raegar is a lying bastard!” Skylan shouted, forgetting he was supposed to remain silent.
The Queen cast him an angry glance and then looked to Aylaen. “I warn you, Madame. If you cannot keep these menfolk of yours under control, I will have them removed!”
“I will speak to him, Your Majesty,” Aylaen said.
She walked across the floor, conscious that all the women were staring at her. Aylaen was flushed and hot with embarrassment and anger, fear, and confusion. To make matters worse, Skylan was regarding her as though she were the enemy. Aylaen came to stand before him and spoke in a low voice.
“If we were standing in the shield wall, I would obey your commands. I would not argue with you or make you look small because you are Chief and we would be fighting for our lives. For now, Skylan, these people take me for the Chief. We are fighting for our lives.”
Skylan’s mouth tightened. A muscle in his jaw twitched. He kept his arms crossed and did not look at her.
“I have often put my trust in you, Skylan,” Aylaen said, resting her hand on his arm. “Today, you need to put your trust in me.”
Skylan’s blue-eyed gaze softened. He gave a small nod and said quietly, “I am here if you need me.”
Aylaen sighed and turned back to face the Queen.
“Skylan speaks the truth, Your Majesty. I did not summon the Vektia dragon.”
“She has the artifact she used to summon the dragon in her possession,” the leader of the delegation stated. “The artifact is a bone from a dragon.”
The Queen’s cool gaze went to Aylaen.
“Is this true?”<
br />
Queen Magali had seen the Vektan Torque. She had held it in her hand. She knew about the Dragon Kahg. Aylaen guessed that the Queen knew she had been holding the bone of a dragon in her hands. Aylaen would not lie, but she could not tell all the truth.
“I did not summon the dragon, Your Majesty,” Aylaen repeated. “I used the blessed sword of the goddess, Vindrash, to destroy it.”
“You see, Your Majesty, she does not deny she has the artifact,” said the delegate. “These dragon bones are dangerous. This woman is dangerous, as are her heathen gods. You put your own realm at risk by allowing her to remain here. Give her and her savage men to us, Your Majesty, to be returned to Sinaria.”
The Queen sat in silence for long moments, seeming to consider. Aylaen held her breath. She did not dare look at Skylan, but she could sense his presence, strong and reassuring, and she was comforted.
“I need to study this matter, take it under consideration,” said Queen Magali at last. “Thank my cousin, Queen Thais of the City of the Fourth Daughter, and tell her that I will send her my answer in a fortnight.”
“My Queen will be not be pleased with the delay,” said the delegate, glowering.
“I am sorry to incur my cousin’s displeasure,” said Queen Magali calmly. “But if these prisoners are as dangerous as you claim, I could not in good conscience hand them over to endanger your people. My commander will escort you out,” said the Queen, nodding to Neda.
Bowing stiffly, the delegation stalked off, accompanied by Commander Neda and her guards.
The Queen again sat silently on her throne, absorbed in her thoughts. Her unfocused gaze found Skylan. A new thought seemed to come to her.
She eyed him steadily and then asked, “Are you, by any chance, the one known as Torval’s Fish Knife?”
CHAPTER 24
Skylan gaped, his jaw going slack. “No one knows about that! I never told anyone!”
He looked back at the Queen, his voice hardening. “What do you mean, Your Majesty? How do you know me by a name given to me by the gods?”
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