FROM THE SCRIBBLINGS OF RANY

Landria snuggled up close, her breasts pressing into my back, her breath warm on my neck.

“I need to leave soon,” she murmured in my ear.

“Hmm?” I was close to the sweet embrace of sleep. It had gotten easier of late. A bit easier.

“Trouble is coming.”

“The fuck do you mean? Landria—“

“You are certain you saw Kemile? Describe her again.”

“Oh, come on,” I protested. But I described the queen for the tenth time to her. She had been riding atop a pure white horse beside her coach – and it had to be a royal coach, it looked like it cost a hundred thousand gold. I described her golden hair and youthful, yet somehow noble face, trying to play down the beauty part. Her procession was less than a day’s ride from us.

“It is her,” Landria said.

“Odd, yes? You said she stays in her castle getting pampered all day long.”

“Yes. She does. Something is going on. I do not like it.”

“She is on our side.”

“Can you be certain of that? With these royals, you never can be.”

“She just wants to meet with Alec. I would not worry.”

“But I do.”

“Ok. We will talk more tomorrow about it.”

“Leave with me. Tonight.”

“What? Why?”

“It is too dangerous for me to stay.”

“You think Kemile is really going to notice you? You’re very good at going unnoticed. I’ve watched you do it.”

“You do not understand.”

“In fact, I do. I know about your past. I saw the brand, Landria. I really do not think the queen of Destra is here to look for runaway slaves, do you?”

She was quiet for a time. I thought she had fallen asleep.

Then she said, “I am not a runaway slave.”

“Landria – you really think you have to lie to me? I have known for weeks now and said nothing. I knew you would prefer not to talk about it, and nobody keeps a secret better than I do—“

“I am not a runaway slave. I am a runaway queen.”

“What?” I chuckled.

“I was queen of Fedra for seven years. My real name is Elyscia.”

“You are not joking.”

“No. I fear I am not.”

“Elyscia is dead. You cannot be her. She was killed by outlanders on her way to Meridea.”

“I was not in the carriage when it burned. My…little sister was. She was supposed to stay home, but she stowed away. Didn’t show herself until she knew it was too late to turn back. I was in the woods when the attack on my procession occurred. I was…with the captain of my guard. He went to fight the attackers off and was killed. Along with everyone else. My sister was much younger than me, had just become a woman really. Her face did not look like mine. She was much prettier. But when they found the bodies after…it didn’t matter. They thought she was me. I fled on foot. Disguised myself. Even branded myself. You think that you seeing the brand was something I did not intend?”

“Gods. I’ve been sleeping with a queen!”

“Really, Rany, that is the first thing you have to say?”

“I am sorry about your sister, of course. And your people.”

“There were others close to me that were killed. My young cousin, Krista, was hanged by order of the Empress.”

“Krista’s dead?”

“You sound as if you know her.”

“I met her. I liked her.”

“Someone set it up to appear that I was plotting to assassinate the Empress.”

I remained silent, afraid to speak. Perhaps I could have warned Krista, saved her.

“The irony is, I was plotting to kill her. My true plan, as far as I know, was never discovered. And it may have even succeeded. But likely not. Analisa is a cunning little bitch. All the royals are – a shifty, scheming, corrupt lot, I as bad as any of them. But none so much as Analisa. No one has been able to outwit her in her ten year reign.”

“What a cunt,” I said, trying to show support.

“I intended to leave Friedor altogether, after I escaped. Sail west perhaps, across the Weiran Ocean, to the Green Isles perhaps, perhaps beyond. I found a place in your camp and thought it as good a place as any to remain for awhile, while I saved some gold. First time in my life I ever had to worry about gold. I stayed… a bit longer than I planned.”

“Why?”

“I think you know why, you idiot.”

“Because of me.”

“Yes. Because of you.”

I had deduced this, but it is nice to have it confirmed out loud.

“But,” I said. “You’re a queen.”

“Not anymore. Never again. I am Landria now.”

“If Kemile were to see you, do you think she would recognize you?”

“Of course she would. We have known each other all our lives. Schemed together. Plotted against one another. Plotted together against others. In the end I cannot say if we were allies or enemies. Friends perhaps, perhaps either way. But friendship among royals only goes so far. Self interest prevails over all else. I am happy all that is behind me. It is as if I truly did die and was reborn.”

“I must say, I am not easily shocked, particularly these days. But you have managed it.”

“So come with me.”

“When?”

“Now? Or just before first light.”

“I don’t know, Elyscia.”

“Please, continue to call me Landria!”

“Sorry. Landria. I don’t know. It’s very sudden. And Alec needs me.”

“To hell with that outlander! Their lot has caused this entire mess!”

“But there is the bond. I don’t know if I even can leave. I mean physically. And then…boats. I am not crazy about those. You ever been on a ship before?”

“Yes, Rany.”

“Then you know how they are. If I die, I’d rather it be on dry land.”

“Then we go east.”

“Across the Frontier? I don’t know.”

She was quiet for a bit. That was not a good thing.

Finally, she said, “Forget that I asked. It was stupid of me. Stupid to reveal my secret – I don’t know what I could have been thinking.”

“I’m glad you told me.”

“Of course you are. You have a story to tell now. Just be certain it is not until long after I am gone before that mouth of yours begins to run.”

“I wouldn’t do that! And you are much more to me than a story.”

“Am I? What am I to you then?”

“Gods, putting me on the spot now, aren’t you?”

“Good night. Sleep. I will be gone when you wake.”

I slept in a bit, fully daylight in my tent before I crawled out.

True to her word, Landria had left before I woke. I had stirred when she left and expected her to return for one last goodbye, of one sort or another, but she did not.

The whole conversation seemed almost like something from a dream.

I moved about among the sea of tents of our camp. A soldier played his flute rather badly, and that irritated me. I went to the mess tent and talked the reluctant cook into serving me a late breakfast.

By midday I had ascertained that Landria had probably left with a merchant caravan that had departed shortly after dawn.

Perhaps I could have gone with her. It was not as if Alec had ordered me to stay. And I wondered if I would even be missed, to be frank. Perhaps if Landria had not sprung all that shit on me in the middle of the night, when I was half asleep, I would have had time to consider it and might have gone with her. She had probably planned it all this way just so I would feel guilty for staying.

Well, I refused to feel guilty.

I would simply keep myself busy.

Even now, I could probably catch up with the caravan by nightfall. But why should I do that?

Jade found me.

“Rany! There you are. Alec needs you.”

“He does? Why?’

“Jesus Christ, I don’t have time for this. We’ve got people coming in, Rany, in case you haven’t heard. VIPs. The Queen of fucking Fedra. Some people from Jaspen.”

“Jaspen?”

“Yeah.”

“Who is coming from Jaspen?”

“One of the duchesses. Sylvera. You and Alec apparently have a little history with her.”

“Interesting. I hope she has no hard feelings.”

“She only has a small army with her. And they are all coming to us. Seems encouraging. But we’ll stay cautious, just in case.”

Pomp and circumstance ensued as we had to work out the details of who was coming and how many people they could bring as their escort.

A late afternoon feast was arranged in Alec’s tent.

Rare are those women who possess beauty so stunning that wherever they go, people cannot help but to stop and stare.

Queen Kemile was such a woman.

She walked into Alec’s tent is if gliding, General Royse and an armed escort in splendid armor just behind her.

She wore a perfume that gave off such a scent that you wanted to keep it with you forever. She had blond hair, perfectly arranged on her head in intricate braids. Her eyes were large and a warm light brown, gleaming with intelligence and a hint of wry humor. The gown she wore was fine enough but suitable for traveling, a practical look to it. She wore a tiara of sparkling emeralds, glistening blue and purple and silver, dazzling colors that hypnotized the eye. She wore a necklace and earrings to match. Just one of those earrings would have made me a wealthy man, ten times over. She was tall and graceful with a long, elegant neck.

I could see why Elyscia hated her.

“Greetings, Sir Alec,” she said, her voice sweet and rich as honey. “It is a pleasure to meet you at last. You have established quite a reputation in Friedor.”

“Thank you,” Alec replied. Even he appeared moved by her beauty.

“I am most appreciative of your campaign here in Destra. Not only your elimination of the rogue outlanders but your handling of the dispute with my dear sister. We have fought since we were young children, but we do love each other dearly. It is good to have peace made again between us.”

“I was happy to help.”

“I come today not only as queen but as proxy for the Empress. She relies on you to carry out your most important task yet.

“It has come to her attention that a major outlander operation will take place several days from now, in the Kanni Mountains to the north. It will be the largest group of outlanders yet assembled in one place. You will trap them in the valley and eliminate every one of them.”

“No problem.”

“General Royse will lend his expertise and his army to provide any assistance you may require. Your forces should be adequate for the task, but the Empress has stressed that this mission must succeed.

“Upon completion of this quest, the Empress will bestow upon you a most considerable reward. Duchess Sylvera will discuss those details with you.

“You will forgive my hurry, but I must take my leave now. It has been an honor to meet you, First Sword Alec and Second Sword Jade.”

She left the tent as gracefully as she had come in. The scent of her perfume lingered. The general bowed and followed his queen, to see her off for her journey home.

“Well, she’s interesting,” Alec said.

“Do you have any idea what ‘operation’ she is talking about?” Jade asked, staring at the tent opening. She appeared less taken with the queen than the rest of us.

“No fucking idea,” Alec said. “But I’m about to find out. Rany, I’ve gotta log off for awhile. Jade too. Boykins or Stuart should be here. If you need me, tell one of them. I can jump back in any time.”

The next meeting, about an hour later, was somewhat more interesting.

With Queen Kemile already departing for her capitol, her vanguard disappearing into the horizon, Sylvera and Griffin Roane rode into camp, alone. They had no guards.

I was outside Alec’s tent, attempting to play something on a borrowed lute. It might have been a sad song I was trying to remember from my childhood.

“Greetings,” Sylvera said, smoothly dismounting from her horse. “We would like a word with Alec.”

I had forgotten how stunning Sylvera was, not as beautiful as Queen Kemile, but beautiful in her own right, with those incredible, intense eyes of light green.

Roane got down from his mare as well, his manner pompous and arrogant as ever. He eyed me in a way that confirmed he remembered me from Crille. But he said nothing.

“I will go fetch him,” I said.

I found Boykins, one of the outlanders, flirting with one of the camp girls. He seemed irritated by the interruption.

“Sylvera and Roane are here to see Alec,” I said.

“Hang on,” he replied. He went blank for a bit, then came back. “He’ll be back in his tent in five minutes.”

I went off, Boykins returning his attention to the girl.

Alec came out with Jade and greeted the two royals. They had been waiting patiently, gazing around at the camp, cooly assessing it.

There were no ego massaging compliments from Sylvera. Inside the tent and sitting at the table, she began. “We are meeting with you privately for two reasons. First, there is the matter of the prior business that we discussed in Crille. There was no prior business in Crille. This is the first time we are meeting. Is my point understood?”

“Sure,” Alec said. “What about him?” He nodded his head at Roane.

Roane smirked. “It is a pleasure to meet you at last, for the very first time. You seem like a fine gentleman.”

Alec laughed. “Ok. I never really gave a shit about all that anyway.”

“Very well,” Sylvera said. “On to the second matter. Roane and I were dispatched from Jaspen to lend our support. An army follows us, smaller than your own, but a large enough force that we wanted to make you aware. They come to ensure success in your mission. None of us wish to fail the Empress. We are all united in this cause.

“After you kill all the outlanders and achieve victory, the Empress will name you King of Konn. She will give you Emiline’s crown. Emiline has gone too far too many times, in her efforts to antagonize her sister. She will be exiled from the realm. Queen Kemile knows this, of course, but prefers to pretend otherwise.

“This, of course, will be a tremendous honor for you. An unprecedented honor for an outlander.”

“King of Konn,” Alec said. “I like the sound of that. What about Jade?”

“You can make her queen, if you wish.”

“What do you think, babe?” he asked Jade.

“Sounds awesome,” she said. “Thanks for remembering to ask me.”

I did not know what to make of that, but my sympathies were with Alec this time.

Damn all women.