ARC: Assassin Queen (28 page)

28

Queen Rajmella

The throne room looked vast, yet it also created an impression of being far more intimate than the formal audience halls Kara was used to. Perhaps this was due to the room
’
s low ceiling, painted in warm terracotta tones that brought to mind sun-baked clay and warm wind. Or the way the windows along its sides opened into the greenery of the garden beyond, alive with bird songs and splashing of the numerous fountains. For a brief moment, the waiting crowd of Olivian courtiers made Kara feel as if she was returning home, greeted by her eagerly waiting relatives after a long absence.

A wave of gazes hit her like a storm as she walked steadily toward the throne, with Mai by her side and Egey Bashi one step behind. It occurred to her belatedly that they should perhaps have requested a more personal audience. On the other hand, it probably wouldn
’
t have mattered in the end. After the request had been sent, the Queen was the one calling all the shots.

She stopped ten paces away from the throne and folded into a respectful bow, then straightened and looked up at the Queen.

Queen Rajmella looked much younger than Kara imagined
–
perhaps not that surprisingly, since her eldest daughter, raised at the court in Tallan Dar, was only five. She seemed to be no more than ten years Kara
’
s senior, and very beautiful, her dark skin accented by hair of such a rich golden color that even her jewelry seemed pale by comparison. She wore a lot of it, starting with an elaborate head piece that wove into her hair, to a set of massive golden bracelets that snaked all the way down her left arm, covering it from shoulder to wrist. The bracelets of station, worn in place of the crowns favored by the northern kings.

The Queen
’
s violet eyes stayed on Kara as she leaned over and whispered something to a handsome young man standing next to the throne. The man looked to be about Kara
’
s age, and was probably the only one in the room whose eyes didn
’
t venture anywhere lower than her face. There was no lust in his gaze, just a quiet curiosity that made Kara feel instantly alert. She glanced at the woman sitting on the Queen
’
s other side, a bit younger than the monarch, bearing an unmistakable likeness to her. Princess Nelimah, Rajmella
’
s younger sister, Kara guessed. But who was the young man? A consort? Not likely. He looked far too haughty for the role.

“Aghat Mai,” Queen Rajmella said. “
It is our honor to receive the Majat Guildmaster as our guest. I must admit, however, that I was surprised to see someone of your young age at this post. What happened to Aghat Oden Lan?
”

Mai
’
s lips creased into a brief smile that didn
’
t quite touch the rest of his face.
“
He has been deposed, Your Majesty.
”

“
Deposed?
”

“Yes.”

“
Why?
”

“
Due to an internal Guild matter, Your Majesty.
”

The Queen looked at Mai with curiosity, then leaned over and whispered something to her sister, who giggled and blushed, looking away.

“
You are very spirited, Aghat Mai,
”
she said.
“
Not to mention handsome. Looking at you, I cannot help but find it a shame that northern men hold themselves so unavailable to women. Especially the Majat. Such a fine display of men you brought with you, and none of them open for an exchange. Isn
’
t it so, Lady Kara?
”

Her direct look made Kara instantly uncomfortable. Or was it all because of the young man by the Queen
’
s side, whose eyes hadn
’
t left her face during the entire exchange?

“
Northern customs are indeed different, Your Majesty,
”
Kara said.
“
In the north, Aghat Mai would have been speaking to you directly, without the need for my interference.
”

“
Directly.
”
The Queen looked at Mai thoughtfully, then ran her eyes over the Majat of his suite.
“
I do like my men to be direct with me in my bedchamber, but there is no place for this kind of demeanor in my audience hall. Besides, your company is so delightful, Lady Kara. Wouldn
’
t it have been a shame to miss it?
”

“
You are too kind, Your Majesty.
”
Kara kept her eyes on the young man as she spoke, unable to escape the feeling she was being tested. She wished she understood the game, or at least had been given some clue on who this man could possibly be.

“
Not at all,
”
the Queen said.
“
I mean it. Perhaps, after our talk about Aghat Mai
’
s business is over, we could have a chance to get more personally acquainted?
”

Once again, Kara saw a short glance that passed between the Queen and the young man by her side. She stifled a pang of concern as she forced her face into a smile.
“
It would be an honor, Your Majesty.
”

The Queen nodded, and Kara imagined she saw the older woman
’
s shoulders relax, as if Kara
’
s agreement to get acquainted, whatever it meant, had resolved an important question in the Queen
’
s mind. “
Very well. And now, pray tell me what kind of a business has prompted the Majat Guildmaster himself to venture this far south?
”

“
Aghat Mai and his men are in pursuit of a very dangerous enemy,
”
Kara said.
“
We have information that they are hiding out in the deserts along your Bengaw border. The land of the Cha
’
idi nomads.
”

The Queen frowned.
“
Does your information suggest that the Cha
’
idi are allied with this enemy you speak of?
”

Kara shook her head.
“
We possess no such information, Your Majesty. In fact, our hope is that the Cha
’
idi would help us find the enemy
’
s secret stronghold. All we need is for Your Majesty to sanction this
–
as well as to allow Aghat Mai
’
s army to pass freely through your lands.
”

The Queen raised her eyebrows.
“
His army?
”
She glanced over Mai
’
s suite again. They wore no distinctive signs, not even their weapons. Kara hoped the Queen wouldn
’
t be able to guess that the men in this room, a dozen of their Guild
’
s best, were equivalent to a small army all on their own. With the numbers waiting for them back at Gard
’
hal outpost, they could easily wipe out the entire kingdom of Shayil Yara
–
not that she would ever feel necessary to bring up the possibility.

“Aghat Mai
’
s men are waiting at the edge of your lands,
”
she said.
“
In the hope that your support would enable them to proceed.
”

The Queen smiled.
“
I feel flattered that the Majat would ask for my support. Normally, they have been dealing only with Tallan Dar. We were beginning to wonder if this selectivity may have been due to the fact that they find us inferior.
”
She looked at Mai as she spoke, her gaze spelling challenge.

He calmly returned her gaze.
“
The Majat deal with everyone equally, Your Majesty.
”

The Queen
’
s full lips twitched.
“
Hardly true, Aghat Mai. You know well that your Pentade duty to the king is no more than a form of tribute the Majat Guild receives from Tallan Dar, both in the gold your Guild is paid for these services
–
a rather high price for the ceremonial job the Pentade is expected to do
–
as well as in the way it gives your top men the right to be present at all official functions alongside the king. No dealing in Tallan Dar ever happen without the Majat
’
s knowledge, or so we heard.
”

Mai smiled.
“
I suppose it could be viewed this way. However, we did prove, on occasions, that our help could be invaluable when it comes to the King
’
s protection.
”

Rajmella measured him with a dry gaze.
“
I heard of those, as you put it, occasions, Aghat Mai. Including the most recent one, where my daughter
’
s life was nearly jeopardized.
”

Mai bowed slightly.
“
If you are this well informed, Your Majesty, you will also know that Lady Kara here is the one who saved your daughter
’
s life.
”

“
Yes, I am, Aghat Mai, and I am very grateful to her for this. I also know that you were the one who threw your life on the line to save them both in the end. Please believe me that this gratitude I feel toward you both does factor into my decisions, especially when you tend to so charmingly breach the protocol all the time by speaking directly to me.
”
She leaned toward her sister again, and again Princess Nelimah blushed and giggled at the Queen
’
s words.

“
Please forgive me, Your Majesty,
” Mai said.

He looked easy and relaxed, but Kara noticed the way he kept his arms by his sides, ready to act in a blink of an eye. His men echoed his stance. Her skin prickled. One wrong move, and this whole room would erupt in chaos. She hurriedly turned back to the Queen.

“
The enemies who threatened your daughter,
”
she said,
“
are the same ones we are pursuing right now. Your help would ensure that they never bother anyone again.
”

The Queen looked at her, as if hesitating, then briefly inclined her head.

“
I will consider Aghat Mai
’
s request,
”
she said.
“
I will give you my answer tomorrow. In the meantime, I hope you will all enjoy our hospitality.
”

Kara bowed, feeling only partially reassured. The way the Queen looked at Mai, the way the conversation tended to skid off into edgy topics, seemed to be a recipe for trouble. Worse, the young man by the Queen
’
s throne kept looking at her with calm evaluation, as if eyeing a thoroughbred horse he was considering buying. Despite the lack of open lust, Kara was beginning to wonder about his intentions toward her. Princess Nelimah did not help much either as she ran her eyes over the Majat with an appraising look of her own, then leaned over and whispered in the Queen
’
s ear.

“
Before you go,
”
the Queen said.
“
My sister wants to know if any of your men would be open to an exchange. She is prepared to send you an equal number of her own consorts.
”

Kara opened her mouth wordlessly. She had been preparing for this, and she had practiced a number of suitable answers that would keep them all in the clear, but she never imagined for the request to be coming from the Queen on behalf of a member of the royal family.

“
Our northern customs
–”
she began, but the Queen waved her hand to interrupt.

“
I am aware of your northern customs, Lady Kara. However, I believe, you are also well informed about our customs here. My sister especially fancies the tall blond one over there.
”
She pointed at Lance, standing beside Mai.
“
Of course, if this particular one is not available, she would be glad to consider others.
”

Kara glanced around helplessly, somewhat relieved to see Lance grinning as he bent over to Mai and exchanged a few whispered words. The two men seemed unabashed, but she couldn
’
t fully share their calm reaction. In fact, she was beginning to panic. An exchange the Queen proposed was supposed to be done by consent
–
and discreetly, without putting anyone on the spot. Of course, this probably didn
’
t apply when it came to the royal family. And now, she had no idea how to deal with it.

Lance and Mai exchanged more quiet phrases. From the few words she caught, Kara could tell they were using the Majat language, but she wasn
’
t standing close enough to understand what they were talking about. She was still wondering when Lance stepped forward past Mai and bowed to the Queen.

“
I would be honored to entertain Princess Nelimah,
”
he said.

Kara
’
s mouth fell open as she stared, at a loss for words. The whole situation simply refused to fit into her head. She had to assume Lance understood exactly what he was agreeing to. She also assumed by his calm look, as well as by Mai
’
s spreading grin, that he didn
’
t mind. She looked at Princess Nelimah who rose from her seat excitedly, whispering into Queen
’
s ear as she kept her eyes on her prize.