Queens' Warriors (31 page)

“Please. Come in and be welcome.” Queen Stephanie gestured toward the door still blocked by all four of the now disgruntled men. “I’m sure there is much you have to tell and I’d rather have a strong drink with the telling.”

Shari smiled, a feeling she was coming for a visit with family.

“Thank you, Queen Stephanie, a drink would be most welcome. Any chance you have some of that
primpate
fruit juice?”

The young Queen smiled, nodding her head.

“Oh definitely. And we mustn’t forget the Tine Chocolate Torts to go with it. I hear they were a hit on your wedding night.”

Shari turned to the woman, a blush forming. But the Queen just laughed.

“Wait until you hear about
my
wedding night. And since you will eventually, please, call me Stephanie. After all, we’re family.”

Shari smiled again, her blush fading quickly as she heard Shan Lin and Vincent growl sarcastically to their cousins loud enough for the women to hear.

“We just got here. Can the orgy wait for a few hours? I’d like to catch my breath.”

Laughter followed the group as the door closed behind them.

Epilogue

Stephanie stepped through the
Tear
into Aranak for the very first time and went to her knees. Her head filled quickly with millions of voices before she could block them out. It took her a few moments to realize someone held her arm in a reassuring grip.

“The first steps are always a doozy. Are you all right?” the female voice asked Stephanie as the same hand helped her to her feet.

“I’m…fine. Thank…you.” Stephanie murmured, managing to gain her feet without stumbling, the hand on her arm steadying her. She looked up and stared into the face of a female Warrior. Looking the woman over carefully, Stephanie found the insignia proclaiming the woman’s rank.

“Captain, correct?” Stephanie asked, the cacophony in her head easing enough for her to breathe.

“Yes.” The woman smiled gently. “Captain Lawsai of the Queen’s Guard. Are you in need of assistance, ma’am?” Stephanie opened her mind and wondered if perhaps she should have rethought leaving her husbands behind.

…going to have to make sure she gets to where she’s going. Wish they would listen when told about the side effects.

Stephanie closed the pathlink, and straightening, gave Captain Lawsai a smile of her own.

“Thank you, Captain Lawsai. I think I can take it from here. It’s my first time through a
Tear
and I wasn’t paying attention when they told me of the side effects.” Stephanie smiled, leaning closer to the woman. “I thought Katerina and Phillippe were joking when they told me stepping through a doorway might knock me on my ass. ‘Pride goeth before a fall’…huh?” Stephanie laughed at herself.

Captain Lawsai smiled, giving a chuckle of her own.

“If you’re feeling better then, I’ll leave you here.” The soldier paused before confirming, “Unless you care to have an escort take you to your destination…?” Lawsai raised her eyebrows inquiringly.

Stephanie smiled sheepishly.

“Nope. I’ll be fine. I’m sure there are things you’ve got to take care of. After all, this is my first trip back from the Earth Realm and I did tell Katerina I could make the complete roundtrip on my own. Course, Phillippe doubted it, but…” Shrugging helplessly, Stephanie shook her head. “Wait until I tell them a Captain of the Queen’s Guard had to help me right myself. I don’t think I’ll live this down.”

* * * * *

Theresa looked slightly down at the woman and knew she would have to follow this woman to her intended destination. Dressed as the woman was in jeans, T-shirt and sneakers, Captain Lawsai knew there was no way she was from Aranak.

“Well, you be careful. The night is young, but there are still roving bands of mercs marching around.”

Theresa watched the woman nod an agreement and wander off down the paved road toward Aranak. At a gesture from Theresa two shadows stepped out of the darkness and followed the woman. Speaking softly Theresa gave her orders.

“Make sure she doesn’t hurt herself. She probably stumbled through a
Tear
and thought, ‘I’ll go on an adventure!’.
Freching
tourist.” Theresa mumbled the last and listened to the smothered laughter come back through her earmics.

“We’ll meet up with you as soon as her destination is confirmed. Try not to be seen, you two.” Theresa said sweetly knowing neither Lt. Roberts nor Lt. Char ever had been.

“Captain.” A voice came from Theresa’s left and she turned in the direction.

“Yes, Dresden?”

“Sir. Dyden found the lair. All we have to do is route it. What are your orders?”

Theresa sighed, knowing she had just cut her resources in half but the job still had to be done.

“Fine, Dresden. Grab Dyden and Froslin and let’s get on with it. I want this finished before that woman reaches where ever it is she’s going.”

* * * * *

Fifteen minutes later Theresa sported the beginnings of a black eye and a short temper.

“Yea, yea. We’ve heard it all before. You took a swing at me thinking I was your enemy. Blah, blah. Cry me another river. Get up. The
pryt
lance was only set on clash-impact. The jolt should have worn off by now.”

Theresa snarled at the man twice her size and prodded him with the
pryt
lance she had used on him. She was damned tempted to zap him once more just for the satisfaction of seeing his body dance through the electricity. Shaking her head and knowing she would not, Theresa grasped the huge man by the neck and lifted him to his feet.

“Captain.” Theresa heard through her earmic.

“What?” she growled, and the man in front of her swiveled his head back at her.

“I didn’ say nothin’.” He slurred.

“Shut up. Go ahead Roberts.”

“Sir. We lost her. We followed at a safe distance but…
Hellios!
She slipped us.”

Theresa cursed silently knowing this night was a FUBAR from the get go and gave new orders to her off-sight crew.

“Well, Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition or not…” Theresa mumbled to herself before addressing her crew. “Find her. That’s all we need. She was headed in the direction of Aranak City Proper, she couldn’t have gone far.”

“Quit cawlin me a guuurl.” The man ahead of her grumbled.

“Shut up. Isn’t it enough you got in the first blow? I’m having fun and that’s all that matters here. You want another jolt of this?” Theresa asked, poking him once again with her lance. Satisfaction snaked through her at his whimper and she turned her attention back to Roberts.

“Just find the woman and keep me posted. I’ve got to take Sir Knightly here in for more questioning. Lawsai out.”

“Come on, Cap’n. You don’t gotta be like that.” The man whined, his voice becoming clearer and his words slurring less.

“I’ve come, Roxsis, but it definitely hasn’t been pleasant. You should learn a few more manners when someone knocks on your door. Don’t you know the first thing
not
to do is pick a fight with a QG just asking questions?”

The man’s mumbled words sounding suspiciously like pain and retribution, and Theresa smiled. Good. At least she had made someone’s night a bit more uncomfortable.

“I didn’t know you cared so much. It’s sweet of you to be worried for my welfare. Sit.” She gestured to the ground beside Dyden.

“Keep and eye on him. I need to go see about transpo for him. He’s got a lot of info I know he can’t wait to impart to me about the attack made on Grenlak this afternoon. Horrdian’s my ass.”

“Capan’, come on. You know I don’ know nothin’.” Roxsis whined once again.

“You keep singing that tune and Queen Sara is sure going to have fun extracting those tiny pieces from your mind. When I get back I expect you to rat everyone out, including your sainted mother. Got it?”

Even as she asked him the rhetorical question, Theresa walked away. She had every intention of trying to determine if he had been in on the attack on her currently assigned station, but first, she needed to see if he had broken her nose too.

* * * * *

It was easy to lose the two following her. Their minds weren’t as guarded as they would have liked. Stephanie made her way toward the Palace touching minds as she went along. Her intent was to find her mother-in-law’s mind and connect with it. It had been easy at first weaving in and out of the woman’s mind. Lately it had become more difficult to access it from Earth as her mind slipped further and further into a place Stephanie knew she could not travel.

A stir echoed in her head and she smothered a smile as her husbands cursed viciously. They had just discovered she was gone.

Woman!
Dual roars of disapproval lanced through her head. Wincing at the volume of displeasure, Stephanie sent soothing thoughts their way.

Don’t think it will help, Stephanie! Where the hell are you?
Mitch barked at his wife.

I’m fine. I’ll be home soon.

What’s with you?
Kristain asked calmly even as Stephanie heard the worry in his voice. Knowing there was nothing the two men could do at the moment, Stephanie decided it was time to go.

Look. I can’t talk right now. Don’t worry; I’ll be home soon.

Shutting the path-link quickly but not before hearing Mitch’s shouted
No!
Stephanie concentrated once again on finding a path-link to Queen Sara. She knew her husbands would holler, a lot, when she returned, but this trip had been necessary.

And just how are my sons doing?
The voice pathed a direct link into Stephanie’s head, stopping her in her tracks.
It isn’t as if they call their mother to let her know they’re alive still.

Stephanie grimaced at being found first.

As if I haven’t known you were here since you entered the Realm.

Stephanie knew it wasn’t true or Sara would have made sure Capt. Lawsai took her into custody.

Well, Mother-in-law. Isn’t it about time we sat down and had a chat?
There was a pause as Stephanie waited for the answer.

So long as you’re coming to see me to give up any claim to the throne of Aranak. If so, please come and be welcomed as my marriagedaughter.
The last was said with such syrupy love that Stephanie wondered why her teeth did not ache.

Now you know I can’t do that, Sara. Why the laws make it impossible. Just as you know there is no chance of changing those laws contrary to what you claimed with Shan Lin and Vincent. A Horrdian invasion. Really dear. That’s so tacky and overdone. Wasn’t that the excuse you used when you slaughtered your sisters and nieces?

Stephanie finally path-linked with the woman and felt the rage building to a crescendo as Stephanie’s reminder of past deeds struck home.

Frechie
Bitch! You know nothing! Guards. Seize her!

Stephanie stayed where she was wondering if those surrounding Sara thought the woman was seeing imaginary friends.

They’ll never find me. I’ll be long gone before they ever get here. Your mind has become child’s play to enter.
Stephanie made the bluff knowing the other woman would take the bait.

Then why did you have to travel so far to find me?
The rage was at an all time high in her mother-in-law and Stephanie knew she could only push so far.

Puh-lez. To show you just how close to you I can get without your knowledge. One day, I’ll be behind you and you’ll never know I’m there until I slit your throat.

The scream of madness pierced through Stephanie’s mind before she blocked it out.

There
, Stephanie said contented.
That should be enough for now.

Turning, she made her way back to the
Tear
she had first entered. As she walked away, she gave the woman a final parting shot.

Pack your bags, Sara, I’m coming to claim my throne.

About the author:

I have been writing for quite a while now and love finding out what goes on in the minds of my characters. I am the daughter of a third generation military family. I grew up all over the world and am happily married to a loving husband who gifted me with two adorable children I had the pleasure of birthing. All three enjoy dragging me away from my characters and showing me the world outside . (I still think camping should involve Room Service !) I am also a voracious reader who devours books and chocolate in between family, writing, and work.

Mari welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave Publishing at P.O. Box 787, Hudson, Ohio 44236-0787.

Also available by Mari Byrne:

Death Reborn

Stephanie’s Menage