The Journey's End (6 page)

In the morning, Nori awoke to a hard swat on her backside
and a bellow.

“Wake up woman.  The day is wasting and we are late as it
is.” 

He was just a little too pleased with himself, even for a king.
Nori lifted her head up long enough to glare at him and then burrowed back into
bed.  She heard water running and female giggling and then the blankets were
yanked off her.  She growled as she glared at him again,  then blinked.  He
really was quite delectably handsome in the morning. 

His eyes were on her softly curved backside and she smiled
in a sly way that would have worried him had he seen it.  She had long since
dropped the pretense that she didn't want him during the long night.  As many
times as he had taken her, that would just be ridiculous.  The fact that she
wanted him again, as little sleep as she had gotten, would be unnerving if she
was still fighting herself.  But allowing him to seduce her and throwing out
the maids so she could jump him were two different things.

But how to get him to make the move?  She sat up on the bed,
stretching her arms over her head as she looked around at the giggling maids. 
She heard the curse he tried to keep under his breath and almost laughed
herself.  Not so hard actually.

“As much as I would love to dally all morning, we have to be
downstairs within the half hour.”  By the regret in his voice, he meant it.

“No need to wait for me,  I’m sure I’ll find my way.”  Out
of here and off this planet at the earliest possibility.  She thought, but
first things first.  He didn’t answer.

The two maids with pink cheeks were standing by the massive
tub in the bathroom,  one holding a towel and the other a scrub brush.  Modern
amenities, thank goodness, probably traded with the tech.  She stood up,
refusing to look at the king. She was aware of his eyes on her as she swayed
her hips just a bit much on her way to the bathroom. 

She stepped around the maids and into the blessedly hot
water and sank down with a groan of her own.  As fast as she healed, she still
had bruises in key areas.  Good lord she was sore, and in places she had never
been before.  She ignored it when the maids scampered out, tittering and
scandalized by her apparent lack of modesty.  The door slammed behind them.  Then
he was standing beside the tub, looking down at her, his eyes hot.

“You do it on purpose,” he said flatly and she looked up. 
He had already removed his tunic and the rest of the clothes were quickly
following.

“I thought we were going to be late?”  But she was just the
tiniest bit breathless watching him.  Gold toned skin over rippling muscles,
and then his pants were gone and he was naked. Her eyes went to his powerful up
thrust manhood and she felt herself purr.  He stepped into the tub towering
over her, his powerful thighs and erection were right there.  He grabbed the
sides of the tub for balance so he could sit, but she stopped him by grabbing
his thighs and holding him still.  He froze, and she knelt up and took him into
her mouth.

“Bloody hell,”  he cursed, his hands so tight on the tub the
knuckles were bloodless.  Nori had no idea what prompted her to start this, but
with his powerful thighs shuddering beneath her hands, she really wanted to
finish.  She purred again at the feel of him, all hot and satin smooth, and so
hard.  She scraped her teeth along lightly as she pulled away and then took all
of him that she could manage in her mouth.  Even with her hands taking hold of
the rest of his shaft and squeezing, she was hard pressed to cover much of
him.  He cursed at the feel of her lapping at him.

“Nori,”  he growled when she sucked him hard, her hands exploring
him everywhere.

She pulled back, licking her lips as she looked up at him, “You
wanted something Your Highness?” 

He lost it completely, pushing her back against the tub,
while pulling her knees open and forward.  He cared not a whit for the great
waves of water he sent crashing over the side of the tub.   He plunged into her
and she laughed as she bucked against him, feeling the sweep of pleasure crash
over both of them. 

By the time they were finished, there was very little water
left in the tub at all and they were more than a little late.  Then later still
because Menelaus realized he had doused his ceremonial robes with bathwater,  which
of course had Nori laughing again and the maids that were called to dry and
press them again to blush, crimson and titter. 

Since he had his clothes back before she had finished
dressing in her own, she realized they must have more technology for that.  It
was interesting the technology they had and the simplicity of their lifestyle
where they didn’t.  Of course, he would have preferred she wear the royal gown
that had been supplied.  He was less than pleased when she refused.  He had
taken her clothes away to be cleaned and refused to return them.  “Wear the
dress or I will carry you downstairs naked.” 

She called his bluff.  “Fine.  I have no problem with the natural
state of my body.  Modesty is not a trait my people were burdened with.” 

He barked and growled orders and threats until she unleashed
her claws and with an evil smile his way, grabbed the dress and shredded the
royal gown into teeny tiny little pieces.  The silence as he watched was
deafening.  “What was that Your Highness?  You had something else to say?” 

He bellowed for her clothes quick after that.  Apparently,
he didn't like the idea of anyone else seeing her naked, threat or no threat;
certainly not other men.

Now the king was once again dressed in his royal garments,  still
in black with silver etching the sleeves and woven into the tunic.  The griffin
was fierce and majestic at the same time, standing out amid all the black.  The
man did look good in black, she thought, trying to distract herself from what
was happening downstairs.  With her hearing, she could hear every word, or
shouting match as it were.  The natives were definitely getting restless.

“How about I stay here and you do your kingly duty.”

“I would never have figured you for a coward,”  he said,
smiling in a most annoying way now that she was looking unsure again.

“Cute.  But since I don’t plan on being here for very long,
it’s not really necessary to meet everyone.”  Looking down the stairs through
the open door, she was tilting her head to listen.  She knew he was looking at
her and she could feel in the tightening of his hand that he didn’t like what
she said.  Tough.  She caught snatches of conversation here and there, a bawdy
laugh as off colored jokes were being rallied back and forth.  “You could at
least tell me what this is about.”

“I don’t think so,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her
behind him.  When they reached the top of the stairs, they were looking down at
a large hall full of people, some milling about in groups, others sitting,
still others partaking in the morning meal that was set up along one wall. 
While many were in the black regalia of the guardsmen, others had different
color tunics, some richer than others, though a pocket of the richest seemed to
be all together on one side of the room.  They practically glowed with jewelry
and rich fabrics.

As soon as they started down the stairs, the room began to
quiet down, and Nori was grateful. Having the hearing of a Shakien cat was not
exactly a good thing in this type of atmosphere.  She was getting a headache,
and the closer she got to the crowd below, she realized the smells were not
going to help.  The nobles reeked of perfumes, the soldiers of leather and
sweat, and there were quite a few peasants who needed a hosing down as soon as
possible.

King Menelaus stopped half way down the stairs.  He held up
the hand that was still clasped to hers.

“I give you Queen Nori,”  he proclaimed, and all but the
Nobles cheered.  She bit out a smile. To protest would be to air the fact that
she was prisoner and the less people who were made aware of that, the easier it
would be to slip away.

They were enveloped and separated as many offered
congratulations.  Nori had expected a bit of reserve, but with the populace
there was only good will and a bit of awe.  The story that she had bested
Menalaus’ elite guard, which was not true at all, was being retold frequently
and with relish.  even by the soldiers themselves.  It was discombobulating to
be greeted by their friendly casual ways.  She had expected a bit of
standoffish fear or anger for the king and his new lady, but instead, they
seemed to be good friends all.

Of course, the nobles on the backside of the room looked
like they had sucked on some lemons first thing this morning.  When Menelaus
found her again in the crowd, he pulled her over to them. The crofters and
artisans fell back and the stiffness of this new introduction was a prelude to
awkwardness.

“My lords and ladies of the twelve lands, may I introduce
your queen.”

“Surely you truly don’t mean to bring an outsider to this
position?”

King Menelaus once again became the cold danger she had
first met in the common room with her cousin.  Why was it when he turned all
steely eyed and dangerous, she wanted to bite him.  She had to get herself
under control. At the rate she was going, watching him eat soup would have her
jumping him.  She shook herself and tried to pay attention.

“Since I have just made the announcement, that is a safe
assumption.”  His voice was a cold wind and more than one of the lords shivered
and shifted their feet.

“But what of the law.  Where is Margeaux?” Ah, the ice bitch,
Nori thought.

“Nori defeated Margeaux, and quite a few others, including
my own soldiers.  She is the strongest among the women and as such, the new
queen.”

The man unlucky enough or stupid enough to be the spokesman
for the group looked her over insultingly.  She knew she didn't look like much,
as small as she was, but since she agreed she was not queen material, she just
raised a brow and kept her mouth shut.  Menelaus was vocal enough for both of
them.

“Do you have a death wish?”  If anything, his words were
even colder.

“Your Highness?”  the noble asked, his voice rising at the
end with his new found fear.  He was not looking at Nori now.

“Look at my wife like that again and I will pop out your
eyeballs and feed them to my hounds.”  Nori was impressed.  Both at the
chilling delivery and the colorful threat itself.  He was good.  The noble man
of course had gone white as a sheet and stepped back, only to step on someone’s
foot. There were a few curses and a small scuffle and the man was shoved back
up to the forefront squeaking.

“My apologies highness.  I would never insult your queen.” 
He actually said it with a straight face and everything.  He was very careful
not to look at Nori again.

“Would anyone else like to question my choice?”  Since his
hand was on the pommel of his sword and about 50 warriors were behind him in
the crowd watching and doing the same, no one else did.  “Good, then you may
all wish us the best and be on your way right after the party.”  He took Nori’s
elbow and began to lead her back into the bulk of the peasants.  “I’m sure many
of you are anxious to get home.”

“Would you have really popped out his eyeballs, or was that
a bluff?”  She was smiling when she said it, however she did not get the answer
she expected.

“I do not bluff.”  He gnashed his teeth when she raised a
doubtful brow, remembering the dress issue.  “Except with you apparently,”  he
grouched.  “Had he looked at you in such a way again I would have done far
worse.”  He was looking around when she looked up at him.  Unused to people
protecting her, she looked away before he could catch her eyes. 

He squeezed her hand in his.  “You of all people should
realize, I take care of my own.”

“I’m not your own.”

He leaned down so that she could feel his breath on her
ear.  “That’s not what you said last night.”  His voice and breath sent shivers
down her spine. She had a flash of last night and suddenly had a hard time
catching a breath.  But she raised her chin and smiled at his people.

“What a woman says in the throws of a mating dance means
nothing in the light of day.”

He was silent studying her again.  “One day you will say it
in the clear light of day.”  She looked up and got locked into a searing gaze
that seemed to brand her.  She looked away without issuing the challenge he
expected.

“Your majesties.”  General Renik bowed a bit.  “My
congratulations.  A fine choice sir,”  he said and actually seemed to mean it. 
“She will give you fine strong sons.”

Nori snorted.  Boy did they have a surprise coming.  They
both ignored her.

“Thank you general.  Perhaps now you will follow suit.  My
sister is not getting any younger.”

The general looked uncomfortable for all of thirty seconds,
then laughed.  “Is it that obvious, sir?”

“Indeed.  To all but my sister.”  Menelaus looked around. 
“Where is she anyway?  I half expected her to be planted in my path again this
morning.”
          “She will be here shortly I am sure.  She left this morning to see to
the ill in the village before the celebration.  She took food to those who
could not come themselves.”

“With so many nobles about, I assume you have her well
protected?”

“Indeed, sir,” he said, looking around.  “I do not trust
this band of vipers any farther than I can see them.  Your sister is safe.”

“As always general, you serve me well.”

His voice dropped.  “You did notice who was not here?”

Menelaus pulled Nori’s hand to his lips and kissed the back
of her knuckles, making her roll her eyes. Then he gave the general his
attention.  “Dunstan.”

“Lord Dunstan is conspicuous by his absence.”

“He should be happy. He has long coveted Margeaux, now he
can have her.”