The Pages of the Mind (4 page)

“Are you a woman's lapdog, then?” Kral sneered.

Harlan did not reply, awaiting the answer, as did Ursula, staring down at Kral with convincing cool menace. Always people called Ami the avatar of Glorianna, an easy comparison to make. At moments such as this, I saw the warrior goddess Danu expressed in Ursula's clear gaze and shining strength. Kral assessed her, possibly rethinking, as if he saw it, too.

No, she was not what he had expected.

He spoke to her now, as he ought to have to begin with. “We were uncertain of the state of affairs here or what our reception would be. It seemed best to come in strength, should strength be necessary.”

Harlan translated and Ursula received the words without reaction.

“And your mission?”

Kral did not like being questioned. A muscle flexed in his jaw. “Reconnaissance.”

Ursula's gaze went to steel. “General Kral of Dasnaria and Imperial Prince of the Royal House of Konyngrr,” she emphasized his titles, pointing out that he'd failed to use hers, “you are on my lands, in my realm, without invitation or diplomatic overtures. You arrogantly walk up to my gates with an armed force and without explanation. Dodging answers to my questions is not in the best interests of your continued good health.”

Kral and his men flushed with anger as Harlan translated her words, bearing out Harlan's advice that they would never expect a woman, no matter her rank, to speak to a man so, let alone one of the royal house.

“You dare threaten me? I could crush your tiny realm without losing an eyelash. Your lands are riddled with weakness, ruled by a woman. My armed force traveled here without any opposition. Ridiculous! Your own people gave us supplies.”

“Yes, as I commanded them to do. We've been watching you all along. Your ship and guard at Ehas have been impounded pending my findings here. You're trapped and surrounded. I can have you all killed and send your head back to Emperor Hestar with a note suggesting that next time Dasnaria should wait for an invitation.”

Kral actually snarled, advancing a step, to be stopped by a fence of blades from the Vervaldr. He glared at them. “Where is your loyalty to your motherland?” None replied, frustrating him further.

“If you are here to start a war, General Kral of Dasnaria and Imperial Prince of the Royal House of Konyngrr, then you and your men will assuredly be the first casualties. We have weapons you cannot imagine.” Ursula said, as softly as the whisk of a blade edge on a sharpening stone. “Zynda, would you mind demonstrating?”

The Tala woman stepped forward, flashing the Dasnarians a brilliant, sensual smile that all but Kral automatically returned, appreciation for her beauty in the filmy gown she wore evident in their eyes. Admiration that changed to shock and horror when she transformed in a blink into an enormous tiger. I'd seen only drawings of them in books, and the reality eclipsed even those stunning images. She sauntered toward the men, sat, and lifted a paw bigger than my head, licking it and lavishly displaying wicked claws.

“The claws are real,” Ursula informed them. “I have a trained army of such people surrounding your small battalion. Your decision. Either start talking or be the first to die.”

Kral lifted his gaze to Ursula's steely one, new respect in his face, and visibly wrestled himself under control. “Forgive me, High Queen. We have traveled long and at great speed. I come here at the direction of Emperor Hestar to answer a number of questions that have come to his attention of late. They would be perhaps better addressed in a private audience.”

“Ask your questions and I shall decide whether and in what venue I'll provide answers.”

A rush of soft laughter whispered out from the assembly. Ursula would not be bullied and neither would our realm.

Kral looked to be grinding his teeth. “Very well, High Queen. I was tasked to discover the fate of my brother, Harlan Konyngrr, which has been answered by his presence here. Also to determine the veracity of a rumor that he seduced a king's daughter and usurped a throne in a coup, which has been partially answered. Finding him alive, I am to bring him back to Dasnaria to answer charges for the murder of a high-placed priestess of the Temple of Deyrr. Finally, we seek retribution for a magical attack on our empire, which we consider a hostile move and blatant attempt to steal a valuable treasure horde.”

To his credit, Harlan translated the damning words without inflection. Ursula considered with apparent disinterest, pursed her lips, and waved a negligent hand at Kral. “Describe the nature of this alleged magical attack.”

He looked pointedly at the tiger. “Alleged? You have, perhaps unwisely, demonstrated that you have magic indeed.”

“So you can't describe it.”

“I can, but I want answers to my questions.”

Ursula dropped the façade of boredom and leaned forward slightly, as intent as if she had drawn her sword. “You are in no position to bargain with me, General Kral of Dasnaria and Imperial Prince of the Royal House of Konyngrr. You bring an accusation that my ‘tiny realm' has attacked yours. I expect you to back up that claim with immediate detail or withdraw it.”

She gave even me a chill. I'd never been at the point of Ursula's sword, but this must be how it felt.

Kral gestured peremptorily to one of his guards, who produced a scroll and handed it to him. “The details are documented here. I assume my brother, at least, can still read his mother tongue.”

Instead, Ursula looked to me.
Oh, wonderful.
Feeling my legs shake, I stood and approached the men, feeling smaller and more timid than possibly ever in my life. They watched me with perplexed expressions.

“Lady Mailloux, the High Queen's councilor and scribe, will examine the document,” Harlan explained.

I put out my hand for the scroll and Kral narrowed his eyes, almost as if he recognized me, which wasn't possible. His hair was a darker gold than Harlan's, his eyes blue instead of pale gray. He gave it to me with a smirk. “Good luck reading it,
nyrri
.”

Not sure what he'd called me, I made myself return the hard stare and answered in his language. “I don't require luck, General Kral of Dasnaria and Imperial Prince of the Royal House of Konyngrr. I have knowledge.”

Proud of myself for surprising the man, I turned my back on him and caught Ursula's slight smile as Harlan translated our exchange for her.

“You may be excused from my presence, General Kral of Dasnaria and Imperial Prince of the Royal House of Konyngrr,” she said, smile vanishing. “You and your men will be escorted to a place you may make camp and rest from your taxing journey here. As a sign of continued good faith, we will provide you with food and water as well. I shall summon you if and when I'm ready to discuss your questions.”

“If you truly wish to show good faith, release my brother from whatever spell you have him under and allow him to come with us.”

Harlan cracked a smile as he translated, and Ursula laughed. “Prince Harlan Konyngrr is his own man, who comes and goes as he pleases. If he wishes to visit you, he will.”

“Come with me now, then, rabbit.”

“Perhaps later,” Harlan said, making it clear he would not discuss it further.

Without further politeness, Kral turned on his heel and stalked out of the hall, nearly outpacing his escort with his furious strides. The hall doors slammed behind them, the sound ringing through the assembly hall. Silence reigned for a moment; then King Groningen stood, bowed to Ursula, and said, “Well done, my Queen. Well done.” He raised his voice, “All hail the High Queen!”

With a resounding roar of approval, they did.

4

“D
anu, I'd rather take my sword to that man than trade words with him again.” Ursula strode into the council chambers, having adjourned court after sending me ahead to study the scroll in more detail.

“Groningen is right,” Harlan replied. “You did well. Kral did not expect your talons. As I expected, it was a treat to watch you gut him.”

“Hardly. I'm not sure I even scratched him.”

“Oh, you did. Believe me. But don't call me ‘prince' again.” Usually so even tempered, Harlan sounded brusque enough that Ursula gave him a long look.

“I only meant to point out your rank in comparison to mine and his. I might not understand Dasnarian, but I heard the insult in his tone to you quite clearly.”

“I know why and I appreciate it.” He brushed her cheek in apology. “I, however, put that person behind me. I am no prince of Dasnaria.”

“Given what we witnessed today, I can understand that.” Ursula dropped herself into the chair beside me, peering over my shoulder at the text as if she could read it. “What does the cursed thing say?”

“I might need Captain Harlan's assistance on a few words. What does this mean?”

“Volcano.”

Great. More volcanoes erupting. “So the gist of it is that one of their protectorate kingdoms, I think—not Dasnaria, but an island called Nahanau?” He nodded at my pronunciation. “The island experienced a number of unusual events.”

“Nahanau is actually a chain of islands,” Harlan explained, sitting on my other side to study the scroll also. “Somewhere between the Thirteen and Dasnaria. It might not be far from Annfwn, in truth, in the waters west of it.”

“Danu's tits,” Ursula cursed softly.

I nodded in agreement. “The timing seems to match when the barrier fell. Apparently there's a dormant volcano—or the islands
are
dormant volcanoes?”

“Much like at Windroven,” Ursula commented.

“Makes sense. Nahanau experienced a tremendous storm with strange elements. Driving rain in different colors, wingless creatures falling from the sky. And, if I'm reading this correctly, something inside the volcano, which is no longer dormant.”

“You're reading it correctly,” Harlan said in a grim tone.

“The something is . . . a
mo'o
?”

He shook his head. “That's not a Dasnarian word, but the one next to it,
gyll
, means gold.”

“People died,” I told Ursula, who returned my gaze, eyes dark with sorrow.

“It's my fault.” She sighed and scrubbed her hands through her hair, hitting the crown she'd forgotten she wore and tossing it on the table.

“Amelia would say you simply acted on the will of the goddesses,” I pointed out. “Regardless, you did what you had to do. None could have known the barrier would collapse and magic blow out everywhere like that.”

“Andi knew,” she said thoughtfully. “And she thought that maybe the barrier didn't collapse, but stretched, because she could still feel it. Whatever secret magic she does back in Annfwn, she was going to do it and report back. If the barrier moved instead of falling, it could be that Nahanau is now inside it.”

“Other parts of the Thirteen experienced similar storms—perhaps from the barrier passing through as it expanded?”

“Could be. I wish we could ask Andi. We don't have all the time in the world.”

“We could send Zynda.”

“I don't think we need to yet. I'll have to answer Kral's charges first. I don't much like that he's right. At least I can tell him that I killed Illyria, not you,” she said to Harlan. “Dasnaria can charge me with her murder if they want to.”

“That part makes little sense. The Temple of Deyrr might be angry about it, but the Crown doesn't do the temple's bidding. Hestar would not send Kral all this way over the death of a priestess. Especially as she wasn't acting for the empire, but rather on a private quest of hers or the temple's.”

“To obtain the Star of Annfwn,” she agreed.

“And we still don't know why.” I turned to Ursula. “Can you explain to me what it does—or did?”

“Does, I think.” She stretched back in her chair, eyeing the crown. “It was passed down among the queens of Annfwn. Salena gave it to me when I was a girl and told me that it would guide me.” She flicked me a look full of irritation. “So vague as to be worthless. I know it responds to my sisters, heating when they're near.”

“Even still?” Harlan asked with concern.

She put a hand over her stomach. “Even still.”

“I don't like that it remains inside you. That can't be good for your health.”

Ursula gave him a slanted smile and raised her brows. “Will you cut it out of me, then? I seem to be fine, and at least we don't have to worry about hiding it from Deyrr. That reminds me, though, Dafne—you should add that to your records, that when I die, it
should
be cut out of me and given to Stella.”

Not something I wanted to think about, but I made a note. “You swallowed it before whatever you three did that changed the barrier.”

“Whatever we did, yes.”

“Could the ‘guiding' aspect be that the Star allowed you to determine where the barrier would be?”

She studied me thoughtfully. “An interesting thought. Andi communicates with the barrier, keeps it strong and governs its permeability from what she calls the Heart of Annfwn—and no, I don't know what it is. It's apparently some deep, dark secret and she refused to say. Don't write that down. I'm probably not supposed to have told you.”

“Not unlike the secrecy around the Star.”

“True. But I don't think I decided to move the barrier.”

“What if you did, without realizing it? Protecting your realm is always at the forefront of your thoughts,” Harlan said. “The Star might have responded to that and extended the barrier to encompass them all, guided by your will.”

“If so, then how did Nahanau, which I've never heard of before this day, get caught up?”

“Andi talked about the barrier like a dome,” I said, thinking it through. “What if it's shaped like the soap bubbles children play with when the maids do laundry? The word ‘heart' implies a center—what if it has to be a sphere radiating out from there? So when you guided it outward to cover all the Twelve plus Annfwn, it went in every direction, sweeping up Nahanau also.”

She closed her eyes briefly, perhaps offering a prayer to Danu. “You want me to tell Kral that I not only attacked Nahanau, but I annexed it?”

“It would be interesting to watch his face,” Harlan remarked in some satisfaction.

“Oh, yes, laugh. Keep laughing when he brings down the might of Dasnaria on our heads for it.”

“Wait.” A thought occurred to me. “If our theory is correct and the barrier didn't collapse, but expanded, how did Kral sail through it to get here?”

They stared back at me with expressions of dawning comprehension. “They didn't,” Harlan said. “The ship was already inside, probably in the Nahanau islands. Kral has long been fascinated by the place.”

Ursula nodded slowly. “That has to be it. So Kral is bluffing about being sent by Hestar. He's here on his own, with all the men he has.”

“It is very much in character for him to bluff like this, yes.”

“Then we have an advantage over him and I intend to use it. Perhaps we can knock down his bravado enough for him to let me make amends without him seeing me as weak.”

“So, what is this gold that's mentioned?” I frowned at the document and checked my notes. “He said that in his initial accusation, too—‘a valuable treasure horde.' ”

“One way to find out. Let's have him summoned. Bring him here to talk privately. See if you can convince him to leave the muscle behind.”

Harlan stood and kissed her on the top of the head. “Yes, Your Majesty. Remember to put your crown back on.”

She glared at it balefully. “I already hate the thing.”

Letting her stew, I went to arrange for food. Perhaps food and wine would soothe some of Kral's savagery.

Kral glared as balefully at the food as Ursula had at her crown, then shoved it away. “How do I know you don't seek to poison me?”

Ursula stiffened in offense—she might slit his throat, but a warrior of Danu would never stoop to poison—so, with a sigh, I took a slice of meat from his plate and ate it. “It's not poisoned.”

“It could be poisoned with a substance you've developed a tolerance for,” he said, his gaze going to Harlan and Ursula. Kral looked different without the armor. Taller than Harlan, yes, but not as heavily built. A leaner, somewhat darker, sharper version. The shark.

He'd brought his guards but agreed to leave them outside the room. He wore his sword, however, so Harlan did also. Ursula had convinced Harlan that he couldn't stand behind her as he preferred, because it would look like protective hovering and Kral would interpret that as weakness on her part. Harlan conceded the point, sitting at the table to translate. Instead of translating that last for Ursula, he spoke directly to his brother.

“Kral. I know we have anger between us and this incident has started badly. However, the High Queen is interested only in protecting her realm. She has no need to kill you if your problems can be resolved diplomatically. Besides,” he said with a malicious grin, “she is a highly trained fighter such as you've never seen. She moves faster than a snake heated by the sun. If she decided to kill you, it would be with a blade, not poison.”

Kral listened, not looking at Ursula. “She has seduced you. Are you certain there's no black magic at hand? Tell me now and I'll free you.” He glanced at me. “The
nyrri
understands, I know, but
she
is no warrior. I can silence her easily if she attempts to speak.”

“I have given Ursula the
Elskastholrr
,” Harlan told him, then nodded at Kral's astonishment.

Ursula looked between them, gaze sharp. She'd recognize that word if nothing else, along with her name, and she returned Kral's long, assessing stare with unflinching steel.

“You . . . You what? But . . . that cannot be compelled. Which means you have gone crazier than I thought.” Unexpectedly, Kral broke out into an enormous laugh, booming like Harlan's, and grabbed the plate back, stabbing a slice of meat with a small dagger. He stuffed the meat in his mouth and pointed the dagger at Harlan. “At least you shall make a colorful contribution to the grand Dasnarian tradition of pledging doomed eternal love to the worst choice possible. Will she make you king?”

“I have no wish to be king.”

“Nonsense, every man wishes to be king. Any man with balls.”

“Is that why you are here, Kral—do you think to be king here since you will never reach that status in Dasnaria?”

“Perhaps.” He nodded thoughtfully, scanning the room. “You know I could bring an army so vast that your queen would fall, no matter the speed of her sword or how many pet magicians she calls to her.”

“Ah, but there we know you are lying, Kral.” Harlan translated for Ursula, handing her the conversational ball. Like the hawk he called her, she went in for the kill.

It took hours—well into the evening—before Kral cracked and admitted that all had happened just as we'd surmised. He'd been on a mission to Nahanau when the magic storm hit. The devastation had been enough to stymie whatever they'd been there to do, which he would not elaborate on. Not wanting to strain the resources of the devastated islands, they'd left for home, with the intent of returning at another time.