Page 57 of The Queens and the Kings
“Ripped from your family, weren’t you?”
Henrik sensed her opening, and it surprised him. He hadn’t considered Selma entering this conversation at all, yet the Ladylord set her hooks. He kept Selma tucked into the box in his stomach, where he stuffed all the hard things. Where fears went to die, but actually thrived. Then he took that thriving and he turned it to rage.
“You are the reason Malcolm wrote to one of my scribes, inquiring about a Stenberg woman named Selma, are you not?”
The power move was subtle, but obvious. Malcolm’s request hadn’t gone unnoticed, and she wanted him to note it. New appointment as leader or not, she held her scribe’s loyalty.
“Yes.”
“It turns out, Henrik the soldat, that you and I have the same enemy. That makes us friends. Friends help one another out. At least, we do on the mainland. My scribe is making inquiries into Selma Anderberg now. I promise to follow up whether there is failure or there is success.” Her eyes gleamed. “In exchange, I ask for one favor.”
His hackles rose.
Ah.
The crux.
“What is that, Ladylord?”
“In exchange for information on Selma, I ask that you return to Pedr’s ship, obtain your friend, Einar, and return tomorrow. I would like to formally request an hour of your and Einar’s time.”
Henrik hesitated.
The Ladylord smiled. “One hour, soldat. I am good on my word. Another officer of mine will be present. Nils, a general and trusted commander. He has greatly assisted my passage into the Ladylord these past weeks. By agreeing to one hour, you make no other commitments.”
The request didn’t surprise him as much as General Helsing having predicted something like it. Hadn’t she warned them?This mission is not for you alone.
An hour in exchange for a chance to meet Selma? Easiest agreement he ever made. “Yes, Ladylord. I’ll return tomorrow with Einar.”
Neither Henrik nor Britt spoke as they returned to the sea.
Henrik felt a measure of relief at Britt’s silence, and fear at her wrinkled brow. Soldats rarely spoke unless they could guarantee privacy, and there wasn’t a hint of it in Klipporno. Too many sailors leered at her as they passed. He resisted the urge to yank her to his side. The sailors faded on seeing his glower.
The sun sparkled on beryl waters when they returned to the dock. Thankfully, the little rowboat hadn’t taken a liking to some other sloop and skittered off. Humidity hung over the ocean, obscuring ships cluttering the bay. Rowing would loosen his muscles. The pull on his energy and the chance to think this through was most welcome.
Wordless, Britt climbed into the rowboat, casting a grateful smile to the dockmaster and the woman at his side. Within minutes, Henrik rowed them away from the dock and into the quieter bay. Once space lay between them and Klipporno, Britt brushed her hair out of her eyes and turned to fully face him.
“So?”
Henrik pulled hard on the oars, grunting at the end.
“So?”
“What did you think of Klipporno?”
“Busy.”
She laughed. “Is that your only impression?”
“Chaotic. Fairly well organized. The security appears porous, but if arcane is involved, it’s hard to tell. I don’t like that.”
Another laugh burst out of her, easing the tension. He dug harder into the water with the oars, feeding the burn.
“Klipporno must be at least a little overwhelming?”
“Not too much.”
“Good. You really didn’tanswer many of her questions. I’ve never seen anyone so expertly dodge such a powerful leader.”
