Page 93 of Knight's End
By the time she was finished, I began to doubt whether the show had been all for intimidation. I began to wonder if Queen Shenna didn't have a bit of an affinity for an audience.
Oh, she does,a voice I’d never heard before rasped in my mind. Then the thought of peach nectar, and a hand swiping at a man’s chin flickered behind my eyes. A woman’s dripping cunt popped into my head—
Hello, mind talker,I said.Fewer details next time, if you don’t mind.
I heard him chuckle in my head.
“Your Majesty,” I ducked my head respectfully at Shenna, hoping we could finally get to the reason for our visit.
Her eyes cut toward my knights’ cocks after she was finished. She smiled as if she was pleased with what she saw.
An animal-like sense of territoriality arose in me. I had to suppress a snarling word or two. But I couldn’t help myself, I stepped forward, doing my best to block her view.
My sweet tone contrasted my possessive gesture. "Queen Shenna, thank you for sharing that intimacy with us. After so many years as strangers, I’m so happy to renew the bond between our countries.” I hoped that’s what that sarding was. Otherwise … I cut off the thought as the four fairies emerged from their tasks and lined up beside the queen.
Shenna swiped a hand lazily through the air. "Oh no. You mistake me. If you want something as intimate as an alliance with me, otherintimaciesare required."
I tried to keep my face neutral as my mind reeled in shock.
Is she saying what I think she's saying?I asked Blue.
Yes.
I’d been less blindsided by Jorad’s betrayal. I forgot to breathe for a moment as I took in what Shenna wanted from us. A show, like the one she’d put on.
Blue’s response had been so curt that I turned my head to look at him. He swallowed hard. I glanced down and saw that he had a raging hard on.
You like the idea of this?I asked. To me, this request went beyond the pale. It was so far afield that it felt like a trick.
Actually, I don't. Strategically, she could have archers take us out while we did that. It's one thing for her to be that vulnerable in the open in her own country. It's another thing to ask us to do so. The idea of taking you in public does make me hot but using sex as a tool and a weapon … it reminds me of my father.
What Blue said resonated with me. His words echoed in my heart; the way a choir’s song echoed off the stones of the Great Hall. Goosebumps formed on my arms as I decided on my next move.
She wanted intimacy. Intimacy. Thoughts rolled through my mind.
I curtsied to Shenna, a rare sign of respect and almost fealty when given from one queen to another. "Your Majesty, I'm honored that you trusted us when you are at your most vulnerable. I, too, am at my most vulnerable in this moment. Floodwaters from the sea are ravaging my castle as we speak. The djinn have stolen an entire province from me. And while I understand and appreciate your request that I be vulnerable and open as well, I think that honesty—particularly among rulers—is as vulnerable as one can get. To be honest with you, I’m scared. My family is all dead or stolen. War broke out the very day I was crowned. I'm petrified that the legacy that my foremothers gave me will be destroyed. I'm scared that the families of my husbands will be murdered in their beds. I can't sleep because I see bodies—those of the courtiers and soldiers who were killed in my own courtyard—when I close my eyes.”
Shenna gazed down on me. And I thought I’d gambled wrong. She raised her arm and my heart jumped into my throat. I couldn’t breathe, certain she was about to signal her archers. But then she reached for my hand and closed her own around it. “Go on, child.”
And I felt the calculation and cunning slip away from her facade.
I took a deep breath and continued, “The sea witch, Mayi–I've sent spies to find out her weaknesses, to no avail. She has the power to create whirlpools that suck down ships, tsunamis that threaten even Sedara. She took my sister already and thought she’d killed me. I don’t believe she’ll stop until she has. I'm about to go into battle with a creature far more magically powerful than myself. And I have no weapon with which I might defeat her. The only chance I have would come from your undead army. If you would allow some of them to accompany me, Imightbe able to survive.”
That’s pouring it on a bit thick,Quinn thought.We’re here. And we all have magic again. Not to mention these weapons.He flexed his biceps in his mind.
I barely avoided rolling my eyes.None of us can take down ships.
Faith, Dove. Donaloo wouldn’t have told us to seek out the undead army if he hadn’t thought it would work.
I took a deep breath and tore my mind away from his. I needed to focus.
Shenna watched me steadily. Then she asked, “And?”
“And what?”
“You could move inland. You could abandon your ports and trade only over land. You could close your borders. You could deal only with Raj. Why face this witch when you know she’ll likely kill you?”
Those were all excellent questions. Valid points. I thought long and hard before I responded. “Because I’ve learned that death isn’t the worst thing out there. If I were to curl inland, I’d be letting her chain me. Slavery is worse than death.”
