Page 9 of What Fury Brings
Olerra leaned forward so as not to be overheard. “I’m going to ask for permission to kidnap a Brutish prince for my own.”
Ydra covered her mouth with her hands in delight. She had to work very hard to keep her voice low amid the excitement.
“Now? After all this time?”
“It’s mostly political. I need to overshadow Glen.”
Ydra nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, go see the queen, and I will start making preparations. Oh, we’ll need to go to the Pleasure Market! And then the Hunters Market. Can’t wait!”
Her friend squeezed her hand before taking off down the corridor.
Olerra couldn’t help but smile as she continued walking. She, too, was excited by the prospect of having a man in her life, but she knew it would also be a lot of work. Especially if that man was a Brute.
When she reached her aunt’s chambers, the guards on either side of the room nodded to her in greeting before opening the doors wide. Each woman was clad in steel armor that shone with just the slightest tint of scarlet. Their spearpoints were made of red obsidian, a unique variety found only in their country. Spikes protruded from their helmets, positioned above their foreheads. The queen’s guard had a fondness for bashing in the skulls of their enemies.
“Wait here,” Olerra said to her guard.
The queen stood near the fireplace, sipping a glass of wine, her wife, Toria, at her side with her arm slung around her back.
“How did we fare?” the queen asked. Lemya was a tall woman, broad of shoulders, with black hair cropped short to her scalp. She wore no crown, as Amarran queens did not need one to know their worth. She wore a pleated dress that came down to mid-thigh and belted at the waist. Olerra wore a similar outfit. Warrior women liked their ease of movement, and the hot climate in Amarra necessitated shorter garments.
“Very well, Auntie. We lost far less than the enemy, who turned tail and ran. Atalius was captured and questioned, then returned to his home.”
“Alive?” Lemya clarified.
“Yes, I thought it best not to start a war with his death.”
Lemya smiled and turned to her wife. “See? She already has thecunning of a queen. Tell me, Olerra, that you at least took a finger or something to shame him?”
“Oh, I took something.” Olerra deposited the clothing she was carrying onto the floor, including the tabard that bore the king’s crest.
Her aunties looked at the clothing before bursting into laughter.
“Where did you leave him?” Toria asked as she wiped tears from her eyes.
“Right outside the castle gates.”
The queen composed herself. “This is why you’re my favorite niece.”
Olerra beamed. “I have more ideas for shaming him. Could we speak in private for a moment?”
Lemya nodded, turning to her wife. “Why don’t you relax in the bath and wait for me?”
Toria kissed her cheek before retreating toward the adjacent bathing chamber, not the least bit put out to be excluded from the conversation. She knew it must be something political, rather than personal, to be asked to leave.
In fact, it was both.
As soon as the door closed, Olerra proclaimed, “I need a husband.”
Lemya blinked once before processing the words. “Arguable, but go on.”
“I’ve come to learn that Atalius cares for his sons more than anything, save his pride. I’ve decided to kidnap one and claim him as mine. Doing so will punish the king of Brutus further while also strengthening my claim to the throne of Amarra.”
“I’m impressed.” Lemya’s tone didn’t quite match her words.
“You have reservations?”
“Concerns.”
