Page 29 of Sword of Desire
“Where is everyone?” he asked her as he took a seat at the table.
“Gytha is still asleep.” She spooned some of the food into a bowl for him. “Audek and Brodek left about an hour ago to see if any messages came from Rema.”
He noticed Vesha rarely used the empress’s title and instead, always spoke of her with easy familiarity.
“Thank you.” He ate a spoonful of cornmeal while wondering where Brodek and Audek went to check for messages. He didn’t think there was a city or village nearby.
The side door flew open, and a gust of wind came whipping into the kitchen. Brodek and Audek stomped inside. “Word just came from the empress,” Brodek said, slamming the door closed. “Her Majesty wants to meet with you immediately.”
Relief coursed through Ackley. The Emperion empress had agreed to see him. “Excellent,” he said. “When and where?” He hadn’t realized until then that he’d feared she would deny his request for a meeting.
“Some place Audek is familiar with.” Brodek sat at the table, and Vesha handed him a steaming bowl of cornmeal.
Audek kissed Vesha’s cheek before sitting alongside Brodek.
“Her instructions are very specific,” Brodek said around a mouthful of food. “Audek and I will escort you. No one else is to come. We are to leave immediately.”
“I suppose I should go and pack.” Not that Ackley had much to gather, but he wanted to get his thoughts in order before they left. After he finished his cornmeal, he stood and headed to the hallway. “By the way,” he said as he turned back toward the kitchen, addressing both men. “Gytha is coming with me.” Under no circumstances would he leave her behind. Not only did he not want them to be separated, but he didn’t want to waste time coming back here once he met with the empress. And he knew Gytha would enjoy meeting a powerful woman. Besides, he wouldn’t go into a meeting with one of the most powerful rulers without having someone watching his back.
Audek opened his mouth, as if to say something, but snapped it shut.
Brodek’s eyes narrowed, considering Ackley. “I understand why you’d want to bring her, but I have to follow the empress’s orders.”
“Got it,” Ackley said. “I’ll just have Gytha follow us at a safe distance. You can pretend you don’t know she’s there.”
Brodek rubbed his temples. “I suppose nothing I say will convince you to leave her here?”
“That is correct.” Ackley smiled.
“Fine. She can come,” Brodek conceded, “but when we get there, if Empress Rema is mad, that’s on you.”
* * *
Less than thirty minutes later, the four of them set out on horseback, traveling at a quick pace. Audek talked incessantly, driving Ackley mad. He’d never met a man before who enjoyed blabbing so much. Audek commented on every little thing. Even the color of the leaves, as if that mattered.
“Do you talk because you’re nervous?” Ackley inquired, interrupting Audek’s speech on the lines of a boulder in the distance.
“What would I be nervous about?” Audek asked, glancing around.
Gytha chuckled. “I assume it’s because he’s bored.”
“How can I be bored when I’m traveling outside like this?”
Ackley shrugged. “You’re with two people from another kingdom. How do you know we won’t slit your throat while you sleep?”
Audek’s face paled. “Well, now I’m nervous.”
Brodek chuckled. “Audek may not look like a soldier, but he fought alongside Empress Rema to reclaim her throne.”
“Yes, he told me.” Now, not only did he need to ask the empress’s permission for his soldiers to be on her land, but he wanted to know how she reclaimed her throne. Learning how she overthrew the person ruling Emperion could be vital in Owen’s quest to retake his kingdom.
The four of them nudged their horses across a low creek, reaching the other side and heading southeast. Massive trees towered above them and the ground turned from moist dirt to a covering of thick, bright-green moss. A light rain started to fall, but the thick foliage above protected them from getting wet.
“Tell me about your empress,” Ackley said, curious to know about the woman he’d be meeting soon.
“Rema?” Audek asked. “She’s great. Never wanted to rule which makes her perfect for the job.”
“It’s her husband you need to watch out for,” Brodek said. “Darmik is the commander of the Emperion army. A position that suits him exceedingly well.”
