Page 62 of Return of the Vengeful Quee

She was back home in familiar territory.

She had a group of loyal Calerans rebelling against the enemy.

She had a supply of moriarthy dust somewhere out at sea.

And she had no idea how to use any of it to convince the Rakuuna queen to keep her alive.

Twenty-Three

DAWN WAS A faint splinter of gold outside her window as Charis awakened from a fitful slumber. She’d dreamed of monsters and blood and the unforgiving depths of the sea dragging her to her fate.

Shivering as the remains of her nightmares crept back into the shadows of her mind, she stretched and climbed out of bed, moving as silently as possible.

Where were the Rakuuna guards? Outside the wing? Outside her door? It had been nearly impossible to fall asleep knowing they could come for her at any moment. The idea of washing and then getting herself dressed with that threat hanging over her head sent her stomach churning.

Reuben was snoring on the sitting room couch, his sword hand clenched as though he imagined he still held a blade. The Rakuuna had confiscated all weapons upon their arrival in the palace. Perhaps the queen, unlike the ship captain, now had enough experience with humans to realize that even when the odds were against them, people were courageous and foolish enough to fight for their freedom.

The doors to Holland’s and Tal’s rooms were still closed. Charis slipped into the bath chamber, quietly closing the door behind her. Her fingers shook as she lifted the lid on the chamber pot, straining to hear any hint of sound.

When would the Rakuuna queen send for her? And would Charis be summoned alone, or would Holland and the other Calerans who’d been with her be punished as well?

When she’d finished with the chamber pot, she crept to the sink and turned the water on low. She was nearly finished washing her hands when she finally found the courage to look in the mirror.

It was like looking at a stranger.

She was pale and gaunt with hollow cheeks and smudges of exhaustion beneath her eyes. Her brown curls tumbled wildly, and her body appeared to be carved from paper-thin stone, all sharp lines and blunt edges.

Slowly she straightened her shoulders. Appearances no longer mattered. Only strategy remained.

The Rakuuna queen might believe she was summoning a defeated rival to her execution, but Charis had to prove her wrong. Charis knew how to read situations, detect lies, and exploit the tiniest of openings. She could negotiate with a vengeance and gain more for her people than her opponent even realized she’d given up.

And even if Charis couldn’t convince her enemy to let her live, all she needed was to get a message to the leaders of the rebellion. If they exchanged pallorens with Nalani in code, they could set up an invasion of their own, using the moriarthy dust to obliterate the Rakuuna. Holland and Tal would see that the message was sent, even if Charis wasn’t able to do so herself, so long as one of them survived.

Quickly she bathed herself, scrubbing at the dirt beneath her fingernails and attacking her snarled curls with a wide-tooth comb. The closet in her room had a sparse selection of clothing for both men and women. Charis chose a blue velvet dress with a belt made of tiny silver interlocking links. She’d just tucked her curls behind her ears and straightened the belt when someone opened the suite’s door.

For an instant, time seemed to hold its breath.

Then, as Charis stepped from her bedroom, doing her best to wear an expression fit for a queen, Tal and Holland flung their doors open and rushed into the sitting room, each brandishing a makeshift weapon. Tal had an iron fire poker. Holland had what looked like a bedpost he’d snapped in half. Neither of them was wearing a shirt.

Reuben lunged off the sofa and snatched something from the floor. Charis frowned as her guard whipped his weapon into the air. Was that a curtain rod? Her lips lifted slightly.

The Rakuuna queen may have taken her people’s blades, but their courage was out of her reach.

A pair of Rakuuna guards entered the suite, ducking to avoid hitting their heads on the doorjambs. Their lips were peeled away from their fangs in a snarl, and their black eyes swept the room before landing on Charis.

“It comes with us.” The female guard stepped forward, only to draw up short as Reuben slapped the curtain rod against her stomach. “Stupid human.” She batted the rod away, sending Reuben stumbling into the side of the sofa.

Tal and Holland lunged forward, throwing themselves between Charis and the advancing guards. “Not today!” Holland whipped his broken bedpost into the air.

The male guard sniffed scornfully. “Can’t stop us or it dies.”

Charis’s hands began to shake as Tal swept into the first rathma position while Holland looked one second away from charging the Rakuuna. They were committed to defending her, but it was going to cost them their lives.

“I’ll go.” Her voice cracked, and she cleared her throat as every gaze in the room found hers.

“Absolutely not.” Holland glared at her.

“I agree with Holland.” Tal rolled to the balls of his feet.

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