Page 24 of These Violent Delights

She held it up to the light, admiring the way it cast rainbows on the table.She had never seen anything like it.“Very pretty!I like it, thank you.”

“It's our pleasure.Our people think very highly of you.”

She waved for him to have a seat, and the maid brought an extra plate and mug.

As he served himself from the breakfast tray, she asked, “How are your people settling in?Are your sheep pens finished?”They were building stone enclosures to keep the sheep in at night in the valley at the mouth of the cave.

They chatted about that for a while and then he said, "My spies have uncovered some information about the Beast Queen.We know where her fortress is and how she gets her supplies, and we’re doing our best to map her vulnerabilities.Sometime soon, it will come down to war.It's unlikely to be that easy, but it would be nice if we could just assassinate her.”

Zelda stared into space.No brilliant plans appeared in the air, written in flaming letters.“I've got nothing.”

He smiled slightly.“As I said, it won't be easy.”

She exhaled.They needed more information, and no one had been into the Beast Queen's fortress.“We need a spy.But who would be smart, or stupid enough to infiltrate her lair?”

“Something will turn up,” he said, refilling her tea.“We are working on the problem, and we will find a way.”

Sisterly Love

Zelda needed a breakfrom her battle with the castle, so she went to the market to clear her head.The smell of spicy grilled meat filled the air, mingling with the rich aroma of Goblin coffee imported from the south.If she kept the caravans going, they would have lots of imported goods, and the town would thrive.No, she didn't come here to think about work, she reminded herself.She could do that later.

She enjoyed buying snacks, but the best thing for her was watching the Craftsman.There was something very satisfying about seeing raw materials being made into beautiful rugs or carvings.She ducked under an awning, blinded by the sudden change in light, when something whizzed past her nose, slicing it.Zelda stumbled back and smacked her nose, crying out as something else sliced her hand, grazing her knuckles.

Her guards surged forward, and chaos reigned as they looked for the assassin.“Let me see,” a guard said, prying her hands away from her nose.“Ooh, that'll leave a mark.”He saw her outraged expression and quickly added, “It's just a little scratch.It will leave a rakish scar.Good story over a pint of beer.”

She didn't want a good drinking scar!Zelda pushed past him, itching to get her hands on whoever had done this.

And that's when the guards dragged Lady Divine in front of her.The girl was disheveled but defiant.“It wasn't me!I didn't do it.”

A guard raised a small crossbow.“She had this.”

“How dare you!It's not mine,” Lady Divine insisted, struggling against the guard that held her.“I'm innocent!”

“Would have got you in the temple if she had better aim,” observed the guard as he tied a cloth around Zelda's bleeding hand.

Blood ran down Zelda's face and trickled into her mouth, putting her in a foul mood.“I think we need to have a sisterly chat,” she said, snarling.“Bring her to the castle.”

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