Page 27 of These Violent Delights

They had tea and a few moments of chitchat, and then Serta got right down to it.“That was an interesting move, releasing your sister instead of opting for a public execution.”

Zelda raised an eyebrow.

“Do you really think she can do any damage to the Beast Queen?”

“The odds are she will die trying, but she could surprise me.”Ozzy's men would drop her off within walking distance of the Beast Queen's lair.She wasn't a hunter and she would be on foot.Her best, if slim, chance of survival would be to go there.

“She could betray you,” Jun said.

“She certainly will, at some point.However, she's going to have to work to survive there.She won't be satisfied with being anywhere but on top.Eventually, if she lives long enough, she will become the Beast Queen's rival.She will try to kill her.”

“Meanwhile, she's out of my hair.”That was highly satisfying.

Serta studied her.It was hard to know what she thought about that.

Jun looked around at the castle.“It's nice to see the castle returning to its old self.Have you trained it yet?”

“Trained it?”Zelda didn't know what she meant.

“Not to draw on you, of course.”

Zelda blinked, startled.“What?”

Seeing her confusion, Serta explained, “My grandmother was a castle lady.Her generation understood that the castle was lazy.It was easy for it to draw on the power of the rulers, but just like the large mountain in the Goblin City, it could move under its own power.It just needed goblins to motivate it.”

Zelda stared at her, floored.She had never heard anything about this.

Jun watched her closely.“Later generations developed the crazy idea that it was fine to let the castle draw on them.They felt it made them special, that it was a sacrifice necessary for the castle lord.”

The old woman snorted.“That's nonsense of course, but people can be stupid.”

Zelda's head whirled.“Is that so?”

The old woman softened.“You can train it.It's like a dog, you just have to be firm.”

“A dog,” Zelda said softly.She looked at her rock chuck, Digger, who was lounging on a nearby cushion.Other than advising her, he behaved very like a pet, lounging when he wished, disappearing when he felt like it.“Why didn't you tell me about this?”

Digger blinked.“It didn't occur to me.I don't know what you don't know, until you ask me, my lady.”

The old woman snorted.

Zelda drew a deep breath for patience.Fine.She knew now.Anger built inside her.So many assumptions, and they cost her.Well, it was time to end this nonsense.

“I appreciate the information,” Zelda told Jun.“I will put it to good use.”

Jun smiled.“I'm happy to help.”

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