Page 125 of The Queens and the Kings
The Ladylord’spronouncement rang through a room of Stenberg naval officers, Arvid, Einar and Henrik. “I hear your plans, soldats, and stand with you in support. Whatever you need from the mainland, please ask.”
Please ask.
Full passage.
She offered everything.
Einar made a joyful sound low in his throat, his teeth splitting in a smile. Arvid gave no response except a curious stare.
Before Henrik could summon words to speak, the Ladylord’s eyes slid to him. “Henrik,” she called across the room, “please work with Nils as command over this mission. Nils will work directly with you.” Her focus slid to Arvid, and then back. “Or with whom you deem fit to enact your vision.”
The room full of mainland officers shuffled. Most hid their gawps of surprise, but others didn’t bother. Of those who stared, wide-eyed at the Ladylord’s thin, powerful figure at the front of the room, only Nils appeared moderately interested in Arvid.
“Ladylord,” said a blustery old man with reddened cheeks and a bulbous nose. “But . . . is this wise?”
“Yes, it is wise. I trust Henrik.”
Henrik mentally flailed. Her blunt willingness to give anything didn’t make sense without understanding the mainland advantage. His Glory couldn’t pose enough of a threat to be concerned with. Stenberg didn’t even use arcane.
While he stewed, the Ladylord hadn’t removed her focus. He kept her stare, not bothering to hide his consternation.
“Do you have any questions, Henrik?” she asked.
He held his immediate response. Of course he had questions. Heaps of them, but he had to be strategic. She tested him.
Why, why,whydid they care about damma, about Stenberg, about His Glory?
Ruffles of conversation flowed through the room, cracked open after the old man dared to break the strange silence with his question. Henrik let the comments flow past him. Through him. They swept up all his cooped emotions and escorted them out. By the time the murmuring and scurrying words drifted around, his singular question had materialized.
He’d make the Ladylord answer it.
“Would you please clearly state your goal for Arvid, Einar, and myself, Ladylord?”
A handful of people didn’t hear his question, too engaged in their own discussions. Nudges, thumps, and hushes from those standing around Henrik silenced the conversations before the Ladylord replied.
Henrik expected a wily smile, but instead there was cold, hard calculation. “You know our priority,” she said.
“To destroy His Glory? Yes. Your motivation, no.”
“To spare lives. It isyourpriority to kill His Glory.”
“Then you won’t be upset when we institute our own leader?”
“No.“ She flicked careless fingers. “Should you need help with procuring someone to take the position, we would of course offer our assistance, but it appears you have that well in hand.”
Nils stiffened at her response.
His confusion deepened. “Then why?”
She took his measure before answering. “Tell me, Henrik. Why do you think I chose you and not Einar to lead?” Her gaze slipped to Einar. “Einar, you desire revenge so much I can taste it in the air when I’m near you.” She turned to Arvid. “And you, Captain Arvid, are the future leader of Stenberg.” She gestured to Nils. “Why not Nils, my most trusted advisor?”
She returned her attention to Henrik. The hardening of his fate happened in the confidence of her smile.
“Why?” he insisted.
The Ladylord stood. “Officers, you may go. Lunch waits for you in the other room. Nils, remain with Captain Arvid and Einar. Please pack as much as you like and prepare to depart immediately. Henrik, come with me. If you’re going to lead this mission, you deserve all the information.”
Henrik almost insisted that she include Arvid and Einar, but a quick head shake from Arvid discouraged his rebuttal, and curiosity bore him out of the room at the Ladylord’s side. She strolled, clearly not wanting to go far, but desiring to be away, on a road that led deeper into Klipporno.
