Page 84 of The King of Koraha
Little One didn’t waste time with pleasantries. She exposed the King’s sigil and said, “I’m here to see the Water Prince.”
When the receptionist didn’t move, Xerxes said, “Go, announce us to the prince.”
The man stood slowly, as if uncertain. “And who should I say is here?”
“The King’s emissary and her retinue.Go,” Xerxes ordered.
The receptionist glanced at Little One. “Is it urgent? He’s in a meeting.”
“Of course it is.” She added heat to her voice.
“Then please follow me.” The man waved the guards aside as he led them through the inner door and to another reception room.
This one was intended for the prince’s guests. It was cozy with thick cushions and a pot of hot tea simmering on lava stones. The sound of the waterfall rumbled through the stone walls—a muted roar. She wondered how close they were and if there was any chance that the water would break through.
“Please wait here. I’ll be back in less than a degree.” The receptionist bolted.
“Don’t get comfortable,” Xerxes said to all of them.
“Must be nice to have that type of influence,” Vilma said to her in a sneering tone. “The King’s sigilandmagic. Guess you’re just one lucky girl.”
Lucky? Anger rose. She opened her mouth to correct the woman, but Xerxes touched her arm.
“Don’t let her goad you, Little One. She’s jealous.”
“Jealous? Come on, Commander, you know better. And when she ruins all our plans, just remember who warned you.”
“Repeatedly, I know. But she’s ours now. If we’d killed her when you wanted—”
“We’d still be here. Still on schedule. She’s not the resource you think she is.”
Vilma had wanted her dead? Little One couldn’t quite summon the outrage. She was too distracted by a wisp of memory about the woman. The second-in-command hadn’t bothered to hide her hatred for Little One, but there was…something else. Little One chased that thin tendril, but when she reached out, it slipped through her grasp and was gone.
“She’s about to prove you very wrong, Vilma,” Xerxes said.
“The Water Prince will see you now.” The receptionist gestured for them to follow him.
He led them down a tunnel. The roar of the waterfall increased in volume as they drew closer to a set of large stained-glass doors guarded by four soldiers. The sound doubled when the doors were open. Inside, the Water Prince sat on an oversized chair at a massive marble desk. But that wasn’t nearly as impressive as the water behind him. It fell in sheets just past a square opening in the wall. Stunned, it took her a moment to realize it was the underside of the waterfall.
“Classic power move,” Xerxes said just loud enough for her to hear, which was pretty loud. They would have to shout for anyone more than a meter away to understand them.
The Water Prince, an older man with gray sprinkled in his short auburn hair, didn’t bother rising to greet them. He pointed her to a chair opposite him.
“Insist on moving to a quieter location,” Xerxes ordered her.
Instead of sitting, she introduced herself to the Water Prince. As soon as she met his gaze, he was hers. “Take us to your real office.”
Without a word, the prince stood and led them from the room. The guards followed them to another area, which was just as lavishly furnished but much quieter. The guards were ordered to remain in the hallway. It was in here that Xerxes gave the prince a pendant and claimed the man.
“Usually it takes me a number of visits to wear them down,” Xerxes said to her, but it was also an I-told-you-so to Vilma. “Once they’ve given in, I present the pendant. Then I have to work on their advisors. It’s a long process, but with you, we’ll finish by apex. Prince Ibrahim, please invite your inner circle to join us.”
They met and claimed the prince’s entire staff and a few of the guards. The captain of the guard was notably absent.
“Could Rendor have warned the captain about us?” Xerxes asked Vilma.
“It’s possible. He was in the city for about eight sun jumps. You’ll have to ask him.”
“Why me? I told him to obey you as well.”
