Page 3 of Kingdoms of Shadow and Ash

'Was he a good king?'

'Was to me.'

'To his people? Did they love him?'

'You're not from these lands?' said the man. He scrutinized Adigos anew.

'No,' said Adigos, 'and I've been away awhile. Did they? Love him? They loved the King in my lands before she …'

The man nodded his wizened features, as though Adigos had just fallen into place in his mind. 'I can't say they all did, but I did, and I'm not alone.' His words were menacing and full of promise. Not everyone would make things easy on the new Queen, then.

The man turned back to the barn, and Adigos followed his gaze. A flicker of movement in the trees caught Adigos' attention. He watched carefully as a shadow crept from trunk to trunk, and a slow, victorious smile spread across his lips.

'Have a good evening,' said Adigos, getting to his feet. The man made a non-committal noise, and Adigos melted into the woods, trailing the shadow he'd come to see.

Adigos crept through the woods, staying downwind, placing his feet with the utmost care, so as not to snap a twig or stumble on a root. The moon shone brightly, the trees sparse, allowing him to see a way ahead, and he finally spotted her, leaning against a tree. She observed the back entrance to the barn, and his pulse quickened. She was out here all alone, and she hadn't sensed him …

Adigos unsheathed his dagger and moved forward, praying she would stay put, that she was too preoccupied to feel his approach. He used the cover of the shadows, the sounds of the hooting owls and rattle of the snakes, the wind creaking the branches and rustling the leaves.

She shifted, pushing away from the tree as though finally deciding to go inside, but Adigos was so close he could almost touch her, and he would not let her get away. He lunged, grabbing her waist with one hand, holding his dagger to her throat with the other, relishing the power he held in his hands.

'It's not safe out in the woods alone,' Adigos growled into her ear.

'I'm never alone …' The woman tipped back her head and walked her fingers up his arm. She found his head, which still hovered near her ear, and grabbed a handful of his hair. She tugged, just hard enough to make him part his lips. She did it again, and he had to fight the urge to groan. 'Took you long enough,' said his Queen.

He ran his nose down her neck. 'You knew I was here?'

'My wolves picked up your scent days ago. Why did you wait so long?'

'After what happened last time, I thought it better to … gather intelligence.'

'Wise choice.'

Adigos brushed his lips against her neck. She shivered, then pushed his dagger arm away. She faced him, his arm still on her waist, and he pulled her towards him, lowering his head.

She shoved him away. 'Debrief me after the feast.'

He could do nothing but watch as she made her way towards the barn, two of her wolves appearing out of the darkness to walk at her side. Adigos took a deep breath, clearing his lungs of her intoxicating scent, then trailed in her wake.

The barn—which Sensis had done a passable job of turning into a feasting hall—went silent when Fyia entered. All except Rouel—a member of her personal guard who could have made a lucrative living as a minstrel—who was in the middle of a particularly catchy refrain. He sketched a bow that had his hand skimming the floor, staying down until he finished the song. Fyia shot him an arch look as she walked to the makeshift dais and throne.

She sat, and her wolves lay at her feet. 'Continue,' she said, gesturing to Rouel to get on with it. Music flared from his lute, and the party resumed. She ignored the incessant looks in her direction, most furtive, but plenty blatant.

Sensis, and Edu Ceres, the head of her personal guard, approached the dais. They made a show of bowing low before Fyia beckoned them forward, so they could take their places behind her, one on each side. They looked remarkably similar to one another, the same height, broad shoulders, straight noses, and fair skin, although Edu's muscles seemed somehow less impressive, and he had a shock of white hair, tied back in a bun.

'Fun party,' said Fyia, sardonically. She hated these things, but knew them to be a necessary evil. It was better for her subjects to see who she really was than create a persona of their own, and she enjoyed watching her wolves fan the flames of the fear her reputation had already kindled. 'Anyone I should worry about?'

'No,' said Sensis, at the same time as Edu said, 'Yes.'

Sensis rolled her eyes. 'You take things too seriously, my friend.'

'That's my job,' said Edu. 'I have one person to keep alive. If you lose a few on the battlefield, that's war. If I lose Fyia …'

'It's called taking calculated risks to ensure victory, and we're here, so I'd say it paid off,' said Sensis. 'It's no different with the safety of our Queen … maybe you should try it sometime and let her enjoy herself.'

'The day I start taking notes from you is the day we should cast our eyes to the line of succession …'

'There's a line of succession?' said Sensis.

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