Queen Yavara Ch. 13

"Brutus!" Titus yelled as he slipped on his robe, "Make sure these girls are fed well after we go. Then you and the loaders put them onto our ships."

We made our way outside, where Titus' employees were loading his riches onto boats. King Dreus' courier stood outside of the open loading door, shifting nervously from one foot to the other at the sight of us.

"You boy," Titus called to the courier, "I have a message I need you to send to the king."

"Y-y-yes s-s-sir." The boy said shakenly, pacing cautiously toward us. Titus gave the boy the message and ten gold pieces "There's another ten for you if you get this to him within the hour." The boy sprinted off and disappeared around the corner. The vampires arranged themselves into two single file lines, Prestira and I heading each behind Titus. An ominous organ sounded a dour tune from somewhere, and Titus began a plodding march forward.

"This is quite the atmosphere you're cultivating." I laughed at Titus.

"Appearance is everything, my queen." Titus muttered, "And don't smile. Brooding; brooding is the key. We're broken souls, walking in a solemn procession, our hearts filled with sorrow and a yearning for death."

"Why?" I asked, suppressing a smile.

"Because it gets bitches wet, that's why." Titus said, "There's nothing like a dark, damaged, mysterious bachelor to get the juices flowing. Have you never read young adult fiction?"

Prestira and I played our part in the austere march through the streets of Ardeni, bowing our heads and gliding in our robes. Windows shut, and mothers hastened their children indoors when we approached, and the barks of dogs and the chirping of birds ceased with our passing. I saw two vampires behind me with buckets full of dry ice trying to give off the appearance of fog. I shared a look with Prestira, who had to cover her mouth to avoid bursting out in laughter. Despite the ridiculousness of the whole spectacle, Titus' reasons proved true. A line of young women began to form behind our procession, giggling and whispering nervously to each other.

We made our way to the palace mall, where a thousand men lined either side. They stared at our procession with their hands resting on their hilts, for all the good it would do them if Titus decided to attack. We were stopped by the captain at the foot of the steps.

"Are you Drake Titus?" He asked.

"I am." Titus responded.

"My king wishes to know where Queen Yavara is. You will not enter his palace until I've confirmed she is alive."

"Could I send a message to the king?" Titus asked.

"Sorry Titus, but King Dreus' words are final."

Titus leaned forward until his face was inches from the captain's. The captain remained composed, the sight of vampire leaning to him not fazing him at all. "How rich are you, captain?" Titus asked.

"I don't see how that concerns you."

"It matters greatly to me," Titus hissed, "because there's a five hundred-thousand-piece bounty on Queen Yavara's head, and I don't know how strapped you are for cash."

"I'm the son of a Lord Alexander." The captain yielded, "I have fortune to my name."

Titus sniffed him, then nodded. "Does this young vampire," he said, pushing me forward, "look at all familiar to you?"

I covered the sides of my face with my hood so that only the captain could see me. I quickly flashed from my vampire form to my elven form and back to my vampire form. I smiled at the captain's shock, and gave him a wink. "I trust you can keep secrets, captain."

"I don't know what you're talking about, young lady." He said, recovering with the ghost of a smile, "I will tell King Dreus -and only King Dreus- of this new development. Titus, you may bring yourself and your two cohorts behind me."

The gates parted as the three of us followed behind the captain. We walked down the great hall of the throne room and knelt before the king. I glanced to my left and right, wondering which of the guards were waiting for Queen Yavara to appear so they could send word to Leveria.

"So, you're Drake Titus, eh?" King Dreus said from his throne, "I thought you'd be taller. You've got some balls coming in here asking for a loan that's not yours. If you don't mind me asking, where in the blue fuck is Queen Yavara?"

The captain scribbled a note and handed it to King Dreus. King Dreus read the note, his eyes widening imperceptibly. With the utmost nonchalance, he glanced causally toward me, and with the utmost subtly, I nodded.

"Ah," said King Dreus as he ripped the note to shreds, "my captain has confirmed that she has left the city, and that you are acting in her stead. You may rise."

From the corner of my eye, I saw one of the king's guard shift uneasily. Leveria no doubt had guessed King Dreus' meeting with Titus was also a meeting with me. News that I had vacated this city would be worth a small bounty to Leveria, and anyone who was under her employment would want to be the first to deliver the message and collect.

"Captain," King Dreus said as he descended the steps, "please escort Titus and the ladies to the treasury room and have them inspect the goods. I will follow."

The captain guided us to the treasury room, where ten massive chests were lined up.

"What the fuck?!" King Dreus yelled as soon as we were alone, "When I told you to negotiate with Titus I didn't mean do... this!" He said, motioning to my body, "Do you know how hard it's going to be for me to convince my governors to trade with a vampire?!"

I transformed back into my normal self, laughing at King Dreus' shock. "I had to make some concessions, but this seemed like a suitable compromise."

King Dreus looked at me, then looked at the other vampire woman. "And I suppose this is Prestira, then. Hi Prestira."

Prestira transformed to her original self and smiled. "Hi Alfred."

"Well," King Dreus sighed, "I can't say I agree with your choices, Queen Yavara, but they are your choices. Now, down to business. Each chest carries a hundred-thousand gold pieces. Ten in all make a million. That should be adequate for any royal treasury."

"Small for a wartime treasury." Prestira mumbled.

"It's very generous." I replied, giving Prestira a stern look, "And we're not at war."

"Your beloved sister is expected to issue a proclamation this afternoon." Dreus said gravely, "She's not calling it a war, but an insurrection of her vassal state. A formal declaration would mean she'd have to recognize your sovereignty and follow the rules, but a rebellion gives her carte blanche." Dreus tapped one of the chests, "I don't make investments that I don't think will pay off. I took a risk supporting you, and will do what I can to act as mediator between you and the Highlands. But if I don't think you can recoup the cost..." Dreus gave me a pitiable expression. "Well, the Highland bank has never defaulted, and I'm sure they'd love to pick up your balance."

"Is that a threat, Your Highness?" I asked with raised brows.

"It's a warning, Your Highness." Dreus said gruffly, "As of now, the game hasn't truly started, but once the pieces start moving, I will put my money behind the safest bet. It will take months for Leveria to raise her army. I suggest you raise yours faster. Hire some trolls to excavate the silver mines, and you'll fill your coffers soon enough. I am willing to stay the payment on your loan for two months so that you can pay your army. With added interest, of course."

"You war profiteer." Titus snorted.

"That's rich coming from a mercenary." King Dreus eyed the vampire next to him, then turned back to me, his expression somber. "I'm sorry that it's come to this, Your Highness. I thought your father would see reason, but it seems elven xenophobia curses even the gentlest of kings. I was... so very sorry to hear of your mother's death. It's a horrible thing Clartias did."

"It wasn't my father." I said gravely, "It was Leveria."

"I can't believe she would do that."

"Father would never force a public confession out of Mother." I had to blink away hot tears, "Even if he thought she was guilty, the hearing would be private, and she would die with dignity. She was tortured!"

"Leveria wouldn't do that to her own mother."

"You know her too well to believe that, Your Highness." I smiled sadly at him, "I fear that in my absence, she will drive a wedge between us. She is a viper with honeyed tongue."

"I'm not so easily persuaded by a honeyed tongue." King Dreus gave me a devilish smile, "Whether it's in my ear, or my ass. I will greatly miss your brown-nosing, Queen Yavara." He held out his hand, and I pushed it away, throwing my arms around him.

"You will always be welcome in my court, Alfred Dreus." I said, holding him tight, "Or my bed, if you wish to put an end to euphemisms and act with candor."

"The world is built on bullshit, Yavara. Candor might knock the whole thing over. Now," he grunted as he withdrew, "I'll get some men to help you these chests, and you be on your way."

"No need." Prestira said cheerily, then transformed, hoisted the box into arms, and casually strolled out of the room. Titus lifted another with calculated nonchalance, leaving Dreus gawking.

"Thank you so much for your hospitality." I said, giving Dreus a peck on the cheek, then transforming. I picked up a five-hundred-pound chest, pressed it overhead, then whistled as I strode out of the room. That night, we loaded my riches onto Titus' vessels and set sail for the Great Forest, four human captives lighter. It seemed Brutus had done a poor job chaining the girls. What a klutz. As Titus screamed at the poor day-walker, I stood on the prow of his flagship, tasting the ocean breeze for the first time. I had wealth, I had power, and my army was growing by the day. But Leveria was queen of the Highlands now, and I knew deep down that she was one step ahead. Somewhere out there, was a trap.