Queen Yavara Ch. 27

"What?"

"They all think I'm a spy in Yavara's court. Let me convince them that Yavara's words of peace are true."

Ternias pondered that. "You are here on the behest of the queen. If she knows as much as I suspect she does, then she sent you hear to uncover my factors. We're not playing politics anymore, Elena; once Leveria knows the breadth of the conspiracy, she will have me, those who support me, and our families all executed for treason."

"If you're not willing to trust me, then I cannot trust you, my lord." I said, dawning my dress.

"The point is rather moot until we know the outcome of the battle. So, until then," he planted a delicate kiss on the back of my hand, "I hope you take the time to consider my offer. Leveria has undoubtedly warned you of my treachery, but I have always taken care of those who are loyal to me."

"Is it loyalty you want?" I smiled, charmed by him despite myself, "I thought your proposition was a partnership."

"A mutually-loyal relationship then." He bowed, "I will, of course, keep my mouth shut about the spectacular performance you gave me."

"Why would you do that?" I laughed, slipping on my shoes, "If the rumors surrounding me have so lifted my standing that I gained a private audience with you, then I would have my legend grow. Go whisper in the ears of the worst gossipers, and cultivate my reputation. I want every nobleman and woman who sets eyes on me to have in the back of their minds the knowledge that the right combination of words said to me may unlock a night of pleasure they cannot comprehend."

Ternias laughed. "Elena Straltaira, you are the most dangerous woman in Bentius."

"But not the most dangerous man." I mused, looking him over. "I don't think you're a voyeur, Lord Ternias. I think you were studying me. I might lie with half the major nobles and all the minor ones, but never with you, will I?"

"No." He smiled, and walked me from the room.

LEVERIA

The sun set behind Bentius, the points of the dwarven Bearded Peaks in the west shadowing the landscape like jagged teeth. The royal château stood atop a gentle hill, the vineyard surrounding it ordered in perfect rows. I had not gone to Father that evening. Even though Elena was gone to Ternianas the whole afternoon, I still hadn't seen him. My thoughts drifted from him, to her. She was lounging on the balcony, smoking one of my cigarettes and wearing a bathrobe that she left open, much to my delight. She'd come back without Glendian, as I'd expected she would, but I still felt a touch disappointed. A new headmaster would be hard to find with almost every mage marching to war. I didn't have any reason to trust Elena to stay loyal to me, but I did. Maybe it was foolish, maybe she was the blind spot that concealed the fatal knife, but I didn't have a choice. For the first time in my life, I had to rely upon faith. It was surprisingly comforting. I admired the sight for a while, then sighed, and touched the mirror. King Albert Dreus's visage appeared, stately and handsome as always.

"Your Highness." He said, nodding a bow.

"Your Highness." I replied, doing the same.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?"

"I'm afraid I bring you bad news. Ambassador Fran Wentz was murdered."

King Dreus blinked, and that was all the reaction he gave. It might as well have been a scream of shock. "By whom?" He said as though asking about the weather.

"Vampires. It appears Drake Titus has betrayed Yavara, attacked the relief force we sent to aid her, and attempted to kill both Ambassador Straltaira and Ambassador Wentz. Fortunately, Straltaira was in the country when the attacks occurred, but Wentz was in the consulate."

Dreus rolled his eyes. "Shall we speak candidly then?"

"It would be a nice change of pace."

"Is Lord Ternias still alive?"

"Lucas Ternias is tenaciously difficult to murder, and a failed attempt would disrupt the delicate balance we have here in Bentius. So he lives, for now."

"But you killed my ambassador without a second thought?"

"I put quite a bit of thought into it, actually. I decided that a foreign agent whose sole job was to supplant me wasn't worth keeping around." I narrowed my eyes at him, "You disappoint me, Albert."

Dreus stared back implacably. "So what now?"

"Now that the pretense is gone, should we not end this silly trade war?" I asked, "I can't imagine your merchant class is too pleased with it, and unlike you, I have unfettered access to dwarven markets."

"I don't? Funny, I could've sworn I sent a trade emissary down the Maple highway just yesterday, and not a single ranger stopped him for papers."

"And by the time he comes back with their answer, there will be eighty-thousand soldiers asking for his credentials."

Dreus stroked his beard. "Your flaw always was your arrogance. The battle hasn't yet been fought, yet you already count your winnings."

"And what if she wins?" I smiled, "What if, just for fun, we pretend Yavara wins, and the kingdom of Alkandra is established for good. Where does that leave you?"

King Dreus remained silent.

I leaned toward the mirror. "It leaves you fucked, Albert. Fucked like an Ardeni dock whore. All that cheap labor your merchants love so much? It just migrated back to its ancestral homeland. Your economy just crashed, and whoops, there's suddenly a military powerhouse right next door, and whoops again, you never signed a nonaggression pact, much less a formalized alliance! So, yeah... she's going to have to invade you, and she's really sorry about it, but your ports are so nice, and she wants to trade with Drastin, Hektinar and Terondia."

"Your sister isn't you."

"No, she's not. I was never someone else's tool. Face it, Your Highness; she was just a way to hedge your bets, but your real dog was always Lucas Ternias. You gambled with both, and you lost with both. Now, let me pose you this then: when I am victorious, and have crushed the fledgling Alkandra, do you want to be in a trade dispute with a nation that has eighty-thousand battle-hardened soldiers fifty miles from your borders?"

He narrowed his eyes. "That sounded like a threat, Your Highness."

"That's because it was one, You Highness." I smiled sweetly, "But I'm prepared to forgive all your meddling with the Noble Court if you're prepared to lift you tariffs. Once you do that, I will lift mine as well, and our two nations can resume the healthy friendship we've had for centuries."

King Dreus broke into a smile almost as disingenuous as my own. "I can agree to these terms, but I must offer a contingency."

"Which is?"

"If your sister stops your army, and the trenches are dug across the map, and the bills pile up, I will be there with my purse. There is much to buy when wars drag out, and it is often sold cheaply. Even debt can be bought; your debt, perhaps. When the hordes of Alkandra blacken your border with only an unpaid, ill-supplied, worn-out army there to stop them, I will be there for your nation, Your Highness. But you won't be." He placed his palm on the glass, "Goodnight, Queen Tiadoa."

"Goodnight." I replied to my own reflection.