CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I sat on the golden throne, sweating and trying not to let it show. My eyes slipped over to the side door where Araceli had promised to stay in case I needed her.
The throne room was empty except for Ysabel, Alzira, and Kaine. Alzira fingered her sword hilt while Kaine leaned against the wall and dozed off.
Ysabel paced the carpet in front of me. “How do I look? Properly disheveled? I did the best I could on short notice.” My older sister wore a plain white smock resembling a prisoner’s clothing.
Manacles, made of solid gold, chained her wrists together.
I wondered how she’d gotten those on such short notice.
She’d ordered a page to the correct store with confidence, like she purchased fancy chains all the time.
Her curly hair fell over her shoulders in a tangled mess.
Wet streaks imitating tear tracks ran down her cheeks, and she had a smudge of dirt on her face.
“You look very much like a prisoner,” I said. And it was unfair how good it looked on her.
“Do you think the bare feet are too much?” Ysabel lifted a foot to examine her soles.
I hadn’t the slightest idea. “I think it’s fine?”
“Let’s practice.” Ysabel sat on the floor next to my throne and looped her chains over the royal specter so it looked like I was holding her close. “Remember your line?”
I cleared my throat. “I have taken the Holy Maiden hostage. I have no fear of the Conclave of Kings or Dark Lord Kaine!” Oh no, my voice came out too squeaky. I tried to deepen my tone. “Ahem. If you take one step forward, I’ll strangle her pretty little throat.”
“Woe,” Ysabel wailed, dabbing her eyes. “Please, don’t hurt me!”
Alzira drew her sword. “How dare you threaten Her Holiness. I will smite you!”
“Eep! I’m sorry!” I squealed, cowering down in my throne.
Ysabel drew herself up to her full height, letting the chains slip off the specter, and glared. “Alzira, did you just draw your sword on my sister?”
Alzira flinched. “I’m sorry, Your Holiness. It was a reflex. I forgot that it was all an act for a moment because you sounded so convincing. You’re an amazing actress.”
“Don’t try to flatter your way out of this one.” Ysabel tapped her foot. “If you can’t stick to the script, then leave until we’re done.”
“I need to guard you, Your Holiness!” Alzira protested.
“You can guard me from the balcony.” Ysabel inclined her head above. “Stay out of sight, and if you make one more sound, I’m banning you from the throne room entirely.”
“Yes, Your Holiness.” Alzira sighed, slinking away.
I exhaled in relief as soon as she left. Just the pressure from Alzira’s glare had nearly made me wet myself. Had Araceli called me intimidating? Clearly it was only on the outside. Alzira could have scared a real goddess, much less a fake one like me.
“Sorry about that.” Ysabel returned to kneeling by the throne. “Your next line?”
I tried to remember. “As long as I control the Holy Maiden, then Dark Lord Kaine is my servant!”
Ysabel burst into sobs. “Please, someone save me!”
“Hmm?” Kaine jolted out of his slumber at the sound of his name. His gaze fell upon Ysabel, huddled against the throne and crying.
Kaine’s eyes narrowed. Energy exploded from his body in waves, freezing the room in place. Every muscle in my body wanted to run, but I couldn’t move. His iron irises pinned me in place. Softly, yet with weight behind each word, Kaine asked, “Did you make my wife cry?”
Only a moan came from my mouth. This time I did piss myself. Just a little. I’d never been more grateful for the massive layers of fabric hiding my shame. I couldn’t blink. I could barely even breathe. My chin wobbled like a dinghy in a storm.
Kaine reached for the hammer on his back. “I’m going to destroy this country now.”
“Stop!” Ysabel shrieked.
Kaine blinked. “If wifey-poo cries, that means it’s time for me to lay the smackdown. Don’t worry, dear, I’m already inside the walls, so I can’t harm them. I’ll be careful to step around the flower gardens as I burn the city down.”
Ysabel massaged her forehead. “I’m not truly being taken hostage, I’m pretending. Don’t you remember the plan we discussed?”
Kaine shrugged. “There were words. You said I couldn’t beat up the dwarven delegation, but I’m still not clear on why.
We’ve got Jiang’s old cane to deal with any pesky oaths holding me back from battle.
I can kill anyone who stands in your way.
If this plan makes you cry, then it’s a stupid plan.
I won’t let you keep on suffering for everyone else’s sake.
I made a vow to never let you sacrifice yourself for the greater good again. ”
“Darling, I’m acting. I’m not crying for real.” Ysabel lowered her voice. “Like those times when you cry and say no, but you don’t actually want me to stop.”
Dark Lady be damned. I just learned far more than I ever, ever wanted to know about my sister’s sex life. Going to shove that deep down my memory hole and never think about it again.
Kaine’s eyes lit up. “Ooo, I understand now. Got it, carry on.”
Ysabel turned back and tossed her chains at me. “Ready to begin again?”
I whispered, “Uh, Yzzy? Could you make your husband leave? I’m too scared to say my lines with him here …”
Ysabel turned to Kaine. “Love, would you do me a favor? Could you go to the balcony and stop Alzira from leaping out and attacking every time I pretend to be threatened? I’d really appreciate it.”
“Of course.” Kaine beamed. “Anything for you, honey bunny.”
“Thank you. You’re the only one I can count on.” Ysabel kissed Kaine before he left.
As soon as Kaine was gone, I could breathe again. Even when he hadn’t been actively on the verge of murder, his very presence had filled the room with pressure. Why were all my sister’s allies a bunch of psychos?
A page stood at the entranceway and bellowed, “Presenting the dwarven ambassador, Gen’le and his secretary, Ma’qas!”
The delegation was here already? But I hadn’t finished practicing yet! I paled and cowered on the throne.
Ysabel collapsed to a heap at the foot of the throne, her hand over her forehead as if in a dramatic faint. Her chin trembled and her eyes even took on the dull, lifeless quality of despair.
I thought back to that play I’d been in as a child.
Where I had failed at my role as tree, my older sister had been on the center stage acting her heart out in the part of Holy Maiden Ava, Bride of the Sun God.
She gave me the silent treatment for a week after I accidentally knocked over the painted forest and clonked her over the head during her big moment.
Come to think of it, that was around the same time my doll from Uncle Urew went missing.
She definitely took revenge! So much for her proclamations of innocence!
A row of guards in Sherdan uniforms strode in first, lining the room to protect the lady regent. Then the dwarven ambassador followed, a man in a silk doublet with a thick, black beard. A dwarven woman trailed after him in a modest purple dress buttoned up high. She carried a notebook.
Ambassador Gen’le stopped before the throne and bowed his head slightly.
“Duchess Hedri, the late King Uctor promised control of the future regency of Arahasnor to both my country and yours. Obviously this puts both of our nations in a difficult situation. We’re prepared to negotiate who will step aside in exchange for compensation. ”
Completely reasonable words. Unfortunately, I had no intention of handing my country over to either foreign power. Also, Arahasnor didn’t have nearly enough money to pay compensation. That’s why I had no choice but to be unreasonable in return.
I threw back my head and laughed. “You think you have the authority to negotiate with me? A new country like yours that carelessly tossed aside your nobility and let commoners vote? What nonsense! Maybe your brains are as small as your bodies!”
A muscle twitched in the ambassador’s cheek. “Regardless of your opinion of my nation, our claim is valid. We brought documentation.” His gaze held contempt, and it made me inwardly squirm.
That insult had been both over the line and frankly none too clever either. Somehow, I kept my chin raised. I was ashamed of how I was acting. But I was supposed to be evil. How else could I sell this deception?
I sneered. “Do you think I care about your documentation? Pieces of paper aren’t power. This is power!” I spread my arms wide, pointing at the guards. “And this is power!” I jerked on the chains holding my sister.
Ysabel immediately burst into tears. Damn, she was good at crying on command. If only I had that skill—although I wished I could stop crying whenever I wanted to.
Ambassador Gen’le startled, noticing Ysabel for the first time. She’d been crouching behind the throne before. “Who is this? What have you done to this poor woman?”
“I have taken the Holy Maiden hostage! I have no fear of the Conclave of Kings or Dark Lord Kaine. If you take one step forward, then I’ll strangle her pretty little throat.
” Good, I remembered my line. My voice didn’t waver—I was getting better at this.
Was I supposed to do something now? Belatedly, I yanked on the chain again.
“Please, don’t hurt me!” Ysabel gazed up, clasping her hands pleadingly.
Her curls fell artfully over one eye. My sister had a talent for weeping beautifully.
Her sobs sounded delicate instead of grating on the ears.
Her shoulders heaved in a way that showed off her chest. Even her makeup remained intact.
Ambassador Gen’le shuddered. “You … how could you do such a horrible thing? Do you want Dark Lord Kaine to devastate the world? The Conclave barely stopped him the first time! Everyone knows he adores his wife.”
“That’s exactly why I’ve done it. As long as I control the Holy Maiden, then Dark Lord Kaine himself is my servant. I’ll be unstoppable.”