Chapter 11 #4
Everyone leaned forward in their seats, and I could almost feel the suck of air as they waited for what was going to happen next.
I released the tension, and the mini catapult flung the gumball-sized stone clear across the grassy plain. It smacked right into Queen Sybil’s empty throne, and the entire crowd burst into cheers and laughter at the display.
“Good thing she wasn’t here for that,” Eriz said to me with a laugh.
“Yeah,” I chuckled in agreement.
“It’s a very impressive device,” he said.
“How large is the actual weapon?” King Horus asked.
“Larger than most carriages,” I said, and I held my arms out like I was trying to hug a polar bear. “And it can throw a boulder this big about three hundred and fifty yards with enough force to crack stone walls or smash through wooden barriers. Anything soft– people, for example, would be… um…”
I grimaced as I tried to think of a polite way to finish my sentence.
“Pudding?” Eriz offered helpfully.
“Pretty much.” I nodded.
“How many of these weapons do you have, King Ken?” Queen Laylia asked.
“We have two that are fully completed,” I said. “And my people are in the process of building six more.”
Queen Laylia and King Horus leaned toward one another and exchanged a few whispered words before they smiled at me.
“Are you in a position to construct these on commission?” King Horus asked.
“You want to buy some?” I asked.
“Yes, at least a dozen,” Queen Laylia said.
“What would that cost?” King Horus asked.
“We would like to buy a dozen, too,” King Mannie said while Queen Lucita nodded at his side.
“We do, too,” Queen Doria said.
“Oh,” I breathed in surprise. “Yes, I’m sure we can make that work. I’ll have to speak with my people before I can give you a price, of course.”
“Not a problem.” Horus nodded in understanding.
“Sire,” Reggie appeared at my side. “Shall I take orders for you?”
I glanced down at his hands, and he had a small leather-bound notebook in one hand and a stubby pencil in the other.
“Yes, please,” I said. “That would be very helpful. Thank you.”
I turned back to the gathering of leaders.
“Anyone who would like to place an order,” I said, “come see Reggie here. He will take down your requests.”
Everyone started to get up from their seats and talk among themselves, and I caught enough snippets to know they were very excited about my new weapon.
“Before we depart!” Eriz called with his hands raised, and the crowd quieted. “I want to thank everyone for coming today.”
“Yes,” I agreed. “Thank you, all of you.”
“I see no need for that,” King Horus said with a friendly smile. “We’re all threatened by this, the Silver Coast as well, even if Queen Sybil doesn’t recognize it.”
“Agreed,” King Mannie said. “If we remain singular pillars, this tyrant will rampage through the entire continent.”
“All our people are at risk.” Enken nodded in agreement. “Doria and I have been worrying about this situation for months.”
“We were preparing to form alliances with all the fine nations present today,” Doria added. “King Ken was the first to contact us directly, and he really got things moving in the right direction.”
“Our gratitude to King Ken,” King Horus declared.
“Hear, hear!” King Mannie agreed in a loud voice.
A chorus of gratitude circled around the group, and a wash of amazement coursed through me. Their thanks seemed unnecessary, but I nodded graciously and let them cheer.
“Maybe we’ll get lucky,” I mused. “Maybe Khorr will see us all coming together, come to his senses, and realize it’s not a good idea to push the entire continent into war.”
“That would be nice,” Eriz muttered in a dry tone. “But I doubt he has as much sense as all that.”
That drew a light round of laughter from everyone, but the heaviness of our reality was inescapable.
We really were on the brink of this world’s version of World War II, and it sent a cold shiver down my spine to think about all the lives that would be lost if we couldn’t handle the situation promptly.
Everyone dispersed pretty quickly after that, and I happily allowed my queens to pull me back to our tent. We invited Carissa to join us for dinner, and we settled into our meal as the sun began to set in the distance.
“That went really well, I think,” Tanell said.
“I think so, too,” Serra agreed.
“Mostly.” Yori frowned. “Sybil is a bitch.”
“Yori!” Serra gasped.
“What?” my dark-haired queen countered. “You know it’s true.”
“Well, yes,” Serra allowed. “But it’s one thing to think it, and another entirely to say it out loud.”
“We were all thinking it,” Carissa said.
“What do you think, Ken?” Tanell asked.
My golden-blonde lover was often the voice of reason, and I appreciated her level head. I took a moment to look into her eyes, and I could see the truth in their blue depths about how she felt about Queen Sybil.
“It doesn’t matter what I think of her personality,” I said. “But I don’t trust her.”
“Thank god.” Yori sagged back in her chair. “I thought you were going to tell us to be nice to her or something.”
“No,” I chuckled. “We don’t need to be nice to her, but we should keep up diplomatic niceties.”
“Ugh,” Yori groaned. “Do we have to?”
“Yes,” Serra answered. “Ken’s right. If we can maintain a diplomatic pretense, it’s possible we can still convince her to join us.”
“Yeah,” Yori sighed. “I guess that makes sense.”
I turned to Carissa, and her dark eyebrows were drawn together like she was trying to figure out an especially difficult crossword puzzle. She had her chin cupped in one hand, and she seemed very lost in her thoughts.
“What do you think, Carissa?” I asked. “You have a different perspective than the rest of us.”
Carissa’s green eyes drifted up to meet mine, and she frowned for another moment before she opened her lips to answer.
“We should follow her,” she said.
“What?” Serra gasped.
“I’m in!” Yori squealed.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Tanell hedged, and she looked at me for help.
“It won’t do anything to endear ourselves to her,” Serra pointed out. “In fact, getting found following her would be the fastest way to destroy any seeds of trust that may still exist.”
“Then we don’t get caught,” Carissa said, like it was obvious.
“That’s a bit hasty,” I said.
“I agree,” Tanell said.
“There is a lot we can learn about her without having to stoop to such measures,” Serra pointed out.
“Like what?” Yori asked.
“Like speaking with her,” Serra said.
“I agree with Serra,” Tanell said.
“What do you think, Ken?” Yori asked.
I thought for a moment and rolled through the limited options we had at the moment.
“Stalking her isn’t the right choice,” I decided. “Not yet, at least. All we know at this point is that she doesn’t think she needs our help. We don’t have any reason to suspect her of any wrongdoing, other than maybe a too-big ego.”
“Very well,” Carissa said. “But the second you think it’s time, just give me the word.”
“I will,” I said with a smile.
“Should we invite her for lunch tomorrow?” Tanell suggested.
I nodded. “That’s a good–”
My words clogged in my throat when a blood-curdling, high-pitched scream ripped through the night.