Dar’s face flushed. “You said we’d talk privately.”
“This is just coincidence,” replied Girta. “I kept this meeting to myself, not knowing its purpose. Yet now that I do, I’m glad for this happenstance. The General is entitled to defend himself” She turned to Kol. “Dar claims you inspire accidents and suicides.”
Kol grinned. “She does? I must be quite a fellow—soldier by day and mage by night.”
“Well,” Girta said to Dar. “Continue.”
“There’s no point,” replied Dar. “You won’t believe me, so I won’t risk my life.”
Kol’s grin broadened. “Risk your life? Does Your Majesty believe I’ll run you through? My skin’s thicker than you think. It’s true we’re not fond, but I won’t harm you.”
Dar sighed dramatically. “I’m leaving, though I do so reluctantly. Girta, one day you’ll see this meeting as a lost chance. I fear it’ll be a bitter insight.”
“I doubt it,” said Girta.
After Dar departed, Kol gave Girta a puzzled look. “What was that about?”
“You were wrong about Dar,” said Girta.
“How so?”
“She’s not as clever as you think. She told me that you want war so badly that you’ve killed everyone who stood in its way.”
Kol put on an amused expression. “And how, pray tell, did I do that?”
“Oh, she left that part out. She also said you’re turning the prince into his father.”
“I wouldn’t besmirch the dead, but my feelings about your husband mirror yours.”
“Oh well, I’m pleased Dar’s gone,” said Girta. “Now that we know her ploy, can we get rid of those dreadful orcs?”
“My guess is Dar will recall them herself, now that you’ve outsmarted her.” Kol gazed out the window to watch Dar cross the courtyard. “I almost feel sorry for her. A lifetime among orcs!”
Girta shuddered. “What a dreary prospect!”
“I should have a Queen’s Man see her safely to the garrison,” said Kol. “Her crown is gold, and we wouldn’t want her to meet with some mischance.”
“You’re a good man, General. Too bad Dar doesn’t see that.”
Thirty-six
Dar strode down Taiben’s streets in a black mood. That woman’s a simpleton! she thought. Kol has her completely fooled. Dar resolved to revoke the treaty, withdraw the orc guards, and seal the pass. If washavokis come raiding, weill make them pay! Better for sons to defend their halls, than some ingrate! Dar was considering pulling out that very afternoon, when she heard someone running. She turned and spied a Queen’s Man dashing after her. Before Dar could run, her pursuer halted and bowed. “Your Majesty,” he said between gasping breaths, “I’ve a message for you.”
“What it is?”
“’Tis a privy matter.”
Dar suspected a trap. “Yet I’ll hear it in this public place. Whisper it.”
The black-garbed man bowed again and approached to whisper in Dar’s ear. “My queen bids me tell you that she spoke as she did only from fear of spies. She knows you’re a true friend. General Kol oppresses her, and she’s desperate.”
“I’m relieved she knows her danger,” whispered Dar. “How can I help?”
“She’d like to discuss that in a secure place.”
“Where?”
“She has one remaining trusted friend, the master of the Merchants’ Guild. His name is Balten. You can meet safely in his house.”
“When?”
“At morrow noon.”
“Tell her I’ll be there,” whispered Dar. “And say she shouldn’t abandon hope. Kol is clever, but I’ve bested him before.”
“May Karm bless Your Majesty. This news will bring joy.” Then the messenger turned and hurried away. Dar headed for the garrison, her hope rekindled.
After his man reported Dar’s reply, Kol turned to Gorm. “Soon, your master will have the war he desires and revenge as well. When Dar arrives at Balten’s house, he need only seize her mind and force her to slay the queen at tomorrow’s banquet.”
Gorm nodded approvingly. “Afterward, we want Dar captured, not slain.”
“Naturally. Why spoil the fun?”
“When she’s done the murder, I’ll withdraw Othar’s spell.”
“You can do that?” asked Kol.
“I can’t enslave minds,” replied Gorm, “but I can free them. Dar will awake and find herself standing bloody-handed over Girta’s corpse. She’ll have no idea how she got there.”
“That should make things interesting.”
“Interesting indeed,” replied Gorm. “She’ll be fully aware when she’s executed.”
“Burning’s the penalty for treason,” said Kol. “Othar will appreciate that.”
“Especially if it’s done slowly.”
“I’ll see that it is.” Kol grinned malevolently. “Very slowly. Mayhap, we can burn some piss eyes first. I’d love to roast that green-eyed one and the piss eye bitch that Dar calls sister. It’d warm the soldiers’ blood for the invasion.”
“And the prince? Any problems there?”
“None. He already yearns for glory, and soon he’ll have his mother to avenge. Restraint’s not for the young; he’ll make a bloody king. And I’ll play his obedient general.”
“Until you succeed him.”
Kol smiled. “I have my ambitions.”
“We’ll want the kingdom continually at war.”
“You can rely on it.”
Gorm returned Kol’s smile. “We always have.”
When Dar arrived at the garrison, Sevren was already there. She could tell that he had news, but he patiently waited while she spoke with her mintaris. He listened in, following her Orcish as best he could. Afterward, he asked in the human tongue, “Who’s Bah Simi?”
“That’s our name for Kol.”
“And Girta knows he’s her enemy?”
“Yes. That’s why she couldn’t speak freely. Tomorrow, we’ll meet in a safer place.”
“Where?”
“Outside the palace in the House of Balten.”
“Nay!” said Sevren. “That’s where Othar’s hiding.”
Dar grew pale. “Then the meeting’s a trap?”
“Aye, for certain. From what I’ve learned, one glimpse from Othar will seal your doom,” said Sevren. “Your spirit will be his.”
Dar shuddered. “What else have you learned?”
“The sorcerer came from the corpse pit, so it has to be Othar. Grave robbers brought him out, most likely after he had taken their spirits. Later, Othar moved into town. I’m certain Balten’s sheltering him. I’ve made inquiries. Balten benefited from a suicide and has prospered ever since. Yet his servants drop like autumn flies.”
“I wonder who laid this trap?” said Dar, thinking out loud. “Girta or Kol? Either one could have sent that message.”
“You can na go either way, so it makes na difference.”
“It does make a difference. If Kol sent that message, he’s playing with Girta like he played with me. He’ll pounce when he’s ready.”
“Seems to me, it’ll serve her right.”
“No it won’t,” Dar said, envisioning Girta being driven into Kol’s clutches as Othar killed off her friends, one by one. The image persuaded her of the queen’s innocence. The trap is Kol’s doing. Girta’s his prey, just as I once was. Dar’s pique toward the queen turned to sympathy. “We must save her.”
“How? Mayhap, she does na want saving.”
“I can’t go to Girta, so she must come to me.”
“She will na do that,” said Sevren.
“Not willingly,” said Dar. “But if I’m right, she’ll thank me in the end.”
“You do na mean to kidnap her!”
“Why not?” “It’ll start a war if things go wrong.”
“If Kol gets his way, then war’s inevitable. This is our only hope of stopping it.”
“’Tis a daft idea.”
“You asked to be my agent, not my counselor. Will you help or not?”
Sevren sighed. “What do you need?”
“Women’s clothes. Warm ones—a gown, boots, and a cloak. When we grab Girta tonight, we won’t have time to dress her.”