"Do you?" Chiana raised her eyes in a bold glance. "There are angry mutterings amongst the lords and advisors. Everyone knows who did it. Lord Mordon was found cold in his bed beside his wife this morning. He was killed without even waking her or his familiar, and the guards saw no one. He was stabbed under the left armpit."
"What of it? Blade is my assassin, and I sanctioned his actions. He is also under my protection, as a lord of my realm."
"They will want to know why, My Queen."
"He was plotting treason; that is all they need to know."
"Then he should have been arrested."
The Queen waved it away. "I shall deal with things the way I see fit, let any objectors do so to my face. Bring me Blade."
Chiana knocked on Blade's door and opened it, startled to find the assassin asleep in the vast four-poster bed. He sat up with a jerk, a dagger glinting in his fist, then slumped back with a grunt. He brushed the tangled hair from his face and yawned, knuckling his eyes.
"What is it?" He eyed her with some displeasure.
"The Queen wishes to see you."
Blade glanced at the sunlight slanting in through the windows and winced. Swinging his legs off the bed, he banged the dagger down on the side table and used both hands to rub his face. Chiana stepped back as he rose and stretched. He wore only a pair of baggy grey flannel shorts, which hung incongruously on his lean body and seemed in danger of falling down at any moment. He shot her a scathing look.
"I do not bite."
"Unless you are paid to."
He looked a little startled, and wandered over to the basin of water, where he splashed and dried his face before turning to her again. "Even then, I do not bite." She glanced at the dagger, and he followed her gaze. "Do not worry, I have washed the blood off it."
Chiana shuddered, looking away.
Minna-Satu looked up from her tea and beckoned Blade closer. He bowed, his eyes a little bloodshot, his glossy hair showing signs of a rough finger combing.
"My Queen."
"My Lord Conash. Sit."
Blade sank down on the cushions with a sigh, sparing a wry glance for the slumbering sand cat. "Does she only ever sleep?"
Minna smiled at her familiar. "Sand cats are nocturnal."
"Ah."
"I hear that you have completed your task."
"As you wished."
She nodded. "I was surprised that it was done so quickly. Was it very easy?"
"Reasonably so. I saw no point in wasting time."
"You are unhurt?"
"Yes."
She made a derisive sound. "Of course you are, no one even saw you. At least you did not trip over the rug."
Blade's smile pierced her heart its poignant sweetness. "No, My Queen, I never trip over rugs."
She looked away, flustered. "Chiana tells me that there are angry rumblings at court. Everyone knows that you did the deed."
"And therefore that you ordered it."
"Yes, well, I am above censure."
"And I am not?"
She shook her head. "You are under my protection, but since they cannot touch me, their anger is directed at you."
"And you fear for my life?"
"Chiana certainly does, and I share her worry."
His brows rose. "Chiana?"
"She is protecting my assets."
"Ah."
"In view of this, perhaps it would be wise to stay in the palace for a while. You are safe here, but in the city I cannot protect you."
Blade's eyes narrowed. "I will not be kept caged like Kerrion, My Queen. I have seen how it eats at him, and I will like it no better."
"It is for your safety, My Lord."
He stifled a yawn. "Do not concern yourself, My Queen, I have had many years of dodging the angry relatives of my victims."
"And once it almost cost you your life."
"More than once, but I am still here."
"These are not commoners who seek revenge. They are powerful men, lords and advisors."
Blade looked away. "I do not fear death."
"What about pain?"
He grimaced. "I am not partial to it."
"Then stay in the palace, at least until this all dies down."
"I doubt that it will, My Queen. Rather, I think that you will find more work for me, and the hatred of me will grow."
"I shall be sending Kerrion back soon, then there will be no call for attempts on his life."
"But the traitors will still be afoot. If they seek to thwart your wish for peace, they will find other ways of doing so."
"How?" she demanded. "They cannot threaten me."
"Not you, but your loyal advisors and lords. They will undoubtedly try to turn the tide against you by lessening your support."
"I have already stamped out a rash of assassinations by sending the guilty ones to the front. They will not try that again."
Blade raised a hand to cover a yawn. "If not assassinations, then perhaps threats and blackmail will suffice."
"I have many spies. I will find them out and punish them. Nor will I need you to do it. I shall be able to do it through the courts. Protecting the Prince may seem a reprehensible act to my people, but political intrigue has ever been punished with their approval."
His eyes drooped. "I would recommend that you find the traitors now and execute them before they can foment more trouble."
"I have only suspicions, it is not enough to convict them." Blade stifled another yawn, his jaw cracking, and the Queen demanded, "Am I boring you, My Lord?"
His gaze sharpened a little. "I have had no sleep, My Queen."
"Very well, we shall continue this discussion another time, then."
"What is there to discuss? You will do as you wish, no matter what anyone says."
Minna smiled. "You are even more impertinent when you are tired. It is as well that I am fond of you, or I would punish such insults."
"I am usually very grumpy when I am this tired, and I had thought to pay you a compliment."
"That I am unswerving?"
"As a Queen should be."
Her brows rose. "I did not think you a flatterer."
"I tell the truth occasionally, and this is one such occasion."
"Are you a good liar?"
The assassin shrugged, struggling not to yawn again. "I have spun many a good yarn, it is sometimes necessary in my profession."
"When you pretend to be a Cotti whore, for instance."
He frowned. "So he told you. I came very close to killing him. Perhaps I should have."
"No, your secret is safe with me. I admire your abilities, and the way you have turned a disadvantage into an advantage."
"You admire a killer?"
Minna pulled a face. "You are an assassin."
"What is the difference?"
"You told me yourself, a murderer is one who kills for no good reason, perhaps even for the pleasure of it. You take no pleasure in it, but supply a service for others. Am I a killer when I order an execution, or send thousands of men to war? Is the executioner a killer when he decapitates a man?"
"Perhaps. But you do not have to wash the blood off your hands afterwards."
The Queen stared past him at a tapestry on the far wall, lost in thought. Blade rubbed his gritty eyes and stifled another yawn, squinting at the sunlight that streamed in through the window. She noticed his discomfort and smiled. "Go and sleep, My Lord."
He rose and bowed. "My Queen."
Blade had almost reached his room when someone called his name, and he turned to find Chiana hurrying after him. He groaned and carried on towards his door.
"Wait, I must speak to you, Blade."
He entered his room, leaving the door open. "So speak."
Chiana hesitated on the threshold, looking wary. He noted her expression and smiled, making her blush. "Do not worry, I have no orders to kill you, and no other designs on you."
She advanced and closed the door behind her. "Would you?"
"Would I what?"
"Kill me?"
His gaze raked her. "I have never killed a woman, believe it or not, but there is a first time for everything."