“Perhaps you underestimated the size of our nation,” Joss suggested.
“With all respect to your native land, our Chaomonous is by far the largest, most powerful state in the world.”
“Oh? Then how do you explain the Battle of West-mouth? My father and a few thousand Maris destroyed your whole Golden Army!”
General Joss’ expression didn’t change. He replied quietly, “The Golden Throng had no leader on that day. Had I been allowed to guide them as I’d planned, the outcome might have been very different.”
Rosha watched the General’s face, his hand moving to the pommel of Thairaphis. “Do you deny the achievement of my people?”
Joss chuckled. “You may take your hand off your weapon, Rosha mod Dorlyth. I intend no insult to your father or your King. I only suggest you may be surprised by what you find in Chaomonous.”
Rosha sat back into his saddle with a haughty laugh. “I’ve seen Ngandib and I’ve seen the city of Lamath. Nothing can surprise me anymore.”
Joss smiled and turned to look at the powerful young warrior. “I imagine you believe that. But, of course, an expected surprise wouldn’t be a surprise at all, would it?” They did not reach Chaomonous by nightfall, camping instead some thirty miles from the city. When he awoke the next morning, Rosha was informed that Joss had preceded him, to prepare the way for his arrival. When Rosha rode into Chaomonous later in the day he was grateful that Joss wasn’t beside him. He had forgotten how impersonal and intimidating large cities could be. Rosha was so frightened his hands shook and he was stammering so fiercely that no one could understand a sentence he uttered.
Late in the afternoon, Rosha was waiting in a marble-floored hallway in the third level of the royal palace. He devoutly wished that Bronwynn would hurry up and grant him an audience, for the strangeness of the place was making him tremble. This was not at all what he had imagined during those cold nights in his father’s castle. It was nothing at all like what he’d planned.
No one said Bronwynn’s name, and no one but Joss* squire addressed him directly. They all spoke only of the Queen, and with such reverence that he was hard pressed to hold in mind that picture of his little golden-haired comrade of many travels. He longed for a glimpse of her friendly face, and considered breaking into her apartments. After all, hadn’t she called him “Rosha mod Bronwynn” Rosha, Bronwynn’s treasure?
Did Bronwynn’s treasure need to_ wait for a summons?
As he considered this possibility, the double door down the hall clacked open, and Joss, smiling, walked toward him. “I know you have been kept waiting for some time, bear’s-bane. I have had some difficulty convincing the Queen that it is truly you. She’s suggested that if she could see the sword which slew the dragon, she would believe me.”
“S-see my s-s-sword!” Rosha answered sharply. “All she has to d-d-do is look out the d-d-door!”
Joss gave him a patient smile. “Nevertheless, she is the Queen, and we must do as she suggests. Please?” He held out his hands.
Rosha angrily ripped Thalraphis from its scabbard and laid it across the General’s palms. Joss nodded slightly and turned on his heels. The door closed behind him, and Rosha was alone in the hall once more.
He had felt only awkward before. Without his weapon, he felt naked.
But Joss returned with merciful swiftness, wearing a wide smile. “The Queen will see you now,” he said and he motioned the young warrior forward.
“Bronwynn?” Rosha bubbled as he ran to the door. “Bronwynn!” he cried as he bolted into the throne room.
The woman who slouched on the ornate chair of office had beautiful blue eyes like Bronwynn’s. But there the resemblance ended. Rosha stopped in the center of the room, then turned all the way around, his eyes scanning the line of armed warriors who ringed the walls. Then he looked back at the woman, his handsome face twisted with disappointment.
Ligne smiled maliciously, fingering the flat edge of the sword she held on her lap. “Unfortunately, Bronwynn is no longer with us,” she said.
Then she passed the sword to an aide, stood up, and smoothed her tight dress over her hips. “Will I do, instead?”
“A very handsome creature, isn’t he?” Ligne said later, as a bound and gagged Rosha knelt before her, shivering with rage. Four men had suffered broken bones before the company of guards had managed to subdue him. One guard still lay unconscious in the infirmary on the floor below them. Joss had appealed to the Queen to allow him to chain the boy in the dungeon right then, but Ligne was a connoisseur of the male body, and would not part with this one so readily,
“I assure you, my Queen, he is a savage, handsome or no. It would be best for your safety if you would allow me to cage him immediately.”
“Come now, Joss, he’s only a boy **
“Who is an. extremely competent swordsman. Please remember that he has battled Admon Faye and has survived ”
“Pity you didn’t kill him,” Ligne whispered to Rosha, walking behind the trussed youth and gliding her hand along his bare neck. They had tied him and forced him to his knees. Now she knelt beside him, admiring his legs as Rosha strained against the ropes. “He’s like a mountain cat or a bear sleek and shining and powerful.” Ligne’s eyes glistened with excitement.
“He’s a bear’s-bane, my Lady, and most dangerous,” Joss continued, eyes following every thrust of the young man’s arms as Rosha wrestled to get free. “I must ask you to allow me to ”
“And I order you to keep silent!” Ligne snapped. Then, more softly, she added, “I want to play with him awhile.”
Joss struggled to hold his temper in check, thea said tersely, “Is it that you favor the lad so much? Or do you just treasure what is Bronwynn’s?”
Ligne stood up and looked at her chief warrior, her hlue eyes icy, her jaw jutting out sharply. “Do you dare repeat that?”
“There’s no need, my Lady. You heard me.” Ligne studied the man for a moment, then turned her head away. “You are too valuable to be wasted, Joss. I choose to take no offense in your words. But in the future, you will refrain from involving yourself in affairs that do not concern you.”
“Any threat to the security of my Queen must involve me, my Lady, and the young barbarian constitutes such a threat. Should he manage to free himself from those ropes, he will seize the nearest weapon and turn on you.”
“I know.” Ligne smiled, shifting her hips salaciously and running her fingers through Rosha’s curly dark hair. “It’s a most incredible feeling. Quite enjoyable.” She glanced back at Joss’ leathery face and shrugged. “Perhaps the fact that he came seeking my rival does play a part in the excitement I’m amazed the skinny little witch could interest such a magnificent creature.” She looked back down at Rosha, who had jerked his head free and now focused his fierce gaze on her hand, longing to bite it. “But I think he would interest me in any case.”
“He’s dangerous ”
“Exactly,” Ligne finished, cutting her General off. “If it would make you feel any better, give the order to remove all weapons from this room if you feel that would minimize the threat.”
Joss gave an angry wave, and the armed warriors began clearing the room. “As you say, my Queen. But I feel certain that the man could easily break your neck with his hands alone.”
Ligne’s teeth sparkled as she flashed a smile. “The very idea gives me chills.” Joss followed her gaze to the struggling form of the young warrior. Rosha had flipped onto his back and now was kicking at his captors with his bound legs. “He’s so aggressive!” Ligne husked, watching a pair of unarmed soldiers wrestle Rosha back into a kneeling position. “Tie him like that,” she ordered, “so that he’s forced to remain on his knees. Then leave the room.”