The Ardoon King Page 70

  Chapter 68: Redemption

  Persipia sat alone in her suite, worrying, as she had every night this week. Fiela was gone, the king was dead, and Lilitu had been stripped of her crown. If Lilian was killed, Persipia would lose her title as consort. She would be without station and, far more importantly, without a champion. Everyone at Steepleguard knew that Persipia was a coward and a traitor. All had been present the night of the apocalypse, when she had bowed down before Lord Moros, Lilian’s failed usurper. Persipia suspected that most of them wanted her head on a spike for her actions that night.

  Only three people prevented that: Ben, Lilian, and Fiela.

  Or was it two, now? Would Fiela still protect her, or was she under the spell of Lady Thalassa? Persipia shuddered. Her hatred of the pretty scientist was intense. She wanted the woman dead, and dead soon. Hopefully she was already dead. Hopefully Fiela had turned against the bitch after contemplating what Persipia had told her. If not, Persipia had a fallback plan. She’d get the last laugh. Thal was ruined.

  Or, she lamented, maybe not. If Ben was dead, and Lilitu executed, Persipia’s plan would fail. Especially if Thal had bewitched the girl queen and Fiela became the sole regent.

  Gods, it’s all such a mess…

  Porazo. Could he be seduced? As far as Persipia knew, he had no sexual partners at Steepleguard. If he would take her as his consort, she would still have some degree of protection. Porazo’s popularity had waned recently but he was still a relatively powerful figure.

  Did she really want to spend a lifetime with the toad, though?

  A lifetime? What a lark, Persy! You are thirty-one years on this earth. How much longer will your beauty last? The kingdom is filled with beautiful and willing nobles’ daughters a decade younger than you!

  At least with Lilian she had security. The woman was infatuated with her. In a very dark way, Lilian loved her.

  Gods, what a mess…

  She worried also about what might happen to Celeste. She loved Celeste dearly. Would she be safe at Steepleguard if Porazo ruled? Would he have her killed for her association with his predecessors? Or would she merely be relegated to duty as a slave, the same as the rest of the Ardoon? Would she be safer in the chaos below the mountains, or here, with a tyrannical ruler?

  Could she be spirited away?

  There was a knock at the door.

  “Persy, open up!”

  Persipia glanced at the clock on her nightstand and frowned. It was not even 6pm yet. The sessions never started this early. She shuddered. Starting earlier did not necessitate ending earlier. This could be a very long night.

  She rose from her bed and quickly arranged herself, thinking, as she did, that Lilian’s tone was surprisingly light. That boded well, at least. “Coming, Annasa!”

  When she opened the door, Lilian rushed in. Persipia was again surprised. Her visitor was not the gaunt-faced specter that the residents of Steepleguard had become accustomed to in recent weeks. Gone was the perpetual frown and tired eyes. The woman who turned to face her seemed very much like the Lilian of old, with her hair neatly coifed and makeup sparingly but effectively applied. Color had returned to the woman’s cheeks and above them her emerald eyes glowed. She wore a glistening red sleeveless blouse and gray skirt.

  She moved to the edge of the nearby bed and sat. “How are you, Persy?”

  “Well, and pleased to see you,” the woman lied.

  Lilian waved the lie away like a fly. “I should think not. I think you are terrified.”

  “No, Annasa,” replied Persipia without hesitation.

  “Liar,” Lilian said playfully, grinning. “Even Prometheus did not suffer such torments as you.”

  Caught off-guard by the queen’s strangely familial disposition, Persipia blurted, “Is there news? Is the king alive?”

  Lilian’s eyes lit up. “Yes!” she exclaimed, glancing at the snow-covered panorama framed by the suite’s massive window. “We have just received word, by radio. He is in an airship, of all things! Is that not wonderful?”

  “A miracle!” exclaimed Persipia. “Annasa Fiela?”

  “With him. The gods have blessed us in all ways, don’t you see? Why did I ever doubt them?”

  Persipia restrained herself from asking about Thal.

  The queen blew out a breath and used a finger to slowly circle one of the designs on the bed’s blanket. “I dreamt of Ben. The dreams were very real. I think that meant something, don’t you? It was an omen.”

  “I’m sure of it.”

  “I regret my doubts. I have been a wreck as of late.” The queen again waved a hand, dismissing Persipia’s protest in advance. “I have. I had lost hope, you see. My husband was gone and perhaps dead and I wondered if I was the cause. My sister was gone, too, again because of me, and I did not know what had become of her.”

  The woman gave a bitter smile. “It’s funny, you know. I went years without seeing her, knowing she was chasing down rebels all over the world. Fighting them. Yet I never truly worried about her. I always knew she would survive. Now that we are truly family, I worry about her constantly, though her opponents are far fewer in number and far less skilled.”

  She reached out and took one of Persipia’s hands. “I think she intends to intervene on your behalf. She told me before she left that she wished to speak to me about you, and I have recently learned that she has been raiding our pharmacy for painkillers and ointments. She never uses such things. Those were for you, I assume. She befriended you, did she not?”

  “No,” Persipia croaked.

  “Another lie. You are such a bad liar, Persy. Worse than even my sister, which I thought impossible. Do not worry, though. I have no intention of punishing her or you. I was surprised at her charity, I admit. It is difficult to account for. Yet she seems fond of you. And have you not changed? You showed tremendous courage when you saved Celeste from the dance.”

  “She’s a child,” the woman blurted, nervously wringing her hands. “I am sorry that I removed my blindfold. I know that I put you in jeopardy and-”

  “Not just me, Persy. You were in jeopardy, too.”

  Subdued, Persy said, “What I did was wrong, Annasa. I beg forgiveness.”

  “Yes,” agreed Lilian. “You should. You endangered yourself and your queen to spare an Ardoon. Unforgivable in most situations. Yet it was not as dangerous as you think. There was a man in the hallway, watching. He had two hoods, to be used as necessary. He is one of Diz’s best Peth. Quite nimble. He used to do abductions for me.”

  “A man? I did not see-”

  “Of course not. You were blindfolded until you entered the room and this particular man is almost invisible even if he’s standing in front of you in broad daylight. It’s a skill he has. After you entered he stood guard to ensure you didn’t creep back out and get into trouble. At least, that’s what I required of him. He might have slept through the entire drama for all I know.” The queen sighed. “I do regret that Celeste ignored me and opened her eyes, of course. I love her but she is a willful child.”

  “Is she damaged, Annasa?”

  “No. I would never place her in danger, Persy. I inquired with her very discreetly. She is not yet a woman. She can see yet cannot be seen.”

  Persipia looked at her mistress. “It was test, Annasa?”

  “Yes. I needed to know whether your cowardice ran so deep that even your maternal instincts were stained.” Lilian gave the woman a crooked grin. “Apparently not. That is good to know. Your courage merits a reward, I think.”

  “A reward?” Persipia couldn’t grasp what the word even meant, coming from Lilian.

  “Yes. I shall not beat you anymore. For recreation, I mean.”

  Persipia opened her mouth but had no words.

  “In truth,” said the queen, “it’s always been a dangerous habit of mine. Ben might yet recognize your charms and I would have a lot of explaining to do if he saw your backside, would I not? There is a condition attached, however
.”

  “What is that, Annasa?”

  “You must select your own replacement. A young creature. Twentyish, perhaps? An ambitious noble’s daughter would be best. The Ardoon don’t know how to keep a secret.”

  “As you say,” replied the consort immediately. She already had a girl in mind - one of Persy’s most beautiful and trustworthy spies.

  “Not that we shall be strangers.”

  “No, Annasa,” responded Persipia instinctively.

  Lilian laughed. “I did not mean that, exactly. Well, perhaps a little. What I really meant was that you shall have additional duties in the near future. I cannot have you limping about groaning all the time, as you are prone to doing.”

  “What additional duties?” asked the consort, suddenly concerned.

  “You’ll see. Now, prepare a bath. We must make ourselves ready for the arrival of the king!”