“The history books and legends rarely mention sorcerers snoring,” Blazer observed.
“No, there have been many things I’ve learned from being married to a sorceress that would have otherwise remained unknown to me.”
“Can you share them?”
“I believe drooling habits are the kind of thing a husband isn’t supposed to reveal about his wife.”
“Unfortunate.”
“So, Trip.” Zirkander eyed the papers spread out over the floor. “I hear—and now see—that you’ve been doing some drawing.”
“Yes, sir.”
How much did he know about Trip’s project? Had Rysha spoken to him? Or Sardelle? She’d come in a few times during the night, and Trip had mentioned his goals.
“It’s a tradition in the fort’s jail. I believe this was the very cell I spent a night in once.” Zirkander looked toward the back wall. “Yes, I can even see the remains of the map I sketched in charcoal. Hm, you’d think someone would come through with water and a sponge once in a while.”
“You were in jail, sir?” Trip asked.
Blazer smirked, not appearing surprised at all by this revelation.
“Indeed, I was. I’ve been AWOL before too. For the good of the country, naturally.”
Blazer’s smirk deepened. “That’s not what Colonel Therrik said.”
Zirkander waved away the comment and pointed to the drawings. “Do you have something you can show the king? Something decipherable?”
“Yes, sir. The drawings are ready to be put into production. I just need to be released…” Trip spread his hand toward the locked gate.
Zirkander poked it with a finger. “Am I correct that you could have left at any time?”
“Yes, sir, but Rysha told me it would be better if I didn’t run, that I’d look guilty if I did.”
“She’s a smart lady.” Zirkander fished in his pocket and pulled out the key ring for the various cell locks. “You’re not free, Trip. Not until there’s an inquest and we figure out a way to prove that Lord Lockvale and his cronies were lying. But, providing Angulus approves these drawings—you need to convince him you can actually make this thing—the place where you spend your days will be shifted from this prison to Bhrava Saruth’s temple. I understand you’ve the urge to become one of his worshippers and clean his latrines.”
Trip had been nodding, but he paused at the addendum. “Latrines, sir?”
“That’s the story we’ll be circulating to the press. While you’re working on this weapons platform. Angulus has some fancy ore for you, though you’ll probably want someone who doesn’t have dragon blood to work with it, right?”
“Ideally, sir.”
“We’ll find you some people. Lieutenant Ravenwood mentioned you also wanted Tolemek. We’ll get him. If there’s anyone else you think can help make this a reality, make a list. You’ll be the project leader and get whomever you need.”
“That means he can get someone else to clean the latrines, right?” Blazer asked.
“Are you volunteering?”
“To work for Trip? No, he’s odd.”
“We all are, Major.” Zirkander patted her on the shoulder. “We all are.”
Rysha sat on the edge of a purple upholstered chair with a combination button and tuft poking her in the butt while wondering what Major Kaika had brought her into the king’s suite to discuss.
Woman stuff. That could mean anything from an injury to a reproductive organ to an unplanned pregnancy to some kind of problem with her cycle. But seven gods, why would she bring some lowly lieutenant in to discuss that? True, Rysha believed they’d bonded and gotten closer on their various missions, but Sardelle would be the more appropriate person to consult for all those things.
“I’ve been in Cofah prison cells with more comfortable furnishings.” Kaika waved at the button-tuft chair, then chose a leather lounger for herself, though she sat on the end rather than sprawling across it. “His wife chose them for aesthetic purposes. Or to torture him. I’m not sure which. Apparently, redecorating the castle is the job of the queen—it’s an age-old tradition for new queens to change everything as soon as they’re officially appointed. It would almost be worth taking the job just for that. Replace all the pink, pastel blue, and purple with some good old army green and black.” She winked.
“The job?” Rysha gaped at her. “Of being queen? Did he ask?”
Maybe she shouldn’t have been so shocked, but she hadn’t realized their relationship had been going on that long or was that serious. She did remember that the two had shared a rather passionate reunion at Sardelle’s house when Kaika, Rysha, and Trip returned from Rakgorath. And for Kaika to be monogamous, when she seemed so inclined to experiment often and with numerous partners, maybe it meant they were truly in love.
“Oh, he’s asked dozens of times. I’ve always scoffed and declined because really, can you see me as a queen? He acts like it wouldn’t be a huge scandal and says he’d deal with the fallout, but I’m not a noble, and I’m definitely not what Iskandians look for in royalty. I’m positive I’m not what anyone looks for in royalty.” Kaika pushed her hand through her hair, then grimaced at the unexpected shortness.
“Well,” Rysha said slowly, formulating her thoughts as she went, “I would happily call you queen, but you’re everything I’ve always wanted to be, so I may be biased.” She blushed after the words came out, realizing how cheesy they sounded.
“That can’t be true, or you would have jumped at the chance to go to the Sensual Sage with me.”
“Career-wise, you’re everything I want to be.”
Kaika’s face screwed up as if she were working on one of Shulina Arya’s jawbreakers. “I’m trying to get better at accepting praise, but it’s not easy. Anyway, listen, this is what I want to ask you about. Angulus asked again last night, no doubt prompted by the distress of me nearly being burned alive by dragon fire. He’s just lucky he got there after Trip had wriggled his fingers and fixed what should have been horrific scars.” She touched the left side of her face and shuddered visibly. “But the crazy thing is, I think he would have offered even if he had seen me like that. I don’t understand it, but he likes me. He even likes it when I talk straight to him and refuse to be intimidated by his status. It drives him crazy when Zirkander does the same thing.”
“Well, we can admire things in the opposite sex that irritate us in the competition. I think that’s pretty typical.” Rysha realized her words might be misconstrued and held up a hand. “I don’t mean that Zirkander is competition to him for you—I assume not—but just in general. I don’t know them well, but I get the notion that there’s some jealousy there. Which doesn’t seem to make sense from the most powerful man in the country…”
“No, you’re right. Being born into power is a lot different than coming from nothing and earning a place of honor in the world. And if I’d met Zirkander before he snuggled up to Sardelle, don’t think I wouldn’t have tried to get his trousers off.” Kaika grinned at her.