Page 55

O n the scarlet coral balcony of álikos Castle, Queen Astraea blasted the report with a blinding white spell, and her protégé jerked in surprise.

The lovely singer the queen had rescued from her abusive parents—Larisa—properly trailed Astraea, soaking in every decision and the persona the queen used in varying situations.

But right now, Astraea was too infuriated to be pleased.

Rippling eddies tossed the remains of the message that her scouts had scratched into the palm shell.

Still , none had seen Ryton.

He was swimming about the Bihotzetik ruins, chasing that Earth Queen, but apparently with no success, since they’d had no report.

“Will you tell me what is happening and what you will do for our kynd?” Larisa asked in her pearly voice.

“I’m wondering where my High General is and how he could possibly fail me.

He is capable, vicious, practical. Perfect for this type of thing.

” Astraea took one of her own necklaces and tied it around the singer’s throat.

Larisa’s gills flared delicately as the white spheres settled below their slitted openings.

“But maybe our General Ryton needs a touch of help?” Astraea locked gazes with Larisa, who was just a babe, the innocence still bright in her eyes.

“I have kept something from you, and I should not have.”

“Everything you do is exactly what must be done, my queen.”

Astraea ate a handful of tideberries and paced, her dress sliding over the balcony’s rails like golden eels. “Do you remember how late I was with General Venu and the scout Echo last night?” Usually, they had a pre-sleep discussion of the day’s events, but Astraea had skipped it.

Larisa nodded.

“I sent my warriors to General Grystark’s house.”

“The one who questioned you about General Ryton?”

“The very same.”

“Did you have him beaten? He deserved as much, my queen.”

Astraea chuckled and opened her mouth to take in a cool current riding the tides around the castle.

“Sometimes, such treatment makes them work to the best of their abilities. Other times, well, you must be more subtle. Tell me, singer. What do you fear more? The shark swimming before you or the shark hiding in wait?”

“The second.”

“Exactly. A bit of unexpected behavior, a touch of cloaking… These techniques break your rival’s stride, his rhythm. So much stronger than a mere strike to the face or back. One’s fearful imagination puts all kinds of torture to shame.” Astraea was pleased to see the singer smile.

Astraea whirled. “Bring Grystark to me at once,” she barked at a servant.

“Yes, Queen Astraea.”

Of course Ryton was suited to this task. His delay in completing this last step toward Astraea’s final dominance over the entire world had to be due to some complication. Perhaps he needed someone to create a distraction for him?

The new elven queen—Cassiopeia, she was called—could be helping the Earth Queen. The spy had told her an elf of royal blood traveled at the Earth Queen’s side, aiding her with his air magic.

So maybe it was time for the elves to have something more pressing to deal with?

Like the destruction of their entire plateau.

Astraea lifted the corner of her mouth as Grystark approached with a bow.

“You asked for me, my queen?” The general’s graying hair and sharp eyes spoke of his experience. He was no Ryton—not nearly as loyal—but he would do the job well enough to distract the elves from giving the Earth Queen further aid.

Yes, that would do nicely.

Astraea would attack Illumahrah, then Ryton would return with human blood on his mighty hands. Desire pooled in the queen’s heart. She would reward him well.

Astraea swam around Grystark in slow circles. He kept his head down because he knew what was good for him today. The general wasn’t always so well behaved. She ran a finger along the edge of his spear, and garnet tendrils uncurled from a tiny cut as she smiled at the pain.

“How is your wife?”

Grystark’s swallow was loud. “The healers believe she will live.”

Astraea raised an eyebrow. “Do they? I heard the attack was incredibly vicious. And in the middle of the night, while you were both sleeping? And they took nothing?” She fought the urge to laugh at his shifting weight and the hate burning in his eyes.

Ah, so he did know it had been on her orders.

“What do you plan to do to prevent such unpleasantness in the future?”

Raising his head, he stared beyond her, unseeing, rage tightening his aged features. “My only goal in my life is but to serve you, my queen.”

Cocking her head, she smiled at him. “Very good. Because I have an assignment for you and for all the armies. A true test of what we can accomplish.”

Grystark blinked. “But General Ryton is away, Your Majesty.”

“All the better for a test in case he is injured or taken down in battle. Today, our forces will mount a full attack on the Forest of Illumahrah.”

The general nodded his head obediently. The queen wondered if he was picturing his wife’s blood and the jagged length of coral that had speared her chest last night.

“I’ll call up the units. Will you lead us?” Grystark’s voice was flat.

“Yes. You are dismissed.” She turned to yet another pathetic, whimpering servant. The thing was shaking like a tailless minnow. Her hand cracked across the servant’s cheek. “Grow a spine and fetch my armor. Today, we will destroy an entire race of enemies.”

Taking up her spear, Queen Astraea grinned.

Everything was going swimmingly.