Page 35 of Humans Don’t Have Horns (A Crown of Blood and Magic #1)
Yeah, being cut off the immortality drug can do that to a sick, old man. Once I took power and banned the chests full of the drug, the sand in Rod’s hourglass finally started moving.
“It is very pleasing that the regent himself has come to deal with the catastrophe of the return of the demichads,” Bina declares near me.
It is very tiring, this habit of letting councilors speak instead of the royals.
Yet it has its advantages. It leaves me freer to be observant, and I notice the surprise on the face of the general and the flexing muscle in my brother’s jaw.
Only Rashkan smiles like a cat eyeing a cornered mouse before he says, “Our regent will continue protecting Amada from any threat at Sun’s guidance, yet we have arrived here for far more joyous reasons.
The head of the House of Oro has placed his niece on the throne of Kozari.
Quite unprecedented, and so young she is.
Fortunately for us, he has a son. An unwed son, and the allied queen is unwed as well.
Although, she’s been of age for years now,” he declared, his face souring suddenly at the reminder of my age.
In Aldon, women marry at the age of fifteen at the latest. My sister is out of the ordinary in more ways than one.
And me, I’m considered an old hag there, at twenty-five.
Then he adds, “A match made by Sun himself.”
“We shall consider this offer, Your Holiness,” says another one of my advisers, Yuna, in a solemn voice.
They all know I’d die before I marry a Kozari man.
Goddess knows I proved it already. Literally.
Tilil suffocated me to death in an outburst of rage at my defiance. Then she brought me back. Again.
Rashkan raises an eyebrow. “Consider? It is not an opportunity to be missed. After all, the regent has only one legitimate sister.”
“And if another failed attempt to marry into Kozari will leave him with none, you shall not shed a tear,” Bina snaps.
The old hag is not annoying me for a second.
That’s a first. But I’ve had enough, or maybe I’ve just had a little bit too much champagne.
“The regent has two legitimate sisters, you fucking snake,” I slur at Rashkan.
The thing is, Aldonian men don’t handle women swearing very well. They’re very delicate.
Nikanor flinches at my words and clenches his jaws.
“You use the language of the gutter like a whore. Just like your sister has become a whore,” Nazhan lashes out and steps toward me with menace in his eyes. I knew he was a drunk.
But Nikanor steps in front of him and roars at him, “You dare threaten an allied queen?”
“Your Majesty—” Nazhan starts.
“Out! All of you, out!” Nikanor yells, and they all hurry to leave us.
Once we’re alone, I reach my hand to his face. “Niki,” I gasp.
“Don’t call me that,” he says, stepping away from me. He runs his hand through his hair. “Why must you always provoke?”
I shrug. “Interesting things come to shore once the sea is stirring.” I walk to the wet bar and pour two glasses of champagne. I hand one of the glasses to him, but he shakes his head and looks at me disapprovingly.
“It’s forbidden by Sun, as you well know,” he says.
Only the most religious Aldonians avoid alcohol in private, so I nearly choke on my champagne from his words.
Is he really eating up all that crap of the True Religion?
But I’m not stupid or drunk enough to challenge his beliefs out loud.
“Why do you let Rashkan conduct your affairs? That man is a viper. After all that he has done to our family.”
“He has done his job. If that woman hadn’t been so foolish, he never would have bothered himself with our family.” His voice is harsh.
“Our mother—” I start, but he snaps, “She is not my mother.”
Ungrateful brat. “She carried you in her womb, gave birth to you, and raised you to the bitter end.” I can’t stop myself from scolding him.
“She was the reason that brought us all to this bitter end.” He crosses his arms. Well, it’s hard to argue against that.
I decide to change the subject. “When will you turn over Tilil?” I ask.
“Tilil is not in Aldon. Didn’t your spies inform you?” He snorts. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Where the fuck is she? He must be reading my shock because he adds bitterly, “Relax, your throne is far more secure than mine.” How is that supposed to make me relax?
“But you are Rod’s only legitimate son!” I exclaim.
“A son with half-Renyan blood. While he has a son of pure Aldonian blood from the second-strongest house in Aldon.”
“He’s a bastard, and bastards are insignificant,” I argue.
“Is that why he made him the head of the army? Because he is insignificant?” He turns rigid.
“Do you realize how that makes me look? The regent not serving as the head of the army? It’s unheard of.
Dorem and his cunning uncle are like vultures circling him.
Driving him out of his mind, exploiting his fear of his approaching death.
I can’t lose Rashkan as an ally. And I need an achievement to show.
A wedding with the puppeteer of the new Kozari Queen will be such an achievement. ”
This is bad. Very bad. For all Rutanna’s children. “No, you need an achievement on the battlefield. That is the only way to get those small-minded fools’ respect.” I pace in front of him while forming a plan .
He scoffs at me, “Were you not listening? He made Dorem the head of the army.”
“And what is Dorem doing with the demichads? This is your opportunity. Lian has the ability to defeat the demichads,” I tell my brother.
He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “What in Sun’s name are you talking about?”
“There is a prophecy—”
He cuts through my words, “I don’t want to hear that blasphemy.”
“I’ve seen it, Niki. I saw her talking to a demichad with my own eyes. And she managed to convince it to spare us. And the Cursed Ones will fight for her.”
“You’re expecting me to associate myself with those animals?” he roars and looms over me. When did he get so tall?
“I’m expecting you to fight for your life, damn it,” I snap. “If Dorem takes the throne, you will not live long enough to see the sunrise the following day.” And neither will I.