ROAD TO CORDIA (23 page)

     Ahh, so he would have to go to her. He started forward, but she held up her hand like a traffic guide on a busy thoroughfare.

     “I am not a child,” she said. Her voice wavered only a little.

     This would not do. He needed her sniveling and forlorn. He put his arms down, but stepped closer, ignoring the “halt” gesture.

     “You and I,” he said, “have both suffered grievous losses.”

     “My mother…,” she began.

     “Yes,” he said, “and my wife.”

     “Your wife? Oh, yes. I was informed…My condolences, Lord Raptor.”

     “I am devastated,” he said.

     “Yes, I’m sure.” What did he want from her? She was no more able to bring back to life his wife than she was her mother. “Under the circumstances it will be understood by all if you were to absent yourself from court,” she said, trying very hard to be courteous. ‘You must always be cognizant of a citizens concerns,’ her mother had drummed that into her head since she was a little girl.

     He looked at her in amazement. “Absent myself from court?”

     “You will want to take your wife’s body home for her funeral ceremony.”

     Lord Raptor narrowed his eyes. Was this little bitch trying to get rid of him? Time to take off the gloves.

     “I cannot, will not, leave you unprotected, my princess,” he said.

     “Me?”

     “Aye. Your mother died most unexpectedly, did she not?”

     “You think someone…?”

     “Had she been ill?”

     “No,” said Lil'Li. “She was healthy,” then she added, “as far as I know.”

     “Exactly.” He nodded grimly. “And my beloved wife.”

     “You think Lady Raptor was killed?”

     “Her neck was broken.” He took a deep breath, as if in unbearable pain. “Her neck was broken,” he repeated.

     “I was told, from a fall.”

     “So it is assumed, but what better way to distract me? What better way to get me out of Cordia?”

     Even though it was obviously a rhetorical question, she answered automatically. “You could be killed.”

     He stared at her, nonplused, and then shook his head irritably. “I’m a good deal harder to kill than a woman. This is why I will not leave you unprotected. You have my word.”

     “Thank you. But palace security…”

     “Did not save your mother.”

     “The militia is loyal,” she protested.

     “Probably,” he agreed. “But there is only one platoon left in the city.”

     “One?”

     “Remember most of the militia has been sent east to aid the flood victims and impose civil order. At this time, Cordia is dangerously unprotected, as are you.”

     Could her mother really have been killed?  Lil'Li shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.  “But my mother was very popular. That’s not just rhetoric, she really was beloved.”

     “It only takes a small handful of the disaffected to murder a Queen.”

     Murder. Lil'Li looked around at the familiar room in horror. Was someone out there right now planning her death? What should she do? Who could she trust?

     Lord Raptor stepped forward, put his arms around her, and pulled her close. “My dear girl,” he said, his voice warm and comforting. “I know how you are suffering from your mother’s death, and now to realize that your own life is in danger.”

     Pressed against his broad, warm chest Lil'Li peered up at him. From her position, this close to him, she was able to observe a certain flabbiness in his neck and jaw line. Also, when he had shaved he’d missed a spot the size of the nail on her little finger, where little green and white hairs grew; by chance they seemed to form a little round face with two green dots for eyes and a straight, almost disapproving mouth. She was so fascinated by this oddity that at first she made no move to extricate herself from his arms.

     Lord Raptor smiled to himself; just like any female. He ran one of his hands up and down her back, urging her closer. “You can leave everything to me, my dear girl. I will take care of you.”

     Lil’Li barely heard him. She was still focused on the unshaven spot under his chin.

The man has two faces, she thought to herself. Then she played back what he had just said. “Leave everything to you?”

     “Both you and the country will be safe.”

     She felt a warning buzz go off in her head. “How can you keep the country safe? Surely that is the job of its Queen?”

     He lowered his head and kissed her forehead. That feels nice, she thought. It feels as if he cares.

     “You are very young, my dear girl,” he said. “A regent will be appointed. You have nothing to fear. You will be protected. You will have all the help and wisdom you could possibly need. Have no fear, you are not alone.”

     Lord of the Circle, that was so good to hear. She
was
young and inexperienced. Lord Raptor’s arms were strong. Their strength just emphasized how little and weak she was.
Thank the Lord for him.
“Thank the Lord for you,” she said.

     He smiled down at her. “You just do as I suggest and everything will be fine.”

     Well, of course she would pay attention to his suggestions, that was only sensible.

     He was smiling down at her. A slightly predatory smile but nice enough, she thought. Her eyes fastened on that little unshaved spot again. A man with two faces, she thought. Gently she extracted herself from his embrace.

     “I had better consult with Captain Y’Nota also,” she said, thinking aloud.

     “That won’t be necessary,” said Lord Raptor. She looked at him in surprise. “Let me take care of these minor things for you.”

     “Well, I don’t--”

     “--You and Lady Bel’Dor should be planning the funeral ceremony for your mother.”

     “The priests prescribe the ceremonies,” she reminded him.

     “Are they also prescribing your wardrobe?” he asked with a gentle smile.

     “My wardrobe?”

     “What you will wear to the ceremonies. You’ll need several outfits.”

     Was the man out of his mind? First, he tells her that her mother and his wife may have been murdered. Then he tells her she herself is in danger. Now he expects her to concentrate on her wardrobe?

     She took a step back from him and looked him over carefully.

     Two faces. Remember, he has two faces, warned a voice in her head.

     “Yes,” she said to him. “There are a number of things for me to take care of.”

     “Good girl,” he approved. “I’ll take my leave now.”

     “When can I expect a report?” she asked.

     He stopped dead. “What?”

     “I would like to be kept informed of any investigations into my mother’s death. Also…also…” Think, she ordered herself, all Cancordia well be depending on you to do the right thing. “Also,” she continued, “I wish to be informed of the extent of the flood damage, the number of dead and injured. How many are homeless? Enough supplies must be provided, transported, healers must be sent.”

     He stared at her with narrowed eyes, and then he smiled. “Good for you,” he said. “You will make a fine Queen. I’m proud of you, my girl.”

     His praise warmed the cold core of her, even though she wished he’d stop calling her ‘my girl’.

     “I had a good teacher,” she said.

     “Yes, you did,” he agreed. “I loved your mother very much. How I wished we could have married.”

     “You and my mother?”

     “Of course, we were very close.”

     Lil’Li looked at the man doubtfully. He was very old. He had to be at least forty or forty-five.

     “Was it ever discussed?”

     “Alas (he actually said ‘alas,’) “by the time she was widowed I was married. I keep my vows and of course your mother’s values were of the highest moral order.”

     Lil’Li had never thought one way or the other about her mother’s moral values.

     “You remind me of her,” he said reaching out and stroking her cheek.

      She moved her head but he caught her chin to hold her still as he looked at her searchingly. “Release me,” she said.

     He smiled at her. “I am forty-five years old,” he said. “At the height of my powers.” Lil’Li held herself very stiffly, distaining to fight him. He released her chin and took a step closer. Lil’Li refused to back away from him. He reached down and availed himself of her right hand. He raised her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it. She watched him in amazement. Then he deliberately turned her hand over and kissed the center of her palm. She could feel his tongue stroking her palm for just a moment. Her head snapped up to stare at him, her eyes opened wide. Before she could pull her hand away, he had released it.

     He gave her a very scary smile. “Now you go with Lady Bel’Dor and pick out the perfect outfits to honor your mother. I’ll take care of everything else.

     He shot the hovering Lady Bel’Dor a stern glance, nodded briskly to the woman, and then exited the princess’s apartment.

     Lil’Li looked down at her hand. “By the Circle,” she whispered to herself.

     “Oh, he’s so exciting,” squealed Lady Bel’Dor. “You’re such a lucky girl.”

     Lil’Li looked at her in amazement. “Lucky?”

     “Well, he’s obviously taking an interest in you. So handsome. So masterful.”

     “Lady Bel’Dor, I am the Queen Presumptive, of course he’s taking an interest in me. And as for being masterful, I would not advise him to carry that too far.”

     Lady Bel’Dor’s mouth opened, and then snapped closed. “Now you listen to me, you silly girl. You should get down on your knees and thank the Lord that Lord Raptor is willing to guide you. The poor man has just lost his beloved wife. He must be devastated.”

     Lil’Li looked down at the hand Lord Raptor had stroked with his tongue and vigorously wiped it against her gown. “Where is Lady Tan’Od?” she asked Lady Bel’Dor. “Why are you here?”

     The older woman sniffed. “Lady Tan’Od is an Earther. It’s more fitting for you to be attended by someone of your own race, someone of higher status. Someone who would understand how sensitive and fragile you naturally are. Those Earthers are so coarse.”

      Lil’Li looked at Lady Bel’Dor’s fish white, skinny hands with their little pointed nails. “Was it Lord Raptor who rearranged my domestic situation?”

     “For the best,” said Lady Bel’Dor. “At a time like this you need the comfort of an older woman who knows what is proper and fitting. After all, you are the Queen Presumptive.”

     But Lil’Li had stopped listening to Lady Bel’Dor. What was Lord Raptor up to?   “Have any of the other Advisors presented themselves?” she asked.

     “No, no one. Just Lord Raptor.”

     That didn’t sound right. True, she had been crying her eyes out for the last twenty-five hours but even if they were turned away the advisors should have at least tried to see her.

     “What about Captain Y’Nota?” she asked.

     Lady Bel’Dor sniffed. “I really don’t see why your mother allowed a Sky Person to rise so high in the militia. Everyone knows what they’re like.”

     Where did the woman get these bizarre ideas? ‘A citizen is a citizen,’ her mother had told her over and over again. All are equal in your official regard. Apparently, Lady Bel’Dor was not familiar with The Royal Pledge of Service, although it was read and studied in every school in the land.         

     “Lady Bel’Dor, I asked you a question. Has Captain Y’Nota presented himself?”

     “Well, I’m sure I don’t know. You’ll have to ask the guard.”

     “Guard?”

     “At the door,” said the lady, waving her hand vaguely in that direction.

     Lil’Li looked at the door through which Lord Raptor had exited. There had never been a guard at her door, nor at her mother’s. She opened the door slowly to be confronted by not one but two soldiers. She didn’t recognize either of them. Nor were they wearing the royal colors.

     Still, they stood tall and saluted her politely. She nodded to them. “Has Captain Y’Nota presented himself ?” she asked.

     “Not on my watch, your highness.”

     The other guard grinned at her in a friendly way. “Aye, he was here this morning, but youse wasn’t in no shape to see nobody. That’s what the old lady told us.” He indicated Lady Bel’Dor with a jerk of his chin.

     Well that was true enough, thought Lil’Li. “Did you tell her it was Captain Y’Nota?”

     “Nay. She just said don’t let nobody in cause a’ the state youse was in.”

     Lil’Li blushed a dark green. She had been out of contact for hours. Cancordia deserved better. She would do better from this moment on.

     “Please send a message to Captain Y’Nota. I wish to see him immediately.”

     The two guards exchanged uneasy glances.

     “Well,” said Lil’Li when neither of them made any move.

     “Gotta check with Lord Raptor first,” explained the younger guard.

     “No you don’t. You have just received a direct order from your Queen Presumptive.

     “Ain’t Queen yet,” muttered the other guard.

     For the first time Lil’Li felt something other than exasperation at their slowness; she felt  fear. “Whose colors are those?” she gestured at their uniforms.

     “Lord Raptor’s,” they answered almost simultaneously.

     “I see.” She looked up and down the hallway. Empty. Not surprising really. This was a house of mourning. The usual hustle and bustle of servants, messengers, scribes, friends and instructors was naturally missing.

     “Very well,” she said. “I need to stretch my legs anyway.” As she stepped through the arched doorway, the older guard stepped in front of her.

     “No, ya don’t, ya highness.”

     Lil’Li turned her dark eyes on him. To his credit, he looked highly nervous. Unfortunately, he also looked determined.

     “Lord Raptor, he said youse was’na to leave ya chambers as there was maybe a murder a stalkin’ these hallways.”

     “Likewise we isn’t ta let no ones in without his say so,” added the second guard.

     Lil’Li looked at them with cold-as-ice eyes, but inside she was raging with anger. “Are you saying I’m a prisoner?”