Glissanda Read online

  I wipe the brandy dribbling down my chin with my sleeve, and hand the bottle to Leif. He accepts it without hesitation, takes a long swig of his own, and offers the brandy to Nile.

  Imogen tips the bottle at me after her turn taking a drink. “I know what you’re thinking, and don’t you worry, m’lady. ”

  “You do?”

  She winks at me. “Well, perhaps not everything. But I do know we’ll get your sword back. Especially now that the Palace is in mourning. Nothing can happen for seven days, so we have plenty of time to prepare.”

  “What about the Prince … Dominic? He’s not going to simply hand it over … my sword or control of Nadir.”

  Imogen takes another swig of brandy, then shakes her head. “He’s just a kid. We don’t need to worry about him.” She holds the bottle toward me again.

  That’s certainly not the impression I got of him, but I don’t have the energy to argue. I accept the bottle, but take only a small sip.

  “Does he—the Prince—know about the Treasoners outside, do you think?”

  Imogen corks the bottle after we all indicate we’ve had enough. “I don’t believe so.”

  “What about the Loyalists?”

  “They are guarding the gate, determined not to let anyone inside. But they’re not from the Bastion, are they?” She winks at me; I know she’s referring to the drain tunnels that run underneath the walls—well hidden but highly unpleasant, flowing with sewage and filth.

  “I’ll come see the Treasoners in the morning. If that’s all right?”

  “Indeed, m’lady. I’ll see you safe to them.”

  “We should get some rest,” Leif whispers in my ear. I don’t argue, with it being well past midnight by now.

  “You two can sleep upstairs, in Leif’s old room. Nile and I will keep a lookout,” Imogen says.

  I thank them both, then follow Leif up the ladder to the kitchen upstairs.

  There are only two small rooms off the main living quarters. Leif motions for me to enter the smallest of them, hardly bigger than a closet. It’s dark—just a sliver of moonlight makes its way through a tiny window.

  “I regret our accommodations aren’t much. We never spent much time here, as you know. Usually traveling around the kingdom with our wares. Ah, thank goodness the bloody looters didn’t take my pallet.” While Leif spreads a quilt over a thin horsehair mattress and fluffs a couple of pillows, I kick off my boots and peel off my jacket. I undo my messy braid, letting my hair spill freely down my back.

  I throw myself down onto the pallet. “You know, this might be the most comfortable bed I’ve had for months.” I can’t help my mouth creeping into a smile, watching Leif remove his boots and jacket. He unties the cord securing his blond curls, shakes his own hair free, then pulls his shirt over his head—the most tantalizing shadow I’ve ever seen.

  I pat the mattress next to me. “It’ll be even more comfortable, when you’re in it.”

  “Not a problem.” He laughs, falling down onto the quilt next to me. He pulls another quilt up over us, tucking it in around me. We turn so we’re facing each other, our faces barely lit in the moonlight.

  “I’m supposed to be in mourning, with the King’s passing. He is my father, after all.”

  Leif runs his hand through my hair, then down my back, leaving shivers in the wake of his touch.

  “And are you? Sad about his passing?”

  “Not one bit. Glad to hear it actually, although I don’t know what—”

  “Shhhh …” Leif closes the short distance between our faces and kisses me gently.

  Suddenly, it’s not enough. I don’t know if it’s all my trepidation at what’s going to happen these next few days, or knowing that Loyalists could come bursting into the Phineas house at any second and everything could be over … Whatever it is, all at once I’m ravenous for Leif.

  I push him back onto the mattress and climb on top of him. I take his head between my hands and kiss him again—hard this time.

  He grabs my shoulders, gently pushing me away from him. “Whoa … whoa … what’s gotten into you?”

  I move my hips, just slightly, feeling him rise beneath me. My lower belly blooms with pleasure … and the feeling of power.

  “I just want … I need to be close to you.”

  He pauses, just for a beat, then reaches behind me, grabs my backside, pulls me against him. He moans, deep in his throat, and moves his mouth to my neck, leaving a burning trail of kisses.

  I lean back, and with one hand, I untie the top of my tunic, sliding a hand in to free one of my breasts.

  His eyes go wide in disbelief. His grip tightens on the back of my thighs.

  I lean forward so the top of my breast skims his mouth. He doesn’t hesitate; his trail of kisses continues until his mouth is right there.

  I inhale sharply and my hips twitch and I’m suddenly lost in a river of sensation. His breath is warm as he sucks gently, I can feel his breathing speeding up. And I can’t help it, I start moving against him, slow undulations. And then it’s like that time in the ocean—the wave that comes over me, tremendous and sudden. Leif throws his head back, and I grab onto his hair; I’ve got to hold onto something before I completely lose myself. But it’s too late: I cry out and Leif cries out and we grab onto each other as we’re hurled into the heavens.

  I collapse onto him, my body is trembling. I bury my face in his neck, inhale his earthy scent. We’re both covered in a light sheen of sweat, even though the quilt has fallen from over us and the night is very cold.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispers. “I didn’t mean to do that.”

  He grabs me and rolls me onto my side, easing himself from between my legs. He studies my face, his gaze intense, his mouth wearing a huge grin.

  “I’m not.” I smile at him. “That was bloody glorious.”

  “Gods, I love you, Raven Araroa.”

  “I love you, Leif Phineas.” He kisses me again, then turns over onto his other side, tucking the back of his body tightly against mine. I wrap my arm around him tightly and close my eyes.

  I swear my entire body is glowing, so incredible. But I know it’s just the beginning.

  Sleep falls over me quickly; I almost don’t hear the mourning horns blow from the Palace. It’s true then: old Araroa is dead.

  Somebody new will rule Nadir.

  Leif’s grinning face is the first thing I see when I wake up. His emerald eyes are sparkling in the morning sun, his hair completely disheveled around his face. A mask of bliss.

  “Have you been watching me sleep?” I ask, stretching my arms upward.

  “Yes.”

  “Was I snoring?”

  “A little.” He kisses my forehead, then leaps up, pulling me with him. “C’mon, I’m starving.”

  “Where are we—oh, that’s right.” I rub my eyes, a little disoriented from … everything yesterday.

  Imogen appears in the doorway to Leif’s room. “Good, you’re awake! Nile’s ready to lock the place up. It’s time to go.”

  Leif and I grab our packs, and when we step out into the front room, I see Nile’s more than locked up: he’s pounded several boards over the front door so there’s no chance it can be kicked in again.

  “Follow me,” Imogen says and heads toward the kitchen in the back. “Ready?” she asks Nile, who’s still holding his hammer, checking the hinges on the back door.

  “Ready as she’ll ever be,” he says, motioning us into the alley.

  “No Loyalists out here?” I ask, hesitating.

  “No, m’lady, they are all at the Palace. Guarding the Prince.” Imogen says these last words through gritted teeth. “Besides, it’s almost as though they were getting bored these past few days. Think they were expecting more drama.”

  I have to struggle to hide my smile; if it’s drama they’re expecting, they’ll get it yet.

  Once again we weave our way through the Bastion’s narrow passageways, making our way toward the southern district. I can
see the high walls, less than a handful of blocks away, when Imogen ducks inside a small, nondescript cottage.

  Like the other one the Treasoners had gathered in, this cottage has an underground cellar too, only there’s a tunnel leading into the earth from it. Imogen grabs a lantern sitting near the entrance, lights it, and starts down the dark passage.

  It’s crudely cut and barely half-height. We have to bend our knees, leaning way over to fit, especially Leif, Imogen, and Nile, tall as they are. For once, I’m glad I’m on the shorter side.

  I balance myself with my hands against the damp earthen walls. The tunnel seems to wind around for ages, the air grows musty and thin, and I’m glad when a dim light appears in the distance.

  We have to climb up out of the earth for the last bit, and I find myself inside an ancient hollow tree. I peer around it to see the Bastion walls in the distance.

  “How long has this been here?” I ask Imogen, shaking my head in disbelief.

  “Not long—isn’t it marvelous? I had a crew dig it over the past few months. Not one bit of suspicion about it by the Hunters, Loyalists, or anyone else of bastard ancestry.”

  I touch the smooth wood of the old tree and smile. “It sure is—” Before I can say anything more, a girl with bouncy blond curls comes running out of the nearby forest, toward us.

  I wave at her with a smile. “Rosie!”

  “M’lady! It’s sure good to see you again! Hurry! We’ve got breakfast ready!” She grabs my hand and pulls me deeper into the trees.

  We walk only a few hundred yards when I hear them: the joyous sounds of the Treasoners. And the smells: the air is thick with wood smoke and the scent of bacon, corncake, and best of all, coffee.

  The four of us emerge from the trees into the clearing where they’ve set up camp. I can tell it’s my familiar group and recognize many, but there’s a lot of people I haven’t seen before.

  Even so, it feels a bit like coming home.

  No one notices us at first, not until Rosie goes running to her parents, practically jumping up and down with excitement, pointing at us.

  As people start to take us in, the din grows quiet for a moment. Then a raucous cheer erupts and I’m suddenly surrounded; people reach out to touch my hair, my jacket. Leif’s doing his best to keep us from becoming trampled. Imogen and Nile too.

  Finally, I put a hand up. “Quiet! Please!”

  I wait. Slowly the excitement dies down.

  “Long live Woman King Araroa!” someone shouts, and the crowd explodes into cheers and shouting again.

  “Everyone! Please!” But my voice is carried away in the clamor.

  “Quiet! Our Woman King would like to speak!” Leif’s powerful voice echoes across the clearing and the Treasoners are silent at last. He stands by my side; we’re not touching, but I gather strength just from his nearness.

  Suddenly, the hooded boy’s words echo in my memory, that the Prince cannot be crowned. My heart begins to thump in my chest, wondering if I’m about to say the right thing. But of course he would say that, now that I know he’s one of my supporters. I start to wonder if there’s something else … then put that thought out of my mind and lower my hand to begin.

  “Thank you for the warm welcome. It’s good to see many of you again, and I’m looking forward to meeting those I haven’t yet. I’m sure you heard old King Araroa passed late yesterday. There is to be a week of mourning, and then our work will begin.”

  Another round of cheers goes up. I raise my hand again to quieten the crowd; they settle quickly this time.

  “But first, I’m going to meet with the Prince and together we’ll form a coalition for peace.”

  The crowd is aghast. Out of the corner of my eye I see Leif’s eyes go wide; his mouth crumples into a frown of disbelief.

  “I know I promised to protect all of you, and to bring you home. That is what I’m going to do. I promised to help form a new Nadir, one free from the tyranny of King Araroa. He’s dead. That’s over. It’s time to begin anew. But there are still all those against me. I must win them over. And to do that I need to work with Prince Dominic. Nadir simply … might not be ready for a Woman King. Not quite yet.”

  “Raven—you don’t—what are you saying?” Leif is hissing these words into my ear. I hold up a hand to silence him too.

  “Besides, the Palace has my sword, Fortissima, the sword of Woman Kings. Without it, I cannot take the throne. But I will remain your servant, as always.” I kneel before the crowd. A cheer goes up again, but not as loudly this time.

  I know what they were hoping: that I’d lead them into the Bastion, storm into the Palace, nab the Prince and exile him away.

  But that’s what happens in fairy tales, and my life is anything but a story with a happily ever after.

  The crowd disperses. As people return to the breakfast preparations and other tasks, I can’t help but notice many shaking their heads.

  Leif grabs my arm, pulling me with him behind a large tree. The look on his face is one of fury.

  “I can’t believe you just said that, Raven! The Treasoners are ready to form a strategy to take the Palace, not play nicety-nice with the little brat Prince. Where did you get the idea that we—you, I mean, could just have a little chat with him and all will be well? I’m sorry to have to say this, but that’s just foolishness!”

  My mouth hangs open for a long moment. I’ve never seen Leif this angry. What gives him the right to criticize my plan? He doesn’t understand what it feels like to bear the responsibility for all of these people; to order them to war now would be to order them to slaughter. I cannot do that simply to boost my pride.

  “I think this is the best, the safest plan for now. Besides, this way I’ll have the chance to make a bargain with Dominic. I’ll strike a deal: if he agrees to leave the Treasoners alone and return Fortissima to me, to rule the Bastion and all of Nadir with compassion, I’ll not drum up any opposition. Don’t you see, Leif? I’ve got him this way. If he doesn’t agree—and especially if he runs the Kingdom as selfishly as old Araroa—the Treasoners will continue to revolt. War will happen, and not even I’ll be able to stop it.”

  “And what, may I ask, will you do then? If Dominic agrees and keeps his promises?”

  I pause, just for a beat, then say the first thing that comes to my mind. “I’ll go home.”

  He snorts. “Your home is gone, Raven. You belong in the Palace. You were born to control the Palace, all of Nadir. It’s your birthright. Your destiny.”

  “All of that is true, but I can’t send people to their deaths because of that. I just can’t, Leif.”

  “I don’t think it’s your choice. Look at all the trouble the Loyalists have caused throughout the Kingdom. Remember the Hollyhock burning? Just one example of terror the Loyalists have inflicted on those not supporting the current regime.”

  “But no one died.”

  “Your family died.”

  “You don’t know that! Not yet anyway …”

  “No, but we both know it’s likely. The old woman said so, before she died. She must have been confused, or delirious with chill, to say she was Lilith. Or the captain misunderstood. Regardless, they’ve not been heard from for weeks now. Their ship foundered, maybe they really did perish.”

  “No. I won’t even entertain the thought.”

  We stand there, breathing heavily. Leif’s disappointment in me is radiating out from him. I suddenly realize something.

  “When we first met, you told me you’d set out to find me after hearing the rumor of the King’s daughter escaping death. It’s like … you loved me before we’d even met. Tell me, honestly: do you love me as Raven or as Raven Araroa, heir to the throne of Nadir?”

  There is a very long pause.

  “Both,” Leif says at last.

  My heart plummets to my feet.

  “That’s what I thought.” I spin on my heel and take three steps, then turn again to face Leif.

  “You didn’t agree to marry a Wo
man King. You said yes to me.”

  I watch his mouth open to argue, but I’ve heard enough from him. I turn again and stomp away, so furious I don’t even pay attention to where I’m going.

  I won’t marry him if what he loves most about me is a myth: I’m not the Woman King of Nadir, not yet. What if I don’t succeed? Will he still love me then?

  Besides, I love Leif for simply being who he is, even though he’s prone to embellishing the truth and his father is a former spirit smuggler. Although I’m sure Nile’d be happy to get his business up and running once again …

  My eyes still unfocused, I walk right into something solid. Or rather, somebody.

  “Raven! What’s wrong?” It’s Tui. He grabs my shoulders and holds me still. My body is shaking with fury and I’d be surprised if he couldn’t feel it.

  I look around, dazed. I’ve walked to the edge of the camp. Catriona is talking with some people a short distance from us.

  I look back at Tui. His brows are wrinkled with concern.

  “It’s Leif. He—”

  “What did he do? I’ll kill him if he hurt you!”

  I shake my head wildly. “No, he didn’t … it’s just … I …” But I don’t even know where to begin. Tears are threatening and I use every ounce of my will to prevent them from falling.

  “Have you eaten yet? Catriona and I just got back and we’re starving.” He smooths down the strands of hair that have fallen loose from my braid.

  I shake my head.

  Tui wraps a strong arm firmly around my shoulders, guiding me to where the food is being prepared. He requests a cup of coffee for me and a plate, and seconds later a hot mug is thrust into my hands. I can’t help scanning around me; Leif is nowhere to be seen.

  “What’s going on?” Catriona appears on Tui’s other side. She too can tell that something’s wrong.

  “I need to sit down. I’ll tell you everything.”

  We find a few rocks to sit on in a quiet area and out of earshot of anyone else. I fill them in with what I announced a short time ago: that I was going to try to strike a deal with Prince Dominic. To do anything else might set off a war between the Treasoners and the Loyalists, and I couldn’t be responsible for that. Not without trying a peaceful solution first.