empress of storms (15 page)

The men exchanged another set of silent looks. Most of them looked blank, but one man with a luxuriant mustache gave the slightest nod.

Caldo turned back to Matthias. “How generous would you be, my lord?”

“Twenty-five gold pieces.”

The Tsinti headman’s expression changed, turning crafty. “Fifty gold pieces.”

Matthias shook his head. “Thirty.”

“Forty.”

“Thirty-five, and we’ll repair your wheel.”

Caldo seemed surprised at that, but gave him an elegant bow. “Ah. In that case, you have a deal, my lord.”

Matthias nodded at Schrader, who pulled out his purse with reluctance and counted the gold into a wash-leather bag. “While my carters are performing the repairs, I’ll speak with the man who has the information,” he said as the payment was handed over. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Danaë wincing and shifting in her saddle. A solution to everything came to him. “May I invite you and your people to join our midday meal?”

Caldo hefted the clinking bag, then grinned. “Why not? After all, we’re friends now. And since we’re friends, my lord, may I ask your name?”

“King Matthias VI of Ypres, at your service.” He had to swallow a laugh as the headman’s expression.

****

As the carters worked to repair the Tsinti wagon wheel and re-attach it, the royal cooks set up their camp kitchen. Soon enough pleasant scents were drifting over the impromptu camp site.

Upon the urging of their men the Tsinti women made their appearance, emerging from the wagons with children gathered around their skirts. They all had the characteristic dark hair and eyes of their people. Soon enough the children’s hesitation disappeared and they started playing along the roadside with a motley collection of balls under the women’s watchful eyes.

Matthias sat down to eat with Danaë, Darius, Caldo, and Ife, with Flavia serving them. The Tsinti man with the lush mustache also joined them, introducing himself as Rondo. In between spoonfuls of a tasty stew he said that a blond man who matched Lukas’s description had traveled briefly with the troop of Rondo’s brother-in-law. “My sister’s husband said that the Ypresian gave them much gold for shelter, but after a few nights they gave it back and made him leave.”

“Why?” Matthias asked.

Rondo frowned. “He was demon-ridden. He stayed awake all night long, begging the creature to leave him alone. My sister’s husband said he never saw the demon, but scratches opened by themselves on the man’s hands and face. His cries disturbed everyone’s peace and frightened the children.”

Matthias glanced at the two mages. Danaë seemed alarmed by Rondo’s words, but Ife was thoughtful. “Did your sister’s husband know where he was headed?” he asked.

“The man said he wanted to go to Hellas.”

Danaë jerked at that, her fork squeaking on the metal of her plate. Matthias kept his tone calm. “Do you know where they left him?”

Rondo nodded at the road. “Somewhere along this road, my lo—majesty. More than that I don’t know.”

If one of the mirror demons had somehow escaped and attached itself to Lukas, he would need the assistance of an Aqua mage to recapture it and send it back to its realm. But it was almost guaranteed that any mage dwelling in Ypres would recognize their future ruler and wonder how a demon had come to haunt him. There would be too big of a risk that they would make the connection to their queen’s recent death. It was logical that Lukas would have to leave Ypres to find a mage who could help him. And what better place to look than the realm of his betrothed, with its plethora of Aqua mages?

Before he could ask anything more an old Tsinti woman hobbled up to the ring of guards protecting the diners. “I must talk to them,” she announced.

“Madam, please return to your wagon,” Matthias heard one of the guards say. 

Caldo turned, brows coming down as he spotted the woman. “Mami?”

“I must talk to them,” the old woman insisted, smacking the guard in the stomach with the back of one wizened hand. “Let me through.”

Clearly not wanting to lay rough hands on the woman, the guard looked over his shoulder at Matthias for instructions.

Matthias nodded and the guard stepped to the side, letting the old woman limp closer. To his surprise she didn’t even look in his direction. Instead, she went straight to Danaë.

“Mami?” Caldo said, standing with a frown. “What is it?”

The old woman waved off her son, dark eyes focusing on Danaë. “I have a warning for the sea-born,” she said.

Danaë seemed taken aback, but nodded.

“Heed me, then.” The old woman’s voice dropped, taking on a strange, harsh tone. “One who is uncrowned and closer than you know will set you on the road to calamity. To win the day you must travel the road of dawn.”

Danaë waited, but the woman said nothing else. “I thank you for your warning,” she said after a moment, nodding to Flavia. The maid got up and dug in her purse, handing the old woman a gold coin.

The Tsinti woman peered at the coin, bit it, then slid it into a voluminous pocket and hobbled back towards the wagons. Matthias turned to her son. “Is she a seer?”

The headsman sucked on his lower lip. “Mami often sees through the veil to what lies beyond,” he admitted. “You would do well to take heed of her words, majesty.”

Danaë wore a bemused look. Next to her, Ife sat quietly, but her expression was one of a scholar working through a riddle.

“I assure you,” Matthias said, “I will.”

****

Once the wagon wheel had been repaired and reinstalled the Tsinti troop got back on the road towards Mons while the royal party headed further up the mountain. As the sun began to approach the horizon Schrader called a halt and ordered his men to set up camp.

Danaë slid out of the saddle with a muffled groan. The muscles in her thighs and buttocks were becoming more used to riding on a horse, but it still wasn’t her favorite activity in the world. At least she had been distracted with the seer’s words during the afternoon’s ride.

One who is uncrowned and closer than you know will set you on the road to calamity. To win the day you must travel the road of dawn.
The first half seemed to indicate Lukas and his lust for Matthias’s crown. What he had done with the mirror would count as striking from within. But for the life of her Danaë couldn’t figure out what “the road of dawn” meant. It wasn’t something she’d come across in any of her studies, and Magistra Ife had admitted that she didn’t understand it either.

“But the woman was a true seer,” the mage told her as they prepared to leave. “I could feel the power of her words. I think we need to work out their meaning, and soon.”

Danaë had no argument with that. Rubbing her aching backside, she felt a not-so-hidden sense of relief when Matthias said that he wanted to walk the picket line and speak to the guards, suggesting that she go relax in their tent. She limped to Ife’s wagon and waited there while the servants erected the small pavilion that was reserved for Matthias’s and her use. Both Ife and Flavia received smaller tents nearby, plain but comfortable with a camp bed and other little luxuries befitting their status.

“The Tsinti’s story about Lukas bothers me, assuming that it was indeed Lukas,” Danaë admitted as she walked Ife to the mage’s tent. “If a demon had managed to breach the barrier between our worlds, the mirror would have been cracked, yes?”

Ife nodded. “And there’s no reason why it would have gone after Prince Lukas,” she said, eyeing her overnight residence. “It’s much more likely that the creature would have laid waste to the palace first.”

“So if it isn’t a mirror demon, what is he being haunted by?”

“It could be a variety of things. When we find your prince, we’ll learn more. In the meantime, we need to focus on what the seer said.” Ife frowned. “Something about it nags at me. I do wish I had my books with me.”

“When we get to Hellaspont we can use the library at the Quad,” Danaë said. Every major city had a Center for the Quaternary Arts, with quarterhouses for each branch. The structure as a whole was referred to as the Quad. “If there’s some mention of a ‘road of dawn’ we should be able to find it there.”

“I hope so.” Ife patted her arm. “But for tonight I believe I’m going to turn in early. Have one of the servants bring me a simple meal and some clean water, if you please.”

Danaë pursed her lips to hide a smile. A mage student’s social rank didn’t matter; when a tutor asked for something, the student jumped. “Yes, magistra.”

She summoned one of the servants and passed the instructions along, then realized she was free for the rest of the evening. The servants knew how to set up camp, the guards would protect it, her tutor had retired for the night, and Matthias was busy speaking with the guards.

With a weary sense of giddiness she went back to her tent, relieved to see that Flavia had already had her trunk brought in and was laying out a night shift on the large camp bed. The maidservant nodded at her entrance. “I’ve told the cook’s assistant to prepare mulled wine and a meal for you, mistress, and there’s hot water and a sponge on the box over there if you’d like a wash.”

“Flavia, you’re a treasure beyond rubies.” Danaë undid the fastenings of her riding outfit, slipping off the jacket and then the breeches. The cool mountain air chilled her sweaty skin on contact. She was more than happy to give herself a fast wash and even faster toweling off before donning the shift and crawling into bed. “I’ve realized something very important on this trip.”

Flavia gave her an indulgent smile as she gathered up the riding outfit. “Yes, mistress?”

“I’m not a horsewoman.”

“Well, it’s not as if you were born to the beasts, mistress.” Flavia arranged the leathers over one arm. “I understand you wanting to ride with the king and all, but I have to admit I much prefer riding in the wagon. I’ll go fetch your dinner now, then I’ll clean these for tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

Flavia bustled out. Danaë shifted onto her side. The down-filled mattress was a luxury and more than comfortable enough, but her muscles still ached like fire after a day in the saddle. She hoped the mulled wine would have a soothing effect on the pain.

As it turned out the drink did, and a nice slab of mutton, bread and some cheese made her feel relaxed enough to doze. She didn’t stir until a warm body slid into bed next to her, snuggling next to her backside and providing some very welcome pressure on the muscles there.

“Mmm.” She kept her eyes closed but wriggled backwards. “Is there any way I could persuade his majesty to rub some very sore parts on his queen?”

Matthias’s chuckle was low and warm in her ear. “Little bird, I consider rubbing my queen to be a privilege, not something I have to be persuaded to do. What pains you?”

“My bottom and thighs. And my lower back.”

“Turn over.”

Danaë did, shifting onto her stomach and resting her head on her folded arms. She felt her shift being tugged up, then Matthias’s large, warm hand started massaging the small of her back. She groaned with relief as the knots there began to untwist.

Once Matthias was satisfied with his work on her back he moved to her buttocks, squeezing the flesh there in order to get to the muscle underneath. Despite her weariness Danaë felt heat flare into life between her hips as he stroked and rubbed, sensitizing all the nerve endings that had been numbed from sitting on a saddle. She couldn’t help wiggling a bit under his ministrations.

He chuckled again. “Not so achy anymore?”

“Mm, much better.”

“Good.” He spread his fingers over the curve of one cheek, lightly scratching the place where it met her thigh. Danaë squeaked as the simple caress sent a flash of erotic fire through her. “Oh, gods. Do that again.”

“As you wish.” Now he dragged his fingertips across the bottom of her ass in light spirals, sending more of those delicious sensations rushing along her nerves. She couldn’t help rubbing her hips against the soft cotton of the sheets as an aching, needy sort of pleasure built between her thighs.

“Open your legs a bit so that I can tend to the muscles there,” Matthias whispered, sliding his hand down. The curve between his thumb and forefinger now rested on the crease where her buttock and thigh joined. His index finger lay on the furrow that led to her dampening flesh. He teased the hair there, making her shiver. “Can’t leave you sore and aching, after all. It wouldn’t be right.”

She bit her lip, smiling against her arm. “My thighs aren’t all that sore, come to think of it. But the area between them is. I’ve been sitting on that hard saddle all day, you know.”

“Poor little bird. I’ll have to rub that area, as well.”

His hand turned and two fingers slid deeper between her thighs, rubbing slowly against her outer folds. She wanted to purr as she pushed back against them, offering herself. 

He took the hint, his fingers moving towards the center and playing in the wetness there. They slid a little lower, brushing over her clitoris and sending heat into her core. 

“Ah, now there’s your problem,” Matthias said, sounding amused and more than a bit aroused. “You’re very achy and swollen here. I’m afraid I’ll need to give you a good, deep massage. With your permission, of course.”

Danaë moaned something akin to agreement, giving herself up to the blissful magic her husband was working between her thighs. The tips of his fingers were calloused from years of holding a sword, and the mild roughness felt wonderful as it stroked and teased her clitoris, especially when he caught it between two fingertips and squeezed. She bucked harder against his hand, craving his touch. “Please, I need more.”

“Shh. I’ll give it to you,” he crooned. One thick finger bent, sliding between her folds and into her hungry flesh. It swirled inside her, setting nerve endings alight and making her cry out in pleasure. 

“Yes, there we are,” Matthias said, half to himself. “You feel so tight, little bird, so hot and wet for me. I can’t wait to sink into you. I love the way you stretch around me, taking my cock the way you do. Sliding deep into you is like plunging into living silk, all soft and clinging, and so needy for me. Gods, I love riding you and watching you lose yourself in the pleasure you take from me, just as I lose myself in you.”