Warrior Queen (Skeleton Key) (11 page)

He knew that wouldn’t be the end.

Keleti paused for an extra couple of heartbeats, letting the tension in him, and the audience, build. This was theater as much as anything…but that didn’t soothe his doubts and fears. He still didn’t know what was going to happen. He should’ve asked before he did it. Would he have still killed Nadri if he’d known what was going to happen to him?

This wasn’t his fight and he didn’t have to die for it. Unless he did.

He had no idea. The moment he’d picked up the key his life had started spinning into the unknown. He remembered the way it had kept being the key in his hand no matter how hard he tried to change keys. He’d blamed the alcohol, maybe it was magic.

Maybe he’d needed to do something right to make amends for the wrong he’d done in his life. What he’d done had still resulted in death.

It had been his call to kill Nadri, but this time he was sure that he’d made the right choice. He lifted his chin slightly as if daring Keleti to do her worst.

That seemed to be the sign she’d been waiting for. “Cleanse him.”

Cold, salt water was thrown over him from two sides. He blinked and shook his head to clear the water from his face. She was still watching him.

He had no idea if she was making this up on the spot or if it had been arranged last night.

“The penalty for killing a Heavenly, or even attacking one is death.” Keleti held up her hand. “However, Nadri turned her back on our laws when she joined the Southerners. Today she will be returned to the gods and they can assess her life. Ambassador Bryce, you must finish the day in fast and mediation to be sure that the gods absolve you for killing one of their ordained.”

His stomach gave a rumble of complaint, which he was sure that too many people heard. He wasn’t going to die—at least not by her hand and he doubted the gods would lift a finger to condemn him. He hoped they wouldn’t anyway.

He nodded once in acknowledgement. He’d do as she asked.

The priests who had walked with him into the chamber now escorted him out, naked. Bryce kept his head high and didn’t cover himself. If they were hoping for embarrassment they weren’t going to get it.

The place he was supposed to meditate was a spur that jutted out of the cliff face and over the churning ocean. His stomach dropped as vertigo made him want to crawl back inside. He couldn’t sit here all day, naked and with the breeze slapping his bare skin. When the sun hit him he was going to bake.

He turned to the blue-eyed priest. “Can I at least try the key?”

“No. You killed a Heavenly. You will complete your
lenient
punishment.” The man waved his hand out to the ocean. “Of course if the gods disagree with the light sentence they can remedy it.” He glanced over the edge rather pointedly. “We have been sitting here to pray for generations and no priest has ever fallen.”

“And non-priests?”

“There have been deaths.” With that the priest withdrew and shut the door.

The spur was maybe a yard wide and twice as long. At the moment it was in the shade but that wouldn’t last. He had no water as well as no food. This was a complete fast until the end of the day.

What kind of crazy people build their temple on a cliff and then had doors that opened up onto nothing? He shivered as he sat. The rock was cool beneath his butt.

He’d been really lucky that he had opened the door to the food store not the cliff.

Had the people who’d died jumped or fallen?

Or had they been pushed?

He blew out a breath. It was going to be a long day, and he didn’t trust himself to sleep. If he nodded off he may not get the chance to wake.

H
er cousin had been cremated
, her ashes spiraling into the sky. The invaders were still camped on the other side of the wall and the river was still dammed. With Driska’s help Keleti had brought up seawater so it could be made drinkable. However she really needed to negotiate with the Southerners. She’d sent out a messenger asking for talks tomorrow. By tomorrow her army would be coming in behind the Southerners, so they might be feeling more like negotiating.

The sky was turning red as she flew along the cliff. She saw Bryce, sitting on the rock spur where she often saw priests deep in contemplation. At least he hadn’t fallen off during the day. Some people couldn’t handle the isolation for even a few hours. Their guilt ate through them and they jumped.

Bryce appeared calm. He opened his eyes as she went past, but he didn’t smile.

She didn’t blame him.

She wheeled around, dropped her bundle and landed on the end of the spur. He looked at her, then the bundle. She flicked her wings, waiting for him to unwrap what she’d brought. He must be starving and thirsty.

Yet he took his time. He got up a little stiffly and undid the cloth. There was wine and water, cheese and bread as well as some fruit. And two cloaks, just in case the wind picked up and got too harsh on the skin.

“You’re planning a picnic?”

She tilted her head. That was obvious. It was also clear he was annoyed with her, or at least his situation. She shook herself and changed form. The height didn’t bother her at all. From this height she could shift and fly before she hit the ground. When Bryce had been on the roof of the bell tower, he’d been high enough to be seriously hurt or killed, barely enough height for her to be able to swoop in if he had fallen.

“Yes, your fast is over.” She picked up the skin of water. “Drink, but sip it so you don’t make yourself sick.”

There was something in his face that implied he already knew that and that it was her fault that he was in this situation, but he took the skin and had a drink.

“I think your priest liked putting me here. He was probably hoping I’d fall.”

“It was difficult to work out what to do with you.”

“A simple thank you?” He lifted one eyebrow.

She smiled. “That was impossible, and you know that.”

He nodded and took a little more water.

“Now you have been cleansed of your sin and the gods have let you live. In the eyes of the people, you are forgiven.”

“And in your eyes?”

Keleti paused for a moment. The waves slammed into the cliff below, steady and unchanging. “I lost my cousin the day she became a traitor. I would never have trusted her again, but I didn’t wish her dead either.”

He stared down at the water. “I’m sorry for your loss, but not for stopping her.”

“I know. Thank you for stopping her.” She walked over and sat next to him. “Shall we eat, or would you rather go in?”

“They locked the door.”

Keleti glanced at the door. “There is no lock.”

Bryce turned to stare at the door. “You mean I could’ve got up and gone in?”

“There is always a guard on the other side. Anyone being tested who opens the door is killed and dropped over the edge.”

His mouth opened. “Well, I’m glad I stayed to enjoy the view.’ He pointed out to sea. “There’s a pod of things out there.”

“Pleisets. They generally eat fish, but I have heard that a pod of them can bring down a ship. It is a nice view from here. The closest the priests get to flying.” She glanced at him. In the deepening dusk in was hard to tell if his skin had reddened in the sun. She knew that the spur was in the shade of the temple for most of the day.

“We can eat here. You went to the effort of bringing food. Plus we are alone.”

She sighed. “Yes. That was my plan. To hide out here for a little while and pretend that nothing else exists.” She picked up the wine and had a drink. It was sweet and thick and hit her stomach with a glorious rush of warmth. She offered it to Bryce, but he shook his head.

“I think I should stick to water for a bit longer.” He no longer seemed concerned about being naked the way he first had.

A breeze swept over her and made her skin pluck up. When they went in, Bryce would get his key back. She knew when he used it now it would work. He probably knew that too. This moment was all they had.

She picked up the bread and broke some off. They ate in silence, watching the stars become brighter until the sky was black and dusted with silver.

“They look different where I am from. That surprised me at first.” He shrugged. “I don’t know why. Maybe I thought this was an alternate Earth, Earth is the world I come from.”

“Are there alternate Earths?”

“I don’t know. I would’ve said no before coming here, but I guess it’s possible. More than possible.” He picked up the wine and had a sip, then coughed. “That wasn’t what I was expecting.” But he went back for more.

“Just because we don’t expect something doesn’t mean it can’t end up being exactly what we want.” She turned to face him.

He put down the wine. “That is true. But it doesn’t mean we can have it either.”

His eyes were dark as he leaned forward and kissed her. His lips were sweet from the wine. Even as he kissed her, she knew that he was thinking about leaving. This wasn’t his home. However, that wasn’t going to stop her from enjoying him while he was here.

“Maybe not forever, but we have now.”

His fingers brushed her cheek. “And that’s enough?”

“If that’s all that is possible, it has to be.” Why waste time hoping for something that couldn’t be?

“Your people won’t mind you being with the stranger who broke their law?”

“I make my own choices. Besides, that is in the past. No one will hold that against you. They know you spent the day out here.”

“In my world a criminal record follows you around, forever.”

“That hardly seems fair if you have paid for the crime.”

“As long as this isn’t some other kind of crime…” He kissed her again.

She laughed. “No.”

They spread out the cloaks on the ledge and lay down, their legs tangling as they moved closer. His touch was sure as he caressed her. She kissed him until she couldn’t breathe. This was no careful ritual, it was only for her. For him.

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so selfish and taken what she needed. Had the man that she wanted. She was already regretting that he would leave.

His body responded to her touch. Their two peoples weren’t that different. He let her move over him so she could straddle his hips. The rest of the world fell away and they existed only for each other.

Each touch and each kiss became her focus. They moved together beneath the stars with the ocean below, suspended between heaven and earth. She was able to forget that she had people depending on her, waiting for her. All she could see was the desire in his eyes and the way he wanted her, not as a queen but as a woman.

They didn’t rush, but the hunger needed to be fed, and their joining became more desperate. Even though she didn’t want it to end nothing was forever. As her breath caught and pleasure rolled through her, she knew every heartbeat was one less she had with him. Bryce held her close as he found his ending.

They lay together, his arms around her as she rested on his chest, listening to his rapid heartbeat. She wanted him to speak first to say good bye and pull away, but he didn’t. His hands caressed her as though they were far from done.

“Are you going tonight?” She needed to know.

“I don’t know. The key may not even work. You might be stuck with me.”

“I might like that.”

“And when you get tired of your rat-eared lover?”

Keleti pushed herself up. “You will have a place here, if that is what you are asking. We have people who keep the laws like your police.”

“I thought the priests did that.”

She shook her head. “No, you came here by magic, that is why they dealt with you. But the magic is not yours so you cannot be a priest.”

“I know. I’m not much of a soldier either.”

“You did well enough. You have knowledge we don’t.” He brought new ideas and she wanted to know more of his world. There were places beyond where she could fly to. Once she’d thought the whole world could be seen when she soared high, but that was just a tiny fraction of what was out there. There were other worlds she couldn’t begin to imagine.

“I’m not sure that is very useful either. Besides I think the priest with blue eyes likes you.”

“He does, but he is a priest. What we have exists only during ritual.” She stared down at him. “I need a consort. Someone I can trust by my side.”

“I don’t know enough to take that job.”

“You could learn.”

He looked away.

“If you do not want that, just tell me.” She would rather honesty than deception. Nadri’s betrayal was still too raw.

“I think I might…but then I am afraid that if I stay, I will never see home again…and I know that if I go I will never see you again. I haven’t met anyone like you before.”

“The key brought you here for a reason, Bryce. Maybe it wasn’t only to bring death. Maybe it was to give you a better life. Were you unhappy at home?”

He sighed, his hand tracing up her thigh. The little touches that he did without thinking were more intimate than most that she’d experienced. This was desire not ritual and she liked it, a lot.

“It hadn’t been going well. In truth I was looking for change, for an adventure.”

“And you found it.” But would he take what was on offer, or turn away? It would take a strong man to put all of his faith in the unknown and trust gods he didn’t believe in.

“Or it found me. We should go in.”

“We should.” But she wasn’t in a rush. She leaned down and kissed him, hoping it wasn’t goodbye.

T
he temple appeared
to be empty. They brought everything in off the ledge. Bryce double checked the door. He would’ve sworn that he’d heard it lock when the priest had put him out, but there was nothing there.

“Isn’t that a bit dangerous?” Anyone could walk out and fall over the edge.

“No.” She led him through the temple, past the little cell where he’d spent the night and then into the main area where the altars were set up.

The blue-eyed priest was adding fuel to the fire. When he stepped out of the sacred area he spoke. “You survived.”

Heat crept up his throat. He was sure the priest knew what had happened. The cloak didn’t seem like nearly enough clothing. He was actually wishing for a skirt. When he looked at the priest, Bryce realized what Keleti had told him, the priest would always have her during ritual.

If he stayed, that was the bargain he was making.

The priest had known that from the moment that Keleti had shown interest in him and yet he’d done nothing underhanded to ensure that Bryce died—there had certainly been enough opportunities.

“Yes. The gods didn’t knock me off.” He held the priest’s gaze. Could he live knowing that the priest would always have a part of her?

“I didn’t think they would, they brought you here after all. Come.” He led them to a comfortable room. On the table, neatly folded, were his clothes. And on top of the clothes the glass key.

All he had to do was get dressed, use the key, and he could be home. He picked it up. It was cool against his skin. There was a tingle as though power was vibrating through it. That was the magic. He could feel it now that he wasn’t falling over drunk. Now he’d done what he needed to. While he wasn’t sure that he believed in any god, he knew that he had been given a chance to do something different with his life. To be someone other than a failed cop.

He glanced at Keleti. It didn’t matter where he lived, there were no guarantees.

“Did you want to look?”
Did
he want to look? He didn’t know where the key would open in his world.

Maybe he’d open his front door and find his house taped off as a crime scene. Or maybe he’d find his bed still unmade and no time had passed. If went back, this could all fade away to nothing but a drunken dream. Which was much the way his old life felt like right now.

His mouth still tasted like Keleti and her sweet-strong wine. His skin still remembered her touch. If he looked, would he want to go through? Or would the magic force him through?

“Do you?” she said, her gaze golden and unflinching. She was doing that thing where she could see straight into him.

He looked down at the key. He didn’t have to use it. He didn’t need to know if it worked or not, if he wanted to stay. He put it down on his old clothes. They belonged to man who didn’t exist anymore.

“No. I don’t need to.” He knew what was waiting for him back home. This was the adventure he’d been craving. He took two steps toward and then kissed his warrior queen.