Mark Newton - Retribution

The queen added, ‘And, Officer Drakenfeld. One might assume that an officer of the Sun Chamber, when choosing his own protection, chooses wisely?’

‘Not a moment has gone by where I have regretted the decision to work with Leana.’ I could have spoken of the time we met — when all she had known had been wiped out in a vicious war. I could have divulged information of the many times that Leana, a far better fighter than I could ever dream to be, had saved me, prevented a blade from ending my life. Or the numerous times she had helped ‘persuade’ — perhaps at times without direction — those stubborn individuals who were not forthcoming with information or who liked to make life difficult for us.

But none of this was appropriate because the queen had already made whatever decision she was about to divulge.

‘Very well,’ she said. ‘Then I would like to trust you with the temporary custody of Nambu Sorghatan, princess of Koton, and heir to the throne.’

‘Might I enquire as to why?’ I tried desperately not to sound too incredulous at the request. Nambu merely looked at the ground as if embarrassed by the whole conversation. Even Brell raised an eyebrow.

‘We are on a difficult case right now. .’ I suggested.

The queen waved me closer. ‘This killer. . could be among us. He knows his way around the prefecture and has taken — without anyone seeing — two fine men, one of whom I considered to look after Nambu.’ She gave a brief, sardonic laugh. ‘Our inner world is becoming vile, Officer Drakenfeld. Temples are no longer sacred. It is somewhat difficult for me to know who to trust.’

‘And you can trust us, after so little time in our company?’

‘I have received detailed reports from my agents about who you are and what you have done. You will suffice.’

It was as I had suspected.

‘I even know how well respected you are within the Sun Chamber after your recent success in Detrata,’ she continued. ‘A queen can easily obtain such information. You are no Detratan spy. You have the whole of Vispasia in your heart. Besides, I am a good judge of character.’

I did not quite know what to say or do. Nambu was a girl of perhaps thirteen years, used to life around a palace. A comfortable life, no doubt, and so not exactly the sort of person one could drag around the city hunting murderers.

‘We deal in somewhat macabre matters at times,’ I said. ‘We work around the dead. Sometimes we may even venture into the other prefecture.’

‘I have negotiated this with her. It will be good for her to see a little of life’s harsh realities.’

Leana was gazing at Nambu. And to my surprise Leana said, with utter confidence, ‘We will look after her.’

‘We will?’ I asked.

Leana said more firmly: ‘We will.’

‘Oh that is excellent.’ Queen Dokuz sat back on her couch with a sense of satisfaction. Her work had been done. She delicately ate a sweetmeat from the tray to one side.

Nambu still did not make eye contact with me, and there was a resigned look about her.

‘She may have to dress down somewhat,’ I added. ‘Such fineries are all well and good here, but a little too elegant for asking questions in a dingy tavern.’

‘We will have her outfitted in whatever way you think is suitable,’ the queen said, her mouth full of food.

‘Yes. We’ll need more secure living quarters,’ I continued, thinking it at least an opportunity to profit in some way from this unexpected predicament. ‘We have already received unwanted visitors. For everyone’s safety, this is an important matter that needs to be addressed. The most secure quarters you have available will be necessary.’

‘The matter will be resolved this same evening. We will see that your requirements are met.’

‘How old is Nambu Sorghatan?’ I asked.

Nambu answered herself: ‘I’m thirteen.’

I smiled and nodded my appreciation of her reply. Indeed, she could answer for herself and it was a mistake not to direct the question at her in the first place. But she focused instead on some distant corner of the room.

‘If I may be so bold as to ask this question, my lady, is there any other reason that you think she should be kept away from the standard palace guards?’

‘Other than it is good for the spirits of a growing girl to see something of the world, then no.’

She finished too firmly for my liking.

Leana looked across to the young princess. ‘Nambu, do you know how to hold a sword?’

She called her Nambu. Not ‘princess’, not ‘my lady’. I half expected the queen to berate us for the misdemeanour, but she did not.

The princess looked up, startled. ‘I have never held one, no.’

‘We will fix that soon enough.’

To my astonishment I saw a grin appear upon the young girl’s face.

‘Well,’ I said, ‘at least this place is more secure than our last room.’

‘Being buried in a tomb would be just as secure,’ Leana replied, finally dumping her bags on one of the couches, ‘and that would still be preferable to this. Some kind of joke of Sulma Tan’s, do you think?’

‘At least no one can fire an arrow through a window.’

‘It is very difficult admittedly,’ Leana said, ‘when there are no windows.’

Our new quarters were located somewhere under the royal palace. The stone walls, constructed from large limestone blocks, were little more than seven feet high. There were five rooms in all, each one of a similar size, yet decorated in a pleasant if garish local manner. Animal skins covered the couches and formed rugs, and crudely preserved heads had been mounted as trophies. There was a well-ventilated stove, wall hangings depicting scenes of the hunt, and a good dozen or so cressets lining the wall. When they had all been lit it wasn’t that dark at all. Two rooms acted as bedchambers, one was for dining or entertaining guests, and another — equipped with a desk, ledgers and lanterns — could serve perfectly as a base for our operations. The only way in was through a thick, arch-shaped wooden door.

‘It’s a vault,’ I said, ‘and it’s spacious. So there aren’t any windows. What is this place anyway?’

Nambu Sorghatan, princess of Koton, and now — bizarrely — under our protection, answered in perfect Detratan. ‘It’s my mother’s emergency quarters.’

‘For use in. .?’

‘Sieges,’ Nambu said, sitting on one of the couches and leaning back on both hands. ‘Or if she thinks people are out to kill her.’

‘Does it happen often?’

‘Only when she’s paranoid.’

‘She doesn’t show much fear,’ I replied.

‘You get to see the queen. I get to see my mother ,’ Nambu replied. ‘She also comes down here when she’s taking lovers.’

Looking at Leana I raised an eyebrow.

Leana smirked. ‘You wanted safety? You have found a love nest. A shame you never have anyone to romance.’

‘That may well be,’ I replied, ‘but it’s an improvement nonetheless. I imagine, decades ago, this would have been some sort of storage facility.’

‘Or a dungeon,’ Leana muttered.

‘Indeed.’

Nambu was standing with her shoulders slumped and a resigned look about her. She did not seem petulant — as the offspring of royals could so often be. She appeared to accept whatever direction she was steered in, and it occurred to me that a royal life may not be entirely blessed — though it was a thousandfold improvement on the existence of most young people. ‘How many people know about this place?’

‘No one,’ Nambu said, ‘other than her two secretaries and me. Maybe one or two close soldiers, if she can trust them. Her lovers are blindfolded on their way down here. Probably after they’ve arrived, too.’