Greg Keyes - The Born Queen

For some reason that frightened her more than anything.

She suddenly saw light in the water and heard a familiar voice speak as if from another room. Then something caught her and pulled her in, and her thoughts suddenly became a confusion of voices, as in her Black Marys. At first she thought that it was the end, that she was merging with the river, but then she understood that she was thinking in only two voices.

Then a place shaped, and a face.

It took her a moment.

“Austra?”

“It’s me, Anne,” her friend said. “You’ve been here a while, but you didn’t seem to hear me.”

“Where are we?”

The light came up a little, diffuse strands of it made spidery by the tiny root filaments around the edge of the hole above her. She saw a little more of Austra now and noticed that between them was a stone crypt.

“It’s the crypt,” she murmured. “The one we found as girls. Virgenya’s crypt.”

“Is it?” Austra asked, sounding confused. “It looks to me like the womb of Mefitis, where we escaped the men who attacked the coven. See, there’s light coming down the shaft.”

Anne felt a prickling. She reached across the tomb.

“Take my hand, Austra.”

The other stretched out her arm, but instead of the familiar grip of her friend’s fingers, Anne felt not even the substance of a cobweb.

Austra nodded. “I tried to shake you awake earlier.”

“Austra, what were you doing just before you found yourself here?”

“I was with Cazio,” she said. “I had been hurt, and there was a battle. I was trying to go to sleep, when suddenly it felt as if something ripped me open.” She looked up. “We’re dead, aren’t we?”

“I should be,” Anne said. “Hespero—he stabbed me, in the heart, I think.” She tried to touch the spot where the knife had gone in and found it as intangible as Austra. “But you were just trying to sleep. And why are we here?”

“Is this the same place we went that time we were trapped in the horz? The otherworld of the Faiths?” “I don’t think so, or at least not exactly. If that were true, I think Hespero—or the other—could find me. I think we’re trapped somewhere, or maybe…” She drifted off, silenced by a sudden revelation.

“Austra, you walked the same faneway I did.”

“I thought of that,” Austra said. “There was a priest, doing things to me, and I—”

“I remember,” Anne said. “I was there. I was looking for you.”

“Saints,” Austra breathed. “You were there. I’d forgotten. What does it mean?”

“I don’t know,” Anne said. “Maybe I’m dead, but a little of me is living on in you for a while. Maybe all of my power passed to you and it was too much for you. I’m sorry, Austra.”

“Why did you send me away?” the girl asked.

“I saw you and Cazio dead if I kept you around me.” The image flashed through her mind, and she suddenly recognized it. “Saints,” she said. “You would have died, both of you, in the Red Hall, protecting me from Hespero. And you would have…”

“I thought it was because you didn’t want us around to remind you of who you are.”

“There’s that, too,” Anne said. “I have found new parts of me, Austra, furious ones. They are quiet now, because I’m here with you. I needed room for them to grow, to become strong. It doesn’t matter now, does it?”

“I don’t want to be dead,” Austra said. And more softly: “Cazio asked me to marry him.”

“Really?” Jealousy was quick venom.

“I know you love him, too.”

Anne didn’t answer for a moment. “You’re right,” she said. “Or at least I’m in love with the idea of him. It’s part of the notion that I can do anything I want.” She thought about telling Austra about Tam—had she ever called him that?—but she refrained. “Anyway, congratulations.”

“I love you, Anne,” Austra said. “More than anyone.”

“I love you, too,” Anne said. Without thinking, she reached for her friend again. This time their fingers touched. Austra’s eyes widened. The room filled with white-hot flame.

“Hespero,” Anne snarled, and became.

All the rage was there, waiting for her, welcoming her back into her poor abused—and nearly completely healed—body.

She reached out around her, looking for the praifec, brushing aside something near, a heavy, familiar presence that suddenly shrank away.

Then she saw the Kept, floating there, waiting for her.

At your service, great queen, the demon said. I am here for you.

“You promised to heal the law of death and die.”

And so I shall, with your help, Qexqaneh replied. But you have things to do first.

“Yes,” Anne snarled. “Yes, I do.”

And the Kept took her up in his coils, and they went to Hespero’s army.

Edwyn Mylton was graying, long-limbed, and awkward, but he had the eyes of a child with an active imagination and plans his parents wouldn’t approve of.

“What sort of trouble are you getting me into this time, Leoff?” he asked.

“You won’t believe it, I think,” Leoff said, “and it is exceedingly dangerous. But I have to ask you. There’s no one else I can think of.”

Edwyn peered down his uneven nose for a moment. “I suppose I had better agree, then, before I know the details.” He nodded at Areana. “Frauye Leovigild, it’s wonderful to see you again.”

“I wish it were as happy as the last occasion,” she replied.

“Yes, well, the company is still good,” he said. “Most of it.” He nodded significantly toward the door. “Berimund and his men are our friends,” Leoff said. “Or at least we share some goals. We can trust them, I think.”

“I trust your judgment, Leoff, but they were a little rough in collecting me.”

“I’m sorry, old friend; that was a pretense to satisfy any curious Hansans watching.”

“Yes, so they explained, but I had a bit of trouble believing it until now. So what are we doing, then?” “We’re going to sing with the dead,” Leoff replied. Despite all his worries, he still managed to enjoy the expression on Edwyn’s face.

Brinna handed Neil a small vial containing a greenish elixir.

“This should help,” she said. “It’s something I concocted from an old herbal, long ago, at my brother’s request. He’s hard on the drink.”

Neil hesitated at the scent.

“What? Do you fear I would poison you? Or are you afraid it’s a love philter?”

The elixir was as astringent and as strong as the drink he’d shared with Alis, but it did make him feel better. He’d been foolish; he might have to fight today. He should be at his best, even if that wasn’t very good.

“Will this work?” he asked. “This thing you’re going to do?”

She parted her hands. “I can’t see that, if that’s what you mean. But it might. That’s something to hope on. But you and my brother, you must keep us safe until we are done. Then, whatever happens, we must find each other. I do not want to die without you.”

“I don’t want you to die at all,” Neil said.

She placed her hand on his. “If we survive, Sir Neil, will you take me away?”

“Wherever you want.”

“Someplace where neither of us has any duties,” she said. “That’s what I would like.”

He gripped her fingers in his. Then he leaned toward her until her eyes were very close.

She bent her head, and their lips touched, and all he wanted was to take her away right then and there, forget the war, the law of death, everything. Didn’t they deserve…

She touched his cheek, and he saw that she understood what he was thinking, and she turned her head just slightly from side to side. Then she got up and gently untangled her fingers from his.