Free The Black King (Book 7) by Kristine Kathryn Rusch Page B

Lyndred’s back and she didn’t know why. “Doesn’t that bother you?”
    “Bother me?” This time, Arianna sounded surprised. “Why would it bother me?”
    “Because I thought you helped kill him.”
    Arianna turned toward her. There was something alien in her eyes, something so calculating that it almost made Lyndred take a step backwards. “If I had helped kill him, I would have brought Blood against Blood on our people.”
    Well, that was one question answered. Arianna knew about Blood against Blood.
    “But....” Lyndred frowned. “I thought you were there when your father killed Rugad. I thought you were part of it. And proud to be part of it. That’s what we heard in Nye.”
    “Lies,” Arianna said softly.
    “But you were there, weren’t you?”
    “Oh, I was there.” Arianna’s voice was completely flat. Its tone matched the strange look in her eyes.
    “Then—”
    “You don’t understand,” Arianna said. “I gain inspiration from Rugad.”
    The very idea took Lyndred’s breath away. “I thought your goal was to create peace for the Fey Empire.”
    “Rugad’s rule included peace.”
    “But that wasn’t its goal. My father said that Rugad’s peace was really a rest before the next stage of conquest.”
    Arianna smiled. “Your father is sometimes smarter than we give him credit for.”
    Lyndred flushed, wanting to defend her father, but knowing that Arianna was deliberately trying to change the topic. “So that’s what you did? Create a rest instead of a peace?”
    Arianna’s smile remained on her face, small and self-satisfied. It made her eyes seem even colder. “Think about it. I had inherited a Fey army startled and shattered by the surprise at the Cliffs of Blood. An Isle that was once rich but had to be destroyed because of the recalcitrance of its own people. Two groups who did not get along. The continents of Galinas, Etanien, and Vion were fine. If we increased production there, we’d compensate for this ruined place. I put the Empire back together. In fifteen years, Fey and Islanders have intermingled, their cultures forming one. They’ve both accepted me, the Fey as their Black Queen, the Islanders as their hereditary queen. The Islanders believe that I will always maintain a peace. The Fey know better. At least, most Fey do.”
    Lyndred felt the rebuke. “But, no, they don’t. They’re worried. I came from Galinas. You’ve never left this Isle. You don’t know what they’re saying about you.”
    “What are they saying about me?”
    The door had opened all the way, and Lyndred lied without a second thought. “They say you’re Blind.”
    Arianna stepped back as if slapped.
    “They say that you’re not trying to conquer Leut because you can’t See. They say you’re playing it safe because you don’t want to harm the Empire. They say your Islander blood has ruined you for battle forever.”
    “How could I have been Black Queen this long and be Blind?” Arianna’s temper was rising. Lyndred could almost feel it. It had a strength to it, an unnatural strength.
    Lyndred paused. Should she continue, or should she back down? But she had told her father she would find out—and what could Arianna do to her? She certainly couldn’t harm Lyndred, not with the Blood against Blood. She could banish her, but that would solve Lyndred’s problem, make certain that her Vision wouldn’t come true. At least, the Blue Isle Vision.
    “I don’t know,” Lyndred said, “but I’ve heard things about severe headaches, the fact that you were unconscious for two days. Maybe you had Sight and lost it.”
    Arianna’s eyes were flashing. “You do not know what you’re talking about.”
    “I don’t suppose I do.” Lyndred clasped her hands behind her back in a conscious imitation of Arianna. “But I do know that you’ve never shared a Vision with me.”
    Arianna’s right hand was clenched. Slowly the fist loosened, as if she made a conscious effort.
    “We’re