A Queen of Gilded Horns (A River of Royal Blood #2) - Amanda Joy Page 0,69
to help us in Sher n’Cai. This is a good thing, Eva.”
“Yes, you’re right. I’ll check on him again tonight,” I said. In truth I should have shared my plans with Baccha when I was in his mind, but I’d been unable to think of anything but the strange scene playing out.
The beat of several sets of footsteps sounded outside. After a sharp rap on the door, I called for them to enter.
Osir, Anali, Aketo, and Kelis spilled into the library, the latter giving me a fanged grin.
“Guess what we saw?” She collapsed into a chair across from Falun. “Osir took us to a watering hole far east of Orai. Hundreds of animals all drinking from one place, yet when I attempted to partake, you would not believe how they scattered.”
“Likely because you smell like a predator,” I said, nodding at the bloodletting knife at her waist.
She shrugged. “True enough. I did not know elephants still lived on the Plain.”
“You saw elephants?” I wish I could have gone with them. “Well, your day has been significantly more eventful than mine. I did not even know elephants ventured this far north.”
“Less and less do every year,” Osir said. “They will return to the marshlands in the South as soon as the weather grows cold. Hundreds used to cross the river every spring. But now that cities line the riverbanks, it is harder for them to find a place to wade across.”
When the rest joined us at the table, I stood. “I am going to see if Lirra needs help with supper.” I pointed my chin at Falun. “You can tell Anali about your fool idea and see what she thinks. Excuse me.”
Aketo and Anali both began to speak, but I left the room before anyone could attempt to stop me.
Lirra let me help fold buttery sweet dough into pastries shaped like the sun and moon while she took stock of their food stores and salted meats. Lirra gauged they would have at least three weeks of food—enough to get them off the Plain and into the mountains. After an hour of baking, she shooed me out, complaining about having to sweep up feathers.
When I left, Aketo waited outside. He leaned against a tiled wall, arms folded with one ankle crossed over the other, his eyes shut. The moment I brushed past him, they flew open. “Hello, Princess.”
I rolled my eyes and began walking, nowhere particular in mind. “Prince.”
Aketo fell into step with me and I did not bother to hide my inspection of him. His boots were caked in the yellow-brown dirt of the Plain, and like me, he wore one of Osir’s creations: a wide-collared cream tunic with gold-and-crimson embroidery down the sleeves and the matching low-slung pants. Two short swords hung from his belt, along with a hollowed-out horn Osir had given him for calling across the Plain.
“May I ask where you are going?”
“Back to my room.”
“How about a walk outside?” He caught my hand, lacing our fingers together.
I nodded and let Aketo lead us to one of the outdoor courtyards, where one wayward goat was gnawing on a wicker chair. We walked over the worn-down tiles, stepping lightly to avoid those especially in need of repair.
Beyond the courtyard lay a field of such viridescent grass that, when we first toured the grounds, I had been certain it was some sort of illusion. Like that day, I let go of Aketo’s hand and knelt to feel the blades of grass on my palm. I took off my slippers and sat, enjoying the cool ground beneath my feet.
Aketo joined me. “What’s wrong?”
I glanced to the side to find Aketo watching me with a small smile. “I went to my mindscape to check on Baccha.”
“And? How’s the ancient one?”
I smirked. I’d have to call Baccha that the next time we spoke. “He’s a prisoner of sorts, but fine. And trying to convince the Tribe I’m worth trusting.”
I quickly relayed Baccha’s meeting with the Tribe’s elders.
He smiled slightly. “A Queen needs her Elderi.”
“I am not yet that.” I shook my head. “I may never be that. Besides, I would rather build a khimaer council from those who have suffered in this Queendom, not ones who abandoned it.”
“Even so, should we leave Baccha as their prisoner? If we tried to find him, the Tribe could return with us.”
“He doesn’t seem to want or need any help.” From the tone of Baccha’s thoughts, he had everything well in hand.