A door clanged, the noise piercing Trip’s groggy consciousness. After he’d finished his sketches, the lack of sleep during the night had caught up with him, and he’d lain down to rest on the floor.

He sensed General Zirkander and Major Blazer as they arrived in front of his cell, and he lifted his head. Had they come to extricate him? Or just to visit? The smoke from one of Blazer’s cigars tickled his nose. Neither officer seemed stressed or concerned, so Trip took that as a good sign.

He pushed himself to his feet to salute. Then he wiped his chin, hoping he hadn’t been drooling.

“The history books and legends rarely mention sorcerers snoring,” Blazer observed.

“No, there have been many things I’ve learned from being married to a sorceress that would have otherwise remained unknown to me.”

“Can you share them?”

“I believe drooling habits are the kind of thing a husband isn’t supposed to reveal about his wife.”

“Unfortunate.”

“So, Trip.” Zirkander eyed the papers spread out over the floor. “I hear—and now see—that you’ve been doing some drawing.”

“Yes, sir.”

How much did he know about Trip’s project? Had Rysha spoken to him? Or Sardelle? She’d come in a few times during the night, and Trip had mentioned his goals.

“It’s a tradition in the fort’s jail. I believe this was the very cell I spent a night in once.” Zirkander looked toward the back wall. “Yes, I can even see the remains of the map I sketched in charcoal. Hm, you’d think someone would come through with water and a sponge once in a while.”

“You were in jail, sir?” Trip asked.

Blazer smirked, not appearing surprised at all by this revelation.

“Indeed, I was. I’ve been AWOL before too. For the good of the country, naturally.”

Blazer’s smirk deepened. “That’s not what Colonel Therrik said.”

Zirkander waved away the comment and pointed to the drawings. “Do you have something you can show the king? Something decipherable?”

“Yes, sir. The drawings are ready to be put into production. I just need to be released…” Trip spread his hand toward the locked gate.

Zirkander poked it with a finger. “Am I correct that you could have left at any time?”

“Yes, sir, but Rysha told me it would be better if I didn’t run, that I’d look guilty if I did.”

“She’s a smart lady.” Zirkander fished in his pocket and pulled out the key ring for the various cell locks. “You’re not free, Trip. Not until there’s an inquest and we figure out a way to prove that Lord Lockvale and his cronies were lying. But, providing Angulus approves these drawings—you need to convince him you can actually make this thing—the place where you spend your days will be shifted from this prison to Bhrava Saruth’s temple. I understand you’ve the urge to become one of his worshippers and clean his latrines.”

Trip had been nodding, but he paused at the addendum. “Latrines, sir?”

“That’s the story we’ll be circulating to the press. While you’re working on this weapons platform. Angulus has some fancy ore for you, though you’ll probably want someone who doesn’t have dragon blood to work with it, right?”

“Ideally, sir.”

“We’ll find you some people. Lieutenant Ravenwood mentioned you also wanted Tolemek. We’ll get him. If there’s anyone else you think can help make this a reality, make a list. You’ll be the project leader and get whomever you need.”

“That means he can get someone else to clean the latrines, right?” Blazer asked.

“Are you volunteering?”

“To work for Trip? No, he’s odd.”

“We all are, Major.” Zirkander patted her on the shoulder. “We all are.”

* * *

Rysha sat on the edge of a purple upholstered chair with a combination button and tuft poking her in the butt while wondering what Major Kaika had brought her into the king’s suite to discuss.

Woman stuff. That could mean anything from an injury to a reproductive organ to an unplanned pregnancy to some kind of problem with her cycle. But seven gods, why would she bring some lowly lieutenant in to discuss that? True, Rysha believed they’d bonded and gotten closer on their various missions, but Sardelle would be the more appropriate person to consult for all those things.

“I’ve been in Cofah prison cells with more comfortable furnishings.” Kaika waved at the button-tuft chair, then chose a leather lounger for herself, though she sat on the end rather than sprawling across it. “His wife chose them for aesthetic purposes. Or to torture him. I’m not sure which. Apparently, redecorating the castle is the job of the queen—it’s an age-old tradition for new queens to change everything as soon as they’re officially appointed. It would almost be worth taking the job just for that. Replace all the pink, pastel blue, and purple with some good old army green and black.” She winked.

“The job?” Rysha gaped at her. “Of being queen? Did he ask?”

Maybe she shouldn’t have been so shocked, but she hadn’t realized their relationship had been going on that long or was that serious. She did remember that the two had shared a rather passionate reunion at Sardelle’s house when Kaika, Rysha, and Trip returned from Rakgorath. And for Kaika to be monogamous, when she seemed so inclined to experiment often and with numerous partners, maybe it meant they were truly in love.

“Oh, he’s asked dozens of times. I’ve always scoffed and declined because really, can you see me as a queen? He acts like it wouldn’t be a huge scandal and says he’d deal with the fallout, but I’m not a noble, and I’m definitely not what Iskandians look for in royalty. I’m positive I’m not what anyone looks for in royalty.” Kaika pushed her hand through her hair, then grimaced at the unexpected shortness.

“Well,” Rysha said slowly, formulating her thoughts as she went, “I would happily call you queen, but you’re everything I’ve always wanted to be, so I may be biased.” She blushed after the words came out, realizing how cheesy they sounded.

“That can’t be true, or you would have jumped at the chance to go to the Sensual Sage with me.”

“Career-wise, you’re everything I want to be.”

Kaika’s face screwed up as if she were working on one of Shulina Arya’s jawbreakers. “I’m trying to get better at accepting praise, but it’s not easy. Anyway, listen, this is what I want to ask you about. Angulus asked again last night, no doubt prompted by the distress of me nearly being burned alive by dragon fire. He’s just lucky he got there after Trip had wriggled his fingers and fixed what should have been horrific scars.” She touched the left side of her face and shuddered visibly. “But the crazy thing is, I think he would have offered even if he had seen me like that. I don’t understand it, but he likes me. He even likes it when I talk straight to him and refuse to be intimidated by his status. It drives him crazy when Zirkander does the same thing.”

“Well, we can admire things in the opposite sex that irritate us in the competition. I think that’s pretty typical.” Rysha realized her words might be misconstrued and held up a hand. “I don’t mean that Zirkander is competition to him for you—I assume not—but just in general. I don’t know them well, but I get the notion that there’s some jealousy there. Which doesn’t seem to make sense from the most powerful man in the country…”

“No, you’re right. Being born into power is a lot different than coming from nothing and earning a place of honor in the world. And if I’d met Zirkander before he snuggled up to Sardelle, don’t think I wouldn’t have tried to get his trousers off.” Kaika grinned at her.

“Er. You don’t say things like that to the king, do you?”

“Nah, but I don’t hide my randy nature, either. He’s been the recipient of much of that randiness of late and seems to like it. Judging by the growling and shouting.”

“Ma’am, this isn’t the kind of woman stuff I thought you wanted to talk about.” Rysha gripped the chair’s arm, wondering if it was too late to flee.

“It’s not. I mean, it’s loosely related, but…” Kaika’s humor faded, and she looked down at her lap and plucked at the sleeve of her robe.

Everything about the uncertain gesture was so unlike the Kaika she knew that Rysha didn’t know how to react.

“Last night, I said yes,” Kaika said.

“To a marriage proposal?”

Kaika nodded. “I’m sure part of it was that I was so relieved to be alive, and he was so relieved I was alive, but… I’m worried it wasn’t the right decision. I mean, I love him, and I’d like to be with him. Even though I’ve often told him it would make more sense if he went off and found some queenly noblewoman to marry, I’ve known it would hurt to watch him do that. If he did. His advisors and friends tell him to do that, of course. To take another shot with a woman he can have heirs with, but that’s not his priority. He doesn’t even think he can father children.” Kaika pushed her hand through her hair again. “Sorry, I got off the topic.”

“I think it’s allowed. A proposal is a big deal.”

“Yes. I’m just not sure I did the right thing. We haven’t told anyone yet. You’re the first I’ve talked to, and he hasn’t had time for talking about things unrelated to ruling a nation. I could back out…”

“Do you want to?” Rysha was surprised Kaika had chosen her as her confidante for this, and hoped she could be helpful.

Kaika studied her sleeve again. “It’s hard to say. I want to be with him, but the idea of dealing with all the crap that would come with the position is enough to give a person nightmares.”

“Would you have to quit the army? The elite troops?” Rysha couldn’t imagine Kaika folding up her uniforms, locking them in a trunk, and sitting on some throne crafting doilies. Wasn’t that what the last queen had done?

“No. We’ve had that discussion numerous times. After three years, he knows I’m a bird that can’t be caged. A very tall gangly bird.”

“Like an ostrich.”

“I do have a long neck.” Kaika stroked it thoughtfully. Or dubiously. “The reason I asked you in is that I’m concerned about dealing with the nobility. You’re normal, but not many of them are that I’ve noticed.”

“Did you just call me normal, ma’am? Nobody has ever said that about me.”

Kaika snorted. “You’re not a pretentious snob is perhaps what I should have said. I’m not good at handling obnoxious people if I can’t resort to fists. Possibly explosives. Angulus says queens aren’t allowed to blow up their own people. Only enemies.”

“That sounds restrictive.”

“I thought so.”

“If you’re asking my opinion on whether you should do it…” Rysha lifted her eyebrows, not positive if Kaika truly wanted some lieutenant’s opinion or merely a sounding board.

But Kaika nodded firmly. “Yes, your opinion. As someone who’s dealt with the nobility and as a fellow officer who likes to blow things up. Or at least stab them with her sword.”

“I think that the nobility won’t know what to make of you. They’ll talk about you behind your back—never to your face and absolutely never to Angulus’s face. They’ll frustrate you if you let them, but my suggestion for a strategy would be to find a few quirky but influential souls you can befriend who can be your guides and who will also report gossip to you. I know, we should be above gossip, and I can’t see you reveling in it, but it’s good to be aware of the machinations that are currently in play out there. And there are always machinations.” Rysha thought of Lockvale and curled her fingers around the edge of the seat. “But in the end, this is about more than fitting in—or not—with the nobility. I know this isn’t how you think, but it’s truly an opportunity for you to change our country for the better. The last few queens have been wallflowers, frankly, and if not for Queen Thasadonia eighty years ago, women wouldn’t be allowed in the military or to vote or to participate in politics or anything. As a historian and a woman, I feel it’s important for there always to be some influential women in power—influential people of any group that’s historically been downtrodden or taken advantage of. It’s easy to take rights for granted and forget how hard people had to fight to get them in the first place, and the first time you’re not paying attention, someone can take them away. I think—I know—you could be someone who makes Iskandia a better place for women, a place where it’s not weird to want to become a pilot or an elite soldier. It’s just a normal thing that some people like to do, regardless of their sex.”

“Rysha, if you’re looking for someone to enact massive political changes, that’s not me. I wouldn’t know the first thing about getting laws passed.”

“You don’t have to be political. Just by being you, you’d be a role model for other women, as you were for me. But I only heard about you because I was army-mad and wanted to make a name for myself, and I found you as someone who had done exactly that. If you were queen, everybody would know about you.”

Judging by the kink to Kaika’s lips, she didn’t think that was a great thing.

“You could just be you,” Rysha repeated. “Also, at the wedding, you should wear your dress uniform instead of some frilly gold or red velvet dress or whatever the style is this year.”

“Won’t the nobility find that scandalous?”

“Oh absolutely.”

Kaika snorted. “This isn’t the advice I was expecting to get.”

“What were you hoping for? For me to say no, you shouldn’t do it?”

“No. I’m not certain it’s not a mistake, but I want to do it. I guess I just wanted some advice on dealing with the nobility. I don’t care what they say about me, but I don’t want Angulus to be hurt, emotionally or physically. Is it possible they’ll be so upset with me as his wife that they might plot against him?”

“By hiring an assassin, you mean?”

Kaika winced. “I understand Ahn’s father is still in the business. And there are others.”

“Angulus is considered fair by the populace and the nobility. I think it’s more likely someone would assassinate you.” After the words came out, Rysha regretted them—what a thing to tell someone.

But Kaika’s eyes flared with a familiar inner fire. “They could try.”

“You’re not supposed to look excited when I suggest someone might try to assassinate you.”

“I like a challenge. I’m a little concerned that things may turn drab. I won’t be able to go on covert missions anymore if my picture is in newspapers around the world and I’m known globally as the queen of Iskandia.”

“You could go on diplomatic missions and pretend you’re there to be decorative and sign things on the king’s behalf, then go snooping around in people’s castles and palaces.”

Kaika tapped her chin thoughtfully. “I do like snooping. All right, good. This has given me some hope that a marriage could work out.”

Rysha smirked.

“What?” Kaika asked.

“I’m amused that you were concerned until I suggested diplomatic snooping and assassins coming after you.”

“I don’t want to be bored or surrounded by insufferable people I have to pretend I like. I’ve never been good at that.”

“Talk to my Aunt Tadelay sometime,” Rysha said. “She’s a firm fixture in the nobility, and she never pretends to like anyone. She’ll let you know exactly what she thinks. Unless she walks in on you naked and having sex. That has a tendency to fluster her.”

Kaika arched her eyebrows. “Is this something that happened to you? Recently?”

“Possibly.”

“You do know one of the first rules of sex is to lock the door, don’t you?”

“We weren’t planning to—I mean, we were going out on a date, not staying and—er, things just happened.”

Maybe Aunt Tadelay wasn’t the only one who got flustered when discussing such things.

“I suppose it’s good that Zirkander is going to let your randy captain out of jail, though less good that you’ll have to go to a dragon temple to visit him. Do temples have doors that lock?”

“I don’t know, ma’am, but he’ll be so busy building his project, he’ll probably be immune to the suggestion of being dragged off behind locked doors.”

“You just have to be assertive. And know how to distract a man. I can give you some tips.”

“That’s not necessary, ma’am.”

“No? You’ve given me helpful advice. It only seems fair.”

Rysha looked toward a window, hoping Shulina Arya would be back to collect her—or rescue her—soon.