Beau’s smile only made Minerva wonder what he had planned and who it was that helped him plan it. Surely Lena and Trident would try avoiding it at all costs since it involved Minerva. Her and Rone strode past and into the Great Hall.
“The little snake has something up his sleeve, it looks like,” Rone mumbled, scanning the room.
“I’m sure.”
There were seats set up in the Great Hall and a platform at the end, where Queen Kurta was preparing to say a few words at a podium. She was a short woman, maybe a little younger than Rone, with curly hair piled on top of her head in an intricate fashion. Her movements were not that graceful, but she was sure of herself like she was used to living in authority.
“I need to speak to Archen. I’ll come find you if you save me a seat.” Rone squeezed her hand and walked away.
Without his presence next to her, Minerva felt strange. Like she was out in the open with eyes questioning her. She straightened her shoulders and found a chair inconspicuously in the middle of the left hand side, placing her wrap down next to her. She took the time by herself to look around the room. The electric lighting was pleasant and bright. She could see Emily staying near but not too close, in case she was needed.
As people were still milling about, slowly finding their chairs, an attractive, kind-looking man casually came through the crowd and settled next to her without a word. He smiled as he sat.
“Anyone sitting here?”
“Not there, no,” she replied, subtly looking him up and down. “Excuse me, have we met before?”
It was as though the man was delighted, just waiting for her to ask that. “Why no, we have not… But I was hoping I would have the pleasure of making your acquaintance. There has been so much chatter about the revered Minerva.” He had a strange yet distinct way of speaking. Every word was weighed.
“Ha ha.” She gave an unamused smile. “Yes, my story gets better and better, doesn’t it?”
“It certainly does… And I was curious before. Pardon my bluntness, but you don’t have any connection with Ghrathar anymore, is that right?”
“May I ask who’s wondering?”
“Of course. The name is Alkari.”
“I think you have just as much of a reputation as I do,” she said, shaking his warm hand.
“Hmm. Yes.”
“I didn’t hear them announce you.”
“I didn't come in through the main entrance.”
“Oh, so you are friends with the queen?” Minerva tilted her head to the podium.
“No, no. For the love of everything sacred, no!” He shook his head with a pouted lip, folding his arms over his pristinely tailored hunting outfit that was clearly designed for event-going. She thought it was absurd that this was a man that was said to raid and kill mercilessly.
His charisma was loud and his motives were quiet, making a slippery man. This was someone who she could do business with. As Rone was a straight forward negotiator, Alkari made his deals through banter and stories.
“Why have you come then?”
“To see how the land lays. I’m intending on being quite a competitor as I’m sure you’re aware of.”
“Yes, it was all we would speak of for long dreary days this past winter in Ghrathar… You are aiming for the throne?” She gave a side glance.
“Of course. It’s not a secret. My men and I are perfectly fine facing anyone. Anyone, however, except the full force of Yallifa and Ghrathar. Can you speak for King Archen?”
“I can’t. I only just met him.” She shook her head. “But I can talk to him.”
“That’s exactly what I want you to do.” Alkari leaned in closer with his elbow over the back of the chair as he turned in his seat. “I’m willing to combine forces against Yallifa. I know that despite this little charade, Kurta is planning to take Ghrathar for herself, to spread this dirty tech and ruin our lands and people. Now Beau is weak. I would have his throne in a year or so without any help, but he’s aiming desperately for an alliance that I imagine Kurta has already accepted.”
“Why would she accept when she wants it herself? That would only make her integration into the kingdom take longer than necessary.”
“She’s intimidated. War is swiftly on the way. I would like an alliance with Archen. Together, we would most definitely be able to stand against her. Do this for your new kingdom. Once she has her forces continuously building next to Brier, it will be inevitable that your home is next. Then onto the surrounding islands, and of course, the next continents that come into question.” He dug into his pocket. “Do not disclose this to anyone.”
“What is it?” She turned the miniature envelope in her hand with scrawling handwriting.
“How to contact me. If word spreads about this and if anyone other than a messenger personally from you arrives, I will hunt you. This is nothing personal, I like you very much. I also like your fiancé, though he doesn’t have what I believe is worthy of kingship. That’s why I came to you.” He promptly stood, seeing Rone weaving his way through the crowd. “Good evening, Minerva. I hope to hear from you.”
Alkari stalked off as Rone sat on her other side.
“Who was that?”
“Alkari.”
“Alkari?” He whipped his head around, trying to get a look at the man, but he was gone.
Minerva’s eyes were scanning the room as everyone was settling in under the dimming lights.
“What did he say?”
“I’ll tell you when we’re on the ship home,” she reassured, slipping the envelope into a pocket in her skirt.
“Ahh, good thinking,” he nodded.
Everyone quickly fell silent as Queen Kurta cleared her throat. In a voice that rather grated against the ears, she started her speech. The first fifteen minutes of it were boring pleasantries that Minerva felt herself zoning out to, but she tried to keep her utmost focus on what she was saying in case there were any subtleties that shouldn’t be missed. Towards the end, or what Minerva hoped was the end, she saw Beau’s lurking figure off to the left.
She saw his boyish chin jerk to the back of the hall. He wanted to speak with her.
Minerva shifted slightly.
“I wouldn’t,” Rone whispered.
“I need to see if it’s important.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched as he looked back up at the podium but then nodded. She didn’t like the possessiveness that she felt emanating from him. As if reading her thoughts, he leaned next to her ear.
“I just don’t want you to get hurt. I’m not the only one that needs you. Brier does just as much.”
It soothed the annoyed part of her enough to kiss his temple, which brought a ravenous look out of him as the light from the podium caught the whites of his eyes. He was an impressive sight. There was something in her that was glad they were on the same side.
Minerva broke away from his enticing stare and hurried past the few people on her left. She moved quickly behind the pillars that also lined the Great Hall. Beau was nowhere to be seen.
Coming up to the guards at the doors, she was let through. The room they were all previously in was still brightly lit and now empty. It was strangely so. The sound of her shoes on the marble floor was the only sound. She glanced around herself to find Beau back where he was before among the pillars. A look of satisfaction was smeared across his face.
“My, my, Minerva, you’ve done well for yourself.” An eyebrow quirked up.
“I would say so, for a woman who was going to be tortured and sent to the prisons by her own leader.” She kept control of her breathing as she sunk back out of the direct light. There was a clear view of the doors, so if she screamed, the guards would be right there to hear her.
“I wouldn't have done that, and you know it.”
“Hmmm, I disagree.” She put her gloved hands on her narrow waist. “Now, what do you want?”
“What do I want?” He looked her up and down. “. . . you to come back. However, there would be some new ground rules. Such-”
“Absolutely not.”
“Why?” A whiney youth shimmered through his words ever so slightly, but he regained composure. “We are going to be on the winning side. We have Queen Kurta.”
“That doesn’t mean anything.” Minerva shook her head and smiled. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to her speech.”
Beau snatched her arm and yanked her back with a force that made Alkari’s tiny envelope fall out of her pocket. In an instant she thought maybe she could step on it to conceal it, but the little flap it made onto the floor made Beau look down. Still holding her arm, he bent over to take it.
“What’s th-”
Minerva drew her foot back and kicked his feline face as hard as she could. He sucked in a pained gasp and barreled into her, taking them both to the painfully hard floor. Minerva felt her hip and shoulder crack on the marble as she was slammed down. Beau’s hesitation of going after her or the envelope was just enough for her to grab a knot of his hair and yank back, but with it was a fist into her cheekbone, bouncing her head off the ground.
With her whole face feeling like it was caved in and the explosion of pain in the back of her head, Minerva’s vision blacked for a moment. When it came back she was struck in the face again. This time she let her body go limp. There was no way she could move fast enough to avoid the next blow.
Cracking an eye open she saw his hand go up again but someone bulldozed him from the side, flying over her. She lolled her head to the side and saw Rone.
Kneeling, he hoisted Beau a foot off the ground and slammed him back down. The next time she blinked, there were men swarming everywhere. The first few tore Rone away. He was screaming in fury and jabbing his finger at Beau, while the young king snarled back from his curled position on the ground. People were now all over the place. There was a new kind of danger that Minerva couldn’t respond to. All she could do was squirm over to the envelope and tuck it safely down the front of her dress where it wouldn’t be falling out.
She felt strong, hurried hands lift her under her arms and then an arm under her back and legs as she felt the world melting away. She felt like she was a little doll being tossed around as chaos erupted all around her.