The Born Queen

Before the warriors loomed a massive, mist-shrouded citadel of dark red stone, and in the mists gigantic shadows seemed to move.

Genya Dare, at that last terrible battle, had fought right here, where Eslen now stood.

Genya Dare, who had let one Skaslos live to be the secret captive of the kings of Crotheny-until A

Follow me, she was saying. Follow me, daughter-queen.

"Majesty, if you would like to do this another time-"

Artwair.

"No," she said, shaking herself back to the moment. "I'm fine. I was just wondering how the artist knew what Genya Dare looked like."

"He didn't," Artwair said. "The model was Elyoner Dare."

"Aunt Elyoner?"

"No, your father's grandmother. A Merimoth, originally, but her mother was a Dare from the Minster-on-Sea branch of the family."

"That's her?"

"Well, she didn't look exactly like that when I knew her. She was a good deal older. Why do you ask?"

Because I almost lost my virginity in her crypt.

"No reason," she said.

He shrugged, then pointed at the map he had spread out on the table. "Sir Fail will blockade Copenwis to prevent more reinforcements by sea. They will expect an attack by land because it's the best and quickest way to take the city. The city isn't really built for siege, and the highlands around it make it too easy to bombard with engines. That means they'll try to meet us somewhere on the Maog Vaost plain before we get there."

"And so?"

"And so I propose taking a somewhat indirect route to the city: moving east a bit and then doubling back to attack." His finger described a half arc.

"We can send a smaller mounted force the obvious way and have them camp to provoke the waiting force to settle. They'll have orders to retreat back to Poelscild. By that time we should have the position we want."

A

"We could take a larger force, but that would leave Eslen weakened, and we would still be delayed. If we go heavy on cavalry and light infantry, I think Copenwis might fall quickly."

"We'll try that, then. And if we're taking mostly horse, I've a mind to take Cape Chavel with us."

Artwair frowned a bit. "His reputation is good," he said. "His mounted archers are said to be without equal. But he got those from his father, and the man himself hasn't been tested in battle. Besides that, I worry about his loyalties."

"You think his allegiance to me is feigned?"

"I don't know what to think, Majesty. That's just the problem. I don't know him."

"Aren't we better putting him to the test now rather than later?"

"I suppose. But with you riding along…"

"Not that again, I hope."

He looked very much as if he did want to revisit that subject, but instead he shook his head.

"We'll try him," she said.

"As you wish, Majesty. Now, if we can talk about the defenses along the coast…"

Another two bells of that, and A

The knock was from the Sefry guard, of course.

"Forgive me, Majesty," he said, "but someone requests an audience."

"In my rooms?"

"Majesty, it's Mother Uun."

"Ah." She hadn't seen the ancient Sefry for a long while. It wasn't her habit to drop by for no reason.

"Send her up, then," she said. "And find some of that tea she drinks."

"Majesty."

A few moments later, two Sefry women were shown in.

Mother Uun was old even for a Sefry, and Sefry lived for hundreds of years. Even in the dusk light coming through the window, the spider work of veins in her face showed through translucent skin. She had her hair in a braid so long that it was wrapped around her waist three times, like a sash.

The other woman looked very young, but with the Sefry it was hard to know what that meant exactly. Her face was oval, her eyes some dark color, her mouth a bit crooked, as if she were always on the verge of a deprecating smile.

"Majesty," Mother Uun said, bowing. "May I present Nerenai of the House Sern."

The young woman bowed again. "A pleasure, Majesty."

Her voice was pleasantly husky, with a lilting accent A

"The pleasure is mine," A

"Intrusion, I'm sure you mean," Mother Uun said. "I'm sorry for the late hour. I won't keep you long."

"Sit," A

The two took their places on a bench, and A

Mother Uun's gaze seemed to pick through her. "Your power is growing," she said. "I can see it all around you. I can feel you when I close my eyes."

A

"I-things are happening to me. I do things I don't understand sometimes, as if I'm in a dream. I think things…" She sighed. "Can you tell me what's happening to me?"

"Not everything, I'm sure, but Nerenai and I have come to offer what knowledge we have."

The tea arrived at that moment, and A

"There is a woman I see," A

"A woman? Not one of the Faiths?"

"She killed the Faiths," A

Mother Uun's eyes widened. "That's interesting," she said. "I don't know what that might mean. Nerenai?"

"The Faiths are advisers," Nerenai said.

"Not very good ones," A

The younger Sefry shrugged. "They are limited, it is true. Or were, I suppose. But they see things in the flow of the great powers that others ca

"Yes," A

Nerenai frowned, and steepled her fingers together.

"The burning woman must be your arilac," Mother Uun said. "It could appear as anything."

"Arilac?"

"In the oldest stories about the thrones, there is a mention of the arilac, a sort of guide who appears to lead those who have the power to claim it toward the throne. She is your ally in that, at least."

"But the question you must ask yourself," Nerenai said, "is what advice the Faiths might have given you that the arilac did not want you to hear."

"I spoke to their ghosts," A

"They may not have known. It might have been something your arilac feared they would learn later."

"Then she isn't to be trusted?"

"I would question everything she-or, rather, it-tells you. It wants you to find and control the sedos throne, and in the most direct ma

"So if she asks me to cut off my hand-"

"I would question that," Nerenai said. "Follow the arilac, but not blindly. Stay skeptical."

Mother Uun shook her head. "I anticipated the arilac, suspected it had already found you the first time we met, but I did not know enough to help you with it. That's why I sent for Nerenai. Her clan holds those secrets. She can help guide you." She smiled. "A guide to help with the guide."

"I am at your service, Majesty," Nerenai said.

A

But I did that on purpose, didn't I? she thought. Her reasons for it were still good.