Chapter 405 (2/2)

Lady Khoonkeenadee threw herself onto the back of a riding beast with a smooth practiced motion that was almost fluid. Before Nakteti could ask how or what she would be using to travel a wizened ancient Terran male stepped up next to her, making motions with his hands and chanting. He was surrounded by a nimbus and Nakteti felt herself lifted comfortably on a complex interaction of pressor and tractor beams.

It was only five miles to the fortress manor, which Nakteti could see growing large in the distance. It was a brooding structure, heavy stone and thick mortar, surrounded by a moat, with a town or village of wooden and stone buildings at the base of the hill.

The whole thing was primitive enough that it would have been easy for Nakteti to forget she had arrived on a space ship capable of interstellar flight.

The gate had a heavy warsteel porticullus, guards, and a metal grate acting as the ceiling for the entry tunnel that Nakteti could see people staring down at her.

The whole thing oozed malevolence and controlled violence.

The Terran woman dismounted smoothly, handing the reins to a servant, then moved over and waited for the tractor-pressor beams to gently set Nakteti on her feet. The Tnvaru matron noted that the male Terran seemed tired and was covered in sweat beneath his heavy robe.

”If you will accompany me, my priests and healers are examining him now,” Lady Keena said, motioning Nakteti to follow her.

Nakteti bustled along, keeping up with the Terran's long-legged strides. She noted that behind the heavy wooden doors was another warsteel porticullus and another grate for a ceiling. Her implant was kind enough to inform her that the ceiling was designed in such a way to allow the defenders to pour boiling oil on any beneath them as well as to jab invaders with long spears.

The hallway beyond had shields, tapestries, suits of armor, and weapons on decorative racks on the walls. It ended in a set of double doors that were marred by axe and sword strikes and had obviously been forced open sometime in the past.

As surely as spear thrust to the belly ended the life of the Arch-Magus right on this dais, echoed in Nakteti's mind. An off-hand comment by her hostess, reminding her that she had taken the throne by force.

The throne in question did sit upon a dais. It was ornate but comfortable looking. There was a smaller throne next to it with a comfortable looking chair on the opposite side.

A tall thin Terran male dressed in official looking array banged a heavy spear against the floor as Terrans and species Nakteti didn't recognize stopped their conversations to stare.

”Her Grace Khoonkeenadee, the Arch-Duchess of Relflagen, Lady of Magic and Beauty, the Arcane Will of King Nganto, She Who has Birthed a Hundred, is enthroned,” the male called out as Lady Keena drew her sword before sitting down, setting the blade across her thighs. She gestured to the comfortable looking chair beside the throne and Nakteti moved over and sat down.

”The Tnvaru Matron Nakteti,” the man said.

Nakteti sat and waited, watching the people on the sides of the room resume their conversations.

The far door opened and a Terran male entered the room.

”His Grace, Lord Karenteera, Baron of the Red Rock Hills, servant of the Duke of Tangerran, voice of the Duke of Tangerran,” the man with the spear said.

The man moved up and bowed deeply to the thrones.

”Lady Khoonkeenadee,” he said.

”Lord Karenteera,” Lady Keena said absently, running her finger up and down the blade. Nakteti noted the slight crackle of bluish electricity dancing between her finger and the metal of the blade. ”You have reason for interrupting my meeting with the Tnvaru Matron?”

The man nodded, bowing again. ”His Grace, the Armored Fist of Wrath of King Aragantoo, Duke Tangerran, offers a truce between his house and yours,” the man said. ”He has heard of your beloved baby brother's ailment and does not wish to offend the power of House Nakteti or the Tnvaru people by continuing to prosecute the war against your house brought on by the insult of your refusal of his generous offer to take you as a concubine.”

Lady Keena smiled, a cold thing. ”As he has given insult to me by refusing to kneel between my legs as I sit upon this throne and put his tongue to better use than spreading foul lies and slander about his betters,” she stated. ”Perhaps I shall breach the failing walls of his dusty and crumbling fortress, bind him in chains, and make him dance and perform for the Tnvaru Matron Nakteti's amusement,” her smile got wider. ”Oh, wait, his dancing would be a threat to her feet as he gallumphs about.”

Nakteti expected the man to take offense, but instead there was a slight twitch to his mouth that Nakteti had learned meant he was trying to suppress a smile.

”Then perhaps we should ask the Tnvaru Matron her wishes?” the man offered.

Lady Keena's smile gained more warmth. ”An excellent plan,” she turned to Nakteti. ”What say you, Matron Nakteti? Should I have this slanderous dog driven from my fortress-manor with whips and curses, throwing his offer of a truce into the cesspit where it belongs, or shall we shower him with gifts for his lord, praise for his liege, and allow him to return to his wife and children?”

Nakteti waited a long moment, holding her gripping stick tightly with her gripping hands. Her left catching hand rested on the arm rest, her right catching hand cradling her chin with her elbow on her knee as she leaned forward slightly.

”Gifts,” Nakteti said. ”Lavish gifts for himself that his master could not dangle before him like a rude tuber before a beast of burden,” she allowed herself to emulate a Terran smile. ”Fine jewels and cloth, precious metals and artistry, gifts for his wives, his children, his concubines.”

Nakteti waited a moment before reaching into her pocket and pulling out what she had concealed within. ”And he may take this to his master,” she said, holding out her hand.

A small chunk of battlesteel laid in her hand.

”From the hull of my beloved It Tastes Sweet, a promise that her Ladyship Khoonkeenadee's brother is also under the protection of the Tnvaru people, and that we will abide by any truce for as long as he does,” Nakteti said.

There were titters from the humans along the walls as the elegantly dressed man reached forward and accepted the piece of battlesteel.

”I shall inform my lordship of your words as I present your gift,” the man said. He gave a deep bow before turning and leaving.

Lady Keena turned to Nakteti as the doors closed behind the male Terran and smiled.

”You'll do just fine here,” she said.