I took two steps closer, again wondering how long my bladder could hold. Why does one always want to piss oneself when in fear?
He circled me, eyes alert on every part of me, but it was not a licentious appraisal, more so curious. He reached out and lifted up my left hand, bringing it closer to his face to better see the ranunculus tattoo.
His skin was like ice in winter against my own hot palm.
Then, abruptly, he dropped my hand. Returning back to his stance between the tables, he stood with his legs apart, hands now clasped one on top of the other. “Again, Alric. I asked you for ten men. You bring me nine women. What am I to make of this?”
“May I speak, sire?” a grizzled man in armor said standing from one of the tables, the one closest to the three Procurers.
“Jeremanthy!” crowed Hinnom, as if pleased by the interruption. “I always want my chief man of my infantry to speak, my wise, brave general! Speak! Speak to the room!”
My gods, I thought, the man was insane. He seemed intimidating and was, but there was a derangement to his mannerisms and speech, as if, on a whim, he could caress your cheek or plunge one of his shark’s teeth into your eye.
I stood, eyes leaping between the king and his general.
Jeremanthy, the older man in Tintarian black, bowed towards Hinnom. “I thank you, sire. In defense of Captain Angler, the men on the Council of Ten were nowhere to be found. And our spies had detailed descriptions for each.”
“I see,” said Hinnom. “They knew of their impending invasion. They had to. They broke my trade agreements and cut us off from their ore.”
“I believe it to be so,” answered the general.
“Alas,” said Hinnom, unclasping his hands and bringing them together in a clap that thundered throughout the throne room.
Everyone but the king flinched.
“Twas still a victorious invasion,” continued the king, pacing towards the table where the general sat and the Procurers stood. “I just wonder and I really do— Ireally dowonder, Alric, how you, a man such as yourself, nay, asoldiersuch as yourself could fall for this?” The king spun, walking back towards me and brought his face within a breath of mine. “Was it her beauty? I have not known you to be so susceptible in the past.”
A lump in my throat expanded and I did not know whether I would scream, cry or vomit into the face of maybe the most powerful man on the continent.
Hinnom continued, his face bent to my level, his breath sharp like camphor, his scent that of salt and soap. “It must be. It has to be, because, and we can all us agree, men, can’t we? We can all agree and we all know Eccleston to be a godless city.” He looked over at the other women. “I mean no offense. But it is true. There is no worship of any god or any goddess. The temples of Saint Agnes are kept open via taxes, they are employment offices. We know this to be true!” The volume and pitch of his voice rose and a grin crawled across his face. “There are no priestesses of Agnes.”
The king walked back to his original standing between the tables. And then, in an eruption of almost jollity, he shouted, “who are you women? Really?”
He was perhaps the most terrifying man I had ever seen. Behind me, I heard the whimpering of some of the women.
“What is your name, leader?” Hinnom said, gaze back on me.
“Edie,” I said, my name a croak in my mouth.
“Priestess Edie!” said Hinnom, a look of mock fascination on his face. Or was it real? There was no way of knowing. “Priestess Edie, did you bewitch the captain of my Procurers with your face and figure?”
Silence echoed throughout the chamber. Outside, the waves slapped against the bluffs, an eternal kiss between rock and sea.
“I asked a question!” shouted Hinnom, giving another clap.
I gave a start and then said, “no. I did not bewitch anyone, sire.”
“Are you quite sure?” asked the king, his tone mocking again. “Are you quite sure you did not set out to mesmerize my champion Procurer? Are you quite sure you were not attempting to seduce Captain Angler? Are youcertain?”
Out of the corner of my right eye, I could see Alric shift his weight, the movement nearly invisible, but I had been watching him for weeks. I may have been quaking in my boots before a king and his court, but a part of me was just perturbed. I closed my eyes and replied, “I would not know how to even begin such an endeavor. Sire.”
His laughter was a short bark, but he was delighted at my reply. “Yes, I agree. He is a resolute one, Lady Edie. Dauntless. Mysterious, even, our captain. I do not know that women have much of an effect on Alric. But,” the king continued his speculation, “did you bewitch him and not even know that which you were about? The enticement of a man, even one as coldblooded as my captain, can be accomplished with the right woman. Are you, Lady Edie, that woman?”
My eyes went to my right and I noticed how still Alric was.
“Brother,” said the young man seated at the table on the right, next to the older general, who was yet standing. The man had spoken without asking. He was lean of face, like Hinnom, but his features were arranged more pleasingly. He was also much younger than the king.
“What, Peregrine?” groaned Hinnom in a false tone of annoyance, though his face was almost generous towards the younger man.
