“That’s only four hundred or so years ago,” Rik said. “Surely her Blood were much older than that.”
In the bond, I felt the mighty sphinx searching through time and space for the man’s face. Back century after century after century. His clothes changing styles from a more modern suit in Thierry’s memory to what I would call a musketeer uniform to armor and chainmail. “He’s only been outside of the Dauphine’s power in the world a few times, but I See him primarily in France, around the same time you were born, Sir Guillaume.”
G grunted an acknowledgment. “It’s possible that he simplyprefers the rapier more than the heavier broadsword he might have used originally.”
I allowed Thierry’s memory to continue flowing for us. The man with the sword stabbed down into the mud and lifted a fat wriggling leech. I wanted to fast forward and skip the awfulness, but Thierry had endured all of this for me. The least I could do was watch it with him. Feel the slick, oddly meaty sensation of the leech sliding down my throat. The horror of knowing it was contaminated with the Dauphine’s blood. Still alive. Swimming through my body.
Sweat beaded on my forehead and my hand trembled enough that I set the delicate china cup back on the tray so I didn’t spill tea on myself or the bed.
:That was her alpha, Guigues,:Thierry whispered in my head.:There was another Blood named Simon. I saw a third Blood at the New Orleans house but I never heard his name.:
“There’s no way she only had three Blood,” Guillaume said, shaking his head. “Not a Triune queen, let alone one as strong as she was.”
“How strong was she? Really?” I asked.
Guillaume’s gaze weighed heavier, his eyes narrowed and intent. “I’ve only ever encountered two queens stronger than her, my queen.”
“Desideria and Marne?”
Slowly, he shook his head. “You’re fifty-percent correct.”
I sighed. “Desideria… and me.”
2
GUILLAUME
Shara fucking Isador is the strongest queen to ever walk this earth in my lifetime. I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if the general said ever.
I didn’t say the truth aloud. I wasn’t even sure that she heard my thought in the bond. She didn’twantto know how strong she was.
“So where are all her Blood?” Shara asked.
“That’s a very good question,” I replied grimly. “Because more than likely, all of them turned thrall when their queen died.”
“Or worse,” Sekh muttered.
My jaw clenched for a moment. Goddess. He was right.
“What?” She asked.
Silently, I looked at him, waiting for him to break the bad news.
“Knowing the type of queen she was and herspecialgifts, it’s very likely she would have given them certain commands upon her death,” Sekh said.
“Like revenge on the queen who managed to kill her.” Her shoulders fell, her heart sinking. “Fucking hell, I wanted to havesome peace and safety for once. I killed her to keep everyone safe, not put us in even more danger.”
“And so it shall be, my queen.” Rik glowered at each of us, pissed off that our queen would be in danger yet again. “If the Dauphine’s Blood were sword fighters, then we should definitely continue drilling with weapons.”
“Practicing is well and good, but even if we drill twenty-four hours a day, no one can pick up a sword, and within a few days or weeks, suddenly fight at the level of a master swordsman born in the eleventh century.”
“Agreed,” Sekh said. “The man in Thierry’s memory he shared with you is extremely skilled. It would be a fatal mistake to assume any of the Dauphine’s Blood won’t be nearly as skilled as Sir Guillaume or Sir Lancelot.”
I let out a sour grunt. “Or the Impaler, for that matter. We should drill, definitely, but hand-to-hand combat won’t be the best way to defeat any of them.”
“We can’t assume my blood circle will keep them out either.” She blew out a heavy sigh. “Not when her goule passed through. Though maybe her Blood will be more like thralls than zombies.”
“We’ll double the guards on the perimeter,” Rik said. “Now that your reserves are full, you won’t need to tap us so deeply.”
