Miami Days and Truscan (K)nights by Gail Roughton

Author:Gail Roughton
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing
Published: 2012-04-16T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

When we had regained our senses, made ourselves presentable, and prepared to catch up with Dal and the Tornans, he paused before helping me mount Pegasus, and gently touched the large bruise on my cheek left by the hard, hoof-like hand of the Prian.

“Which one?” he asked.

“The Prian. But I don’t think you’re going to do much more to him than you already have.”

He glanced around the circle as he boosted me up for the stirrup.

“No, I suppose not.”

I settled into the saddle and he swung up behind me.

“I killed Toron,” I said as Dalph set the falton in motion. “By sheer stupidity. I killed him.”

“Green Eyes, listen to me carefully. Toron died a soldier’s death and would have wanted no other. If you had not come out, they would have gone inside the Rata after you, and there is no way to know the outcome of that or how many would have died. And if I let myself carry with me the burden of the men who’ve died under my command since I had to take the throne, I could not walk under the weight. The past cannot be called back, mistakes are made, and the dead are dead. We have to worry about the present.”

“The Krenorian Tornans? Crayton? Cretor?”

“Safe. It was a well-orchestrated distraction.”

“By Baka?”

“Assuredly so. Several months ago, we lost two Kabras, and though it’s unusual for us not to be able to account for bodies, it sometimes happens. We’d assumed they were dead. I don’t remember the last time one of our ranks deserted, I don’t think since my father’s time.”

Pegasus was moving at a steady pace, but not at sufficient speed to hamper our conversation.

“And now what will you do about Baka?” I asked, knowing that this could not be allowed to pass, proof positive or not.

“What should I do about Baka, Tess? As Queen of Trusca, tell me.”

I didn’t hesitate. “Nuke him,” I said.

“Nuke?” I heard the smile in Dalph’s voice behind me.

“Take him down, take him out, do your thing.”

He laughed outright. “I’m familiar with the term. Johnny’s bemoaned the fact that we can’t nuke Pria before. I just wanted to see what you’d say. Yes, Baka’s a dead man walking, another term I’ve heard Johnny use. But he won’t be in Trussa, probably he’s not even still in Trusca at all, so it’s a moot point.”

“How do you know?”

“He masterminded a failed plot to deliver the Queen of Trusca to the Prians. Where would you be?”

“As far away from you as possible,” I admitted. “And while I’m thinking about it, is there any other small little secret I should maybe know?”

“Let’s see. I’ve been so in love with you since the first time I saw you that I would have sold my soul to have you as long as it didn’t endanger Trusca. I came up with the plot to force you into marriage while you were unconscious. I have no idea where the stone that’s supposed to protect my country is or what I’d do with it if I did know.

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