The Queen of War by Alex Linwood

Author:Alex Linwood
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781951098223
Publisher: Greenlees Publishing

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Clelia found her at the water pump in the kitchen gardens. The school workers had not challenged Valentina when she’d picked her way on the neat paths between the rows of plants and pumped the handle of the water pump until the water gushed from its metal mouth in a torrent, sending a thick river of brown water through the rows of carrots and turnips. Once she could not bring forth the water any faster, she released the pump handle, then thrust her head under the flow of ice-cold water. The water chilled her scalp into an icy numbness. It flowed down her back and soaked her clothing, the white robes dirty with yellow dust, now also soaked through.

She didn’t care.

Not a cloud hung in the sky above. The school, like the city itself, hung onto the heat of the sun, and amplified it everywhere with the reflective white buildings. Valentina thought she’d be cooked from the inside out. Someone should have told her in that winter chilled tower to be careful what favor you ask of the gods.

“Are you alright?” Clelia asked.

Valentina stood, letting the water pour from her hair down her back and shoulders.

“I am. Why wouldn’t I be?” Valentina’s stomach growled.

Clelia looked at Valentina’s stomach. “You missed lunch, or nearly so, but it sounds like you know that.”

“How did you know I missed lunch?” Valentina said.

Clelia folded her arms and stared at Valentina. “You are decidedly not alright. After he dragged you away, I got some information on where you were… with those wretched royals. Then, they showed up at the dining hall for lunch and you were nowhere to be found. What happened?”

Valentina grabbed one of the small rags by the pump. It was nowhere near large enough for what she needed, but it would have to do. She pressed it into her face and neck. “Nothing happened.” She tossed the rag into the basket for used ones and grabbed another. Just for her face. The rest of her would have to dry out under the sun.

“Nothing happened?” Clelia asked. She narrowed her eyes at Valentina. “Fine, that is two explanations you owe me, but I’ll collect later. We have to get to the dining hall or you will be sorry. Dinner is not for hours.” Clelia grabbed Valentina by the wrist and pulled.

What was it with the folk of this city and pulling people along like dolls?

But Valentina was hungry enough to go along with Clelia, so she only gave token resistance as Clelia dragged her in the direction of the bathhouses.

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