Queen's Hunt (River of Souls 2)

Adler leaned close to Joannis; they conferred in an inaudible murmur.

“He made no attempt to kill you,” the governor said to Galena.

“No. I-I think he believed he had.”

Again, Adler and the governor spoke in whispers. Adler seemed unhappy. She argued in a fierce undertone until Joannis cut her off with an abrupt gesture. “The decision is mine,” he said. “And the responsibility. If you disagree, file a formal complaint with our new senior commander. Meanwhile, I want you to have that patrol readied and out before the next hour. I will talk to our soldier here.”

Adler gave a stiff salute. “As you wish, my lord.”

She shot a penetrating glare in Galena’s direction as she marched from the room.

The door clicked shut. They were alone now, she and the governor. Galena’s mouth turned dry. Joannis, in turn, studied her in silence. She wished he would offer her water, or even cold tea, but he only continued to observe her with those calm dark eyes, eyes that reminded her of the raptor in her dreams.

“We know what happened,” he said softly.

She started. “What do you mean, my lord?”

“You let him go. You failed to report that to your captain and your commander. You betrayed—”

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“My lord, no—”

“Do not lie to me, Galena Alighero.”

“I’m not lying. My lord, I—”

Joannis cut her off with a wave of his hand. “For all your bravery afterward, you let that man go. Then you failed to report the matter to your captain and your commander. Then you asked another person to plead your case with me. Which act makes you the coward, Galena Alighero? The first one? Or the last? And do not tell me that you acted by impulse. You deliberately withheld information from your officers. I cannot overlook what you did. So. Your punishment.”

In a soft, level voice, he detailed that punishment. She was to lose a step in rank. She would report every night for the dark watch at the harbor, followed by the dawn cleanup detail. That would last six months, after which the commanders and Joannis would review her situation. Gradually she took in that she had not lost her post, nor would they whip her, or lock her in prison. It was a far kinder punishment than she would have expected.

When he finished speaking, Joannis stood. Galena saluted, thinking he meant to dismiss her, but the governor shook his head. “We are not yet done.”

He took a cloth from a drawer. It was a square of gray cotton, with a single word painted in black dye. Even though she couldn’t read, she saw the characters were different. Set in reverse, she realized. Her pulse gave an uncomfortable leap. He had it ready. It never mattered what she said. He had her punishment set.

“What does it say?” she demanded.

Then cursed herself. Stupid, stupid. You never spoke to a lord and governor like that. Even she knew better.

Joannis seemed indifferent to her response. “The word says Honor,” he said. “Come here.”

She took a halting step forward. Joannis closed the distance and laid the cloth over her cheek. It stung, like hot needles. Frightened, she started to pull away, but he gripped her arm firmly. “It’s magic,” he told her. “Hold still or it will hurt more.”

He spoke a few words in some strange harsh tongue she’d never heard before. Her cheek burned. A sharp green scent filled the air, so strong she could taste it in the back of her throat. It was the same scent she’d detected the morning of the battle—a scent of woodland and earth and resin, as if she were drowning in pine needles.

The magic vanished. Taken by surprise, Galena staggered. Joannis caught her by the elbow and pulled her to standing. His grip was stronger than she expected. He gave her a shake. She drew a shuddering breath. Felt the strange numbness recede. Lord Joannis studied her face with narrowed eyes before he released his hold.

“What have you done?” she whispered.

“This.” He took a polished square of brass from his desk and handed it to her. It was just like the mirrors she had seen inside Mistress Andeliess’s pleasure house, though the images from this one were blurred. She tilted it this way and that, until she caught the reflection of her own face.

And hissed in surprise.

Strong black lines marked her cheek. She touched her fingertips to them. Felt a buzzing under her skin, as though the magic had imprinted something inside her.

“The marks are temporary,” Joannis said. “If anyone asks its meaning, you are to tell them that you chose your safety and your comfort over your honor. Those words exactly. If you fail to repeat that speech, the punishment is expulsion and prison.”

Temporary. That was some relief.