“Then why the need to travel abroad through other sovereign nations?”
Uncomfortable, Jularra looked to Vischuno and Wona in a silent plea for assistance. But then it struck her. She had a perfectly plausible answer. She could even use her hesitance to help sell it.
“The time is approaching for me to provide a successor, and I’m… having trouble… conceiving.” It was an embarrassing lie, but Jularra felt it worth it to keep the truth concealed.
Annutsik closed his eyes and lifted his head as he took a deep breath. He smiled slightly in recognition of what he clearly thought was the obviousness of her statement.
“I see,” he said. “I see.”
Jularra breathed easier. The Yubik captain retreated a few steps. Had she finally broken through to Annutsik?
“Your barren womb is of no concern to the Yubik,” he barked. He waved angrily at his captain. “Get them out of here, and send them home. See to it that they march straight back to the border.”
The room spun into a frenzy of activity. Yubik guards swarmed in on the Acorilinians and began to shove them toward the door.
“How dare you think you can use us for something so selfish after decades of silence! Just because you deigned to give back the lands you stole does not ingratiate you or your people with us!”
Fury surged up inside Jularra. “Ha!" she shouted. "I expected as much!”
The Yubik continued to herd her guards towards the room’s exit. Jularra dodged them for as long as she could and shouted again at Annutsik.
“Have fun ruling from your dungeon of ice! But beware: we can take these lands back just as easily as we returned them!”
“Stop!” Annutsik bellowed. He drew his sword and stormed toward Jularra. His eyes were wide and hate-filled. His mouth twitched with suppressed brutality.
Jularra jerked and shifted in the tight grasp of two Yubik guards.
“Oh, we can resolve this here and now,” Annutsik said through a twisted grin. “I only need to puncture your throat here and just keep on pushing.”
He brought the tip of his blade up to Jularra’s throat.
“Sire! Killing her would not be prudent,” the captain hissed. Annutsik didn’t flinch and kept his sword trained on Jularra’s throat.
“I lied to you,” Jularra whispered.
“About what?” Annutsik's face contorted with annoyance.
“About why I need to go east so urgently.”
Annutsik lowered his sword from her neck.
“Tell me what you’re really up to,” he growled, “or I’ll make you watch as I cut the limbs from each of your warriors before taking their heads. I’ll kill you last, and take as many breaks as I need to until I’m through.”
Jularra strained forward against the men holding her. “I thought we… would have a chance to speak alone,” she grunted.
He seemed to consider her for moment. Then his face relaxed. The heaving of his chest slowed. Annutsik wiped his sweaty forehead and signaled for his guards to let go of Jularra. When they did, she toppled forward onto one knee. Wona, Vischuno, and the rest of her guard were also let go. Jularra rose and walked towards Annutsik.
Vischuno started to follow. “Queen Jularra,” he began.
She held up her hand and shook her head, halting him and his concern.
Jularra approached Annutsik, and then passed him. He turned to follow her deeper into the room, away from the others. She knew she had him at this point. He was intrigued by the drama, the secrecy, and the feigned desperation in needing to lie. She didn’t want to tell him the truth, but she was out of options and time. Perhaps the confidence would buy her a favor down the road, if needed.
Reaching the shadows at the far end of the room, she rubbed her eyes and sighed. Then she looked to her periphery to make sure they were alone—and made sure Annutsik saw her check. His hands were on his hips as he seethed with a combination of suspicion and intrigue, so Jularra spoke quickly.
“While I can understand your apathy regarding my inability to conceive, that isn’t the problem, nor is it the reason I’m traveling east.”
Annutsik stared at her with dead eyes. “Out with it, Jularra.”
“I’m hoping to secure a means to destroy the Voidwarden and free my people from its influence.”
Annutsik held his cold stare while Jularra bit her lip. She reciprocated his stare as best she could, hoping he would accept her reasoning.
He turned away from her, and for several minutes lost himself in the icy scenes carved into the wall far across the room.
“The Voidwarden? The creature… your pact? Why do you think I would care about that?” he asked eventually.
“Because if I’m successful, I will have years more on the throne as a result. Years in which I will be able to guarantee an extremely lucrative arrangement between our people.”
Annutsik chuckled and meandered away from her. Jularra began spinning a web of possible reactions to his reaction to her proposal.
If he agrees, charm him a bit more and move on.
If he disagrees, lie and move on. It can be dealt with later.
If he—
Annutsik turned back to her.
“I’ll agree—on one condition,” he said.
Jularra extended her hand, inviting his counter.
“I want Brinnock.”
Fucking Brinnock? Her vision blurred with rage.
Calm, calm, calm. She forced a bitter chuckle.
“Annutsik,” she started calmly, “we just took Brinnock.” Her voice was flat, with a hint of condescension.
“I don’t care,” he replied. “Those pieces of shit raided us countless times. I want their city!”
Jularra fought not to mirror Annutsik’s rising voice. "I won’t relinquish what we just won. I need that food for my people!”
Annutsik stepped towards her.
“Keep the food, and give me the city!”
“No! We need their land!” she snarled back. “Their fields!”
Annutsik took a moment to think, but kept his eyes trained on Jularra.
“Have you taken all of Torguria yet?”
He wants another part of it. Give it to him. Whatever he wants. But keep Brinnock.
“We’re fairly certain we neutralized the majority of their forces, but there are some small remnants towards the borders.”
“Give
