The Gods Awaken

Not that she seemed to care. The woman was so angry, so bent on getting at the soldiers to rake them with her dagger-like nails, that the remains of her clothing were practically falling off her. Finally, after what seemed like a small eternity, the soldiers wrestled her over to the throne.

King Rhodes lumbered to his feet, drawing himself up like an angry bear. Palimak barely restrained a gulp. He knew Rhodes was big, but, by the gods, he hadn't known he was this big! Seven feet, at least.

With shoulders as wide as a freight wagon.

'Stop this, daughter!' Rhodes thundered. 'How dare you humiliate me in front of our friends.'

Instantly, the woman ceased her struggles. But there was no fear in her as she quickly straightened up.

She glared at the soldiers, who swallowed hard, gingerly let her loose and backed away.

The woman lifted her head to meet Rhodesa€™ eyes, and sniffed imperiously, saying, 'Balls to your humiliation, father dear! Balls, I say!'

She quickly and somehow regally pulled her tattered clothing around her. Making the rags seem like a royal gown.

'I am being treated like a slave hauled to market.' She ran strong, slender fingers through her hair.

'Worse than a slave, actually. Slaves have some value, after all. In this kingdom, it has become quickly apparent, a queen has no rights or dignity at all!'

Rhodes face went from purple to its normal drink-induced flush. He turned to Palimak and Leiria, grinning hugely and with relish.

'Allow me to introduce you, noble ones,' he said, so mildly polite that they might have been at a fine dinner party, 'to my daughter, Queen Jooli.

'Your hostage!'

Leiria coughed, recovered, then dipped her head. 'Pleased, I'm, uh, sure.'

Palimak could only stare. His entire vocabulary was stuck somewhere in the vicinity of the huge lump in his throat. Leiria jabbed an elbow into his ribs.

'Uh, yes,' he croaked, 'hap … uh … happy to … uh…' The rest was lost.

To Palimak's dismay, Jooli whirled about to confront him. She studied him, piercing gaze taking him in from toes to crown. Palimak suddenly felt very small and very young. Much like a minnow about to be swallowed by a large female-type fish.

At the same time a little voice whispered in his ear. 'Beware, little master. She's a witch!' It was Gundaree, reduced to a flea speck on his shoulder. The moment he heard the Favorite's warning, Palimak felt a spark of sorcery leap across the space between Jooli and himself.

'So, you are to be my captor,' Jooli said, in a voice dripping with belittlement.

Before he could react, she turned back to Rhodes. 'What's happening, here, father?' she asked, equally sarcastic. 'Have you been defeated by a child's army? Or is this one of your rude jests?'

Nonplused, Rhodes shrugged. 'Just do what you are told for a change, daughter,' he said. 'Certain terms were required. And I met them. My honor is at stake here.'

Eyes still on her father, Jooli stabbed a long finger at Palimak. 'Bugger your honor, father,' she said.

'You can't really expect me to go with him!'

Rhodes snorted. 'We've gone over this before, Jooli. As my eldest child, you are in line to succeed me.

On the other hand, I'll be damned if a woman will ever take my throne.'

He gave her a beseeching look. 'Why wouldn't you marry any of the good and honest princes I've brought to your chamber, seeking your favor? It would've been so much simpler that way.'

'They were all either boors or cowards, father,' Jooli said. 'What's worse, they were stupid. You expect me to confer a kingship on stupid men? And simper in their shadows, dropping dim-witted children by the dozen like a brood sow?'

Leiria struggled for self control. She felt like an unwanted witness to an intimate family fight-which this definitely was-and wanted no part of it. She wished mightily that Coralean were here. The wise old caravan master would've shut these people up with a few well-chosen phrases.

Palimak, although old in mind, was too young and out of his element for this sort of thing. Hells, Leiria knew she wasn't up to it and she was not only pushing the three-decade mark, but had been lover to a great king and in love with a mighty wizard. Plus a soldier commander in countless wars.

Rhodes brushed his hands together-a rare washing, if only by air. ' I'm done with you, daughter,' he said. 'I've finally found you a duty you can't shirk. Your kingdom requires this sacrifice. You cannot refuse it!'

Jooli drew herself up and Leiria could tell by the narrowing of her eyes that she was about to skin her father alive verbally. It was time to stop this nonsense. There was much more important business ahead than their damned family squabble!

Leiria drew her sword-the distinctive rasp of metal riveting everyone's attention. Her steel-soled boots rang as she stomped forward, blade extended, point aimed directly at Jooli.

'What's this!' Rhodes shouted, taking a step forward. But at the same moment he looked upward at the hovering airship and all those drawn bows and hesitated.

Jooli fixed Leiria with a fierce glare. 'Am I to be assassinated before my own father?' she growled.

Brave as her words were, she still shrank visibly before Leiria's determined approach.

Leiria swung the blade back as if to strike, then smoothly slid it forward, turning it from razor edge to flat passiveness. She stopped the sword just short of Jooli's heart.

'Do you, Queen Jooli,' she said with all the solemness she could muster, 'swear to give us your royal oath that you will give yourself over to captivity? And that you will not attempt to escape, or conspire to escape, while you are in our custody?'

'This is ridiculous,' Jooli protested.

'Swear it, daughter!' Rhodes thundered.

Queen Jooli made a dramatic sigh. 'Oh, very well,' she said. She placed her hand on the flat of the sword. 'I so swear,' she said. She glowered at Leiria. 'There, you have my parole. Are you satisfied?'

For just a moment, Leiria imagined she saw a glint of amusement in Jooli's eyes. And she wondered, was this all an act? If so, for what purpose?

Palimak finally found his voice. 'We'd better get you on board, your highness,' he said to Jooli. 'I have other business with your father.'

He signaled to Biner and immediately a large basket, dangling from a strong cable, began its descent from the airship.

'But what about my belongings?' Jooli said. 'My clothing and personal things aren't packed.'

'We'll provide you with clothing,' Palimak said.

'But my crossbow and my sword,' Jooli protested. 'I can't leave them behind.'

For some reason Palimak wasn't surprised that Queen Jooli so valued her weapons. He nearly relented, then remembered Gundaree's warning. If Jooli were a witch, the last thing Palimak wanted was a chance for the queen to slip sorcerous supplies into her baggage.

'You won't need them,' he said.

Before Jooli could protest some more, the basket-tended by a burly crewman-was resting on the platform.

'Get in, your highness,' Leiria said with no attempt at ceremony.

Jooli sniffed, then walked toward the basket. But before she climbed in, she turned to King Rhodes.

'You're going to be very sorry for this, father,' she said.

And then, assisted by the crewman, she climbed into the basket, which was raised swiftly away. There were sounds of amazement from the crowd as they saw the king's daughter disappear into the hovering airship.

In control again, Palimak swung about to address Rhodes. He slipped another bag of gold from his tunic, holding it out so the king could see.

'Before we leave,' he said, 'there's one other thing I want to do. And I willing to pay for it handsomely.'

Rhodesa€™ eyes glittered greedily at the proffered sack of coins. 'Ask away,' he said. 'I'm sure we can come to s ome agreement.'