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“If my mother couldn’t succeed with her, then no one could, even you. Even my mother was forced to drug her. I doubt she’s even awake.”
Isla shrugged and poured Ragnor more mead. “I could see. There would be no harm done.”
“I will think about it. Baric, I want to drink my mead. I don’t want to learn any more of those silly poems. I wish to gaze upon Isla whilst I drink. Mayhap she will rub my forehead. You may play for us.”
“Aye, my lord,” Baric said, his eyes still on his shoes, thankful his beard covered his face.
“Do you taste rich and dark, Isla?”
“No woman could taste richer and darker than I do, my lord. I’m filled with richness, deep within me.”
“I don’t understand that.”
“I don’t either, my lord, but I like the sound of it.”
Baric sang louder, his smooth voice filling the chamber.
“More mead, my lord?”
“I feel very tired, Isla. Very tired indeed.”
“Then rest. That’s right, just lay your royal head on my lap and rest. Good.”
Ragnor began snoring. Isla looked over at the guards who stood at the doorways. They looked bored.
“Your song is exquisite, Baric. I believe you’ve put the prince to sleep.”
“I know. But I’ve a need to relieve myself. Would you like me to carry Ragnor out of here?”
“It suppose it wouldn’t look good for me to do it.”
“You carry my harp, nothing more. I would fear your breasts just might fall to the floor.”
16
CLEVE ROSE AS Kerek came into Baric’s small chamber, given to Baric by Olric some five years before.
“What is this about you wanting to speak to the princess, Baric? Why is this woman here?”
“Hello, Kerek.”
Kerek stared at that face with all its paint, at that black patch over the right eye, at those huge breasts.
“Come, Kerek. Bid me hello.”
“Oh no,” Kerek said, taking a step back. “You’re not a whore at all, are you? Is it you, Cleve?”
“Aye.”
“Many of the men want to bed you, including Ragnor. By the gods, you’ve disguised yourself well. But it’s over. You must leave. The queen has Chessa hidden. Even I don’t know where she is. You must escape the palace before someone discovers who you really are. I’ve no wish to harm you, but if Ragnor sees you—sees you as you really are—he’ll do his best to see you flayed alive.”
“I don’t think so, Kerek. That’s why you’re here. Baric, shut the door. Aye, that’s good. Stand against it. Now, another trade, Kerek. I have Ragnor. You have Chessa. He dies if you don’t give me Chessa. You have until the tide is in. That’s about three hours from now.”
Kerek just shook his head back and forth and began to moan aloud. “Nothing has gone right, nothing. A simple kidnapping began it, and from that moment, everything turned sour. I had believed only the princess could bring me low, but now here you are dressed like a woman, painted like a harlot, and you’ve teased Ragnor until he’s ready to howl. No one realized you were a man, even I.”
“Don’t tell me you wanted to bed me too, Kerek.”
“No, but my mind has been filled with so many details of late.”
