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My gaze wandered from the letter to Bibo. He caught my eyes, then nervously fumbled with the fabric sticking out of his metal chest armor.
“Why would that be your first thought?” I asked him. “Are the men dreaming of joining a better cause than the greed of our king?”
It was no secret that the rebels, unlike King Algar’s loyalists, had a respected cause to fight for. While my father’s was gold and power, theirs was to protect their farmers and their families. The very existence and livelihood of those people depended on the lands my father demanded from his nobles. Who wouldn’t prefer to fight for that?
Tiny sweat pearls formed on Bibo’s forehead, and his lips moved as he searched for words.
“Ease up, Bibo. I’m not King Algar’s spy. I understand why the men would want that.”
Bibo was still nervous.
I sighed. “By the gods, if you really want to know, the note is asking me to meet with the Rhine Queen.”
“What?” Bibo’s head jerked back. “The Night Queen?”
One of my brows cocked up. “Is that what they call her?”
“They say her heart is as dark as the night itself. That she eats children and spits fire.”
I laughed. “Just how I like my women. Now I’m tempted to meet her.”
Bibo stepped closer. “All jests aside, why would House Kulgrat ask this of you?”
I picked up the note once more and stared at it. The news of the death of the Rhine King in the North had not been a welcome one in camp. Not only did he die in the North, but there were all sorts of rumors surrounding the incident. Now the men feared the South would come for revenge.
“I would have to meet her to find out.”
“Sir, please tell me you aren’t seriously considering it?” Bibo’s voice matched his tense face perfectly.
It was an insane idea indeed. If my father were to find out...
But then, the North wasn’t at war with the South—yet. Unless he had anything to do with the Rhine King’s death, which would be even too foolish for him, he shouldn’t care at all if I was attending her crowning ceremony. Quite the opposite. A strengthened bond between his house and the South should please him.
“The last line,” I said and read it again. “It states that such a meeting could bring an end to this useless war.”
“It...it does?”
I nodded. “An end to this war,” I mumbled, worried the thought alone would bring me real hope.
For a moment, we remained silent, both of us. Then I rose, too quickly. My abdomen scratched the table. I briefly froze at the sharp pain it put on the long wound from that rebel whose sword would have cut me in half had I not fallen off my horse.
“Is it hurting again?” Bibo worried.
I ignored him. “Gather five of my most capable squires and have my horse prepared. You shall take over the camp while I’m gone,” I said.
For a moment, Bibo looked at me as if debating whether to stop me or to come with me. Then he sighed in loud protest. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you? The men are scared of you when I’m not around.”
I grinned. “Is that so?”
“Yes. You are always so serious, and they never see you drunk or fooling around with whores. It’s unnatural for a man of war like you. They think you might be from the gods. The evil ones...”
I laughed, wincing through the pain in my gut, as I made my way around the table and over to Bibo. He wasn’t a small man but was at least one foot shorter than I was. I gave him a brotherly smack on his back, which sent him into a coughing spell.
“I can promise you, my friend, there is nothing godly about my miserable existence. The gods hate me as much as my own father. And it’s their hatred that keeps me going.”
“How?” Bibo coughed.
“Easy, my friend. I love pissing them off.”
