Goblin Queen: Katrina Baker Novel 03 Read online

  My heart was pounding, but I was far from panicked.

  My mom shot him with sonic pistol, and the demon just laughed and started to finish off the robots and goblins. Thankfully, the large demon was the last one left, mom’s minions managed to kill all the smaller demons before dying, of course I wasn’t sure if we could kill it.

  Mom muttered, “Need a new weapon, good against mages does not mean good against everything. Maybe some kind of multi-function gun…”

  “Mom!” I yelled, now wasn’t the time for her to be planning her next mad scientist weapon.

  I threw a dagger at the demon and gave it a hard push with my telekinesis, and it flew straight for its neck. The demon negligently batted it aside with his sword which sent the dagger flying. His sword must be coated with fire and chaos magic, because it had ripped the dagger out of my telekinetic control. I narrowed my eyes, and picked up one of the stone tables with my mind, it must have weighed half a ton or more, and then threw that at him. Let’s see him knock that away with a sword.

  The demon howled, and honestly it sounded absolutely horrible, and I fought my fight or flight response because it was definitely tickling my hind brain with dread. Then he swung both swords at the table, and in an explosion of fire the stone table shattered into small stones and landed around him. Okay, he sure showed me. I started to give serious thought to the teleport idea.

  The demon looked at us with an evil grin as he dispatched the last of mom’s minions. I was about to teleport, but Gerard raised his sword, and finished a spell.

  A ray of pure white light left the end of his holy sword, and the demon screamed in pain and actually flinched back. I’d never leave Arella, but a spell like that would surely be cool to have, whatever it was. I didn’t waste the opportunity however, no matter how much I wanted to swoon for the love of my life. While the demon was distracted and disoriented with pain, I threw my second dagger, and guided it with telekinesis, while I simultaneously launched my other dagger from where it had fallen with telekinesis.

  The thrown one went right into the front of his throat, the second one impaled the side of his neck. I lost connection to the blade and flinched a little at the chaotic feedback, but I still had a hold of the hilts with my telekinesis. I viciously twisted the blades flat, and then pulled sideways on both, which cut off his roar of pain as it half cleanly decapitated him, and half ripped his head off.

  Honestly, it was kind of gross. I cleaned off the blood with aqua-kinesis, and sent the spare back home to the weapons rack, pulled the second to my hand, and then I sheathed it. Then I stepped into Gerard and kissed him, while I got to that swooning I’d put off earlier. Effective violence from anyone else didn’t do it, and was if anything repelling. Just him, it turned me on to watch him smite things, and goddess alone knew why that was. He really did make me a little hedonistic savage.

  “What spell was that love, it saved the day.”

  Gerard looked bemused, and more than a little affected by my sensual kiss as he answered, “Exorcise. It’s very effective against evil beings, and causes holy damage. It would have outright killed a lesser demon, but his chaos magic was extremely strong.”

  Well, I didn’t need it anyway, the spell I mean, I had Gerard after all.

  “We should probably get going, the demons are almost here, we’re done right?”

  My mom nodded, still thoughtful, finally she said, “I hate to say it, but against demons a gun that shoots actual bullets would probably be more effective than anything else I could make. I doubt cold, lasers, disruption, or any kind of energy attack would be any more effective than sound.”

  She looked sad at the thought, and I understood. Bullets had no style, and no self-respecting supervillain would use a simple gun.

  I nodded, “Why don’t you make an MFW that does all three of those, plus a rail gun for solid metal projectiles, just so it won’t be a conventional bullet. I know you hate that, and you’ll be ready for anything.”

  While I spoke, I lifted all the swords, including the two giant ones which had no true magic of their own, and cleaned them off before teleporting them to mom’s ship. Got to take the loot, too bad that was it, their gold and stuff obviously wasn’t in the damned dining room, and we had no time to look for it. Still, those swords were good quality, the big demon’s I mean.

  Mom grinned at me, “I’m so proud of you. I will do that, but maybe with sonic too, so five weapons in one. It’ll be unwieldy, so I’ll add some gravity compensation and…”

  I giggled, and got us the hell out of there before the demons showed up, while she was still planning out loud.

  Dad asked, “You want her to do what?”

  I said, “Build me a curriculum, for PhD level sciences and mathematics, heavy on quantum physics. I won’t have much time to study, but I’ll block out a few hours a week at least, it might take me fifty years to get where I need to be but it’ll be worth it.”

  Mom said, “I can do that, it’ll take a week or two, and I’ll build you an interactive pad computer connected to Sia. You think it will really help?”

  I nodded, “Sure, I think without my understanding of molecules and chemistry, I’d still be able to turn water into ice, but I don’t think I could control it, or even feel water molecules the way I can. Once I understand quantum physics enough I might be able to feel the underlying particles and detect magic and quite possibly manipulate it in other ways. I won’t know what to try until I know what I don’t know, you know?”

  I smirked, and waited for that mouthful to register.

  I’d already put the swords in mom’s storage hanger room, and I’d summon them to sell when we were ready, or if we even needed to. Maybe she could use them for her minions instead?

  Dad said, “Alright, will you be around in a few days? I imagine we’ll go after the mage once your mother finishes the new weapon.”

  Mom grunted, “Two barrels, one to switch between the four energy attacks, the other for the rail gun and metal slugs, or rods, bolts?” she got up and left the room.

  Dad waved a hand, “You know how she gets.”

  I smiled and gave him a hug, “Try to keep her safe, definitely call us. Though vacation is over in two days, so maybe we won’t be busy, or at least we’ll hopefully be able to take a slight detour.”

  My dad was the saner of the two, but he wasn’t one for battle at all. White collar supervillain the whole way. Sometimes I wondered how he handled mom running off into danger without him all the time, but I supposed love was the answer to that.

  Gerard said, “That shouldn’t be an issue, worst case you can leave me for a couple of hours and come back, unless it’s your goddess that sends us on a mission, then we can do the detour for both of us.

  I tried not to think about it, but that was twice I’d saved her, although even without me here she’d have just retreated from the witch a second time. But I wanted to be around for the powerful mage as well, I wasn’t so worried about the small stuff. To be fair, she’d probably have no trouble against the necromancer mage, since her sonic gun should kill him as it is. I had no doubt her new one in the multi-function gun would pack an even bigger punch. Then again, it wouldn’t do crap to the mage’s undead minions, just shake their bodies and do nothing to the spirits, and the mind control wouldn’t work on them either.

  Just the live goblin, orc, and ogre minions would be effected.

  I wasn’t sure, but it was just last night when a normal no power or magic human almost killed me, so I just had to deal with it. Life was dangerous, especially ours. I was just… terrified that I’d lose her all over again, and I just got her back.

  I looked up at Gerard, who looked down at me like a man very much in love, and he had a twinkle in his eyes. Of course, it was his emotions that removed any doubt at all how he felt about me. It was still early in the day, not quite lunchtime.

  My father cleared his throat, and I blushed wondering what he’d seen on my face. I was shielded, my mind I mean, but
how could I forget he was a master at reading body language and facial expressions as well.

  “Bye dad,” I said sheepishly, and then I teleported us home…

  Chapter Eighteen

  Gerard and I moved through the hallways following the servant. After lunch, the servant had come by to let us know to report to one of the private conference rooms to talk to the king. Since I was included on the invite, and we were technically still on off time, my best guess was that this would be about the assassination. The servant bowed and left when we arrived, and the two of us walked into the conference room.

  The king looked as regal as ever, sitting tall as we bowed, but there was a tightness around his eyes from stress that I’d never noticed before. I couldn’t read him though, so had no way to verify that. Andrew, the mage royal advisor looked as cold as he ever did and was also shielded. The much younger Queen Caroline was present as well, just a few years older than I was. I’d learned that she was most definitely not a trophy wife despite her stunning beauty, and that she was the king’s second wife, after the first had died in child birth. She had shrewdly intelligent eyes, and wasn’t usually around for these things but with her step-son.

  I’d never heard of Caroline offering an opinion in court, but the rumors were the king depended on her opinion in private. If that was true, then I was sure she was here now to give the king her opinion of Gerard and I, and this meeting later.

  “Your majesty,” we said together, and recovered at his gesture and took our seats.

  The king cleared his throat, “I’ll get right to the point. While the king of Jendas didn’t order that man to assassinate you, he was surely aware of it as it came from one of his closest advisors. The assassin was also clearly a dupe.”

  Gerard asked, “A dupe?”

  The king nodded, “We think it’s likely even the Jendas king isn’t that paranoid, or stupid enough to believe you two didn’t save his kingdom, and knows you did not actually murder his paladin Jasper. His spies in Trelin surely would have reported what is well known here. It’s more likely he’s using that situation, and fanning the misinformation to prevent others from guessing the true reason.

  “Granted, it’s speculation, but we think your effortless escape from their dungeon spooked him badly. He’s also probably concerned you can teleport into his castle at will, since he knows about that ability now as well. The wards that prevent mages from doing the same, seem to have no effect on your ability at all.”

  Gerard frowned, “So the king of Jendas wants my wife dead, at any cost?”

  King Alexander replied, “I don’t think he’s quite ready to go to war over it yet, but that’s more the tactical situation than anything else. Either way, I want you two to be careful.”

  I frowned, “Surely he wouldn’t go to war over me?”

  The king nodded, “No, not entirely, but he may use it as one more excuse to do what he’s been itching to do for years now.”

  I think I was starting to understand the weariness in his eyes.

  “What should we do? Or not do.”

  I remembered how reluctant the king had been to allow us to go on that first mission at all, but I think I’d underestimated what a powder keg the relationship between Jendas and Trelin really was.

  He replied, “Just be careful, try to stay out of situations where an assassin would have the upper hand. I’m sure that by now another is on the way, if they didn’t send more than one in the first place. In the meantime, I’ll be pursuing the political angle. I don’t want war, but I won’t tolerate him putting an assassin in my castle either. As far as you two, I’m working on finding somewhere out of the way to send you in the next few days to get you out of the capitol, but I’m not sure yet.”

  I may not have worked for the king directly, but he was well-aware that I’d follow Gerard if he sent him somewhere, as long as my goddess didn’t send me in a different direction.

  Gerard said, “We can do that your majesty.”

  The king grunted, “See that you do, you may go.”

  We both stood, bowed, and left the room. We started for ours, not sure what to do about it, except I was using my empathy to keep watch. I figured the key would be to avoid large crowds for a while until this was worked out.

  When we reached our rooms, Gerard sighed.

  “It’s a mess. I was going to surprise you and suggest we look at houses today, but being stuck in here with you won’t be so bad.”

  He winked as he pulled me into his arms.

  I frowned against his chest, “It would make us a moving target. But I suppose staying in as we have been will be tolerable.”

  I snickered when he playfully swatted me, “Just tolerable?”

  His armor was really uncomfortable, I moved back and looked up at him, “I suppose better than tolerable would be true as well. So, is war very likely?”

  Gerard frowned in thought, “I’d say inevitable, the question is only when. We know who the spies are, but leave them in place to our advantage. Ironically, it may be your parents making our southern border safe that sets the war off.”

  “You think King Alexander will attack then?” I asked, the response seemed reasonable, but apparently I shouldn’t have tried to apply reason.

  Gerard shook his head and replied, “The king of Jendas is said to be determined to one day rule all the humans and reunite the kingdoms. The only thing stopping him has been the mountain pass, and how many soldiers we have which would put the issue of who wins in doubt. If we gain peace in the south, he may believe we would look to the north. It’s not intuitive to someone not consumed with ambition, he may feel forced to attack before we grew even stronger without raids to fight off.”

  “That’s crazy.”

  He laughed, “Maybe, but I think part of the reason he’s held back so far is that he’d been hoping we’d end up in a larger type war with Chilik, since it’s been over two hundred years since the last time. If that hope is taken off the board by your parents, he’ll most likely decide things are as good as they’re going to get in his lifetime for an attack.”

  “Still crazy.”

  He pinched me, I’d rather not say where.

  “Brute,” I accused, but my wide smile kind of ruined the effect of my accusation.

  He said, “And that’s where the fear of you and your abilities will help him. If he paints you as a murderer who killed that paladin and stole his sword, and explains that you can teleport in anywhere, it will help solidify his nobles to follow his plans. My wife, the unstoppable evil assassin who works for Trelin’s king. You get the idea, you’re just one more block to convince others attacking is a good idea.”

  I asked, “Are you supposed to be telling me all this?”

  He shrugged, “You’re my wife, and they aren’t exactly state secrets.”

  “That probably means the assassin was meant to fail, I wouldn’t be much of a threat if I was dead.”

  He shook his head, “I doubt that. He truly does fear you, but if he can’t kill you he’ll use you in another way to forward his ambitions.”

  Oh. This whole world was crazy.

  Not much happened over the next day and a half. Gerard and I stayed in our suite for the most part, which did have some advantages, and we kept ourselves entertained, but we did manage to join the others in the large dining room for our evening meals. We had breakfast and lunch in our suite.

  No one else tried to kill me either, either by lack of opportunity, or the next assassin was still on route from Jendas. I didn’t mind all that much, it was our honeymoon after all, and soon enough we’d be far too busy to continue living in our secluded love nest, so I was happy to take advantage of my husband as much as possible while I could.

  We were basically in a holding pattern, waiting for one of three things to happen, something regarding Jendas to break, or my mother’s or father’s call about the necromancer to finish off the Chilik campaign, or for the king to send us off somewhere on assignment where we’d be di
stanced from the politics a bit. It was the end of our promised week starting the next morning, when something unrelated and interesting happened that last night at dinner.

  Gerard and I sat at the table, Cynthia and Jareth were off somewhere on assignment, but another paladin of Ictia, Randall, who was an old friend of Gerard sat with us. He was a tall mountain of muscles, like most of the male paladins, and had blonde hair and blue eyes.

  His wife Karen sat with us as well, who was one of the minor functionaries in the government, specifically, I learned that she was a head accountant that worked on the tax rolls. Karen was a softly spoken woman, with honey brown hair, soft brown eyes, and a heart shaped face with a ready smile.

  I’d just met them both a few minutes ago though I’d seen them around before now, and was getting good vibes from them both. As usual, the evening meal was formal and we all awaited the king and his family before we could start eating. The dining hall itself looked nicer than usual, with several banners I’d never seen before with the royal coat of arms, which made me curious.

  “Anyone know what’s going on with the banners?”

  Karen replied, “No, but they usually only set them out when an ambassador shows up. We’ll find out soon enough, take a look at the head table.”

  I glanced over, and there were four more chairs and place settings than usual. Most of the court nobles were already seated, but the ones that usually sat around Alexander, Caroline, and their son Darren were moved over leaving the four empty seats the positions of honor.

  “Good point.” I supposed I’d have to suffer in ignorance, for a few minutes anyway.

  Randall added, “A strange carriage arrived early this afternoon, but I haven’t heard any rumors about who was in it.”