Page 18 of Lake of Sorrow
“If I weren’t being watched, I wouldn’t have ordered her to stay away. After standing with us, she deserves our help in getting rid of that accusation. I don’t suppose your interlude tonight changed anything about me having a watcher?”
“I’m doing my best to cement a relationship with the queen, especially since I think she may be one of her husband’s puppet masters. Even as often as I report to the royal castle, it’s been hard to pin down who’s running the kingdom right now. He can barely remember the way to the dining hall, and the prince doesn’t care about anything other than gambling, booze, and women.”
“Just warn me next time there’ll be cementing going on next door.”
“The queen doesn’t send me a calendar of dates and times she’ll feel randy for a ranger.”
“Disgusting, Targon.”
“I assure you it’s not, but I’m not deluded enough to think I’m the only one she visits at night.”
“I can’t believe she’s poisoned—murdered—other women for sleeping with her husband when she does the same.”
“That was years ago. Decades ago. Though I understand the king does still try to flirt.”
“Enough. Do you want me to take a team into the preserve? If Kaylina did see Kar’ruk…”
“Do you doubt that she did? It’s hard for me to believe they’ve gotten that close, especially when a sighting hasn’t been reported from the watchtowers in months. You know how assiduously we guard all the access points through the mountains.”
“I do, but it’s hard to mistake a Kar’ruk.”
“It could have been Virts in masks. I don’t believe for a moment that the failed assassination attempt has stopped their scheming.”
Kaylina sat up, deciding she had better join the conversation. It sounded like Targon wanted to deem her an unreliable witness and dismiss the threat.
Both men were looking at the doorway before she stepped into it, neither surprised, and she wondered if they suspected she’d been listening for a while. Vlerion had caught her eavesdropping more than once. Not that this time had been her fault.
“They spoke in a language I hadn’t heard before,” she said. “My brother, who’s read about them and their language in books, said it was Kar’ruk before we saw them.”
Skepticism narrowed Targon’s eyes.
“Do you remember anything they said?” Vlerion nodded with encouragement, and she thought he wanted to believe her.
“Not… really. Something like clak druk when they first saw us.”
“Over there,” Vlerion translated, giving Targon a meaningful look.
“Huh.”
“I can take Kaylina out there, find the spot where she was attacked, and look for tracks.”
“The druid preserve isn’t a healthy place for rangers,” Targon said. “I suppose the Kar’ruk know that, and that’s why they chose to lurk there.”
“It’s not as bad as the castle. Vines hardly ever try to kill our people out there.”
“Hardly ever.” Targon snorted. “It has happened. There’s a reason we usually send the Kingdom Guard to patrol that area.”
“Something that’s apparently not being effective.”
“I guess not.”
“Horses aren’t taybarri, and the guards don’t have the wilderness training that we do.”
“Something the Kar’ruk might have finally figured out.” Targon lifted the newspaper. “You don’t think they’re behind this new press, do you?”
“Doubtful. In the past, they’ve been disinclined to learn even a word of our language. After all, humans are beneath them.”
Targon snorted. “Must be hard getting through life being superior to everything.”