The Queen's Curse Read Free Page B

without a fight! And I tell you, not even you would succeed, Tirsa!’ and he pointed a finger at her with an amused eye.
    She laughed somewhat nervously, and swallowed away her rising tension. ‘But well, luckily for me I don’t have to, for I have an audience with Her Majesty.’
    His face showed interest. ‘Ah, of course you do. With the queen herself?’ She nodded.
    ‘I can see and heard you are a commander now; well you really deserve it too. I bet you have something really important to discuss with her.’
    ‘Yes, it is pretty serious actually.’ And her face became grim. He knew she wouldn’t tell him. He always had to drag things out of her in the old days and he guessed that hadn’t changed; perhaps it even had become worse. The fact was she had changed for the better; but Barkor didn’t know that. After she had left that first company to join and upgrade to her second, things had changed, but now it was gone again; the way a rainbow would come and suddenly dissolve into thin air. Barkor only knew the stories that spread among the soldiers; and was too embarrassed to ask her for the details now.
    From underneath his leather overcoat he pulled out a small black book and began to leaf through it. His one eye shot from one side to another while he searched for her name on the thin pages with his thick fingers. Tirsa felt her heart in her throat pounding; this could be tricky.
    ‘What time did you say, Tirsa?’
    ‘An hour after sunrise.’
    He still kept his eye on the book, distressed because he couldn’t find it.
    ‘She does have an appointment with a Commander Distoas from the Second Company, a little later, but –’
    ‘I am replacing him’, she interrupted Barkor quickly with a high pitched voice.
    ‘He ’s got a nasty fever and this matter is very urgent and somebody had to go.’ Now he did look at her with his big watery eye. ‘In that case … I’ve heard that the Second Company had a hard time with opponents at the border with Zoria, didn’t they?’
    Fortunately she knew enough about that to answer the question. ‘Yes, five deaths on our side and about fifteen wound ed.’ She sighed. ‘King Zoltas’ army doesn’t want to hear about peace. At that time I was in Razoras with my company, so we were too late for back-up, just like most companies were. The second one isn’t the best of them, like in our days. Now we have to try to work on that and we also have to talk about negotiations between Zoria and Ceartas again. I trust that Queen Artride will talk with Zoltas soon.’
    ‘I hope so. I don’t think Zoltas is the problem. At least his country has better honest laws, but he might want to expand his territory or perhaps some trouble between the two armies occurred? I have heard the lot of them are troublemakers. There should be some treaty, before it goes any further than this.’
    Tirsa nodded. S he hated the partial lie and hoped he wouldn’t be in any trouble afterwards.
    ‘Well, if it’s ab out justice, you know what to do.’ Barkor complimented her and patted her on the shoulders. ‘You were always the best when it came to that. That’s why I don’t have to wish you luck, because I know you can work things out with her; witty and clever as you are.’ He added whispering, ‘They say she isn’t too bad when it comes to peace treaties.’
    Tirsa smiled. ‘Thank you, Barkor.’ And she meant it more than he could possible know.
    ‘Ehm, do I get to see you sometime, Tirsa, when you are free of course?’
    Her thoughts were occupied with meeting the queen, so a little absent-mindedly she responded, ‘Sure, we could have a drink together.’
    His face lit up. ‘Great, th en we can share some memories for old time’s sake.’
    ‘I really have to go now ,’ she said.
    ‘Yeah, you can’t keep the queen waiting. It’s the first door to your left. Just wait there. She is always on time and you still have some; or shall I tell her guard you are already