The Spirit War(98)

With that, he started to laugh again, and for a moment, Nara seriously considered killing him. She turned the idea over, toying with how to do it. She could order the air around him to stop moving and suffocate him where he stood. She could open the floor below him and let the fall break him on the rocks. But she did none of these things. Instead, she turned back to her fleet.

“You know I could kill you before you lifted a hand.”

“But you won’t,” Den said. “A woman who’s spent ten lifetimes conquering knows better than to throw away her best weapon.”

Nara stiffened. “And if we start to lose now, will you kill five thousand of my men and join the other side?”

“Five thousand of your men wouldn’t even be a dent,” Den said, grinning down at the endless ships. “But what a fight that would be, eh?”

The Empress shook her head. “Go and take your place, Bloody Den. Take your map to the fleet head and tell him I said to put you on the first-wave flagship.”

Den took his map back, folding it neatly. “Just so long as you promise I won’t die of old age waiting for you to get moving. We’re not all immortal here, Nara.”

“I’ll throw you into war soon enough,” the Empress said. “When this is done, even you might have had your fill of fighting.”

“Impossible,” Den said, laughing as he vanished through the curtained door.

Nara did not watch him go. She watched her fleet, standing still as a gold-plated statue on her balcony until, hours later, the last of her army had finally marched up the plank from the dock to the waiting ships. As the captain called for the plank to be raised, a shiver went through her. Almost, she breathed to herself. Soon, sooner than Den could dream, her fleet would be landing on the far-western shore. Soon she would carve a swath across the world large enough that even Benehime would notice. She would force the Lady to look up from her spoiled boy, and when she did, she would see Nara standing triumphant with the world in her hands, ready at last to shape it to the perfection she’d dreamed of that night in the swamp so many years ago.

Will you, darling girl?

The voice broke over her like a shower of ice water. Nara froze, unable to breathe, unable to think as the thrill of that beloved, beloved tore through her. When she could move again, she turned and fell to her knees before the pure white light.

Benehime sat on the balcony railing like a great white bird, a smile on her perfect, white face. She was glorious, beautiful, and so beloved Nara could barely look at her. Instead, the Empress kept her face down, biting her lip against the overwhelming tide of emotion threatening to capsize her.

Are you crying? Benehime’s voice was cool and soft as her white fingers lay their burning touch against the crown of Nara’s head. Did you think I had forgotten you, Nara?

“No, Lady,” Nara lied, raising her tear-streaked face to kiss the Lady’s fingers.

I could never forget my dashing Empress. Benehime’s voice floated over her mind. Just because you are no longer first in my heart does not mean I do not care for you.

Nara shook with rage. Second. Second. How could she be second? Above her, the Shepherdess put on a hurt face.

Why are you mad, darling?

“How can I not be?” Nara cried. “You love that boy more than me!”

The Shepherdess smiled, stroking Nara’s face with her fingertips. Jealousy becomes you. You were so dull while you were sulking.

Nara flinched, cheeks coloring with shame. “I am through with that,” she said bitterly. “I love you, Lady. More than he ever could.”

Do you? Benehime’s voice was close to laughter.

Nara looked away. Her words sounded so needy, so desperate, even to her. But she could not stop. The Lady’s presence was intoxicating after so long without.

Benehime’s sigh floated over her, and when Nara looked up, the Lady was gone. Panic shot through her, but before she could move, white arms encircled her from behind. Relief so strong it was almost painful hammered her chest, and Nara fell back, letting Benehime’s white beauty engulf her.

There, there, my love, Benehime whispered, pulling Nara into her lap. She kissed the Empress’s forehead, cradling her armored body to her breast. Nara gave herself over, burying her face in the impossibly soft cascade of Benehime’s white hair as she began to weep in earnest, surrendering completely to the burning, beloved feel of her Lady’s touch.

“You forgot me.” Her words were broken to pieces by sobs.

Benehime made a soothing noise. I did not forget you. I simply had others more worthy of my attention. How could I visit you when you had cast yourself into that stinking cave?