Obsidian Ridge - Jess Lebow [38]
The senator looked up at the king and smiled. "I just didn't want to think that…" She paused, looking into his eyes.
Korox leaned down and kissed the senator, cutting off the end of her thought.
"Thank you," she said, releasing the king from her embrace. "I'm sorry. Sometimes I just feel a little awkward. Though it is not common knowledge to most people that your late wife was helping me with research, it is common knowledge to you. I would hate it if you thought my actions were responsible for you losing your wife."
"Do you think I would invite you into my private chambers if I did?"
She shook her head. "No. I do not think you would." Turning away from the king, she strolled to the other side of the room-to the other doors that led out to the private terrace. Throwing them open, she looked out at the forest and the roads beyond, leading south.
Korox watched her as she moved. "But now I have a question for you."
"And what is that?"
"Do you think it is too soon?"
The senator looked back at the king. "Too soon for what?"
"Too soon for us?" he said. "The queen has been gone for less than a year. I don't wish to betray her memory."
"I think the queen would not want you to be alone," replied JDivian. "I like to think she would approve-that she would have picked me to look after you in the event of her death."
"Do I really need that much looking after?" he said, chuckling.
The senator turned back to the view, nodding. "Oh yes. More than you know."
The king came up behind and placed his arms around her. "From here you can't even see the Obsidian Ridge. If only this were the case in every window of the palace."
"Have you thought about what you are going to do?" she asked. "When you find Princess Mariko?"
The king sighed. "You mean if I find Princess Mariko," he said. "It's been two days, and still not a sign of her."
The senator continued to look out at the view, talking over her shoulder. "Either way, if you're not going to give this Magus Xeries what he wants, then we need to prepare our alternatives." She turned around.
"And what do you think those are?" He curled up his fist, unfurling one finger. "Fight? Our army is useless against such a foe." He unfurled a second. "Flee? The evacuation plans are progressing as fast as they can. Still, I'm not even Sure we can move everyone far enough away to avoid his wrath." The king lifted a third finger. "We've already tried negotiating." He threw both hands in the air. "What else is there?"
"Magic," she replied.
The king shook his head. "We don't even know the true extent of this man's power yet. For all we know, he's not even cast his first spell."
"Perhaps," she replied. "But I've been thinking. What if all of this is just parlor tricks meant to scare us into submission?"
The king gave her a forced smiled. "I know what you are trying to do." He touched Divian on the shoulder and let his fingers slide down her arm. "But while downplaying the power of the Obsidian Ridge may comfort me in the short term, the simple fact of the matter is that we both know Xeries means what he says. You yourself said there are powerful wards protecting the black mountain from magical spying and infiltration. If you can't break through, then I'm afraid there is no one in Erlkazar who can."
Divian squeezed his hand, trying to smile back. "Yes, there is powerful magic surrounding that place. But what we do not know is if Xeries put them there himself, or if they are the result of artifacts he possesses."
The king tilted his head. "Even so, just to possess such things must mean he has some power. At the very least he is tremendously resourceful."
"True," said Divian. "But so far, all we've seen him do is make a stone obelisk appear out of thin air. An apprentice wizard could do that."
The king shook his head. "Divian, you can give up on this now. Your effort is appreciated, but I know you don't believe that. It would be foolish to underestimate this