Xylina paled as she realized what the Queen had just done. With the demon following her everywhere, there would be many opportunities for him to get what he wanted from her. In fact, only by being extremely careful to have witnesses about her at all times could she avoid the imputation that Ware had obtained congress with her. She was thankful only that Faro was so devoted to her; she must get him registered as able to serve as a witness, so that no one could contest his word. Ordinarily a slave could not be a legal witness, but it was possible to have one certified in advance so that he could provide signatures on a contract or testify in a court. She did not think that the Queen realized she knew this, and that was a chink in whatever plan Adria had in mind.
"Now, we cannot leave you destitute, and with no means of repaying this creature," the Queen continued smoothly, her eyes glinting with enjoyment. "Obviously, your efforts up until this moment have not been sufficient. And you must also repay the service that the Crown is doing you. We have a plan that will serve in both cases. In recompense for our generous action, we will require a service of you."
Her tone left no doubt in Xylina's mind: Adria would not accept "no" for an answer. Xylina had agreed to this simply by asking the Queen for a solution. She was now bound to whatever the Queen asked.
Still, until she heard what this service was, she should not reject it out of hand-her only other choices were the ones she had before, and they were all impossible.
"If you complete this service successfully," the Queen continued, "we will be happy-very happy-to pay off the debt immediately. That is a Crown promise, Xylina, and we will contract to it if you choose. So, you see, this is a good solution for everyone."
As Adria leaned back in her throne, a pleased and smug smile now openly on her face, Xylina knew that this "little service" was going to be neither "little" nor easy. But what choice did she have?
If she refused, Adria would have every reason to simply cast her into prison or send her into exile at once. Xylina had in effect given the Queen license, so there would be no impropriety in such action.
"What is this service, Queen Adria?" she asked, stalling for time to think. "Please, I would like to know what it is before I say anything."
"We need a stone-a jewel of a kind," the Queen replied, regarding Xylina from beneath long eyelashes. "It is quite unique and very valuable, one of the last of its land in existence."
A stone-a gem. Probably it was hundreds of leagues away, and guarded by monsters.
The Queen appeared to be thinking, but Xylina had the impression that she was only pausing in order to savor Xylina's discomfiture. Her next words confirmed Xylina's fears. "It is actually a fragment of a crystal, rather than a jewel or a gem. It is only fair to warn you that it is in a very dangerous place, well outside our realm. Those who have it now will fight to retain possession."
Meaning they probably were monsters.
The Queen paused again, this time for what appeared to be a moment of genuine thought. There was a gleam in her eyes that Xylina did not immediately recognize until she looked at Ware out of the comer of her eye. He was regarding her with a certain peculiar expression that seemed compounded equally of greed and acquisitiveness. The Queen wore the same expression, talking about this stone. "Additionally, once you have it, there is another problem. The stone itself is treacherous. Stones like it have been known to turn upon their possessors."
As Xylina listened, she became aware that this really was the emotion that possessed the Queen whenever she contemplated the notion of this gem. It was an avariciousness that surprised her. Adria really wanted this stone, deeply, greedily-whatever, wherever it was. There was a different kind of gleam in Adria's eyes when she spoke of it, a gleam that had nothing to do with eliminating her putative rival.
"It is also fair to warn you that it is possible that you will die in this quest, child," the Queen continued, her tone replete with satisfaction. "Only a truly talented, resolute, and powerful woman will be able to accomplish what we are offering you as a quest. But you have already proved your ability in the arena-you are exceptional. If anyone can bring this stone back to us, it is you. We believe that you should do this, that you would be an ungrateful fool if you did not accept our offer."
There it was: her marching orders. And they were orders; there was no mistaking the iron under the silk of Adria's voice. Xylina felt her voice quavering, and she did not try to stop it. Let the Queen think that it was fear and not anger. "Am I to attempt this alone, Queen Adria? This hardly seems better than the choice I have without your quest! Is this not a kind of exile? Do I not face death equally if exiled from Mazonia or on your mission? Prison would be safer!" She did not mention acceding to Ware's desires.
The Queen laughed. Oddly, it did not sound as if she was gloating, but as if she were truly amused. "Alone? Hardly, child! You are one of our best and brightest subjects, and if you survive you will be invaluable to us in the wars of the future. It is not in our interest for you to fail, after all; we want this stone, and we can make use of your abilities when you bring it back. We will not force you into an impossible task; we will give you whatever assistance you might need. We will send you with an ample entourage: servants, guards, supplies, and whatever gold and silver you might require. It will be a military party, in fact, of which you will be the leader. We send you to a far and hostile land, but we will not send you alone or unprepared. You will represent Mazonia on this mission."
Xylina pondered the "solution"; certainly if she were killed, this would solve Adria's problem, with no guilt or censure being attached to the Queen afterward. But she was making the offer of help and supplies with Ware still present as a witness, and demons were acceptable as witnesses. Her promise of help was genuine. She truly wanted that stone; this was no ruse. Perhaps even more than she wanted Xylina dead or compromised.
"Do think," the Queen added, coaxingly. "You will be the head of a military expedition. When you return, you will already have had experience commanding in the field. We would not be averse to granting you a high position in our Guard or our Council based on that experience. Ware will go with you, of course, but the presence of our guards should guarantee your safety with him. This is an excellent chance for you. There are many among my Guard who would be glad of such an opportunity."
Then why not offer it to them? Xylina thought wryly. She knew, of course, that it probably had been offered to Guards in the past-and that since the Queen still did not have the stone, they had in all probability died in the attempt to fetch it.
Xylina was not particularly sanguine about her own survival, as far as that went. Still-this would be better than being escorted to the edge of Mazonia and left there with only the clothes on her back. It was preferable to prison. And it was much preferable to giving in to the demon. She had been maneuvered into this commitment, but it did have its points.
"You are right, Queen Adria," she said, trying to sound naive and sincere. "This is a good solution to the entire situation. I must accept your offer with all gratitude. I would, indeed, be a fool if I did not."
"Excellent." The Queen applauded. She rang again for the major-domo, and directed him to bring her seal and paper. When he returned, she wrote out a note under her seal, guaranteeing the debt and specifying both the "service" and that the debt would be paid when Xylina returned with the stone. This she gave to Ware, who accepted it with a bow.