The Blood Empress Read Online Free

amazement caused her to smile. He hesitated before looking up again but she could tell he wanted to look at her directly and to say something to her.
    But both of them were bound by traditions and ceremony. Now was not the time. Her heart skipped a beat as she moved past him, stealing a glimpse back at him, before returning to her throne.
    As she took her seat on the pillow she looked down on the warriors with a strong gaze. They all bowed their heads at once and saluted her with a right hand across their chests.
    Then they all did a right facing move and filed out of the chamber single file. Ketar risked a glance up at her as he filed past on his way out. She slipped him a disarming smile and she could have sworn that he winked at her.
    When they had left Nykostra ordered her attendants to leave her alone. She sat on her throne and replayed in her mind Ketar's shock and then amazement at having recognized her. She had to find a way to meet with him. To talk with him in private. But her time and attentions were ruled by others and she knew that she would never be able to pull it off during the competition.
    Something inside her warmed her heart. Her fondness for Ketar was growing into an obsession. She found it hard to keep his sly grin out of her mind's eye. Hard to not keep thinking of him over and over until it hurt.
What the hell is wrong with me?
    Nykostra ordered her attendants back in and stood still as they undressed her. There were two young girls and a stogy older woman whom Nykostra had never trusted. Things said in the company of the woman somehow made it back to the Kwizarra Lonn.
    After they had dressed her in her a simple robe and wrapped around her waist a leather cummerbund, she dismissed them except for one of the younger attendants.
    The old woman all but snarled at the order but left with the other girls trailing behind her. When the huge metal doors to the chamber closed Nykostra took the hand of the young attendant and guided her off to the center of the massive chamber.
    "Velore, I have a task for you," she said.
    The girl was clearly nervous with being alone with her Empress. She nodded shyly.
    "You must arrange a visit between myself and the boy from Vicar."
    The girl's eyes got large before she shook her head slowly.
    "But my Empress, I cannot do such a thing. I'm not even allowed into their side of the castle."
    Nykostra took the girl's hand into hers and squeezed it tight. Quickly it became uncomfortable for the girl and she protested weakly.
    "You're hurting me, my Empress."
    "Do this or I will do more than just hurt you. I will have your head," Nykostra said. Her voice was low and powerful. It was the voice of coercion that she used when she wanted someone to do her bidding without question.
    The girl stopped struggling and lowered her head. "Yes my Empress."
    Nykostra let go of her hand and she knelt in a formal bow.
    "Get up. Go fetch him at once and bring him to my bed chamber."
    The girl nodded and then rose to her feet to scurry out of the chamber as fast as she dared.
    Nykostra relaxed and then left for her bed chamber.
    ***
    Nykostra had retired early and had ordered food brought to her bed chamber. She told the head attendant that she was not feeling well and just wanted warm tea and bread. Her wishes were honored without question. Whenever she even hinted at not feeling well, she was never questioned.
    Pacing around her huge bed chamber she felt a growing anxiety like she had never known before. Her stomach was indeed upset, flipping and flopping like it did before a test. Only this feeling was different. It made her wonder if the Kwizarra Lonn was somehow messing with her from a distance.
    Part of her was nervous at having a warrior brought to her bed chamber and part of her was excited to see Ketar in person. To actually talk to him outside the pretense of their respective positions. Like they used to chat on the tablet. She wanted to look into his eyes which she had just today noticed