I knew my work was important.  I just… didn’t want to be the one doing it.  Unfortunately, Queen Misht had briefed my new maid far too well, and Opnie was pulling back the curtains at daybreak.  I groaned and rolled over, wishing that the inn had given me a curtained bed so I could at least close those and go back to sleep.

“Breakfast will be up momentarily,” Opnie announced.  “I received your agenda for today already.  You’ll be meeting with the city council first, then Count Hidere.  Then we’ll have lunch and in the afternoon there will be a meeting with the temple high priestess and then the god herself.”

It seemed everyone wanted to make their opinions on how to handle this known before I even had a chance to speak to the god.  I wondered how I should play this.  I obviously wanted Count Hidere to think I would be easy to manipulate, but there were so many flavors of that.  Gullible?  Frightened?  It had to be something that fit well with my image in high society prior to becoming the Beloved.  Count Hidere would notice any inconsistencies.

“I need to speak to Sir Carid,” I said.

“I’ll request him after breakfast-”

“Now, Opnie.”

She hurried to obey.  Good.  I might have a reputation for being easy-going, but that didn’t mean I’d let people simply trample my wishes - especially not one of my servants.  Besides, the sooner I spoke with the knight the sooner he could be on his way to report to the queen.

He arrived with breakfast.  By then I was at least wearing a robe over my nightgown so I was dressed in the bare minimum I needed to receive guests.  He sat down while I busied myself with the tea.

“Manere’s god came and saw me last night,” I said, and gave him a summary of what we discussed.

“That god wasn’t anyone important,” he mused.  “There’s no tactical advantage to killing the god of a small village like that.  They were testing out their ability to kill a god.”

“And doing so in a way they can’t be easily traced,” I added.  “If they fled overland, they would be found by a god at some point.”

Manere’s god had said she’d recognized the blood on their hands, but too late to do anything about it.  Other gods with less going on around them might have been quicker to realize what they’d done.

“If they attacked one of our gods near the border and then retreated to a neighboring nation, it would implicate that kingdom,” I continued.  “So either they don’t have foreign support or they’re trying to hide it if they do.”

“All this tells us is that they’re being careful,” Sir Carid said.

“We can’t pinpoint their source so… we find someone who can.”

“You think that person is Count Hidere.”

“I think it’s our best path forward right now.”  

A noblewoman must be careful to not accuse anyone without evidence, after all.  The knight, however, was clearly disappointed to not be given a firm direction to point his sword.  This was why I needed to send him away, I thought.  He could turn into a liability.

“I want you to return to Queen Misht and tell her what we’ve found,” I said.

“I’ll send half of my knights back with a letter,” he replied.  “Now that we know that Manere’s god is still on our side and will protect you in the city, you don’t need as large an escort.”

I thought about arguing, but one look at Sir Carid’s face warned me off.  If there was treason - no - heresy - happening here, he wanted to be present to put an end to it.  I sighed and delicately bit into a pastry.

“Very well,” I said.  “Send your soldiers instead.  I assume this means you intend to accompany me today on my visits?”

“Of course.”

How would Count Hidere react when he saw me arrive with the queen’s personal champion in tow?  Sir Carid’s presence might make the gullible route more difficult… but it could make the frightened act a lot more convincing.  Poor scared little Alyere.  Once the jewel of high society, now shackled to the gods.  And perhaps she had a reputation for having an unshakable composure, but being stabbed with a knife changes a person.  Perhaps she’d finally been put in a situation that was simply too much for her and look - now the queen was sending her own hound to keep an eye on the poor girl.  It was overwhelming.  The danger, the pressure… far too much for someone who only knew how to attend parties.

Yes.  This was the story I would spin.  I smiled to myself.

“Sir Carid,” I murmured.  “How intimidating can you be?”

He blinked at me like an owl.  

“Uh, I try to avoid it, generally,” he said softly.  “I don’t believe a knight should lead by fear, but by-”

“I don’t need a lecture, thanks.”  

I nibbled thoughtfully at a finger.  Maybe I could use Sir Carid’s mannerisms instead of asking him to play a role he wasn’t comfortable with.

“When we’re out today,” I said, “can you make sure you don’t leave my side?  And I mean really don’t leave my side.  Don’t stray more than a few feet from me until I ask, and when I ask, make me repeat it.  Pretend like I could be assassinated at any moment and only your presence will prevent that from happening.”

He thought about it for a moment, then nodded softly.  Good.  He understood the image I was trying to project.

“I’m assuming I shouldn’t say anything, either,” he said.

Ah, very good.  I’d figured he would only have a head for the sort of strategies that involve swords, but clearly I was wrong.

“Correct.  Just stand there in silence and loom menacingly.”

“I’m not sure I can be menacing-”

“Look serious.  Between that and… everything else about you, you’ll fit the role perfectly.”

He frowned and I caught him glancing covertly at my mirror.  I felt a little sorry for him.  He didn’t seem to realize the effect he had on ordinary people.  He was the queen’s champion.  Even in light armor, he was still going to be an imposing force in the room.  Those of us that lived in the capital were used to him being around, but out here, his presence meant that something had gone horribly wrong.

He’d make everyone nervous simply by frowning at them and not saying anything.  And then I’d lower my eyes, let my voice shake a little, and everyone would scent blood in the air and be ready to pounce on the weak, wounded, and defenseless Beloved and all that power she represented.

I’d have Count Hidere trying to make me his pawn before the week was done, I vowed.