Warrior Queen (Skeleton Key) by Shona Husk, Skeleton Key Page A

too. By the time they made it to the temple he was lost, again, but he was sure that she had taken him via roundabout routes. In return, he had learned that they had telescopes and magnifying glasses.
    She put her hand on his arm when they stopped at the open door. “Thank you for sharing some of your world. When I listen, I realize how strange we seem to you. If you want your pants back, you can have them.”
    Bryce shook his head. He didn’t want to be seen as other while he was here. If he was other he might get locked up again. “I’m getting used to the skirt.” He stuck his leg out the side split and tried to strike a pose. “I think it makes my legs look good.”
    “That it does.” Her gaze had lowered to his thigh.
    There was a weird silence for a couple of heartbeats.
    “Thank you,” he finally said, not sure what else to say.
    She looked him in the eye. “For what? I did nothing.”
    Her stare became unnerving. It was intense even without the gold. He made himself stare back; there was a sensation of vertigo as if he was going to fall.
    Had she flirted with him, or was he misreading everything? He had no idea even though there was a faint smile on her lips. He looked away first. No one looked that hard at anyone back home. Even when talking to someone. It made him feel naked. Her hand was still on his arm. Her palm was hot. When she blinked there was a glimmer of gold.
    He was already in enough trouble without misreading any other signals. Besides, she got it on with priests during rituals. He had zero magical ability.
    He was going home. That was what he needed to focus on.
    “I’ll be here, then.” With his two best buddies, the guards.
    “We will talk later.” Then she walked away and he was too aware of the way her skirt clung to what he knew was her bare butt.

    F rom the highest point in the palace, Keleti watched as the invading army marched closer. Their shields glinted like silver teardrops in the afternoon sun. None of the cities she’d heard back from had seen her cousin. She had sent messages to even more distant cities. Several cities had promised to send ships; they would head south and make sure the Southerners got no reinforcement.
    She had archers already beyond the city walls, lying in wait. Come dusk, as the invaders relaxed for the night and stripped off their metal armor, her warriors would attack before melting back into the shadows and finding safety off the edge of the cliff. If one knew where to look, there were ways down and places to hide.
    As she studied the invaders, a small knot of people marched forward while the rest of the army halted. Even with her sharp sight the army seemed to snake on forever. It didn’t, she knew that. The soldiers were four abreast on the road that lead to the walled city. A hundred deep as her best estimate. They had sent several ships of soldiers. They must want her land and her magic pretty badly.
    To the left was the river that ran past the city, a small offshoot ran beneath the city wall. The city also had wells.
    The soldiers would sink fast in their heavy metal armor. It protected their chests and their heads, but left their legs vulnerable. They had great swords, but their bows lacked the distance her archers could achieve.
    She had refused to trade weapons, but she had no doubt that they had stolen weapons off the bodies of any warrior they killed. That meant they would have some of her long range bows.
    The little party of invaders got closer to the city. This was the start of their peace talks. They would ask her to surrender, then threaten. She would wait them out.
    They stopped outside of range. But with her hawk sight, she could see their faces clearly. They were all men except for one.
    Her cousin.
    Her breath caught. They had caught her. But how?
    Then she noticed that Nadri wasn’t tied up. She was dressed as they were.
    Keleti blinked not sure what that could mean at first. But understanding broke with a sinking sensation.