Into The Ruins by Bob Blink Read Free Book Online Page B

wrong?” Tinl asked from the door that led to the conference room behind her. 
    The Queen turned and looked at the newcomer, wondering how long she’d been there.  Yisa had come into her quarters through the family entrance, and momentarily the Queen had been distracted with family matters, forgetting the busy meeting schedule she had this morning.  Tinl had come in through the front entrance, being passed by the guards who knew her well and who were aware of the standing meeting.  As usual, Tinl was early, arriving an eighth of a glass before the others.
    Tinl was one of her Advisors, one of those who hoped to find a position with the woman who would be selected as Rosul’s replacement.  Tinl had been part of the Queen’s Cabinet of Five for the past decade, having been chosen because of certain skills and contacts she had in the South that were important to Rosul’s plans in that area.  More than once Rosul recently had wondered if the selection had been wise.  Frequently of late she wondered if she’d been out maneuvered and Tinl was actually a plant that the Guild had managed to place in her inner circle.  If so, then Tinl might be successful with her stated desires to continue on.  If she had the blessings of the Guild, she would have the inside track to be selected.  Only time would show how matters would turn out.
    “Nothing important,” the Queen replied.  “As the transition approaches, many within the castle are unsettled by the changes that are coming.  Even those within my immediate family, who should be less concerned than others.  Yisa wishes the status quo could be maintained.”
    “As do we all,” Tinl replied tactfully.  “But, that is the way of things.  Yours has been a long and successful rule.  Far longer than any of your recent predecessors.  You can retire knowing you have directed the country well through many troubling times.”
    Rosul was deciding how to reply to the condescending words when a pair of additional voices interrupted her train of thought.  She turned to see the remainder of her cabinet making their way into the area.  The voice she had heard was that of Alani, her childhood friend who had served on the Cabinet since the first day Rosul had been named Queen.  Every five years when the Cabinet was reformed, Rosul had made sure that Alani was one of those selected, her wisdom and loyalty something the Queen had on more than one occasion relied upon.  Alani was the only member who had served so long.  Most of the remaining members served a session or two, then moved on as different people were selected reflecting changing conditions in the kingdom.  Kalli, with whom Alani was engaged in a serious discussion of some sort, was another rare member.  She had served on the first Cabinet with Rosul all those years ago, then had been absent until the Queen had managed to convince her to come back for this last session after twenty-five years of absence.  It had been a wise move on Rosul’s part.  Only Kalli and Alani were of the same age as the Queen, the remaining three women considerably younger.  Tinl was a full two decades her junior, another reason she felt she might have reason to hope for more years in the castle’s inner circles.
    “Your Majesty,” Kalli said formally as she approached, although she never used the greeting in private.  “We just learned that the Guild sent the additional Casters to Ront as you had demanded.”
    “How many?” the Queen asked.  She and the Guild had often had different ideas how the battles with the Baldarians should be approached.  For reasons the Queen couldn’t fathom, Carif, the Saltique, the supreme leader of the Guild, frequently held back resources that would have aided the fighting.  Ront was a city to the south, but well inland from the border with the Wastelands.  Several days before the city had been unexpectedly attacked by the persistent Baldari.  Never before had they reached so far inland,