Warrior Queen (Skeleton Key) by Shona Husk, Skeleton Key Read Free Book Online Page A

around people. He had flinched when the attendants had started washing him, but was now standing still. His back was to her, so she had time to study him more closely and without him realizing.
    Would he be more worried if she told him that she was looking at his legs? The shape of his back, and the curve of his arms? Clothing was cut to show off strength. He turned enough that he could catch her gaze. His hand was still firmly in place. Was he worried that everyone in the room would stare at what was between his legs? What was between his legs? Was it something odd like his ears? She slowly turned her head as though she didn’t care that he had caught her looking—she didn’t care—but her curiosity had been pricked even though she shouldn’t be wondering about what he was hiding. Genitals were really only interesting if something was going to happen.
    Nothing was going to happen.
    She didn’t have time for anything to happen.
    Her gaze flicked back to the foreign man. His body was like that of normal men, though a little hairier. His skin had obvious lines between the areas that saw the sun and those that didn’t. His forearms were tanned against the paler skin of his belly. His brown hair darkened and snaked down from his navel. She bit back her smile as he was doused in water. He was nothing like a Southerner in looks or manners. He was completely strange and from somewhere far away…the thought lingered.
    He was, in a way, an Ambassador from his country, or even his world.
    She studied Bryce again, this time with the gaze of a queen, not a woman enjoying the flesh on display.
    Keleti turned her attention to the man standing near her chair. She had received word back from the closest cities already. They would send warriors, but they had not seen Nadri. She had not gone and asked them for help the way she had been supposed to.
    Her cousin had vanished.
    That was troubling.
    The nearest cities wouldn’t be able to raise enough warriors in a few days. They would need to prepare and then attack the invaders from the back, pinching them against the city walls. Her city would have to withstand the siege and prevent the army from getting in. Rations would need to be implemented in preparation. Better to do it now than later.
    She would order all water tight containers to be filled. She glanced at her full bath that everyone was forbidden to use. There would be no baths until the siege was over. Like everyone else, she would use only the smallest bowl of water to wash herself. She would rather be dirty than dead from thirst.
    Keleti read the full message then refolded it. “Thank you. I want to know immediately when news comes in, regardless of how high the moon is in the sky.”
    Nadri had never made it to even the closest cities, which meant that the ones further north were unaware. “Send birds north to alert them to the problem.”
    “Of course.” He inclined his head and stepped away.
    Where was her cousin? The disquiet in her gut wouldn’t settle. If her cousin had been captured, then Keleti would have to wait for the ransom. How had the Southerners caught her? She would have been flying…unless. She swallowed. Unless Nadri had been shot down, but that would mean that the invaders had spies close by, and her runners had made it to the nearest city. It made no sense.
    She couldn’t sit here any longer. “Dry him off and get him dressed. I have matters to attend to.”
    What was she going to do with him? The longer she kept his presence a secret, the less it would be a secret. No one knew about the key except for the priest. Perhaps… Yes. She would call him an Ambassador.
    “The Ambassador can shadow me today.” She would keep him close and well guarded, yet at the same time it would explain away his sudden appearance. He might even prove to be useful. Surely the gods would not have sent him if he had nothing to offer?
    His eyebrows shot up, but he was smart enough not to say anything.
    The attendants