Flanked by a pair of sword-bearing guards, Larissa folded her arms, as far as the shackles on her wrists allowed, and glared up at Sapphiris, who lounged on the throne formerly occupied by Larissa’s father. “You’ve wiped out the rest of our family. I can’t help wondering why you haven’t killed my son and me yet. What do you want?”

“Something only a sorceress with your power can do.”

True, Sapphiris commanded only limited magic compared to Larissa. The false queen specialized mainly in potions, not spells, and had slain her cousin the king, Larissa’s father, by poison. “Why should I do anything you ask?”

“To preserve your boy’s life, of course.”

No surprise there, for only the threat hanging over him had kept Larissa from breaking out of her comfortable cell and striking down the usurper. “And why would I trust you not to have both of us murdered after I’ve done your bidding?”

“I’ll sign a magically binding contract guaranteeing your freedom and safety and his – after you fulfill my request.” She snapped her fingers, and a scribe holding a document case stepped forward.

“Not after, before. I’ll do nothing until I have your signature on that inviolable pledge.”

“And why would I be so reckless as to make that pledge before getting what I want?”

“Because you know I’ll keep my word. I don’t know any such thing about you.”

Sapphiris’s cold smile confirmed she’d been only toying with her prisoner. “Quite so. Then let it be done, if you can cast the spell I need.”

“Which is?”

“What’s the point of winning power if one can’t be sure of living long and well enough to appreciate it?” With a purr in her voice, Sapphiris scanned the lofty windows and marble walls and floor of the throne room. “I want to remain perpetually beautiful and never sicken, suffer, or die. Can you accomplish that?”

“Of course. If that’s the price of our lives, I can and will.” Larissa allowed a tinge of disdain to creep into her voice. “Not that I anticipate much joy in life under your rule.”

Sapphiris reached for the enchanted parchment and pen. After writing out her request and the terms of the promise she offered in return, she handed over the document, inscribed in glowing letters of golden ink.

Larissa carefully read the compact twice over in search of loopholes. When satisfied that she and her son would have their freedom and permanent immunity from harm inflicted by the false queen or her minions or in any way at their instigation, she nodded. “Very well, you will be perpetually beautiful and never sicken, suffer, or die. But I’ll need these removed.” She held up her shackled hands.

Sapphiris gestured to one of the guards, who unlocked the chains. She then stood before the sorceress at arm’s distance.

Larissa tucked the document into a pocket of her robe, wove the magical sigils in the air, and chanted the necessary invocation. An explosion of blue light momentarily blinded her.

When her vision cleared, she beheld the successful outcome of her spell — a marble statue of the usurper, flawlessly beautiful and immune to sickness, suffering, and death.

With the enchanted compact safely in her possession, she strode from the throne room to free her son.

-end-