The Queens of Ida

9

 Morkana's face is slit by a ray of light as the door to her room opens. She sits up in bed, and watches as Raya slowly closes the door again and approaches.

"Morkie," Raya says as she sits down next to Morkana.

"Don't call me that," Morkana responds. "I heard Emi crying, is she okay?"

"She's fine. She got lost and was scared. I think. She won't really tell me. Maybe she's just tired. I put her to bed." She lays an arm on Morkana's shoulder. "How are you doing?"

"Uh, fine, why are you asking?" Morkana says warily.

"Just...wanted to know?" Raya responds

"No, really. What news are you trying to break?" Morkana says, a threat in her voice.

"Well..."

"Yes?"

"I think we should ditch our plans for tomorrow and try a different approach."

Morkana feels Raya's hand tighten on her shoulder, though she can't easily see her wife's expression in the half-light.

"We developed those plans for months. What better suggestion do you have? I'd rather not make spur-of-the-moment decisions off your whims, if that's what you are suggesting," Morkana says flatly.

"Well, the King's got to go, but I think we should reconsider everything else. The Queen invited us down for breakfast tomorrow, and I think I should go down with Emi and talk her onto our side while you kill the King, then we could take over the kingdom."

Morkana shakes her head in disbelief. "And why in the name of the heavens do you think that will work even remotely?"

"Trust me, I think I can convince her," Raya responds.

"But you're not good at convincing people. No, if we're to even consider this plan, it would be you doing what you're good at and killing the King, and me talking to the Queen."

"You're fine at killing people. You're actually quite good. And I can convince people."

"Why are you so adamant? Listen to me, Raya. You're not good at talking people onto your side. End of discussion. To be honest I think we should just stick with our old plan and kill them all."

"No!" Raya says passionately, then, "I mean..."

But now Morkana understands, and interrupts before Raya can correct herself. "Of all the girls in the universe, why the Queen of Udle? Seriously? I know love can be...well, pretty fickle, but this is too much."

"What makes you think that?" Raya says, but her voice is like new blood: weak and young.

"I know you, Raya. I can tell."

"Are you mad?" Raya's voice still sounds like a child's.

"No, of course not, why would I be?" Morkana's a bit exasperated at this point, and Raya's tone of voice isn't helping. She doesn't mention it, of course. If her wife needs to show weakness, she won't discourage it (as long as it isn't public, in that case she'd shoot it down immediately).

Raya suddenly seems to compose herself. Morkana can't see it, but she's pretty sure her wife shrugs. "I don't know."

"Yeah, well, you shouldn't know, because I totally wouldn't do such a thing as get mad because my wife has found others. As long as you still love me, which I know you do, so..."

"Yeah, so you agree we should go with my plan!"

"Absolutely not. I agree that you can fall in love, but you found the most inconvenient person at the most inconvenient time."

Morkana expects Raya to argue, but instead she just sighs. "I guess so. We will continue with the plan."