Tony said in astonishment:
“But they’re a menace to Barkut—”
“Of course!” the Queen conceded impatiently. “They’re dangerous to Barkut in the same way that a troop of—say—wild apes would be dangerous to a village near where they lived. They steal, and they destroy, and they probably kill people now and then. But it’s because they can’t understand people and people can’t understand them.”
“There’s a war—” began Tony.
“Oh, the war!” The Queen dismissed it scornfully. “That’s what all wars are about! Misunderstandings! Marriages are too, probably. Men are so absurd! That’s why I have to stay a prisoner.”
Ghail said warningly: “Majesty!”
The Queen regarded Ghail with impatience.
“My dear, you cannot deny that I am patriotic! I have no children, so I can be patriotic! But for the same reason I haven’t any particular prejudice against the djinns. Do you remember how I used to adore horses? I’ve come to like the djinns as well, that’s all. I admit that it seems terribly silly to me that I have to stay here because the djinn king’s vanity is involved in holding me prisoner! If I were to escape and go back to Barkut, he’d feel that he had to attack it furiously to recapture me. So I can’t go home until he’s conquered. So I simply want the Lord Toni to realize that as far as I am concerned—”
Ghail said again: “Majesty!”
Tony looked sharply at Ghail and at the Queen. Ghail was young and very desirable. The Queen was less young and contentedly undesirous. She laughed frankly.