I stared at Galian, knowing the words I should say, but very different ones coming to mind. I felt the tension of the room grow as the seconds lengthened between my words.
"I spent some time in Mael," I said finally. "I saw the people, saw the way they were treated, and what they were forced to do. You can't spend one second there without knowing that it's a dangerous place. The air is so poisonous the guards have to wear masks that cover their faces, and perhaps they wish to hide their faces to remain disconnected from the brutal reality.
"For a long time, I struggled to speak about Mael. Not because I was haunted by horrible memories, though they do visit me in my dreams. I struggled because I asked myself why. Why was I chosen to survive and others left to a slow, tortuous death? I have never felt worthy to speak on the topic because...there's no good reason I lived while others died." Galian nodded to me and I took another long breath. "But, finally, I realized that I survived so I could tell their stories.
"When I arrived in Mael, I saw a man who was more willing to be executed by the guards' guns than die the slow, tortuous death of barethium poisoning. I watched children forced to work for hours without breaks, chained together as if they were animals. They'd been sent there for crimes like shoplifting and were sentenced to a life of lung disease. But the worst of it all was...I could see in their eyes how hopeless it was. There was no escaping the poisonous gas, or the whip, or the..."
My stomach was threatening to empty itself, so I inhaled a long breath to calm myself. After a tense moment, I continued. "No country is without it's sins, not even Rave. But what happens in Mael is inhumane. Jervan and Herin have banned barethium usage in their buildings and their economy thrives, why not Kylae?"
I glanced up at Galian, and he was beaming. But I felt Bayard's eyes on the back of my neck and knew I might get a talking to when this speech was over. Might as well say what I wanted to say.
"King Grieg thinks he can do whatever he wishes within his borders," I said, and watched Galian's smile grow bigger. "He would rather continue a fifty-year war and enslave those with Raven blood than try to come up with solutions. There is peace to be had between Kylae and Rave, but it takes the first step. And maybe that first step is closing Mael. Even if we don't find peace, Grieg knows closing the prison is the right thing to do. As do we all." I paused for a breath. "Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. God bless the free and independent nation of Rave."
To my surprise, the room erupted in loud, joyous applause that took me by surprise. I glanced behind me and was even more shocked to see the presidents and prime ministers on their feet, clapping loudest of all. Bayard was grinning with all the sincerity I'd never seen from him before, and the president of Jervan had tears running down his face.
I turned to look for my amichai again and saw him speaking with one of his two guards. The look he gave me spoke volumes. He mouthed, "I love you," then disappeared through the doors behind him.
TWELVE
Galian
We'd made it back to the Kylaen plane with only ten minutes to spare, and Martin had looked most relieved when he saw us boarding the plane. Johar hadn't shared whether she'd been successful or not in infiltrating the meetings, and, like Kader, I couldn't read her stoic expression. But Theo had delivered her speech perfectly, and that had been mission success enough for me.
My father's orders only required my two feet to be back on Kylaen soil by sundown, but thankfully, they didn't order me back to the castle. My suspicions about his collusion with Hebendon returned as soon as I saw my schedule for the week—night, night, night, night, night...then two early morning shifts. Hebendon said it was because I'd taken unplanned leave and other doctors had to cover for me, but I wasn't that stupid. This was my father's punishment.
The busy schedule did have one benefit: it distracted me from thinking about how much I missed Theo. Being with her again had reopened a deep wound, and our forced separation was like rubbing salt in it. But watching her speak so passionately, seeing the world leaders from three nations stand and applaud her, had finally inspired me to be the kind of man who deserved her. The kind of man who didn't make excuses about night shifts and exhaustion. The kind of man who followed through on his promises to the woman he loved.
I wasn't surprised that Theo's speech and the summit in general didn't even get a mention on the back pages of the newspapers. I checked for nearly a week, cover to cover, and saw nothing of it, nor a mention of my appearance at the hotel. That, at least, surprised me a little. I'd done my best to show the worst parts of myself to the media. The tabloids usually ate that up. Then again, perhaps my father had let the stories of my youth run because it fit a narrative he was trying to craft. Now the story was better if I just hadn't gone anywhere at all.
By the end of my week from hell, I was exhausted, but determined to do something, even returning to the castle to talk to Rhys. But as luck would have it, Rhys came to me, waiting in my apartment and having a beer with Martin as if they were old friends.
"Gally!" he said, standing and walking over to me. "How was work?"
"Exhilarating," I said with a weak smile. "What are you doing here?"
"Wanted to see my little brother." As if on cue, Martin stood and disappeared into his bedroom, shutting the door behind him.
"Why do I get the feeling I'm in trouble?" I asked, sitting down in the seat Martin had vacated.
"I don't know, maybe because you did exactly the opposite of what I told you to do?" Rhys said, placing the beer on the table. "I said not to make a spectacle of yourself. The point was to keep this from Father."
"I had approval from both Kader and Johar. I helped with whatever..." I paused, considering whether Rhys was aware of why they were there.
"I couldn't give a shit about them and their mission," Rhys said, answering my question. "My first and only concern is you. Thanks to your little stunt, you've put yourself back in Father's crosshairs." Rhys sat back and stared at the turned-off television in front of us. "And it's pretty obvious why, after four months of looking like death warmed over, your little girlfriend is suddenly the happiest, cheeriest little escaped prisoner there ever was."
I had to smile at that. "What can I say, I'm good—"
"Galian, for fuck's sake," Rhys said with a hearty roll of his eyes. "I'm serious. Father knows you disobeyed him and went to see your girlfriend just before she gave an impassioned speech about this country's inner workings. He can put two and two together."
"What are you insinuating?" I asked, folding my arms over my chest.
"I'm not insinuating anything. I'm telling you that it looked like you divulged Kylaen state secrets to an enemy agent. I'm telling you that some of the ministers believe you're a traitor and would have you sent to Mael at the drop of a hat." He ran his hands through his hair. "It's a damned good thing the media's in love with you thanks to your rumored engagement."
"And nobody finds it odd that we're discussing my own father?" I asked. "The man would kill his own son to, what? Save face?" I snorted. "Father of the year right there."
"Galian, there's so much more you don't understand—"
"There's no explanation for something like that," I replied hotly. "Just like there's no explanation for why we continue to try to invade Rave day after day—"
"This isn't about Rave, or Theo, or even the war, Gally. This is about you staying out of trouble!" Rhys said before sighing. "Look, man, I meant what I said at the party. I thought you were dead for two months, and I never want to go through that again."
"So maybe deal with the person who's going around threatening people's lives."
"I can't argue with you when you're like this," Rhys said, standing up. I let him walk to the door, too tired to fight anymore, but then he paused and said, "How was she?"
"She's...Theo," I said with a small smile. "Keep watch over the airspace on the island, will ya? I have a feeling she might be calling soon."
He waited a breath then responded
, "I never stopped."
Theo
I imagined his hand between my legs and his smug smile. Then the way he'd kissed a trail from my knee to the wetness...
I shivered and swallowed hard, wishing the memories of Galian wouldn't visit me when I was sitting in the meeting room in the public relations office. Still, I supposed I should count my lucky stars that those memories haunted me and not the ones from Mael. The only danger from these dreams was a goofy, lovesick smile and the inability to pay attention.
Glancing around to make sure I was the only one still in the room, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a well-worn piece of paper with the logo of the Ginger Finn hotel on it. I'd known in my heart when I saw Galian turn and leave that he was going back to Kylae and our brief interlude had come to a close. It had been foolish to think his appearance would go unnoticed by his father, and I regretted not being more realistic about our parting that morning. Then again, if I had been, perhaps I might not have given such an impassioned speech.
When I'd returned to my hotel room, there was a little surprise waiting for me when I lay my head on the pillow to cry.
Theo,
I have been "ordered" back home, so our plans in Jervan will be on hold—temporarily. If it gets too much, just go back to our place, and I'll come for you.
I love you.
Your aymekey
I snorted when my gaze breezed over his pathetic spelling for amichai. Then again, there hadn't been much time to teach him how to say the word, let alone spell it.
I saw movement out of the corner of my eye, so I hastily folded the paper up and stuck it back in my pocket. I smiled as Wesson entered the meeting room, but he barely acknowledged me as he placed the meeting material in front of me.
I opened the folder and cringed; my bright, smiling face was on ten out of the ten media clippings. No wonder Wesson was sick of me; I was starting to get sick of me. The frenzy of attention from the Raven media had started when I stepped off the plane and at least twenty Raven photographers were waiting for me. Not for Bayard, but for me. And they continued stalking me even this morning, photographing me as I crossed the sidewalk to my car.
I couldn't imagine this being my life forever, like it was Galian's...A smile grew on my face as my memory drifted back to the long night, how his strong chest had rumbled under my fingertips when he laughed, the way his lips felt against my skin, how I writhed under his touch—
"'neechai, are you with us?" Emilie's voice shot through my daydream, and I straightened to attention. The room had filled without my knowing it and everyone was staring at me.
"Sorry," I said, opening my folder to the first page.
"As I was saying, Bayard wants Theo's speech to be the theme of all media engagements for the next two weeks, at least. Herrick, Kerico, we'll need to update Minister Breen and Minister Lee's speeches. The full text of Theo's...unplanned deviations is in your folders. Though 'neechai, next time, please stick to the script."
She winked at me, and I was glad I wouldn't get any further reprimands. Still, I had been too preoccupied with Galian and speaking to even remember anything, and I was curious. I pulled the paper to me and began to read.
"I really said all this?" I said after a moment. Perhaps I should take Emilie's advice and just read from the prepared remarks from now on.
"We've tweaked a little bit for grammar and repetition," she said, beaming at me. "But these are your words. And soon, the whole country will hear them."
I flipped through the folder until I found my schedule for the next two weeks. I'd be with Bayard nearly every day, delivering my speech no less than six times at some of the largest military installations in Rave—including Vinolas and, to my shock, the Raven parliament.
I could scarcely believe my eyes. I was finally at the precipice of the next phase in my career, and within grasp of the power that could change the lives of my countrymen. This was what I'd been working toward all of these months. I'd finally done it.
Emilie's gaze was still on me. "I'm very proud of you, I want you to know. I'm not sure what happened in Jervan, but you've been different. You found your spark. Whatever you did there, keep doing it, because you've become the most interesting person in Rave."
I forced my gaze down to the paper. The thing that I did was Galian, and seeing him again was...
Go back to our place, and I'll come for you.
I wanted to be with him so much it hurt. But at the same time, thanks to this speech, I could help people now. I slid a hand into my pocket and felt the rough edges of the paper. I loved my amichai, but I loved my country, too. And right now, Rave needed me more.
The meeting adjourned and, as usual, Emilie asked me to stay behind to have a private chat. For once, I wasn't dreading it.
"I wanted to let you know that Bayard's security team has recommended an increase in your security detail," Emilie said.
I furrowed my brow. "Any particular reason? I'm already pretty well-known in Rave."
"Yes, but now you aren't a silent symbol, you're a speaking one," she said with a smile. "Kylae's weapons don't always come in the form of bombs."
I was well-aware of the talents of at least one special operations officer. "Do you think they would come for me like that?"
"It's doubtful, but we'd always like to be prepared," she replied with a small shrug. "What Bayard is more worried about are the troublemakers in the south end of the city."
I realized with a jolt that I'd never told her about the strange man who'd seen me on the waterfront. I chewed on my lip. "One of them already approached me."
Her eyebrows shot up. "When?"
"A few weeks ago," I said then quickly added, "I told him I didn't want anything to do with him and to leave me alone."
She clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. "Theo, the next time something like that happens, please tell your security detail. For a group who never leaves Veres, they're awfully hard to pin down."
The memory of the man's enigmatic smile and his too-close-for-comfort words returned. "What will happen to them?"
"Are you kidding?" Emilie snorted. "They're traitors, and they'll be hung. They'd rather cause chaos and disruption instead of banding together during our time of crisis. They walk around the slums, telling the mothers of our pilots that their children have been sold into slavery."
But, my inner voice reminded me, it was only those in the slums who were targeted to serve the country. Children like Emilie and other wealthy Ravens paid their way out of conscription. But I shook that idea from my head.
"I know the conscription age is difficult to stomach, but we have no choice," Emilie said. "Our country is at war."
I nodded to agree with her, not trusting my mouth to say the right thing.
"Spreading lies like that isn't just problematic to our citizenry, it's dangerous. We can barely keep our country together as it is, let alone manage a civil war. The Kylaens will sweep in and take over."
Again, I nodded.
"So you'll tell someone the next time one of them comes to you?" she asked with a smile.
"Of course, it was stupid of me not to," I said.
"Good girl."
Galian
Not a day after Rhys had stopped by my apartment, Kader informed me I was taking lunch with the queen at the palace. To be honest, I was looking forward to the meeting. I had many questions for my mother, most of which revolved around the real mission in Lakner.
More than that, though, I wanted her advice. After all, she was the one who'd introduced me to the horrors at Mael. She knew more about what went on there than anyone else. In fact, she hadn't even blinked when I'd told her about the secret testing facility Theo and I had found on our island. I'd always thought her placated by my father's scientists and their promises of safety, but now I wasn't sure about anything I knew.
My mother wasn't in her residences, nor in her office, but I found her in the small greenhouse off to the side of her library, wearing a pair of
gloves and tending to her favorite plants. She looked rather un-queen-like with dirt-stained pants and hair pulled back in a bun. The greenhouse was heated by the sun and also, I suspected, the palace furnace, so while it was a bit nippy, it wasn't too bad.
"The linton bush looks a little rough," she said to her assistant, Filippa, who nodded and wrote in her pad. "See about finding some fertilizer."
"Have you tried adding Father's bullshit?" I asked.
My mother glanced up at the sound of my voice and pursed her lips at me. "Galian, be respectful. Filippa, can you check with the gardener if he has any left over?"
Her assistant nodded demurely and hurried out of the greenhouse. My mother said nothing until the glass doors closed then she dropped her shoulders.
"Galian, watch where you let loose that tongue of yours," she said, much less cheerfully. "Filippa reports to your father."
I glanced behind me, bewildered. "Doesn't she work for you?"
"It's so wonderful to see you," Mom said, walking over and embracing me. She kept an arm around my shoulder and walked me to the small bush she was working on. "Doesn't this look lovely? It was a gift from our friends in Herin. The ambassador told me it would take a miracle to keep it alive here, but here it is, ten years later. Still thriving."
I nodded.
"And this one, do you know where it came from?" She pointed to a flower. "An island off the coast of Jervan." She glanced out the window. "When it gets cold like this, I have to move it inside. It's much easier to keep an eye on things when they're within arms' reach, you know?" She walked over to a small vividly purple flower. "This, though. This is my prize. It's a phoenician plant, native to Rave. Every six weeks, it sheds this beautiful flower and grows a new one. This one I've kept alive for a very long time. I like to believe that as long as it blooms every few weeks, there's still hope for peace between Rave and Kylae."
The Complete Madion War Trilogy Page 33