“This is what you wanted,” she muttered her reply.
“This, yes. This—the Council, and us getting to meet. But not you doing this again,” he hissed, grabbing her waist with his other hand. “Are you crazy?”
“Well, that would make two of us, wouldn't it?” Veria sighed.
“I'm going to kill your little lover boy when he gets here,” Strelzar groaned.
Veria's stomach flipped. “He...he's coming? Here?”
“He will be arriving with a shipment of stone from the quarry, where he is the new foreman,” Strelzar answered. “A prestigious position for someone with no experience.”
“Don't lecture me about my bargaining, Strelzar,” Veria muttered.
“I would never,” he grinned.
“Does he know I am here?” Veria asked.
“Birdie, love, you're the Queen,” he laughed, affectionately fondling her long, golden braid. “Everyone in the kingdom knows when you take a trip.”
Veria sighed and rolled her eyes. “I really miss anonymity.”
“You are never getting that again,” Strelzar rebuked, “and I will see to that myself. The entire world will know your name and remember you forever.”
She smirked and laughed. “Of course you would say that. I heard you lavishing your odd, exaggerative praise upon me in my head before I had to marry Browan.”
“Exaggerate?” Strelzar pulled back with a look of mock confusion. “Me? Surely, you have me confused with someone else.”
Veria laughed and wrapped her arms around his torso. “I missed you,” she whispered. “I was...worried.”
He slowly enveloped her in his solid arms, and rested his chin on the top of her head. “Other than all of the obvious reasons to be worried right now, why, specifically, were you worried about me?”
“They said that you were different,” she muttered into his chest.
“No, no, Veria,” he sighed. “I am different with you. The person I have been these past months without you—that is me. You just chose to ignore it, to always see the best in me. I am actually the dangerous lunatic that Daloes warned you about all those years ago. Just not around you.”
“Alright, then the solution is simple,” she said. “Don't ever leave me.”
He chuckled softly. “If you insist, Birdie,” he sighed.
“I do,” she murmured.
“Come, let's await our guests back at my house with some bread and cheese,” he said, pulling out of the embrace scruffing up her hair playfully. “You need to rest, or Browan will have my head on a spike.”
“Guests?” Veria asked as they started to walk back down the hill off the plateau, each with an arm around the other's shoulders. “Who else is coming?”
“The Historical Society, of course,” Strelzar said plainly. “The Earth Alliance delegation is rather thin, and by that I mean nonexistent—one dead and one not coming anywhere near you—so if you'd like to take an official position in the Elemental Consortium, your silly little element needs you.”
Veria knew exactly who the Fire Alliance historians were—Aslay Livida and Tanisca Pyer-Coriant—and she had a pretty good feeling she knew who the Wind Alliance historian would be...the image of the kind, old, white-whiskered Virro warming her immediately and bringing a smile to her lips.
“Who is the Water Alliance historian?” Veria asked, cocking her head.
“Her,” he said plainly, stopping and looking back at Pascha, who followed them closely.
“Her?!” Veria snapped. “Are you insane?”
“I thought the topic of my insanity had been pretty well covered by now, Birdie,” Strelzar grinned. “Yes, her. Pascha Pasrect-Braskar. Appointed by previous historian Turqa Coriant when he became a full-time traveling physician. I didn't just decide this, darling. She's been the historian for several years.”
“And you're fine with this?” Veria asked, throwing her hands up. “She almost killed us!”
“And she feels quite bad about it,” Strelzar rebutted. “Don't you, dear?” he asked, turning to look at her. Veria did the same, taking in Pascha's striking blue eyes, framed by hair as black as Strelzar's and as straight as a sheet. The two women locked eyes.
“Elanza lis cabarus ali forgeo,” she said slowly, not taking her eyes from Veria as she did.
Veria's head spun. Even her? she thought.
“See? I told you she felt bad,” Strelzar said.
“What about your husband?” Veria interrogated.
Pascha's face dropped and she shook her head. “No,” she murmured. “And it would be very bad for me if he found out. But I promise you, Veria, I am committed to this,” she said, looking back up at Veria with imploring eyes. “Not only do I feel terrible about the way the Elemental Guard has gone, and the things I've done while part of it, but I have a child, too, and a whole family in this kingdom. I don't want this war. You can trust me, and know that I will earn your forgiveness for the terrible things I have done.”
Veria took her words in silently, then gave her a short nod before turning back to the path and continuing to walk through the jungle toward the beach. Strelzar walked by her side.
“Is it everyone now?” she asked sarcastically out of the corner of her mouth.
“Not yet,” Strelzar replied. “But it's going to have to be if this is going to work.”
-XII-
Strelzar's house was cozy and quaint but didn't suit him at all. It reminded Veria of the contrast between her mother's lavish décor back at Longberme in comparison to the little garden cottage she occupied now. She chuckled watching Strelzar arranged a tray of bread and cheese and bring it to the table for the two women. She had never even seen him in a kitchen in her life, let alone serving anyone.
“So, when do these guest arrive?” Veria asked, propping her feet up on a small wooden stool next to the table.
“The stone shipment arrives within the hour,” Strelzar explained as he poured tea for all three of them. “Tanisca and Aslay arrive on the evening cargo ship that comes around dusk, and Virro is already here.”
Veria had just taken a sip of the tea he'd given her, and had to struggle not to spit it back out at the news.
“Veria, don't be dramatic,” Strelzar sighed. “How else do you think I was sending messages to all these people? Virro and Sureven were waiting for me at Plazic Peak. Damn, if I wouldn't kill someone to have that invisibility skill. It has been invaluable these past months.”
“Well, can I see them?” Veria asked.
“They are resting upstairs,” Strelzar answered. “Invisibility at the lengths to which they sustain it is incredibly draining. They will be down for dinner, though. They are dying to spend time with someone other than me.”
“They said that?” Veria chuckled.
“They didn't have to,” he said with a wink and foxy grin.
“A nap before the other guests arrive doesn't sound like a terrible idea, Veria,” Pascha suggested. “I am supposed to be taking care of you, making sure you rest, and I think it's best if we all complete our duties as normal.”
“You're also supposed to be reporting on me to Browan,” Veria spat. “Strelzar, how are we sure she's not going to take all this information she now knows right back—”
“She won't,” he said plainly, his lips on the mouth of his tea cup.
“You're too trusting,” Veria sighed, shaking her head.
“Trust?! Ha! I don't trust anyone except you and occasionally your insufferably adorable little family,” Strelzar said. “But she came to me, and I've heard all of her deepest desires, many times. She's fine. She won't betray us. She's about as adamant about ending all of this as you are—more so, at times. You get distracted a lot.”
Veria crinkled her nose and narrowed her eyes at him, and he stuck his tongue out at her in response.
“Also, I agree with her,” he added casually. “You should nap. I am going to test your skills at some point. You are going to need the energy.”
“I
f you insist,” she said, playfully echoing his words from earlier back to him.
“I do,” he grinned. “There is a dreadfully upholstered lounge chair in the den, and blankets in the trunk.”
Veria sighed and took one last sip of her tea before striding to the den and getting settled with a blanket on the lounge, which she assumed was only 'dreadful' to him because it wasn't upholstered in velvet. As soon as she laid her head on the pillow, she was drifting off into the warm comfort of sleep.
When she awoke, groggy and feeling as if no time had passed, she saw a head resting near her midsection on the lounge. Dark, messy waves she'd know anywhere. She rested her hand on top of Andon's head and stroked his hair affectionately.
He turned his head to look at her and his eyes looked as groggy and tired as hers felt.
“I meant to watch you sleep, vina,” he murmured. “Seems I ended up drifting off myself.”
“I am sure you needed it,” Veria whispered.
“Possibly, but I hate the thought of spending any of the time I get to have with you sleeping,” he said.
Her chest swelled with warmth and she sat up quickly, then slid off the lounge to the floor next to him, and he lifted his head and turned to face her. “I have missed you so much,” she sighed, taking his face in her hands. “I know it has only been a few weeks, but—”
He placed his fingertips over her lips as tears started to well in her eyes. “We don't need to talk about what happened in those weeks, alright? You did what you had to do, and nobody will ever hold it against you, certainly not I.”
He pulled her into his arms and squeezed her against his chest.
“You two are finally awake?” came her mother's voice from the little hallway between the dining room and den.
“Yes,” Andon laughed.
“Good,” Tanisca said. “Dinner is ready.”
Andon stood and helped Veria up off the floor and they followed Tanisca into the dining room, where Aslay was bringing out delicious-looking platters of food from the kitchen, and Virro, Sureven, and Strelzar sat at the table in deep, serious conversation. Pascha sat next to Sureven, listening to the exchange, but not chiming in.
Veria and Andon sat next to each other, across from Virro and Sureven, who looked like he had aged ten years since she last saw him, with Strelzar at the head to Veria's right. Tanisca helped Aslay bring the last few platters out and then they took seats, as well, Aslay at the opposite head of the table from Strelzar and Tanisca on the other side of Andon, across from Pascha.
“This looks amazing,” Strelzar said once everyone was seated. “Fire Magers are the best cooks, aren't they?” He winked at Aslay and Tanisca.
“Are you trying to tell us you're not a real Fire Mager?” Aslay teased him, and the table erupted in laughter.
“Eat, everyone, eat!” he bellowed, still laughing. “We have a busy night. A great deal of...Historical Society business to go over,” he added in a mischievous, conspiratorial smirk.
They all started making their plates and tasting the delicious feat Tanisca and Aslay had cooked, when a knock sounded at the front door.
“Are we expecting another guest?” Tanisca asked, her wine glass held aloft in the air near her lips as she searched the other occupants of the dining room for an answer.
“Not that I am aware of,” Strelzar murmured as he rose from his seat and made his way to the front door, which they could all see from the dining room.
He pulled it open, and as soon as the visitor was revealed, dripping wet from the rain outside, everyone at the table had a different reaction, all at the same time. Tanisca and Veria jumped from their seats in unison and started yelling, while Andon tried to get them both to calm down. Aslay looked in complete shock and dropped her glass of wine right out of her hand, and it shattered on the floor. Virro and Sureven grumbled to each other.
“Everyone stop!” Strelzar shouted, pulling the man inside. “Damnit, Aslay, I actually liked that rug,” he sighed and clicked his tongue upon seeing Aslay's spilled wine on the white rug under the table.
Veria stopped shouting but her chest heaved with rage. The man Strelzar had just let into his home had killed her father. He had forged the suicide letter that had sent her family's name into years of untouchable scandal in the Regalship.
Cadit Ohren stood next to Strelzar, his eyes wide and frightened as his orange hair dripped rainwater into his face.
“I didn't realize you would have guests...” Cadit mumbled.
“Well, I do,” Strelzar snapped. “I didn't realize you were alive.”
“The scout...” Veria gasped and dropped back into her seat in shock. “The one we let live, to tell the world...it wasn't a scout, it was him.”
Cadit nodded but seemed too frightened to speak another word in front of the group.
“What are you doing here?” Strelzar barked.
“I've been hearing things...about you,” Cadit murmured. “I thought I could help.”
“Help?!” Tanisca laughed icily. “You helped Browan put most of this in motion!”
“He forced me to, Tanisca! Just like he has forced all of you to do things—just like he tried to force Gordon to do, but Gordon was better than me...” he trailed off, his voice breaking with emotion. “I have a family, too, and he told me he would have them killed if I didn't follow his orders. He said the same to Gordon.”
“What?” Strelzar asked, tilting his head. “If Browan was threatening the Laurelgates, why did he have you kill Gordon?”
Cadit looked around the table cautiously and took a deep breath.
“He didn't,” he admitted, his voice quiet and timid. “Gordon asked me to do it.”
Tanisca gasped and wavered, and Andon stood quickly and helped her sit back down.
“This...this makes no sense,” Veria muttered, shaking her head.
“It does, Birdie,” Strelzar said. “It makes perfect sense. Gordon knew if he were dead, Browan wouldn't have any reason to threaten you and your mother.”
“But, why ask Cadit to do it?” Veria cried in frustration and confusion. “Why not just do it himself, like we all thought he did for all those years?!”
Andon wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“Simple, dear,” Strelzar said.
“Oh, don't 'simple' me,” Veria sighed and rolled her eyes. “Not everyone is constantly plotting like you are.”
“I choose to take that as a compliment,” he retorted with a grin. “Gordon knew if he killed himself, Browan would realize there was opposition amongst his two advisers to the plan. He would have been harder on Cadit because he'd suspect that Cadit was as opposed as Gordon. But if Cadit killed Gordon...”
“It would prove Cadit's loyalty,” Andon muttered, finishing the sentence.
“Precisely,” Strelzar said. Then he turned to Cadit, who had watched him silently, eyes wide, through the whole explanation. “Is that right?”
“Uhm, yes—that's exactly what he said,” Cadit stammered. “He told me to follow orders and leak information when I could. I hated it, every minute, but I played the part—I rose through the ranks of that damn Separatist Army, telling everyone I had been exiled by the King of Londess...none of them know who they get their orders from. And they certainly had no idea that I was still in communication with Browan.”
“Cadit,” Virro asked, his voice quiet and raspy. “You said Gordon told you to give information when you could—did you?”
“Yes...” Cadit answered, his face tinged with confusion. “I—everything, I sent as much information and proof as I could, to the man he told me to send it to.”
Everyone looked around at each other with expressions of shock and bewilderment.
“I thought you would know that—I was hoping you all had it now—I mean, I was sure you would, that's why I came here,” he continued, his expression growing more confounded with each word he spoke.
Strelzar grabbed Cadit by the shoulders and dropped his face in close to his.
“Cadit, who did you send your information to?” Strelzar demanded.
Veria cleared her throat and spoke before Cadit answered. “I know exactly who he sent it to.”
“Who?” Andon asked, and everyone's eyes fixed on her.
“Ellory Mielyr,” she answered.
“How did you know that?” Cadit asked.
“Browan thought that Ellory had found out the plot on his own,” Strelzar groaned. “But he didn't, he had been given all the information by you. And then instead of using it to stop Browan—”
“He blackmailed him,” Veria spat.
“Veria, no...” Strelzar murmured, seemingly working through a thought in his head. “He waited until he knew it was us, that we were working for the King, and then he blackmailed him—which he admitted was a ruse just to get us there.”
“What do you mean?” Veria asked.
“He wanted us to come to Kortamant—you and I,” Strelzar said. “The information is there and he wanted us to find it.”
“Why didn't he say that, then?” Veria yelled in frustration. “That was nearly a year and a half ago! Look how much time we have wasted!”
Andon squeezed her shoulders and rubbed them under his thumbs. She knew he wanted her to stay calm, for the baby.
“Veria, I wouldn't question why a man who can see possible futures does anything,” Strelzar said. “Maybe we weren't meant to find it then. Maybe we needed to find it now.”
“I can't take anymore of this tonight,” Veria put her head in her hands and shook it woefully.
“This is a lot to take in, I agree,” Andon said, pulling her into his arms. “We can figure out details later tonight, or first thing tomorrow, but for the rest of the night can we all relax...and finish eating?”
“Good plan,” Strelzar said as he sat himself back down in his seat and went back to eating. “Cadit, there's an extra chair in the den and you can make a plate in the kitchen.”
“I will get your plate for you,” Aslay said, jumping up from her seat and locking eyes with Cadit.
“Thank you,” he said.
Queen of the Earth: Book V in the Elementals Series Page 10