Thoughtfully Callum slid the ring back on his finger, staring at it, the strain of his features gradually fading. He looked pensive. Considering Edric’s suggestion. “Do you have any idea what you are volunteering for?”
“I know that doing so will help my best friend – and my sister – and that’s all I need to know. What I need from you is your word that you won’t back down. Can you give me that?”
“This might all be irrelevant if we don’t defeat the Avaern…”
“That is not what I’m asking. You and I are going to get through this. We are going to find a way to bring the Avaern down and you are going to go back to Tanispa and accept the promotion that has been offered to you. Can you give me your promise?”
Giving the ring one last tug to adjust it on his finger Callum paused, breathing lightly. The troubled look in his eyes was almost completely diminished, replaced by a sparkle that had been absent since Callum’s arrival to Sivaeria for Audri’s birthday. “I suppose it does look rather nice on my hand…”
“It belongs there,” Edric smiled, his heart anxious to hear the words he wanted so badly for Callum to say. He was so close! “Between that and the wedding band you wear, I cannot think of a man who is more blessed than you. General of the Royal Army – married to the only woman you have ever loved – and soon to be the father of the future Levadis heir. Sarid knows you have done enough for my family. It’s time I did something to repay the favor.”
“You argue some fine points which I cannot think to disagree with. I am left with little alternative than to give you my word that I will accept the role of General when we return to Tanispa,” Callum nodded. “But it’s not going to be easy getting home.”
Edric couldn’t help the smile that remained frozen on his face. He had succeeded. It would be one less thing weighing on Callum’s mind, which would help them all focus their attention on the Avaern. “With Okivra here to support our presence in Nahedu, we may find it easier to ingratiate ourselves with the Ovatai. We just need to get you healed up and Gadiel back on his feet so we can go at this thing with a fresh start, now that we know what we’re up against.”
“It won’t be that easy, Edric. I spoke with my father about the issues with Ewei and he feels the same. We have to be careful about how we approach our accusations against him in regards to the orders he gave in Isavo. To come right out and claim he provided false commands under the name of Onuric would put us in a bad light for the rest of their warriors, even if it’s true. We can’t come across like nothing more than a petty snitch. Ewei will face questions about what happened to Neomi. I’m confident he will lack the ability to fabricate enough lies to carry him through. We must let him dig the hole himself before we throw him in and bury him.”
“I hope he starts digging soon. As long as that man is allowed to remain in power among their people, he is a threat to us – and them.”
“The fact that he is still in power is exactly why you need to leave this room,” Callum glanced over his shoulder, making sure no one else was within range to hear what he spoke, his voice low and controlled. “My father asked to speak with you before he leaves. I should warn you, he is aware of Ewei’s accusations against you in regards to Neomi, however, I have not confirmed whether there is any credibility to the claims. Your behavior was enough to make him suspicious of a deeper connection between you two. When presented with his observation I was in no position to deny what he witnessed. You’ve done little to conceal it.”
Edric’s stomach churned nervously. “You say you didn’t deny his observations but you also say you did not confirm the validity of Ewei’s allegations. What exactly did you tell him?”
“He knows that you have acquired an affinity toward her. As far as the depths of your emotions and their reciprocation, he doesn’t know. I gave no false information…I simply left out a few details when he inquired, and did my best to manipulate the conversation away from the matter.”
His assurances did little to ease Edric’s mind. How could he have been so foolish? But Cadell was an intelligent man. Even if Edric had watched his every move in regards to Neomi, it was possible he still would have drawn a connection between them. “Thank you,” he said quietly, unsure of what else to say. Callum’s evasiveness with his father would only get him so far – but it might buy him enough time to get through this war without being forced to return home.
“Don’t thank me yet,” Callum returned his gaze, solemn. Serious. “My father is not likely to have forgotten his questions. You will still have to bypass his scrutinizing gaze and if there is one thing I know about my father, it’s that nothing gets past him. I’ve done all I can to argue for you to remain in Ethrysta. The rest is up to you.”
“Then I suppose I should not keep him waiting.” Straightening his shoulders proudly Edric ran his fingers along the fabric of his doublet to smooth the surface. It was ragged and torn from their journey, stained with blood. He had hoped to look presentable for his meeting with the General. With any luck Cadell would look past his appearance and focus on the mission. Moving back toward the table where Neomi lay he grabbed up his cloak and gloves from the floor, sliding them into place in preparation for the heightened cold outside. “I intend to return soon,” he added, giving a sharp nod in Callum’s direction before making his way out the door.
Edric’s confidence dissipated by the time he reached the bustling camp outside Nahedu. Although he knew the Ovatai paid him no mind, he couldn’t help feeling as if their eyes were on him, questioning, accusing. What had Ewei told them? It was unlikely he had kept his mouth shut since their arrival. If his goal was to turn the warriors against the Vor’shai, he would waste no opportunity to spread his lies. Except they weren’t lies. Not entirely. While Ewei had no proof, Edric couldn’t look Chief Okivra in the eye and deny having feelings for Neomi if it came to such. It was the one thing Ewei had over him which could destroy everything, regardless of the lack of evidence. Enough could be read in Edric’s face to betray him.
The first challenge would be getting past Cadell. Callum was right in his assessment of the General. Cadell was known for his ability to read people. It was part of what made him so feared. Criminals in Tanispa who were brought before him had no chance at bypassing his analytical eye when trying to lie their way to freedom. Edric would be no different. Cadell knew Edric. He had been around the royal family since they were children. He knew every nuance of their behavior and had caught them in minor lies before. Something to this scale would no doubt stand out more than the trivial tales Edric and his siblings spun to avoid punishment when they were younger.
His pace slowed the closer he came to the command tent. He didn’t want to talk to Cadell. While he had questions about the well-being of his family, there was too much at stake in letting the General interrogate him. He prayed silently that Gadiel would be with Cadell, making it less convenient for sensitive topics to be discussed.
“Your Highness.”
Damn. Cadell was waiting for him, positioned outside the command tent, wrapped in a thick cloak, waving a gloved hand at him to beckon Edric closer. His chance to change his mind was gone. He had no choice but to face Cadell now. “General. The Captain said you wished to speak with me.”
“I do. Come inside out of the wind. It will be easier for us to talk when our teeth are not chattering incessantly.”
Obediently Edric did as he was told, trudging through the snow to reach the entrance of the tent, following Cadell inside. He was grateful for the cover it provided from the brisk air. A small heater had been set up near the center, the warm coals giving off a soft glow. Cadell moved toward it confidently, removing his gloves and cloak to stand in front of the warmth, rubbing his hands together over the coals. Several oil lamps had been positioned throughout the area, providing a cozier atmosphere than Edric thought was possible in a place like this.
With cautious steps he moved further into the room, waiting for Cadell to speak first. They stood in silence for a few m
oments, Cadell’s eyes occasionally lifting to look at Edric before returning to his absent watch over the coals. “You look well, Your Highness,” he stated calmly, steadying his gaze on Edric once again. “Your parents will be relieved to hear that you remain in good health.”
“Yes. A few bumps and bruises, but I will survive.”
“That’s the spirit,” Cadell nodded. His eyes remained on Edric, stern and unyielding, piercing through the dim light as if looking into the depths of Edric’s private thoughts, drawing them out against his will. “Callum has given his report of the situation here. I was hoping to hear your take on matters before I journey home. It’s a long trip for such a short stay. I am compelled to return to your parents with as much information as possible, given the circumstances.”
Shivering from the cold Edric took a step closer to where Cadell stood, reaching out his hands to feel the warmth of the coals. Unable to resist, he pulled the gloves from his fingers to bask in the glorious heat. His skin tingled. After so long in the cold, the warmth was uncomfortable, cutting through the numbness of his extremities like tiny pinpricks along the surface. “Callum is more experienced in reports, General. He is able to look at things objectively. I’m afraid anything I tell you would consist of more speculation than fact.”
“Speculation is fine. I am interested to hear your feelings on the Ovatai.”
“My feelings on the Ovatai?” Was it a trick? A clever ruse to bait him into saying something incriminating against him and Neomi? No. It couldn’t be. You’re just being paranoid. “Honestly, I have very little in the way of an opinion about them,” he replied, hoping to keep his responses as vague as possible. “They are a surprisingly simple race. Uncivilized in many ways. It has taken some getting used to and I’m not entirely sure I have warmed to them just yet.”
“No?” Cadell’s brow rose, inquisitive. “Chief Okivra is in your debt for saving his daughter. I’m impressed to see how much care you have taken in seeing to her safety.”
Edric’s heart sank. It wasn’t mere paranoia. Cadell wasted no time in his inquisition. But Edric was determined not to let him win. He couldn’t. Edric’s place in the mission required him to maintain his secret. “She is the daughter of our ally’s Chief. It would reflect poorly on our people if we didn’t take whatever measures were necessary to see to her safety.”
“Indeed. You have gone above and beyond in seeing to the care of Okivra’s family. It is noble of you to keep such a vigilant watch over her while she rests.”
“I like to think the Ovatai would do the same were our roles reversed.”
A smirk played at the corners of Cadell’s mouth, setting Edric’s nerves on edge. “Let us be frank with one another, Your Highness. We both know an Ovatai warrior would have left you to die on the field rather than see your battered body back to your parents. Let’s not fool ourselves that you act in the same manner they would.”
“Wishful thinking, perhaps,” Edric shrugged, thankful for the evenness of his tone. “Their ways are deplorable. If you seek honesty from me, I will tell you without hesitation that I disapprove of how their people have handled this situation. They treat us like trash and assume we have no use in battle. It has been my hope that I can prove the error of their customs. And I have reason to believe it may be working. Neomi and Moinie were exhibiting more care for our soldiers prior to their separation from our group.”
“Might I inquire as to what methods you utilized to sway them?”
“Kindness, General. I stepped in to protect Neomi when we were attacked by a strange animal on our way to Isavo. When the Avaern appeared over the village, she risked herself to protect me. In returning her to Okivra, it was my hope that others of their people would see the gesture as a symbol of loyalty and possibly learn something from it.”
“A symbol of loyalty. So – you expect me to believe that you rushed Neomi to Nahedu, in your physical condition, without rest, and remained by her side every moment of the way simply to prove a point to the Ovatai?”
“Is it really that difficult to believe?”
“Yes,” Cadell stated simply. “I am no fool, Edric. Do not play me like one.”
Edric set his jaw, a brief pulse of anger rushing through him at Cadell’s boldness. He disliked being accused of anything. He wasn’t on trial. There was no crime committed. “You imply a heavy charge, General. What exactly do you suspect my behavior to indicate beyond what is required of us as allies to the Ovatai?”
Lowering his hands to his sides Cadell looked thoughtfully at Edric, his head cocked to one side in quiet contemplation. After a moment he shook his head, heaving a soft sigh. “Edric, you speak as if I have never seen a man in love with a woman before. When I saw you carrying Neomi in your arms I was reminded of your father during the war. When the Ven’shal General attacked your mother, Thade disobeyed every order given by Queen Vorsila and saw your mother to the physicians. He remained by her side – against my counsel – and do you know why?” Cadell waited, watching Edric, listening intently for an answer that never came. Seeming amused by Edric’s silence he chuckled quietly before continuing. “Because he was in love with her, Edric. He didn’t care that he wasn’t supposed to go near her. I saw the same look in your eyes.”
“I think you misread my eyes, Sir.”
“Forgive my vanity, but I don’t misread anything. You insult me by continuing to deny it.”
Edric’s gaze faltered, shifting away from Cadell to avoid his unbearable stare. What was he supposed to do? It had been his intent to come there and convince Cadell that there was nothing between him and Neomi. He had failed. Miserably. “What are you hoping to prove with this line of questioning, General? I’m aware of the rules regarding the Ovatai. Our men are not to go near their women.”
“You miss my point. Your father was aware of the orders to stay away from your mother. Awareness does not mean obedience.”
“You keep mentioning my father, but his situation was different,” Edric argued, desperate to make Cadell back down. “My father was not supposed to go near my mother because her association with the enemy made her a risk to his safety. It had nothing to do with a difference in their race or tenuous alliances. Neomi is an Ovatai. I am Vor’shai. Trust me, I am well aware of all the reasons why she and I can never be together and therefore you have no need to worry about me.”
“Then you do not deny that you have grown attached.”
“I did not say that.”
“You did not have to.”
Edric stared at the floor, unsure of what to say. He had no desire to lie but at the same time he couldn’t outright admit the truth. The repercussions could be devastating to Edric’s plans of remaining there in Ethrysta. “You’re trying to trick me. You will not succeed.”
“What are you doing, Edric?” Cadell asked, his face registering a hint of emotion beyond amusement for the first time since entering the tent. He looked concerned. Edric thought he saw a hint of fear in their depths before they quickly returned to their steady burnt umber glow. “I argued with your parents to allow your presence here for the sake of my son. If you consider pursuing that woman, you run the risk of being the cause of his death and the collapse of the alliance between us and the Ovatai. You leave me with no choice but to direct you to return with me to Tanispa for the safety of everyone here.”
“You cannot!” Edric shouted, surprised by the desperation he heard in his own voice. It was pathetic that he was reduced to begging. Him. The Prince. “Cadell, you know you don’t want me to leave any more than I do. Aiva is counting on me to keep an eye on Callum. You requested the same of me before our departure from the palace. How could you possibly take me away from him when he needs me now more than ever?”
“I would rather know the two of you are here looking after one another but if there is any chance that you are placing him in greater danger than you can be assured that I won’t hesitate to get you away from him.”
“He needs me, Cadell. Gadiel can’t
be counted on to lead the men in his current condition. Callum is going to need help.”
“Then Ehren will stay behind to assist. I suggest you gather your things and prepare yourself for the journey home.”
“Ehren is a child!” Edric gasped, exasperated. This couldn’t be happening. Everything was quickly spiraling out of control and he was powerless to stop it.
“A child?” Cadell mused. “Edric, your brother is older than you were when you accompanied the military to Luquarr. He is beyond childhood and more than capable of the duties required of him until Gadiel can return to battle.”
Covering his face with his hand Edric grimaced. He had to make Cadell understand how important this was to him. It was more than just his feelings for Neomi which caused his desire to stay. It was because he had nothing to go home for. “Do not do this to me, please,” he whispered. “This mission is all I have. If you make me go back to Sivaeria, I will have failed in my one chance to be something other than a body roaming around the palace. You read my feelings toward Neomi as if I was an open book and yet you – and everyone else in my family – are oblivious to the fact that I am miserable there! I have everything I could ever want in material luxuries but I have no purpose. I am a son in the royal household. My days are spent wandering in and out of those rooms, mingling with the courtiers, pretending that anything I say matters. Do not send me back to that torture; I cannot endure it. Not yet. I’m not ready.”
Cadell was speechless. Edric could tell by the way his mouth hung open, staring dumbfounded at Edric to hear his admission. He remained quiet for a long moment, thinking carefully over what to say. “Edric,” he replied quietly, the expression on his face solemn. Turning away, Edric avoided his stare. He couldn’t look at him. It was humiliating to think what he had just confessed.
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Three: Crown of Ice Page 66