Opening his mouth to speak Liurn’s rebuttal was cut off at the sound of the door opening, a soft click signaling Ramis’s return. His arrival sent them both into an uncomfortable silence, Kaori’s stance relaxing somewhat at the distraction as she stepped back to restore distance between her and Liurn, the steady, quickened rhythm of her heart pounding loudly in her head. Every moment that passed she found herself wishing she’d chosen to come here alone.
“King Naelt will see you now.”
The simple statement heightened Kaori’s already racing pulse. If Liurn kept up in his current manner, he was going to make fools of them both in front of the King. It was all she could do to hold her tongue from ordering him to stay behind. The only thing stopping her was the realization that she held no real authority to make any such demand.
Resigning herself to fate she gave a defeated nod, drawing her shoulders back with a false sense of security. This is it; she thought miserably. This is where I ruin everything…
She didn’t have time to dwell on negativity as Ramis led her forward, the grand décor of the throne room a welcome distraction from her fears. Two guards stood tall and proud next to the door while two more watched over a large gold-edged throne positioned at the rear of the long room. Much like the Carpaen palace, a pathway led up to the dais where the King sat, Kaori’s feet treading lightly over the red velvet carpet laid out to guide them closer.
Practiced and confident Ramis approached the throne first, lowering to one knee with a respectful bow. “Your Majesty, may I present Lady Kaori Levadis of the Vor’shai.”
Kaori stared at Ramis, curious by his use of the human language for the introduction. He was the one who informed her the King wasn’t fluent in the Carpaen tongue. It didn’t make sense for him to utilize a foreign language in direct communication with his own King.
Rising to his feet, the King seemed to clearly understand the few words spoken by his Ambassador. He was an intimidating sight, standing in front of the throne, eyes lowered to look down his nose at Kaori, scrutinizing every detail of her appearance. She was prepared for his inspection, keeping her chin high while straightening her shoulders to stand with perfect posture and poise. Once the King seemed to complete his observation she called upon the lessons her mother taught her as a child, dipping low into a formal curtsy, head bowed, though only slightly, her chin tilted somewhat to the left, only enough to give a demure angle of her neck. Her wardrobe lacked the extra fabric to complete the motion as she would have liked but it was too late to worry about that now. “Your Majesty,” she greeted.
The King’s eyes brightened to hear her speak, the corners of his mouth twitching into an odd smile, the length of his thin lips not quite proportionate to the rest of his facial features. “Andanu Kaori,” he bellowed, stepping down from the dais to position himself directly in front of her. His motions were pleasant and inviting, the slender fingers on his hand beckoning for Kaori to rise.
Unaware of what the King’s greeting meant Kaori cast a curious glance toward Ramis, hoping for some kind of translation. At his lack of response she gave a polite smile, deciding it best to inquire before the meeting progressed any further. “Your Grace… What is Andanu?”
“It means Queen, Milady,” he replied, unfazed by the prestigious title Naelt bestowed upon her so wrongfully. She was no Queen. These men were mistaken if they believed her to hold such rank and authority. If she wanted to create a solid base for their alliance, she would have to set them straight.
“But I am not…”
Ramis lifted a long finger to his lips to silence her before she could finish the argument. Perplexed, Kaori stared at him, letting her words trail off, afraid to say anything more in fear of offending Ramis or the King. It was impolite to correct Naelt so openly. Perhaps that was the reason Ramis disallowed her from pointing out the error. Somehow she couldn’t help but feel it was more disrespectful to let him continue believing she held a position which didn’t exist.
Kaori’s eyes followed Naelt’s every move, her nervousness building despite the attempts she made to keep it suppressed. There was something about his mannerisms which left her on edge, his appearance intimidating while the sound of the strange Namiren language coming from his lips was even more so. She didn’t know why it was so unsettling. Before they entered the throne room she’d been aware that the King wouldn’t speak a language she understood. Something about actually being there, hearing the foreign words and being lost to their meaning left her feeling vulnerable. Naelt could be saying anything. Insulting her and her people while she was oblivious.
The sound of Ramis’s voice broke through her nervous thoughts, drawing her focus back to the conversation. “His Majesty welcomes you to Namorea and extends his deepest sympathy for the wrongs which have been done to your people. He desires an alliance between us and the Vor’shai, and is prepared to assist in any way, within reason, so long as he receives your honorable word that the favor will be repaid should Namorea have need to reach out for aid.”
“He is most gracious,” Kaori exhaled a long breath, unaware that she’d been holding it in anticipation. The King desired an alliance. Her knees nearly gave out from the wash of relief she felt at hearing the news. The only truth which hindered her joy was the fact that she possessed no real power to negotiate terms or make promises to the Namirens. Therek was the only one with that kind of authority; but he must have known the terms which would be discussed at a meeting of this nature – yet he left it in her hands. Whatever agreement was necessary to ensure the cooperation of Namorea needed to be decided upon today. She could worry about upholding it later.
Expectant, Ramis tilted his head forward, a curious expression visible upon his unusual features. “Milady?” he questioned. “Are you willing to negotiate the King’s offer?”
“Yes,” she replied, cringing at the swiftness of her response, practically cutting Ramis off in her excitement. She couldn’t keep pausing so long to think over every detail. The King would begin to doubt her competency. “His offer is reasonable and I see no reason why my people could not offer aid to your country in the future. There is only one detail which would stand in our way.”
“And what detail might that be?”
A slight smile passed over Kaori’s lips, her confidence slowly starting to return. “Our victory over the Carpaen Emperor,” she stated simply. “If we fail to remove Sulel from the throne, my people will not have the numbers or strength to provide military support.”
At her response Ramis turned his attention to Naelt, the harsh syllables of the Namiren language filling Kaori’s ears as her words were relayed. When Ramis finished speaking, she heard the King laugh, a proud sparkle visible in his eyes as he stepped nearer to where Kaori stood.
She watched him closely, unsure of what he would do. He looked happy. Almost devious in the way he approached. To her amazement he spoke, the words directed toward her instead of his Ambassador, the smile on his face widening at whatever thoughts were going through his head. “Namiren no lose…” he pointed at himself, his chin lifting haughtily before redirecting a long, slender index finger toward Kaori, “Vor’shai no lose.”
Through the broken language Kaori couldn’t help but smile at the obvious meaning of Naelt’s words. He was confident in the strength of his people. It was hard not to believe him when he spoke with such credence toward his claim. But there were details which couldn’t be ignored. While the Namirens had a properly trained army, the Vor’shai did not. She couldn’t count on a group of peasants and farmers to add the same strength as a seasoned soldier.
“I cannot properly express my gratitude for what you do for my people,” she dipped into a quick curtsy, lowering her head briefly as a show of respect. “I wish I could share the same confidence you possess, however, I cannot deny the fact that my people are not skilled in combat. Only a few of the former courtiers have training with a sword, though their teachers were not all of military standard. And while some of the lower cl
asses understand basic weapon use, they are self-taught and can’t be expected to match the skill of Sulel’s men.”
Naelt’s smile faded somewhat, his eyes shifting to Ramis, clearly lost to what Kaori said. The Ambassador was quick in his translation, understanding dawning on Naelt’s hardened features as he returned his attention to Kaori. “Andanu…” he inhaled a breath, chest puffed outward in a display of pride. “Namiren –” he gestured to himself and Ramis, “teach Vor’shai.”
She cringed inside to hear him say that word again. Andanu. Queen. Why did Ramis not tell the King of his mistake? It felt wrong to mislead him. He seemed a proud man. They were more likely to spark his ire if he discovered such an important detail was kept from him. Uncertain, she glanced at Ramis, immediately aware of the amusement he failed to conceal at her confusion. “Ambassador…”
“Milady, I can tell you are concerned about the language barrier between us and your people. That is what you intend to ask of, is it not?”
Aghast by Ramis’s blatant disregard of the truth she fought to keep her jaw from hanging open in disbelief. Before she could say anything, Ramis began to relay his assumption to the King, ignoring the shocked expression on Kaori’s face. This is getting out of control. It was exactly what she hoped to avoid. Her inability to communicate directly with Naelt left Ramis with full power over the negotiation. And it was clear he intended to utilize it.
When Naelt spoke, he made no attempt to string together words for Kaori’s benefit, an occasional mention of Therek’s name the only thing she could pick out of the garbled mess of noises coming from his mouth. He spoke more quickly than before. Volume raised. Had she angered him? No. She knew that with absolute certainty. She hadn’t done anything. If the King was upset, it was Ramis’s doing, not her own.
“His Majesty says not to worry,” Ramis cut through Kaori’s frantic thoughts. “He is aware that your Therek Losuva is skilled with a blade and possesses a firm grasp of the Namiren language. It is the King’s counsel that you bestow the title of General upon Lord Losuva and allow him and myself to aid in translation and training.”
Kaori’s mouth opened to speak, her words cut short by the sound of Liurn’s boots stepping forward on the carpet, his voice cutting through the final nerve she clung to when it came to him. Not now, Liurn. Please… “Your Majesty, I must protest…”
“Stop!” Kaori extended her arm toward Liurn, palm facing outward to prevent him from moving closer. She may not possess authority over him, but this meeting was her responsibility, not his. That alone granted her the right to dismiss him until she had the patience to explain all the reasons why his outburst was uncalled for. “Liurn, leave. Now.”
“Kaori –”
“I am not arguing with you. Either walk out willingly or I shall request the King’s guards remove you by force.”
Eyes locked straight ahead, Kaori couldn’t bring herself to look at her friend, instead choosing to focus her gaze on the wall over his shoulder to give the illusion of eye-contact. She didn’t want to see the hurt he felt at her harsh dismissal. But he had to know it was for good reason. Perfectly justifiable. The Namiren King couldn’t be allowed to sense dissent within the Vor’shai. It could destroy the entire alliance and she wasn’t going to take that chance. Even more, she refused to let Liurn fight with the King over something so trivial.
With a huff Liurn gave no further argument, turning on his heel to make his way to the exit. At his approach the guards stationed there pulled open the door to grant him access to the hall before closing it again, the loud click of the knob falling back into place echoing throughout the silence which had settled over the room. Kaori didn’t know what to say. She was mortified by the scene, hands shaking, knees trembling, struggling to regain her composure before saying anything. It was becoming too much for her weakened body. If she wasn’t careful, she might find herself unconscious at the feet of the King. Turning to face Ramis and Naelt she experienced a brief wash of nausea. The smirk on Naelt’s face did nothing to help calm her nerves. It was impossible to know what was going through his head at that moment. “I apologize, Your Majesty.”
The King gave what looked to be a nod of approval, motioning toward Ramis as if to remind her of where their previous conversation had left off. Ramis never missed a breath, addressing the same matter that had been so rudely interrupted by Liurn. “So, what say you, Milady? Do you accept the King’s counsel regarding the training of your people?”
She couldn’t answer the question. The King’s idea of the Vor’shai political structure was skewed. He asked her to make a decision which she held no authority to make. Therek was the acting Emperor. How could she delegate the role of general to a man who outranked her? “Your Grace, may I speak with you a moment?”
“It would be rude to step away from His Majesty…”
“What is rude is the game you play with me. I cannot negotiate an alliance when you are clearly withholding essential information.”
“I withhold nothing.”
“If that statement were true, we would not be having this conversation.”
Ramis’s chin lifted, eyeing Kaori curiously. She didn’t care if he was offended. He owed her an explanation as to why the Namiren King believed she was royalty. Whatever Ramis’s game was, she was tired of playing.
“As you wish,” Ramis gave a sharp nod, transitioning to his native tongue to say something short and harsh-sounding to Naelt. Kaori disliked the way the King looked at her in response but she couldn’t allow things to continue as they were. She hated that she’d even let it get this far.
At Ramis’s concession Kaori followed him off the velvety carpet toward the far wall at the left, placing distance between themselves as well as the King and the guards. She had a few choice words for this man which were better left unheard by the others in this room. “What is going on?” she demanded sternly. “You and I both know I am no Queen. Why do you deceive your King?”
“I deceive no one,” Ramis frowned, displeased by the accusation though seemingly unsurprised. “Perhaps I should have addressed the matter with you prior to this meeting but I thought Lord Losuva spoke with you when you awoke.”
“We spoke, but he said nothing of this nature. Why does your King believe this nonsense? I require an explanation.”
A soft chuckle escaped Ramis at the heatedness of Kaori’s words, the action doing nothing to quell her rising anger. “Spoken like a true Queen,” he grinned. “I see why he recommended you for the position. You have fire. Passion. Strength – everything your people require in a leader to achieve victory.”
Confused, Kaori brought her left hand up to rub at her temple. This man wasn’t making sense. “What do you mean he recommended by name?”
“I mean exactly that,” he replied calmly. Unfazed by Kaori’s barrage of questions. “While you were ill, we conducted a meeting to determine important details regarding the power structure amongst your people. A battle cannot be won without leaders and the country would never survive if their ruler was taken down without a proper replacement already prepared to fill the role.”
“That replacement is Therek. He is the rightful heir…”
“By the words of the very man whose son is being forced from power. Do you honestly believe your people will want to follow the request of a human once all is said and done?”
“Therek is Vor’shai. Why would they not follow him regardless of whose wish it was?”
“Because your people have more faith in you,” Ramis stated, matter-of-fact in his tone. “You have led this rebellion from the start. When the Vor’shai think of justice, they think of you, not him. There are many who would be offended if your hard work and dedication to the cause was not properly rewarded. If Therek assumes the throne, it will appear as though he accepts credit for everything you have done.”
Shaking her head Kaori tried to wrap her mind around what Ramis was saying. There were ways to avoid the negative image Ramis assumed would become associat
ed with Therek. It wasn’t like he was standing idly by and doing nothing to help his people. “Therek is aiding in the development of our army. He is capable of training our men to fight. No one would believe he stole anything from me. If we win, he will have earned his crown.”
“I wish I knew the extent of his reasons, Kaori, but I don’t,” Ramis’s frown deepened. “During the meeting, he provided your name. When questioned regarding his right to the throne, he waived all power, agreeing to transfer any and all authority to you in his place. Legal documents have already been signed and sealed. His inherited crown is now yours.”
Filled with shock, Kaori’s hand moved to cover her mouth, stumbling backward slightly in disbelief. Therek relinquished his crown to her? She felt dizzy. Sick. Why would he do something like that? On many occasions he had witnessed her lack of skill in diplomacy. The way she said and did things which were unbecoming of a lady – and even less acceptable for a queen. After what transpired between her and Therek before his departure, it made more sense for him to offer her to rule by his side rather than hand over his title so completely. She didn’t want to accept it as truth. Was he so certain he would meet his demise in Carpaen that he felt it necessary to secure his crown with someone else?
Her sudden loss of balance caught the attention of every man in the room, Ramis’s arm shooting forward to catch her before she fell while the King’s long legs carried him to her side in a few quick determined strides, talking to Ramis, no doubt questioning him of her health. Everyone knew of her recent illness. Worried about her well-being. Physically, she felt fine other than the nagging weakness in her legs. Mentally, she couldn’t be so sure. There were so many questions no one other than Therek could answer and she had no guarantee that she would ever see him again – but if she did, her first order of business would be revoking the supposed documents Therek signed prior to leaving Namorea.
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Four: In the Beginning Page 70