I couldn’t declare anything with the coil of knots in my stomach now.
If you only knew what I intend to tell you tonight.
I listened as Darren continued on with the Crown’s plans, noting the formations Commander Audric had for the Crown’s Army and where the king wanted the Pythian ships. Baron Langli remained silent for most of the meal. He was apparently a man of leisure and the context was below his concern. Merrick tried to interject from time to time, but he was usually met with sharp barks of laughter from Cassius’s men. The Pythian had brought five of his best warriors to serve as his retinue, and they were just as sharp as the duke.
By the time the meal was over, I had lost what little appetite I had. The mounting pressure was causing panic to press in on my skull, and that little scrap of paper buried in the sleeve of my tunic was burning a hole against my skin. I kept wiping my sweaty palms against my breeches as discreetly as I could, but after the fifth time, I caught Paige staring at me with a raised brow.
Blast that woman for being so keen at observation.
I gave her a weak smile, and she pointed to my brow. I lifted my fingers and found it clammy and moist. I cringed and started to reach for a linen. Paige tossed me her own.
“Thanks,” I mumbled.
“We are all afraid.”
My gaze darted to the others, but they were all too engaged to hear us. The only one who wasn’t was Priscilla, and she was too busy drowning in her third glass of wine to notice.
“Even you?”
Her laugh was bitter. “Every breath I take.”
“I can never tell.”
“My mask is better than most.” The knight stared at me long and hard, and I grew uncomfortable under her stare. There was something she wasn’t saying. Did she suspect?
Two more flasks of wine were passed around the table, and I seized my opportunity, taking a page from my old nemesis herself. Desperate times called for desperate measures… or senseless measures or whatever they loved to say.
I downed a goblet of wine with gusto, waited ten more minutes, and then stood, letting my balance waver as I picked my way across the room. Paige shot up to follow. Loyal to a fault.
“My lady—”
“And there she is, the second most formidable mage of Jerar.” Cassius chuckled as I approached the head of the table. “Here to assure I stick to my promise?”
“Or we will s-sset our fieldsss on f-fire…” I pretended to slur, feigning a stumble as my fingers caught on the ambassador’s cloak. A slip of paper fell into his lap and I laughed awkwardly as the man’s shrewd gaze shot to my hand. He knows. “S-sorry!”
Paige collected me by the arms and Darren cleared his throat uncomfortably. “I apologize, your grace. It’s been quite a long day for some of us.”
“Has it?” The man’s sharp gaze returned to me.
Darren turned to Paige. “Can you…?”
“Certainly.” My guard nodded and began to lead me away. I feigned an oblivious smile as we exited the hall.
Thank the gods for wine.
“You disappointed me.”
I looked up at Paige, blinking slowly.
“I didn’t want to be assigned to you. You were reckless and stubborn, and you never thought before you spoke. I wanted to be in the palace serving the king, and instead I was revisiting my youth, camping out in the forest with a princess-in-training.” The knight paused. “But then you kept sticking your neck out for others, and I realized you were different. You didn’t let that title change you. That day I found you outside the barracks, you wanted so badly to save us all. You wanted to find a way to beat the duke at his own game, and you refused to give up. You won the Pythians to our side and came in second during your Candidacy. You fought the Caltothians and tried to save Princess Wrendolyn during the attack. You never gave up on anything, you were brave…”
Guilt flared, and I swallowed painfully. You can’t tell her. You can’t.
“You have always been one to conquer your fears, but since your brother’s death, you’ve become a walking shade.” Her breath hitched. “I keep hoping you’ll turn it all around, given enough time, but—” She sighed. “—it’s like you’ve given up, Ryiah.”
I remained silent, not trusting my tongue to work properly if I spoke.
Paige helped me to my chamber and then paused at the door. “You’ve lost yourself, and I know it’s not my place to say it, but don’t be the girl I thought you were. Be the one that changed my mind.”
How can I tell her I still am?
I WAITED until the prince had stopped tossing and his breathing had slowed, deep slumber taking over as his chest rose and fell.
Then I tiptoed down the hall, darting past moon-streaked dips of light, slipping around dark columns and pools of darkness until I reached the eastern wing.
“Nicely done.” Duke Cassius stepped out from the shadows, clapping slowly in mock applause. “For a moment, I almost believed you had changed, that the little girl had lost her fire.”
I folded my arms across my chest.
“I wonder,” the man continued, “what could be so important that we meet in the middle of the night away from your beloved prince and the others. One might almost think you’ve turned a traitor to Jerar.”
“I have a proposal.”
The Pythian ambassador leaned against a column with interest. “Continue.”
“Have your brother withdraw from the New Alliance and take up with King Horrace of Caltoth instead. Unite with the secret collective of rebels in Jerar and help me dethrone our king.” My pulse was hammering against my throat. “In exchange, we will submit to Pythian rule. Your brother will have two kingdoms instead of one."
Silence followed. All I could hear was the lull of the ocean far below. My hands were trembling; I squeezed them tighter against my ribs.
The towering man might as well have been stone; I couldn’t even hear his intake of breath.
Then: “Do you care to explain?”
I wet my lips. “Would it matter?”
“It wouldn’t. A Pythian is driven by ambition, not heart.” He paused and I could almost hear Cassius mulling over the unspoken questions in his head, trying to make sense of my proposal. “Still, we are alone, and I’m a curious man. Something tells me it would take a great deal for someone like you to change course. Just one year ago, you were willing to die for the Crown.”
“A lot has changed.”
The duke watched me expectantly, waiting.
And so I told him. I told him everything about Lucius’s deception and how his eldest had continued to uphold his legacy of murder and lies even after his death. I hesitated to explain the rebels, but there was no point in withholding information now. I was laying everything on the line. If Cassius chose to betray me, it would be too late to make a difference. I needed to give this everything I had; it was the only chance I would get.
When I was finished, the man stroked his broad chin, thick fingers deliberate and slow. “And what of the king and his Black Mage? You ask that I spare their lives—two young men the people will rally behind when it comes down to blood or a Pythian on the throne.”
“We imprison them both.” It hurt to swallow. “Blayne can rot in the cells, but once Darren…” I was struggling to speak. “Once he comes around, he won’t consider the throne.”
“You expect a boy born to the Crown to give up his legacy?”
“Darren’s legacy isn’t to be king! His father raised him t-to…” I trailed off as I saw the duke’s expression.
“To protect his brother at all costs? He’s the most formidable mage in the land.”
“You can keep Darren in the prisons until you see fit.” I spat the words, hating myself, hating that this was my only choice. “And once he is convinced, you can kill the king.” I was the most heartless thing in the room, but after losing Derrick, I found myself numb to the words. “But I won’t help unless you promise to spare them both at the start.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then you will never see a Pythian on the throne.”
“And what about you? Where do you see yourself in this bright future you paint?”
“A mage in service to the Pythian king.”
“Not the title of queen? Come now, you’ve thought this far ahead. You expect me to believe you want nothing in return? A tying of two nations is common enough, and you are already a princess.”
“No!” I glowered in the dark.
“Ah.” His tone was knowing. “Your husband. You think he will forgive you of your crimes.”
“Even if he doesn’t”—my voice was hard—“I will not take part in the throne. There are plenty of highborn girls who could take my stead.”
“Well—” The man paused. “—I can certainly admit I didn’t see this turn of events.”
“Does that mean you’ll join our cause?”
Cassius’s gaze flickered in the dark. “You offer me the world. But how can I see through to my prize?”
I faltered, my breath trapped in my lungs.
“Pythus has no responsibility to Jerar after my niece lost her life. She was the only thing that bound us to the New Alliance.”
“But you were going to honor it—”
“We only kept to the treaty because Blayne offered us the winning side, not because of loyalty or a false sense of guilt.”
“So what are you—”
“My dear,” the duke cut me off again, “you offer me the crown, but this prize is useless if we lose to a country with the greatest odds. You are far too intelligent not to see this through.”
I swallowed.
“Tell me,” he said, “how you are going to change the odds. Tell me how we will be victors at the end of your great plan.”
“I…” My heart was slamming against my ribs and I felt faint. I hadn’t expected resistance. I was offering him more than Blayne ever would. It had never occurred to me the Pythian would refuse. “We would have better odds. The same number of men and the element of surprise.” Three thousand from the north, six thousand Caltothian warriors if King Horrace’s number was correct, and the four thousand warriors from Duke Cassius.
“Surprise is not enough. You are asking for a takeover on your own soil. Jerar has the greatest army and your warriors are twice the caliber of our own.” The man cracked his hands together. “Pythians are bred for trade and the sea. Caltoth enjoys its beauty and chases after precious gems. Boreans are concerned with the scholarly arts; they can barely wield a sword.”
My stomach sank with every word he spoke.
“You need to offer me assurances.” The duke sighed, and it was hard to tell in the shadows, but I suspected he was disappointed. “I would love to take you up on your proposal, Ryiah. You offer me far more than that boy king ever could.”
“Then help us,” I pleaded. “I’ll do anything—”
“I told you not to beg.” The man’s reprimand was softer than his words. “A Pythian plays to win. If it were just me, for my niece, I’d see your cause to the end. I know you tried to save her that night of the attacks. Wren was never meant for a world like this…” His tone grew coarse. “But it’s my brother’s nation, and I can’t place them at risk because of personal sentiment.”
“Tell me how.” I was desperate. “What will it take to win?”
The duke tapped his fingers against his wrist in thought. A minute later he spoke. “If all that you tell me is true, the north is comprised of rebels. That leaves the central plains and the southern desert. How much does that leave us?”
“Around fourteen thousand.” It was the same as the north. Give or take a couple thousand if Blayne called on the smaller city regiments.
“How many in the desert alone?”
“Four thousand? It’s Ishir Outpost and some of the trading ports.”
“That certainly helps our odds. But the Crown’s Army is still too big. And it’s the best of your best.”
“It doesn’t always reside in the capital.” I thought fast. “Commander Audric’s regiment travels wherever the kingdom needs more help. The Crown doesn’t dispatch the whole, but—”
“I would suggest my warships as a distraction,” the man said dryly, “but I doubt that would hold their attention when rebels and Caltothian soldiers start making a stampede for the palace.”
“If we had time—”
“It’s not enough of a guarantee. I need assurance.”
I was at a loss for words. For a moment… for a moment, I had thought he would help us.
“I tell you what.” The duke cleared his throat. “I am not ready to play my cards, not just yet. You’ve impressed me in the past. I’m going to give you that opportunity again.”
My eyes started to water, but I fought back the tears. The last thing I needed was for the ambassador to see me cry.
“We have two days of rest before we break for war. The prince claims the Crown’s Army is amassing in the capital for a march north as we speak.”
I nodded along, everything he said I already knew.
“Your king waited this long for Pythian ships. Who is to say he can’t wait a bit longer?”
“How?”
“I will insist on speaking with the young king in person.” Duke Cassius leaned forward. “I will insist Horrace offered better terms and that we need to renegotiate our alliance. Blayne will be furious, but he will eventually meet my demands. I will buy you two months from today, and not an hour longer.”
My knees were wobbly as I thanked him, grateful the shadows helped shield the desperation from my face.
“That’s two months to bring me a solution to our problem.” His warning was clear. “I need an assurance that we can win and I will not risk my kinsmen for your cause. If you fail, I won’t hesitate to reveal your secret. Pythus needs to be on the winning side.”
“I understand.” The words came out a rush. “Thank you for—”
“Don’t thank me yet.” The man stepped away from the column, his expression dark. “I am almost certain you will fail.”
9
“We played our hand too fast!”
Wood splintered on impact, bits of furniture splaying across the chamber. I watched as Darren threw another chair, half-drunk in rage. The ambassador had made his announcement that morning. The prince hadn’t taken it well.
“Darren—”
“Don’t.” His eyes flashed garnet. “Don’t you dare tell me to be calm when that gods’ forsaken villain is out there toying with us all like a fat cat and his mice, showing us ships only to call for more talk after all that we’ve done!”
“I wasn’t.” I reached out to place a hand on his shoulder, ignoring the surge of guilt as I watched. “I am with you.”
“What kind of man,” he seethed, “does something like this?”
The kind that wants to win. I bit down on my tongue. At least Darren’s bad news came in the morning.
Mine had come the night before. This was supposed to have been it. The final instrumental act to solve all of our problems—an alliance that would convince Blayne to surrender and give me time to talk Darren around to the truth.
I should have known I had strung too much of my hope on this. Now I was supposed to pray the “opportunity” paid off. And the irony was, had Darren’s and my roles been reversed, I was sure the prince would have found a way to solve it. Darren had always been better in strategy and command. It wasn’t my fault. Lowborns and mages weren’t raised to be leaders of men; princes preparing to be knights and the head of the Crown’s Army were.
By the time we had finished seeing to our things, the Langli home was a dark place to be. Duke Cassius had already seen to his men and set up his leaders during his absence.
Baron Langli was aghast at the number to feed. Like Darren, he’d expected the ships to be gone within the span of a week, attacking the Caltothian coast per the original alliance’s terms. “You expect me to run supplies to four thousand men?”
&nb
sp; “You’ll do it,” Darren snapped, “and you’ll do it without question.” If he had to escort the ambassador to an angry king, he added, the baron could hold his complaints.
“Wait, Ryiah!”
I had just exited my chamber, supplies in hand, when Priscilla shoved me back, ignoring an outraged Paige as she cornered me inside.
“I will break down this door,” Paige roared, “if you do not unhand my lady this instant!”
“Give me a moment of your time, Ryiah,” the girl seethed. The door banged mercilessly behind us. Bam, bam, bam! “If any part of you respects me at all, if you can find it in your heart for even a second, give me two minutes.”
“Ten, nine—” The guard cursed loudly. “Gods blast it, one!”
“Paige… wait!”
The pounding stopped, and I looked to Priscilla expectantly, my arms braced against my chest.
“I want you to take me with you.”
I snorted. “Very funny.”
“I’m serious.”
“No, you are not.”
“Yes—” her eyes grew squinty, “—I am. Do not question me, you insolent lowborn.”
“That’s princess to you.”
“It would have been me.” Her lips pursed. “And then I would have been free. But no, I graciously stepped aside so you could swoop in and enjoy my place.”
“You didn’t step aside.” I shot her a look. “You fought me every step of the way.”
“See?” Priscilla pressed closer. “You aren’t as innocent as you think.”
I rolled my eyes. “Did you forget the vat of pig’s blood our first year? Or when you hog-tied me to a tree during our orientation in Combat? Or—”
“You survived.” Her expression grew bored. “I don’t care about our past, Ryiah. I want out of here. Now. Darren promised me a place in the Crown’s Army when we were married.” My insides squirmed. “And he’s going to honor it.”
“You’re not married.” My tone was cold. “He does not have to honor it.”
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