by B N Miles
“Fel,” Miuri said, “Galla got an innocent man killed.”
“I don’t see the issue here,” Felin said. “Galla wants to take us to the top of the pack, right? And that’s something we really need, right?”
Cam half turned and tilted his head toward Felin. “Something like that,” he said.
“So then she did what she had to do,” Felin said. “That’s how it is in packs. If you want to be the pack leader, you do whatever you have to.”
“And that’s somehow supposed to be fair?” Miuri asked. “I don’t understand how you can have a system of government based on whoever’s willing to kill the most people.”
Felin waved her hand in the air. “It’s self-selection,” she said. “The strong continue on. But you can’t just be strong, you have to be clever, too. Every once in a while, some asshole ends up the alpha in a pack, but those never last.”
“Doesn’t sound like it could work,” Miuri said. “And we’re not in a pack right now.”
Cam turned and let his eyes drift over his girlfriends. Miuri had her back straight, her lips pulled into a frown. Felin looked bored as she stretched herself like a cat. And Key met his gaze, her head tilted very slightly to one side.
“What do you think?” Cam asked Key.
“I don’t know,” she said.
“What do you mean, you don’t know?” Miuri stiffened, half turned to Key. “You can’t possibly think what Galla did was okay.”
“Of course not,” Key said. “She got an innocent man killed, and we all know that’s wrong.”
“There’s a but coming,” Felin said, her voice sing-song.
“But,” Key said, glaring at Felin, “these are extraordinary times, and I agree with Galla that we need Cam in a position of leadership and authority right now.”
“That doesn’t justify what she did,” Miuri said.
“Doesn’t it, though?” Key asked. “I’m not really sure.”
“She said one life is a good trade to save thousands,” Cam said. “She thought the whole Mansion would fall into a civil war if she didn’t make a strong move right away.”
“Maybe she’s right,” Felin said. “I’ve seen it before. Packs with two strong leaders going at each other can break into pieces.”
“We’re not a pack,” Miuri said. “And I can’t believe you’re all entertaining this.” She looked at Cam, her eyes pleading.
He had to look away. His gaze swept across the kitchen area then lingered on a blackened spot on the stone floor near the bedroom. That was where the body had fallen, where his flame and magic had scorched a permanent inky darkness. The rooms still smelled like charred flesh, even with the window open, though it was getting better.
Firelight flickered in the breeze. Cam turned back to the flames.
“I’m not sure we’re going to solve this problem right now,” he said.
“I doubt we’ll ever agree,” Miuri said.
“The real question is, what do we do?” he asked.
Silence from the girls. Silence from the room. He leaned his head back, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
It was moments like this when he wished his father was still alive.
Galerick the Great would have had an answer for him. His father had traveled all over the world, had made a name for himself, had amassed power and wealth and prestige. His father would know what to do about Galla, but his father was gone, swallowed up by the great wolf horde that creeped up the valley.
“I say we do nothing,” Felin said. “I say we forgive her.”
Cam turned back to them. “Key?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” she said.
“We can’t just forgive her,” Miuri said.
“What do you propose?” Cam asked.
Miuri opened her mouth then closed it again. She let out a frustrated breath then pushed Felin’s feet off her lap. She stood, paced to the window, and stared out at the distant white peaks.
“I like Galla,” she said, her voice soft and swallowed by the wind. She turned back to them. “I don’t want to punish her.”
“Then what else can we do?” Cam asked.
“I don’t know, but I know I can’t trust her now,” Miuri said.
“I agree with that,” Cam said. “She’s incredibly good at the political game in here, but we can’t trust her if she’s not going to keep us involved in all her schemes.”
“Do we really want her to?” Key asked. “I mean, we might just get in the way. That girl’s scary.”
“She’s terrifying,” Felin agreed.
Cam looked at Miuri. “Extraordinary times,” he said.
She let out a breath and closed her eyes. “If things weren’t dire, I’d never consider this,” she said, opening them again. “But perhaps we can keep a closer eye on her.”
“How’s that?” Cam asked.
“Make her move in here.”
Cam took a step back and felt a laugh bubble up from his chest. “Seriously?” he asked.
“Seriously,” Miuri said. “Get her out of her comfort zone. Force her to stay here where we can keep an eye on her.”
Cam looked at Key and Felin. “What do you two think?”
“It’s a good idea,” Key said.
“I like Galla,” Felin said. “More opportunities to play with her will suit me just fine.”
“So her punishment is to come live with us,” Cam said, looking back at Miuri. “And you think that’s enough?”
“I think she got an innocent man murdered,” Miuri said. “And she did it for some very abstract yet noble reasons. I think this is complicated.”
“Okay then,” Cam said. “She’ll move in here, and we’ll keep an eye on her. I already told her that I’ll leave her if she does something like this again without speaking to me first.”
“But better to watch her on top of that,” Miuri said.
“Perfect,” Felin said, sitting up with a grunt. “Another pretty girl living in close quarters here. You’re going to be drowning in us soon, Cam.”
“I hope so,” he said with a smile. “I’ll send for a Warden and call Galla in here.”
He walked out into the hall, grabbed a lamp from a wall hook, and walked through the halls until he spotted a Warden, a small girl with ruddy brown hair and sunken cheeks. She looked surprised when Cam approached, and more surprised when he tasked her with fetching Galla for him, but she bowed her head and ran off.
Cam lingered in the hall at the base of the steps that led up to his rooms. He heard voices echoing down the sloped stone, smelled cookfires and meat roasting. Signs of life were creeping closer and closer to his little secluded paradise, and soon enough the world would invade.
But it was always temporary, he knew that. He couldn’t have expected to have an entire wing of the Mansion to himself forever. It felt strange, almost melancholy, to imagine the empty rooms around him filled with families and life, but maybe it was better that way.
He went back up the steps and into his rooms. He helped Miuri prepare their lunch while Felin and Key sharpened their knives, swords, and spearheads, oiling them and cleaning them as necessary. The time passed, and as they finished their meal together, someone knocked at the door.
“I’ll clean up,” Felin said, hopping to her feet and grabbing bowls for washing as Cam went to get the door.
He opened it and found Galla standing in the hall, holding a lamp and wearing the same pretty cream-colored dress from earlier in the day.
“Hello, husband,” she said.
“Galla.” He stepped aside. “Come in.”
She gave him a sharp, wary look, but stepped through the door. Miuri stood and smiled at her, though Cam could see a hint of tension.
“Come join us,” Miuri said, gesturing at a chair.
Galla hesitated. “I’m guessing you’ve all been talking about me, based on the way you’re acting.”
Miuri tensed, looked at Cam, then nodded. “We have,” she said.
�
��So, Cam told you all what I did.” Galla’s back straightened as she walked to a wall hook and hung her lamp. She turned to them, hands in front of her, graceful and poised. “I’m not sorry for what I did.”
Cam cleared his throat and he saw Miuri’s smile falter.
“You’re not?” Miuri asked.
“I did what I thought was necessary to avoid more deaths,” she said. “And I believe it worked. Cam took control of the army this morning through diplomacy instead of through strength of arms, which is itself a huge miracle.”
“But an innocent man is dead,” Miuri said.
“And I’d kill another innocent man if it means saving hundreds more.” Galla’s eyes were hard and she drew herself up again. “I won’t apologize for what I did and I won’t act as though I think I made the wrong decision. But I take responsibility for that man’s death. His blood is on my hands, and it’s something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my days.”
Miuri stared at Galla, and for a second Cam thought she might pounce. He thought he saw a flicker of anger there, but it was gone a second later, replaced by something else. She shook her head and gestured at the chair.
“Please, Galla, sit down,” Miuri said.
“Do you plan on berating me?” Galla asked.
“No,” Miuri said.
“We don’t all agree with Miuri on this one,” Felin said, washing the bowls in a large basin.
Galla lingered, looked at Cam, and sunk down into the chair. She sat at the edge, back straight.
Cam hesitated for a moment, then knelt down in front of her. He reached out and took her hand, which seemed to soften her a bit. She chewed her lip, staring down into his eyes.
“We talked about it, and we came up with what I think is a reasonable solution to all this,” he said.
“Solution?” she asked.
“You misled us,” he said. “You used me.”
“I know, but—”
“Regardless of your reasons and regardless of the outcomes, I can’t have that. Do you understand?”
She looked away then nodded once.
“Good,” Cam said. “We want you to move in with us.”
She looked back at him, surprise in her eyes. Her mouth opened, then she looked up at Miuri.
“Is he serious?” she asked.
“He’s serious,” Miuri said. “We want you to live with us, in these rooms. You’ll be a real part of this family, Galla.”
“And you’ll be able to keep an eye on me.” Galla’s smile was sharp, but there was a playful tone to her words.
“That’s right,” Miuri said.
“And we want you here,” Cam said, squeezing her hand. “No more lies, no more games. If you have an idea, or a plan, or a scheme, you’ll include everyone in this room, no matter what.”
“I accept your proposal,” she said, grinning. “When shall I send over my things?”
“Whenever you want,” Cam said.
“Wonderful.” Galla dropped Cam’s hand and stood. Cam stood with her, standing close. “We’ll have to get some new rugs in here. Some tapestries for these dreadful walls. I suppose I could live with the furniture, but I’ve got better. And that bed—”
“You won’t touch the bed,” Cam said.
“We love the bed,” Key added.
“Fine, the bed stays.” Galla clapped her hands in front of her. “This is perfect, oh this is so perfect. I promise, no more games or lies. From now on, we’ll be a team.”
“Works for me,” Key said.
“Welcome to the family,” Felin said.
Miuri drifted over and stood in front of Galla. She was a head taller, slimmer, like a willow branch compared with Galla’s fuller, softer figure. She reached out, put a hand on Galla’s arm.
“We’re on your side,” she said, voice soft. “And you need to treat us like we matter.”
“I promise,” Galla said.
“Good.” Miuri dropped her arm then slipped past her, toward the door. “I’m going to get some training in. Excuse me.” She took a lamp from a hanging peg and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Galla stared after her. “She’s angry with me.”
“She has a right to be,” Cam said. “You put her in danger.”
Galla nodded and looked back at him. “We’ll do things differently from here on out. But you need to understand that no matter what I do, it’s all aimed to save every single man, woman, and child in this place.”
“I know,” Cam said. He reached out and touched her cheek.
“Now,” Galla said, taking his hand. “I have a lot of work to do. We need so many more lamps, and this place could use a splash of color. And oh, I wonder where I can put all my dresses?”
Cam shared a look with Key, but he couldn’t help the smile that crossed his lips. Bringing Galla into their world like this was going to be an adjustment, but he thought it would be good for them in the long run.
And he needed her, he couldn’t deny it. While he didn’t agree with her methods, he couldn’t ignore her results.
If he wasn’t careful, she’d end up the true ruler of the Mansion one day.
8
Cam found Theus sitting in the back of an improvised drinking den, which was just a large cavern off the main thoroughfare of the Mansion’s west wing. The space was filled with long wooden benches and lamps hanging by chains from the high ceiling.
The scars on Theus’s face were livid pink in the low light. Several men in half-leathers saluted Cam as he passed, and he nodded back, heading toward Theus’s small corner perch. He slipped onto the bench across from his friend and tried not to stare at the long patches of fresh skin.
“How’s the beer here?” Cam asked.
“Surprisingly good,” Theus said. “I think they brew it down in the belly of this pit though. I swear, it has a weird rocky aftertaste.”
Cam smiled a little and looked over toward where a bored Warden stood leaning against a long, low counter lined with wooden casks and small wooden cups. The Warden nodded at Cam, turned, filled a cup, brought it over, and returned to his perch, eyes heavy-lidded.
He sipped the beer. It was slightly bitter, a little sour and thin, but good. And there was the rocky taste: just a bit of chalk on the back of the tongue.
“I don’t see you around here much,” Theus said.
“I know,” Cam said. “Been busy.”
“What, with all the girls?” He grinned.
“And the new wife.”
“I heard about that. Congratulations.”
“Thanks. I’m sorry you didn’t come to the wedding. We kept it very, very small.”
“Political. I get it.” Theus shrugged, raised his cup in salute, and took a drink. “There’s a lot happening around here, and you seem to be at the center of most of it.”
“Not something I chose, you know.”
“Sure.” Theus smiled, touching his fingertips to his burn-scarred face. “So what brings you down here?”
“I was looking for you,” Cam said.
“Here I am, Theus the Great.”
Cam laughed. “I think we can come up with a better title for you.”
“Better than Great?” Theus rapped his fingers on the table. “How about, Theus the Magnificent. Or Theus the Well-Hung? Maybe I can start gathering a few girlfriends of my own.”
Cam leaned across the table toward his friend. “How about Theus the General?”
Theus laughed a little and drank his beer, sloshing some onto the table top. “That’s a good one.”
“I’m serious,” Cam said.
Theus paused, frowning. “About what?”
“I want you to be one of my Generals, Theus.”
Theus stared at him, mouth hanging open, which he promptly clapped shut. He shook his head, waving both his hands in the air.
“Oh, gods no,” he said. “No way. Absolutely no way.”
“Please,” Cam said. “I need people I trust around me.”
�
�I don’t know a thing about being a General,” Theus said. “I don’t know anything about… about… supply trains, or battle tactics.”
“You know more about battle tactics than most of the general staff,” Cam said. “Believe me, I’ve met them.”
“I’m not even in the army.”
“You are now.” Cam held his cup up. “I need you, Theus.”
Theus stared at the raised cup, groaned, then raised his own.
“This sucks,” he said.
They toasted and drank.
“Good man,” Cam said. “You’ll love it. You’re going to get to boss around so many people. And you’ll be one of the most eligible bachelors in this place.”
Theus brightened a bit at that. “True,” he said. “I’ll finally be marriage material.”
“Don’t rush into marriage,” he said. “Not all it’s cracked up to be.”
“It’s not?” Theus laughed. “You sure seemed intent on it.”
“Political reasons,” Cam said. “And besides—”
He was cut off by a figure striding toward them. Cam caught the movement out of the corner of his eye, and he turned to face it, worried it was some attacker sent by Lord Remorn to gut him for the little show back in the council meeting.
Captain Brice stopped and stood a few feet away wearing a crisp navy tunic with silver buttons and a pair of loose, dark leggings tucked into heavy brown boots. She had a straight saber at her hip, and her hair up in a tight bun. Her pink lips were pulled into a straight line as she stared at Cam, then saluted him.
“Head General,” she said.
Cam smiled up at her. “Captain.”
“I wanted to report to you myself,” she said, dropping her salute.
“Sit,” Cam said. “Captain Brice, this is General Theus.”
Brice’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Theus. “I’ve never heard of you,” she said.
“And I’ve never heard of you,” Theus said. “Welcome to the shit show.”
She looked back at Cam. “I see you’re wasting no time.”
“I need people I can trust around me,” Cam said. “And Theus is an old, and very competent, friend.”
“I hope he’s more competent than the men I served under before.”
“I hope so too,” Theus grumbled.