Help ease her worry in any way. Because that’s what she was for. The second daughter, the spare.
“I was supposed to mend our kingdoms, Aesira, and now–”
The doors swung open and a maid popped out. “Oh, Your Majesty.” She dropped to a clumsy curtsey before pulling the doors wider, allowing Aesira and Kamari space to pass through. Kamari entered first, holding her skirts above the marble floor, a passive expression swept across her face.
Aesira entered next, keeping a few paces behind, eyes strategically scanning the room before eventually landing back on Kamari.
The old men and women that made up Vargah's council bickered amongst themselves, only pausing to rise and offer a quick bow before resuming.
The meeting room was lined with tall rectangular windows that let in diluted sunlight from the swirling sand outside. A long golden table stretched through the center of the room with enough chairs for each of the council members. Aesira’s gaze drifted to the empty chair on Kamari’s right.
Desmond’s chair.
“We appreciate your haste, Your Majesty,” one of the councilmen said, his graying beard and sparse hair proving he was the oldest member. Aesira couldn’t remember any of their names. Or maybe it was that she never bothered to learn them since she knew she would be leaving soon.
“And what is so urgent, Councilman Sante?” Kamari declined a cup of tea from the maid, and clasped her hands together on the tabletop.
From where she stood behind Kamari, Aesira had a clear view of the room and the exits. She silently cataloged each corner, every place to hide, the different ways one could get in and out. After her sweep of the room her gaze landed back on her sister.
“If it’s about the reservoirs,” Kamari continued, “I’ve been assured they’ll last through Naming Day. If the water is running low, begin rations from Piscis Spring. Cut back onastrawherever we can, we don’t need to cool areas that aren’t absolutely necessary."
Aesira hid her wince at the mention of Naming Day, a ritual to the Goddess Celestria. One sacrifice, once a year, to prove theirloyalty and the goddess would bless Vargah with enoughastrato keep the city powered, cooland with enough water to last an entire sun cycle. With the treaty, Vargah would now be responsible for providing rations ofastrato Novaria in exchange for extra rations of water from Piscis Spring.
The northernmost kingdom didn’t need theastrato keep cool, their climate was much more temperate than Vargah and they used the water from the spring to power their city, but Aesira knew better than to assume her father’s intentions behind this treaty were merely for peace. There was always a hidden layer with Godrick Zeliath, she just hadn’t figured out what yet.
The council members looked at each other as if daring one another to speak first.
Kamari cleared her throat. “I would hope you didn’t call me here just to waste my time?”
Aesira couldn’t help the small smile that crept across her lips. She considered her sister a merciful queen, just as Desmond was a merciful king, but she was also a Zeliath. Ruthless when necessary and in a room full of predators, Kamari knew best when to raise her hackles.
“King Desmond has not been found,” Sante said. “He has not written. No word has been sent of his appearances at the Outpost or beyond.”
“You’re telling me what I already know, Councilman. Please get to your point.”
The doors to the throne room swung open, loudly enough that Aesira drew her sword, eyes like daggers pointed in the intruder's direction. “Forgive my tardiness.” Desmond’s cousin, Raffe, stalked into the room. His hair was slicked back and shiny as oil, hisboots polished and teeth gleaming white. With a few bold steps, he joined them at the table, making himself comfortable in the only empty chair.
Desmond’s chair.
Fuck.
She glanced at Kamari but there was no tell in her body language, no way to know if she was okay,
Of course she’s okay, Aesira thought.She knows how to lie just as well as you.
“I believe what your councilman is trying to say is that without my cousin here, your marriage contract is null.”
“I beg your pardon?” Kamari’s voice held calm.
Aesira stepped forward but with a quick wave of Kamari’s hand, she stepped back, falling in place behind her. She bit down on her tongue, a tiny spark of pain lighting up in her mouth, a punishment for her small misstep.
Raffe shot Aesira a grin, like he could read her mistake, before pulling out a scroll from his breast pocket.
“To cease the war between Novaria and Vargah over the rights to Piscis Spring, Novarian ruler, King Godrick the third presents his first born daughter, Kamari Zeliath under the condition she be wed and rule alongside Vargahian heir, King Desmond Orathka,”Raffe read aloud.
“As you know,” Raffe continued, “Piscis Spring is the only known natural water source that flows directly between Vargah and Novaria–”
“I do not require a history lesson.” Kamari shook her head. “It isn’t news to me that the unity of our kingdoms has brought you access to Piscis Spring. What I’m trying to understand is howyou think my husband being missing means my marriage is under threat?”
