Aesira craned her neck to get a closer look at the scroll but Raffe snatched it back, holding it close to his chest shooting her another grin.
Bastard.
“Ah, you have, Your Majesty,” he said. “But with my cousin’s disappearance, it seems a rather large part of the contract has been voided.”
Kamari glanced briefly over her shoulder in that fraction of a moment, Aesira saw what her sister wasn’t saying aloud.
Kamari knew what Raffe found on that parchment. She knew and there was nothing she, or Aesira, could do about it.
Aesira’s heart was a hammer in her chest, slamming over and over again, threatening to shatter.
How could she help her?
What could she do?
“In the unfortunate circumstance King Desmond should fall ill or perish, a new ruler of Vargahian descent shall take his place, ensuring the treaty remains with an even rulership. Half Novarian.”Raffe’s dark eyes flicked to Kamari.“Half Vargahian.”
Aesira’s stomach plummeted.
Damn him.
And damn Kamari for not telling me of this portion of the treaty.
She glanced around the table, at each of the councilmen. Some hung their heads, others whispered to each other. They all knew this was coming.
They all knew, and said nothing to defend their queen.
Maybe they didn’t care that Desmond was missing. Maybe they only cared about their treaty. About their share of spring water and sanctioned power.
“You have a decision to make, Your Majesty,” Raffe said, “abdicate your position on the throne and forfeit the treaty. Bring war back to Vargah and Novaria. Death to the people of our two kingdoms. Destroy the peace your late husband worked so hard to gain. Or marry me, in my cousin’s place.”
Fear splintered like ice through Aesira's veins. The jagged shards of her shattered heart ripping and tearing in her chest. It took every bit of her training not to lunge forward and strike her blade clean through Raffe.
Her fingers ached to reach for her sister, bundle her up in her arms and take her away.
Anywhere but here.
“It’s only been a week,” Kamari said, her voice calm. She was like a diamond, able to withstand endless pressure. Unfortunately where Kamari was a diamond, Aesira was like a boiling kettle with the lid clasped tight, waiting to explode. “You would give up on your king so soon?”
A councilwoman at the end of the table cleared her throat, her golden hair swept back and tiny spectacles making her long, slender nose more pronounced.
“You have been here a year, Your Majesty, most of us have lived in Vargah our entire lives. We have faced many hardships with our wall being closest to the west. We have endured sand storms, monsters, and yet, the people have persevered. They have fought for a very long time to keep this kingdom safe. To keep Celestria happy. The treaty between Novaria and Vargah is new. Fragile.But it has offered them something they’ve never had before.” The councilwoman smiled softly. “Hope. They will not receive the news well of the throne being left unattended.”
“It’s not unattended.” Kamari stood and Aesira took a step closer, her hand drifting to her hip where her sword sat, ready. “Vargah may be missing its king but I am still its queen.”
Raffe’s laugh slid through the room, crawling under Aesira’s armor, that boiling in her blood rising to meet the surface of her cheeks. “Never in history has our country been run without a king. Even when King Ommet died, Desmond’s mother wed the following month until he was of age to be crowned. She knew her role and played it well until her end, it’s time you learned yours.”
Kamari sank back into her chair but Aesira didn’t fall back. She kept her place, a step closer to Kamari, closer to Raffe.
They were all cowards in Aesira’s eyes, hiding behind a technicality written on parchment. She shuffled another half step forward, the grinding of her armor bringing attention to her.
Good.
She wanted the council to see her. To remember that she and the rest of her knights were here. ThatNovariawas here, ready to defend themselves should the need arise.
Raffe stole a glass of water, tiny droplets sticking to the thick hairs of his moustache. “We will arrange the wedding in a month–”
“No,” Kamari said. She looked back to the council, some of which had the decency to meet her gaze, others kept their focus on Aesira, worried brows bunched together. “Desmond has only been gone a week,” Kamari said. “We aren’t even sure if he left willingly.What if someone–”
