“Don’t—”
A knock on the door has us both clamping our mouths shut, but neither of us breaks eye contact.
“Open up,your highness. Our king needs some entertainment,” Holly says, her sickly-sweet voice sending chills down my spine.
“Go and use the asshole’s infatuation with flaunting you before his court to our benefit. Keep those pretty brown eyes wide and your ears open for any information that can help us,” Ulric whispers.
“Fine, but you need to promise me you’ll rest. I’ll need a strong soldier at my side when we figure out a way to escape. And I don’t need you serving yourself to the shifters as a free meal.”
“Deal.”
I fan out my pale pink skirt, draw my shoulders back, and walk to the door. The past couple of days have given me the illusion of security, hidden from the taunts and brutality of the Allaji court. I pretended to be fully consumed by Ulric’s welfare day and night. Taking care of him has been a welcome distraction and a way to avoid my tormentor. But the nagging truth never released its hold on me.
We’re not safe in this place and that danger will spread beyond these walls. It will travel across this land and infect other kingdoms. The only way to stop it is to face it head on and learn its secrets. So, with a deep breath, I brace myself to confront the Allaji tyrant once more.
Seven
KYRON
The Esspress emperor has spent the last five minutes in a fit of laughter. The two women lounging with him in the high-back settee at the front of his throne room rub his round, hairy stomach and nuzzle into his bushy gray beard. The rest of his wives sit on a colorful array of pillows around him, while his court relaxes on the floor throughout the round room. Everyone’s sneers and chuckles carry on the breeze blowing through the sheer curtains that do little to protect the open space from the elements.
Despite the reaction of my audience, the request I’ve presented is as serious as they get. Esspress is all that stands between me and quickly reaching the Allaji island. I refuse to let the emperor or court deter me from my mission. I need their ships.
Straightening his long-embellished vest, the emperor catches his breath and says, “So let me see if I understand. You want me to supply you with a fleet of my battleships and the crew to sailthem. And there is a great chance that you will not return them or my sailors to me intact?”
“Yes, that’s what I’m asking.” I shift on my knees, fighting to keep upright. My leather pants sliding atop the glossy floor beneath me. The asshole has yet to grant me permission to stand.
“Battleships take years to build. The loss of one, let alone many, could greatly weaken my fleet.”
“I understand, and I will compensate you in both goods and coins for any damage done while they’re under my command.”
The emperor shakes his head as he strokes the long blonde hair of one of his wives. “Many of the spirits of your ancestors are at unrest with your decision to take on this quest. You are meddling in the affairs of the Statera, and the outcome could be detrimental to your kingdom.”
“I don’t care what those who ruled before me think. Each of them can fuck off. They had their chance to rule Pliris. This is mine.” The words leave my mouth with a snarl, my indifferent demeanor cracking as my frustration heightens to a boil. I’m tired of fighting for an ounce of respect and proving my judgment is sound. I’ve led countless soldiers into battle and suffered minimal losses. Every move I make is calculated, and this rescue mission is no different.
“And what of your people?” the emperor asks. “The spirits say there is unrest in your kingdom. Your subjects are on the verge of riots. You’ve dismantled their traditions, and they are not taking kindly to that. Now, you ask them to stand by your decision to thrust them into a war against a kingdom which fights by no rules.”
I don’t hesitate to give my answer. They are words I’ve spoken to my council time and time again. “Change is always met with resistance, and tradition doesn’t make an act right. It will take time to dismantle the distrust and prejudice mypredecessors fostered. I’ve chosen to take up the mantle of my uncle, and I fight to bring equality to my kingdom. Everyone under my rule may not agree with me, but there are those who stand by my choice to retrieve Micah’s beloved goddaughter. The day he sacrificed his life for Pliris on the battlefield, he had one dying wish. He wanted Raelle and I to unite our broken kingdom and rule together. I plan on seeing that promise through.”
The emperor motions his wives away and scoots to the end of the settee. His fingers move to the yellow, triangular stone hanging from a thick gold chain around his neck. He rubs the Spiriten like he is calling upon its sacred power to speak to those who have left this life. Seconds tick by before he narrows his eyes and says, “And what about the wish of your dead mother?”
“I’m sure her spirit is the loudest of those who object to my choice. I have no qualms about telling her to fuck off as well.”
“You will risk everything for a woman whose fate is a consequence of her own actions? Raelle Mansi killed your mother and spilled her blood on holy ground. The Statera did not unjustly dethrone and deprive her of its graces.”
The room erupts in whispers, each exchange just as clear as the next.
What kind of king would sacrifice so many for someone who killed his own mother?
His single-mindedness will be Pliris’ fall.
It’s a shame his mother died; his land would be better off under her rule.
I ignore them and look to the one person in this room whose opinion matters to me. Borin remains stone-faced, standing with my guards on the outer edge of the room. His dark gaze locks with mine and he gives a slight nod.
I return my attention to the emperor with a new resolve. I entered this room and fell to my knees, pleading for the Esspress emperor’s help. My sign of respect has done nothing morethan show this man that I am weak. Although I’ve promised to compensate him for any losses, I’ve not proven that I can stand my ground against the Allaji. Shit, I’ve not even stood my ground in this throne room. Why should he lend me his ships if there’s no chance I can return from this battle?
I rise and cross my arms, done submitting to my equal. “The Statera may find my parah’s actions unforgivable; I regard them as invaluable. If it weren’t for Raelle, my mother would have used her gift to make me forget who I am. She would have stripped me of every memory and fashioned me into a being who was not of his own making. Raelle saved my life, and I will do everything within my power to save hers.”
