“The garden,” Cora whispered, but Teryn could see nothing resembling anything close to a garden. Instead, he found a charred field riddled with black stumps of gnarled trees. Nothing stood beyond the field save for the castle wall. He studied the towering perimeter, noting the many silhouettes of sentries atop it. It didn’t bode well for his escape plan.
He scanned the sky out of reflex, but he knew he wouldn’t find Berol. The last thing he’d done after preparing their horses was to scrawl a note that simply said,Ridine Castle. Not safe. Trying to flee. He’d left the rolled-up parchment on a bale of hay outside the stables, careful not to let any of the duke’s guards see. Before he’d returned indoors, he’d caught a glimpse of Berol diving from the sky, then flying away with the scroll clutched in her talons. She’d known better than to fly inside the stables or the castle before then, just like she’d understood to keep her distance while he’d traveled with the duke’s entourage to Ridine. The less Morkai knew about Teryn’s assets, the better. Now he just had to hope Berol brought it to his father at once. He hadn’t been close enough to convey where he wanted the letter delivered, but he trusted her to understand he was in trouble.
“This is not at all what I’d call a garden,” Lex whispered.
Cora faced Morkai. “Why did you bring us here to show usthis?”
Morkai chuckled. “This isn’t what I brought you to see, but I’m glad you’re impressed.”
“This was my mother’s garden.”
“Everything comes at a price, Aveline.”
“Do you have a point or do you simply like hearing yourself make vaguely ominous statements?”
Teryn nearly barked a laugh. If Cora was afraid of the duke, she was doing a damn good job of hiding it.
Morkai planted his cane in the earth and rubbed his thumb over the amber crystal. “You might have gleaned that King Dimetreus will soon be declaring war.”
“I gathered,” Cora said, “although I’ve yet to understand why. Selay is no enemy to Khero. Everything you’ve told my brother is a lie.”
“Everything the king believes is true to him,” Morkai said with a wry grin. “When he said we’ve been planning this for six years, that was true. And I’ve been planning even longer in ways you couldn’t comprehend. We have the means to wage a very fast, very bloody, and very successful war. Harbor no doubts that our enemies will fall.”
Teryn’s blood roared in his ears. He may not have had the greatest respect for Selay and its rulers, especially after King Verdian had allowed his daughter to publicly snub their engagement. But that didn’t mean he relished the thought of the kingdom falling to war. “Aside from the story you’ve fabricated over Princess Aveline’s captivity, what reason does the king have for marching on Selay?”
“I too would like to know,” Lex added, although his tone held far less fire. “I visited Verlot Palace recently, and the king and queen seemed rather…nice…” His words dissolved into nothing as Morkai pinned him with a glare.
“My reasons are not for you to concern yourself with,” the duke said.
Teryn noted that he’d saidmy reasons, not the king’s.
Morkai’s lips lifted in a taunting grin. “But it may serve you to know that Selay is not our only enemy.”
Teryn’s blood went cold. “Are you suggesting the threat holds true for Menah as well?”
“I’m suggesting you choose your alliances well, Your Highness. Whether the king’s army marches on one kingdom or two is in your hands.”
Teryn knew the duke was baiting him but he had to know the truth. “What does that mean?”
“It means you can either act as a voice of reason or serve me as a mute pawn. Your presence here is a gift.”
“Is that so?”
“Quite. I’m sure you are well acquainted with the costs of war. Not only in coin but in lives. Time. Resources. Like I said, Khero is fully prepared for battle but that doesn’t mean Dimetreus wouldn’t settle for a peaceful resolution instead.”
“What are you getting at?” Cora said. “Stop talking in circles and tell us what you brought us here to say.”
Morkai ignored her, keeping his eyes fixed on Teryn. “You, Prince Teryn, create the possibility for negotiation. Instead of marching for war, the king will demand surrender. Tomorrow morning I will send messengers to both Selay and Menah. I will call for a meeting at Centerpointe Rock in two weeks’ time where we will discuss the terms for both kingdoms’ surrender.”
“Two weeks’ time,” Teryn echoed. “You’re only giving themtwo weeksto prepare for a war meeting?”
“Two weeks will be more than enough time for all three parties to reach Centerpointe Rock. There will be no need for any of us to come with heavy forces in tow. For this is not a war meeting but a meeting of peace.”
Teryn scoffed. “Peace? Not once have you demonstrated anything resembling peace. Instead, I’ve watched you present lies as truths, wield threats like knives, and cast a princess as a common criminal. Not to mention treating me and Prince Lex like prisoners.”
Lex’s eyes widened. “Wait, we’re…prisoners?”
“Of course not,” Morkai said. “Until you expressly refuse the king, I’ll consider you allies. Anyone who’d rather not stand opposite Khero’s army in the future will choose toremainallies.”
