Ambassador Fahle’s lips curled disdainfully. “Slander and lies. The Clockwork Brigade is the only group responsible for the terror that happened, and some of your countrymen aided them.”
“I would think your country has more than enough problems with Daijal’s occupation of western provinces than chasing down rumors here in E’ridia. If it were mine being invaded, rest assured I wouldn’t be chasingrumors.”
“Your country’s airship aided criminals, and Ashiondemandsretribution.”
Honovi focused his attention on theComhairle nan Cinnidhean, familiar with the neutral expressions on the faces staring back at him. “Was an airship name identified?”
Alrickson arched an eyebrow. “Ashion has provided no such information.”
Of course they hadn’t. Honovi had made sure his people had hidden their tracks. “I stand before theComhairle nan Cinnidheanwith the opinion the ambassador asks for the impossible. We have never extradited one of ours to another country. We should not begin now when all the proof they have is heresay.”
“Ashion will not stand for that,” Ambassador Fahle snapped.
“You do not stand in Ashion,” Alrickson reminded him. “And it was in your land thatmyson nearly lost his life.”
“By one of your own people.”
“By arionetka,” Karla spoke up out of turn. “An abomination that no E’ridian would ever condone. Which leaves many who could be accused, but we have not leveled any at Ashion.”
Because they didn’t have any proof. If they had—if they knew who had carved into Siv and undone her mind—E’ridia would certainly demand retribution through diplomatic channels. Ambassador Fahle was trying to do the same, but his accusations carried no weight here before theComhairle nan Cinnidheanwhen Honovi had seen the truth with his own eyes—it just wasn’t one he’d speak in front of a foreigner.
“If there is, perhaps, hard proof you have of E’ridian participation, we will of course review it. But we have no extradition agreement with Ashion, and we will not be handing over citizens based on the flimsiest of accusations that you have brought us when you cannot even prove the airship was one of ours,” Leena said.
Ambassador Fahle’s face went red, but he was savvy enough not to yell his ire. “Ashion will not hold your decision favorably.”
“Ashion does not rule here. Your concern has been noted, but asjarlHonovi has stated, there are more important issues that we must address. You may take your leave, Ambassador Fahle.”
The group of Ashionens stood from the ambassadors’ table, with Ambassador Fahle leading the way angrily to the chamber door. Honovi watched them leave, not speaking until the door had shut behind them.
“Ashion will not let their demands fall by the wayside,” Alrickson said, looking at Honovi.
“I did not lie when I said it was their own peacekeepers who unleashed revenants inside their own city, against their own citizens. It wasn’t the Clockwork Brigade who allowed such horror,” Honovi said evenly.
“Paired with therionetkathat Siv became and the muddled political relationship Ashion has with Daijal while that country creeps past the central border, I would not trust any accusation Ashion levied against our people,” Karla said as she stood. She made her way over to where Honovi stood at the speaker’s seat.
“If Ashion accuses us of interference and they come back with proof, that will be a diplomatic mess,” Aslaung,ceann-cinnidhof Clan Mountain, said. “Perhaps we erred in giving you the ambassadorship.”
Honovi stiffened, lifting his chin. “If you hadn’t, we would not know about the threat ofrionetkas.”
“Perhaps, but neither would we be contemplating the possibility of war.”
“Eimarille Rourke is queen of Daijal now and seeks expansion into Ashion,” Kele,ceann-cinnidhof Clan Sky, said with a frown. “Our ambassador to Daijal confirmed the Twilight Star blessed her coronation and gave her the crown.”
Honovi had seen the photographs in the broadsheet once they’d landed in Veran, blurred as they were from starfire. He’d questioned their authenticity, but apparently, they’d been legitimate. “The North Star has not.”
Kele shook his head, hazel-eyed gaze sweeping around the circular table before settling on Honovi. “I voted against allowing interference in another nation’s sovereign right to rule. I fear that decision and what came after has opened us up to retribution.”
“The border between Daijal and Ashion means nothing to Eimarille. I believe she would feel the same way about all the rest on any map of Maricol.”
Kele opened his mouth to retort but held his tongue as the door to the chambers opened. Honovi looked over his shoulder, thinking it was the Ashionens again, but the man walking inside was far more welcome.
Seneschal Gregor of Clan Wind was dressed formally in a kilt and tailored jacket, the plaid he wore draped over his left shoulder and pinned in place with a heavy silver brooch. It fell to his knees, a length in deference to his rank.
“Seneschal,” Alrickson said.
“Comhairle nan Cinnidhean,” Gregor replied. His reddish-brown hair was braided back in a thick plait that fell over his shoulder, metal adornments twisted through it as a marker of his rank. He was perhaps only a decade older than Honovi’s own thirty-five years, but Gregor had been voted into the position of Seneschal by a majority of each clan. He excelled in the role, shepherding law through with theComhairle nan Cinnidhean’s guidance. Gregor was dedicated to E’ridia and always had been.
So the pistol he unholstered from the small of his back was so atypical that for a moment, Honovi didn’t believe in what he was seeing—not until the pistol was aimed at thecinn-chinnidhseated around the table.
