“What of the Tovan Isles?” an officer farther down the table asked.
Maksim waved off the question with an imperious hand. “The Tovan Isles are more neutral than even E’ridia claims to be. They will not give aid to those of us on land.”
“But if they do?”
“Then we will sink their ship-cities.”
A few Urovan officers banged their fists on the table in agreement, prideful in their people’s underwater sea prowess. While their expertise in navigating freezing waters beneath the ice floes that lined the Northern Tundra was great, Eimarille knew it wouldn’t exactly translate to open-sea warfare. The Tovanians and their ship-cities were the undisputed rulers of Maricol’s oceans and seas. Conquering that country wouldn’t happen until after she’d claimed the continent, and it would take a different plan of attack than what was currently on the table.
The meeting lasted for quite some time. An aide came in halfway through with tea for everyone, the conversation momentarily paused as they took a brief break. Eimarille never left her seat, and neither did Terilyn. Eimarille was aware of the glances thrown her Blade’s way. It was atypical that a lady-in-waiting would attend such a high-status meeting, but no one commented on her presence. Some eyed her with enough wariness that Eimarille knew they must be aware of Terilyn’s true calling.
When the meeting commenced again, Eimarille was content to let Kote take the lead, solidifying the working relationship between the officers of both countries. Typically, a monarch wouldn’t be so involved. Certainly, Bernard had never cared for the details when he’d been king. He’d issued the orders he liked, expecting to be obeyed, and it had been the duty of the military commanders to execute them.
But he’d never had respect for those in the military, and neither had Wesley. Eimarille knew their worth, though, and that meant she never contradicted Kote’s decisions. The high general knew war, and the rest of the high-ranking officers trusted his command. His social status had certainly increased, and the gushing news stories of his command had many women and some men asking for him to dance at the balls he could find the time to attend, usually at her urging.
Eimarille knew he’d have plenty of admirers at the one occurring tonight. The fight in the east would give them victories, but the ones at home were just as important. Which was why, when the meeting ended, Eimarille opted to return to their quarters to check on Lisandro before getting ready for the ball and perhaps, if time allowed, a moment of respite with Terilyn.
The ball was set to occur at the home of the Khaur bloodline. They’d only had half a week’s notice to prepare for such a grand occasion, as Eimarille’s travel schedule was closely guarded information. Terilyn had dispatched royal guards and a Blade to oversee the estate’s security that morning, ever diligent about Eimarille’s safety. The Khaur bloodline had offered her a wing to use in their estate, but this close to the central border and Ashion meant Kote had requested she stay in the garrison, surrounded by soldiers to keep her safe.
Eimarille’s private rooms were guarded by soldiers and a magician who had orders from Terilyn herself to let no one pass. Innes seemed quite content to continue sipping his brandy in the room that acted as a parlor, cravat undone and shirt unbuttoned at the top, revealing a hint of the Viper constellation tattoo on his pectorals. The brilliant golden lines never ceased to catch Eimarille’s attention, the aether that burned in them similar to the starfire she herself could summon.
She immediately dipped into a deep curtsy, subjugating herself to the only person she had ever lowered her gaze to. “My lord.”
Innes raised his hand and curled his fingers at her. “Come here, my child.”
Eimarille rose from her curtsy and approached the sofa, settling herself beside Innes. The Twilight Star set his brandy aside on the low table and shifted on the cushion to face her. His face remained exactly as it looked when she’d first met him as a ten-year-old child, all sharp features, blond hair, and blue eyes, with the burn of starfire in his veins.
Innes was forever born of the aether, as all Star Order scripture espoused. But he felt real to her when he took her hand, giving it a squeeze, and offered up a smile that made him oh so human there in that room. “Your prayers have been only for your people lately.”
“We are at war. Of course I pray for them,” Eimarille said.
“The mark of a good queen.” Innes let her hand go to curl his fingers over the point of her chin, holding her still as he studied her face. “But the war is not all that you are worried about.”
“The starfire throne is not under our control, even if Amari is.”
“Aaralyn is not yours to worry about.”
The North Star guided Ashion, her claimed country, and Maricol as a whole. Eimarille used to pray to the world’s guiding star when she was young and still called her birth country home. Innes was who she prayed to now, but for all his power and influence, his wife was the apex of Maricol’s religion, and Eimarille knew they had to tread carefully. “I would go to Amari and claim my birthright.”
Innes’ hand moved to frame her face, and he leaned forward to kiss her other cheek. His lips were dry and warm against her skin, the touch of an indulgent father over anything else. Innes might not have raised her, but he’d dipped in and out of her life over the years, a reminder to those who’d controlled her before she controlled herself that she wasn’t to be harmed.
“Your birthright needs no claiming. You’ve had it all your life. It is reunification of all of Maricol we must prove. Your bloodline will sit on the starfire throne in due time. Until then, let your high general here wage your war.”
Out of the corners of her eyes, Eimarille saw Kote bow deeply. “You honor me, my lord.”
Innes nodded before drawing away from Eimarille. “I understand you have a ball tonight.”
“There are chains to break. My love does so enjoy such activities,” Eimarille said lightly. She reached for Terilyn without looking, smiling when the other woman took her hand. Eimarille got to her feet so she could more easily kiss Terilyn on the cheek.
Nathaniel Clementine’s stolen memories had been more than useful to their side. The cogs he’d been responsible for had led them to others in the Clockwork Brigade. Eimarille’s spies and Blades had been breaking chains since last summer. Meleri might have sent her cogs a warning. Many may have gone on the run if they hadn’t outright joined Ashion’s war efforts, but many others had paid the ultimate price for siding against Eimarille.
She doled out punishment in increments, knowing that to raze the Clockwork Brigade to the ground immediately would risk losing potential information. So she’d taken her time, allowed Terilyn to uncover those still in positions of power and send Blades to monitor the traitors. Eimarille had been grudgingly impressed with the reach Duchess Meleri Auclair had obtained over the years. Some cogs had worked their way deep into Daijalan society, and tonight, she was set to rectify that betrayal.
An important fact about war Eimarille had learned was one had to get the strategy and overall decisions right. War for war’s sake would earn her no goodwill with the people she ruled. There needed to be a goal, one worthwhile enough for people to die for, and sometimes society needed to be reminded about the enemy up close and personal.
“I’m sure you will all enjoy tonight,” Innes said as he stood.
“Will you be joining us, my lord?” Eimarille asked.
