I didn’t correct him for speaking to me as though I were a child, and not a future king. In a matter of days, land willing, I would be sworn in to rule Rivale and would finally have Divinemagic to do so. I’d already considered handling executions differently, providing me a venue to display my newest ability.
“We should all be concerned with Grave’s affiliation, both to the Alden Islands and Oras.” I sipped as casually as possible, hoping someone would fill in the silence.
“He has publicly renounced both,” Queen Arden chimed in. “Do you have information to suggest he’s aligned with them?”
“Does heneedinformation to suggest otherwise? Was Grave’s father not enough to establish his allegiance with the witches?” King Toraval of Lirendor interjected. He was my best possible ally at the table.
“No, it certainly is not,” Queen Hayes snapped. “And should this meeting not be held in his presence? He deserves a chance to defend himself.”
“And let his sister erode every one of us?” King Toraval scoffed. “I think not.”
The table erupted in conversation, voices chattering over one another, while I sat back and took in as much as possible. The royals of Rynholm remained quiet, expectedly neutral, since they shared a border with every kingdom in Crofea. Queen Arden and Queen Hayes were on Grave’s side with King Arden sitting back and observing the interaction. King Toraval and King Ashton were heatedly agreeing that Grave was a risk to everyone and something needed to be done.
“We are within our treaty’s terms!” Queen Hayes stood, slamming her hands down on the table. “Do we not expect more than this? If any of you were ruling Kuroden, would you want your kingdom’s future spoken about so casually?”
“Agreed.” Queen Arden glared at me. If she could’ve harmed me with her kingdom’s magic she probably would have, but she was only a healer. She couldn’t cure me to death.
“What are you suggesting?” King Toraval dipped his chin at me.
I took a moment and pretended I was deep in contemplation. “None of us wish ill will to King Grave.” My lips pursed. “Perhaps we should allow him to live with histruefamily. Give him the opportunity to take his evil creatures to the Oras.” I shrugged. “And then we split the resources of Kuroden equally. Rename the land.”
King Toraval and Ashton nodded pensively.
“No,” Queen Arden said. King Arden’s hand moved to rest on top of hers.
In a low voice, King Arden spoke. “We will need a few days to consider.” Shock filled the Queen’s face, and she sank into her seat a moment later, her chest heaving.
Queen Hayes’s stare snapped across the table at him. “There’s nothing more I need to hear. Pontara will not take part in such a gross breach of a treaty; it is in good standing. Grave has done nothing to provoke this type of behavior.”
Asking Hayes to breach a treaty was risky, especially when I needed assistance to retrieve the barrels lost at sea. But with any luck, I’d have a mountain full of crude at my disposal and wouldn’t need her water-shifting abilities anyhow.
“I would like to hear more. But tentatively, Lirendor is on board.” King Toraval tilted his head.
King Ashton nodded. “As is Otea.”
Queen Esmond shook her head. “I’m sorry, but Rynholm will not take a side in what is sure to be an all-out war.”
“Won’t you though?” I smirked. “We will all take sides, whether we want to or not. It would be best for you to choose your side now, rather than have it decided for you.”
The room fell silent.
If a royal refused to align with me, they stood in opposition, and I would do what was needed. Each of the kingdoms relied on one another for various reasons, whether for trade or security, but the majority relied heavily on Kuroden and Rivale. Mine was the largest, and Grave’s kingdom was the only one able to produce crude and most gemstones. Each would beforced to choose a side, but if they were wise, they’d stand with me.
“It’s been a long day, and I’m sure all of you are weary from your travels. Let’s reconvene on Saturday. Relax, overindulge in food and wine tomorrow, then we will continue this conversation Saturday.” I looked around the table. “Let us celebrate a unification. Both within my family and among our kingdoms.”
31
AUDRYN
An abundance of staff roamed the castle, though the number of guards was even more astounding. Getting to the royal corridors was one thing, but making my way to the king’s bedroom was entirely different. I kept my eyes peeled for any sign of a ruby throughout the day, but by the time evening arrived, I’d given up on finding clues and took action.
I pushed open the door to the bustling kitchen. Not one person stopped to see who’d entered and merely went along with their business of chopping, washing dishes, or stirring food. I scanned the area and landed on the enormous hat across the room.
Draven’s eyes found mine, and he made his way to me. “Was there something you needed? Something to eat? Drink?”
I’d stopped on my way to the royal quarters, not knowing if I’d get the opportunity to see him again. But suddenly all the words I’d planned to tell him seemed to fall short. He’d been so kind. He had taken time to get to know me during each of my visits to the kitchen. Thanking him wouldn’t be enough, but it was all I had to offer.
“Did you want to change the flavor for your cake?” Draven’svoice lowered. “Or perhaps there was something else you wished to speak of.”
