When he spared his new betrothed another glance, he found Eiri watching him again with a grim determination of his own. Rather than unease, though, an odd burst of anticipation sparked to life. Whatever Eiri was planning, Syrus would stop him, but it wouldn’t be easy. It’d been too long since he’d faced a real challenge and Eiri C’Dari was nothing if not a challenge.
This was still going to be an absolute disaster and he put even odds on the raider drawing a weapon on him on their wedding night, but that did nothing to deter him. He would learn Eiri’s secrets and, when the time came and this farce of a peace inevitably fell apart, he’d be ready. This time, there would be no draw. Finally, Syrus would put an end to the plague that was the Canjiri raiders.
No one lingered once the ceremony was complete. The conscripted Canjiri left and the newly betrothed from all over the rest of the kingdoms either made their way to their ships or to their rooms in the sad excuse of a palace here on the island.
Syrus and his father would stay the night, then leave tomorrow morning at first light. The Karjul Straits were far too dangerous to navigate even in the best weather in full daylight, so they would take the longer route around them. Only theCanjiri knew the secrets of getting through that dangerous stretch of water, which was the only reason they always evaded their pursuers.
The room they’d been given was small, more like a room in an inn than a suite in a palace. Two beds took up most of the space, with a wardrobe against one wall and a small washroom behind a closed door. The windows were narrow and covered with heavy hangings to hold back the oppressive heat outside. When they’d first arrived, Syrus had spotted small sigils carved into the stone walls that presumably kept the room cool. Given how unbearably hot this whole island was, they were necessary.
“Did you hear a word of the ceremony at all?” Syrano asked the moment the door closed behind them. “Every time I looked at you, you were glaring at your betrothed.”
“What did you and mother expect? Truthfully? You knew exactly who you were forcing me to marry and you purposely hid it from me.”
“Of course we did, because we knew you’d react like this. You are thirty-five years old, Syrus. Stop acting like a child.”
That stung more than he cared to admit. “You can’t blame me for being upset, father. I’m bound to a fuckingraiderfor the rest of my life. Surely there was someone else you could have chosen for this?”
“There are plenty of petty lordlings we could have chosen and we would have, if it had been anyone but Eiri C’Dari.” Syrano tugged off his waistcoat and cravat as he spoke, shedding the layers of formal clothing with obvious relief.
“One raider is the same as the other.”
“If you truly believe that, you’re more foolish than I thought,” Syrano snapped. “The entire revolution against King Viyeri occurred because of you new betrothed. Tell me you at least know that much.”
“He killed the heir, didn’t he?” Syrus combed back through his memory, but in truth, he hadn’t paid much attention to the reasoning behind the civil war. The raiders on both sides of the conflict had stepped up their attacks against the southern coastline in a fight for supplies and weapons, stretching his soldiers to the limit even with the aid of soldiers from Nevarre and Gavarria to bolster their numbers.
Syrano sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed, raising an eyebrow expectantly until Syrus did the same. “King Viyeri rose to power under suspicious circumstances. It’s widely believed he poisoned the old queen and stole the throne, but no one could prove it. Under his rule, the raiders became violent for the first time in history. You recall the raid on Teleth last year?”
“I do. We expected them to strike Recyth further up the coast.” It’d been a costly mistake. When the raiders struck Teleth, most of the soldiers left in the garrison had been young, inexperienced with actual combat. Unofficial reports claimed a Nevarrean specialist team in the area had stepped in and prevented the town from being completely overrun. Technically, specialists couldn’t operate outside their own country, but everyone knew they did. As long as they kept their heads down, everyone turned a blind eye to them. Some of Vaetreas’ own teams were currently in Gavarria and Kargha at this very moment.
“Then you know that Prince Vonyers was a part of that raid,” Syrano continued. “Several witnesses saw Eiri kill him before fleeing with most of the raiders.”
“So you betrothed me to a man experienced in killing princes. That’s hardly comforting.”
“If you can’t handle yourself against a skinny twig of a raider like him, you deserve your fate,” his father scoffed. “Now stop interrupting me. King Viyeri called for Eiri’s execution, ofcourse, but rather than obey, his own nobles protected Eiri and turned on Viyeri. They overthrew him and are now attempting to piece together some form of representative government instead, hence the alliances with other kingdoms.”
Perhaps he should have paid attention to the details, after all. He hadn’t known that about his husband-to-be, not that it changed anything.
“Why did anyone even agree to the alliance, though? I still don’t understand that. With the island crippled, anyone could have swooped in and conquered Canjir.”
“Despite their history of instability, the Canjiri still have control of the Straits and a dangerous navy. If anyone had made such an attempt, it would have given them a common enemy to unite against. The last thing the world needs is a united Canjir.”
“So… these peace marriages are just a distraction?” Syrus asked, his mind racing. He didn’t have much of a head for politics, preferring to leave that to his older siblings, but he wasn’t stupid.
“They are a fallback. Should their insane plan succeed, we have a peace established and can leverage these alliances to our benefit. In the more likely event that it falls apart, we have hostages. You should know that we fought for this marriage for you. Every other ruler wanted to have C’Dari under their control.”
“Because he killed a prince?”
“Because he sparked a revolution. Something about him inspired the nobility to risk their lives and commit treason to protect him. Whatever that is, it is now under the control of Vaetreas. Your mother and I chose you because you can control him. That is the mission we are giving you now. We expect you to succeed.”
“Yes, sir.” The response was instinctive. Syrus’ mind was still spinning with the influx of new information, thescope of his new mission shaping and molding his view of this unwanted marriage. They would take up residence in Vaetreas, of course, which made this easier for him. Eiri was an annoyance and had put up a strong fight over the years, but on his own territory, Syrus would finally have the advantage. Finally, he would win this war.
Chapter 3
Eiri
Two weeks passedin a blur of packing, planning, and desperate denial. The first two fell under the purview of his mother. The latter was entirely Eiri. He spent the better part of thirteen days out on the water, soaking up every bit of freedom he could while he still could. Negotiating or pleading with his mother didn’t even cross his mind. Once Tera C’Dari made a decision, it was final. The tides would reverse before she would admit fault or change her mind.
So he left her to it. He wouldn’t argue, but he wouldn’t be an accomplice to his own imprisonment. The moment he was free of the handfasting ceremony, Eiri packed a small bag and made his way down to the black sand beaches east of Maizar. The capital city wasn’t the beautiful haven it had once been, but there was nowhere else like it. Anatau, the volcano that had destroyed their way of life hundreds of years ago, had left a mark on the island, creating uniquely stunning vistas that Eiri never tired of.
