“My ancestors learned to fish and to navigate the new stretch of water keeping them from the mainland,” Eiri went on. “The collapsed volcano made the underwater landscape fairly dangerous, as everyone knows. The aid ships went the long way, circling around it to reach the southern end of the new island. None of Canjir’s ships survived, so we learned to make smaller, faster ones, capable of handling the Straits, and used those to cross to Vaetreas, the kingdom that had been our allies for as long as anyone could remember. They hoped to create new trade agreements, which would allow them to survive while restoring the island.”
“I think I know where this is going now,” Syrus said. In the same situation, he knew exactly what his mother and Brandow would do.
“Unfortunately, politics never seem to change,” Xan agreed.He’s stayed mostly silent, just listening, his sharp mind analyzing everything.
Eiri nodded. “The Canjir had no leverage, nothing of real value to trade, save for whatever we could get from the ocean. The ones who came to Vaetreas assumed that centuries of goodwill and free trade would help negotiations. Obviously, they were mistaken. The king at the time realized the new power he held over the Canjiri. Without the food and supplies he held, the islanders would die. He held their lives in his hands, and everyone knew it. Rather than stir empathy or compassion, though, it woke his greed.”
“Some of our books cover this part,” Ellis said when Eiri fell silent. “They talk about it as if it were an economic victory for Vaetreas, though.”
“I’m sure they did,” Eiri muttered.
“King Tyrat negated old trade agreements, claiming they were no longer valid, as the Canjiri king who’d signed them had died in the eruption. The new ones he offered more than doubled the price of goods and laid heavy taxes and tariffs on anything the Canjiri imported.” Ellis stared at the table as he spoke, and for the first time, Syrus felt the shame of his history sink into him.
“He knew he could do whatever he wanted, and my people had to agree or die,” Eiri continued. “So, with no other choice, they signed. Those agreements have remained in place ever since. The first raid on a Vaetrean town happened two months later.”
Silence, heavy and tense, fell around them when Eiri finished his story. Ellis had obviously known at least part of the history of their people, but Syrus and Xan were stunned. Syrus, especially. He stared into the darkness, trying to come to terms with the realization that his own ancestors had created the raiders that he’d spent his entire life fighting against.
“I assume any attempts to revisit those agreements since then have failed?” he finally asked, but he already knew the answer to that.
“No monarch of Vaetreas has even taken an audience with a Canjiri ambassador about trade issues since then.”
“I imagine at first they didn’t simply because it would cut into their profits,” Xan said, voice hard. “More recently, it’s likely they couldn’t without looking like they’re making concessions to raiders.”
“Public image is more important than human lives.” Syrus scrubbed his face with his free hand, sighing tiredly. “I hate politics.”
“Canjiri ambassadors haven’t even been allowed in court since Queen Delia took over,” Ellis said, and it was pure luck that Syrus looked up just in time to see a flicker of expression on his youngest brother’s face. When he said their mother’s name, for a moment Syrus was sure he saw something dark and angry in his brother’s eyes. He didn’t get a chance to ask before Eiri spoke, but he made a mental note to talk to Ellis later.
“I was surprised Kien was allowed to come with me at all.”
Syrus silently thought that their lives would be improved if Kien had stayed behind in Maizar, but he wasn’t foolish enough to say that out loud.
“Thank you for telling us,” he said instead, smiling when Eiri looked up at him in surprise. “You’ve given me a lot to think about.”
“I’m sorry to dump all this on you right now. We’ve got enough to worry about with the party.”
“No, I’m glad you told me. It’s long past time that things changed for the better.”
This time, the silence that wrapped around the four of them was a gentler one, giving them space to think about everything they’d just learned. They finished therest of their meal in comfortable contemplation. He’d have liked to leave it at that, but there was only so long they could be gone before someone came looking for one of them.
“So, I want to make sure we’re all on the same page,” he said. Xan brushed off his hands and settled back in the chair. Ellis and Eiri both shifted in their seats so they were facing Syrus.
“From what you’ve told me and what I’ve explained to you, it’s fairly straightforward,” Xan shrugged. “You two are caught in a dick-measuring contest with the queen, basically.”
Beside him, Ellis choked on a breath. He spluttered, his face going red. Xan slid some water over to him, and Ellis hurriedly took it, but he didn’t meet Xan’s eyes.
“That’s certainly one way to put it,” Syrus said dryly, shooting his cousin an exasperated look. Beside him, Eiri put his hand over his mouth, but even that wasn’t enough to hide his startled smile.
“What? It’s true,” Xan protested. “Are you alright there?” He patted Ellis’ back.
“Fine. Sorry. You surprised me.” His voice was rough from coughing, and the blush still hadn’t faded. As soon as this mess was dealt with, Syrus was going to need to have a long talk with his baby brother.
“I wouldn’t phrase it quite the way Xan did, but he’s not entirely wrong,” he went on. “She needs to be seen as someone capable of keeping everyone in line, and that includes Eiri. We need help in figuring out a way to appease her while not just giving in to her every whim.”
“I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you question an order from your mother before. This is a refreshing change.”
“I live to entertain you, Xan.” Syrus rolled his eyes. “Any ideas?”
“One or two, but nothing that would provide any immediate protection,” Xan said.
