Amala of Ostos stood. All eyes went to the warrior queen. Her dark brown skin glittered in the fading light; coils circled her head like an ebony crown. She hadn’t said a word for hours. ‘What evidence do you have, girl?’
Glancing over at Romero, I watched the smirk slip from his face. I had no delusions my defiance, my anger over the mine’s concealment from the other nations had been a factor in his choice of Tribute.
‘Because I’ve already found a mine. On the northern coast of Drufaera. I sent engineers to excavate the area.’
A trembling silence settled over the chamber. Gods, how I wished I could see the thunder in Romero Thorne’s eyes.
His dark chuckle swiped the grin from my face. ‘She found nothing. The area’s barren.’
‘Then you won’t mind if we investigate?’ Amala said.
‘Not at all,’ Romero crooned. ‘It’ll prove the girl is nothing but a liar.’
Matthias leapt again, only halting when I placed my hand over his arm.
‘I imagine you’ll ensure The Alliance finds nothing but an empty field,’ he spat.
‘See, even the wolf queen’s husband knows that’s all they’ll find.’
I gripped the table. Matthias was right. The damned king was always a step ahead.
Standing straighter, I focused my attention on the other leaders. ‘If you want to give up your thrones, your legacies and present them on a plate for Romero to take, then do it. But what if there was a better way? I swear on Evella I can find more Vyrium. Share it between all of you. Replenish your armouries. The choice is yours. We strengthen our Alliance or we shatter it.’
Matthias laced his tender fingers with mine. I squeezed back.
Amala turned to me. ‘Can you do it, girl? Can you find more mines and give us a real chance of defeating the empress?’
I blew out a breath. ‘Yes. If I could have my notes?—’
‘There are no notes.’ Romero had taken his seat again, his usually neat hair plastered across his furrowed brow.
‘There are. In the library.Yourlibrary. I left everything behind. My notes. Drawings. They hold the key to it all.’
‘Such a shame then.’
‘What’s a shame?’ Matthias hissed.
‘The head librarian was informed you wouldn’t be returning, so they burnt it. All of it. So, as that option is no longer available to us, I suggest we return to?—’
‘I can still do it.’ My voice rang out. There was no way I was going to become a citizen of Romero’s empire. ‘Matthias, you have a good library at Asmar?’
‘The best.’ He sat back, his fingers tapping his lips. I couldn’t quite make out the look in his eyes, but my pulse skipped as I faced The Alliance.
‘Then I have a head start. I have most of the information locked up here.’ I tapped my forehead, wishing I could clearly see the devastation on my stepfather’s face. ‘I swear to you, I can find more mines – information Matthias and I are more than happy to share with The Alliance.’
‘We’ll have stronger weapons. We’ll have more of a chance.’ I swallowed at the authority in Matthias’s voice as he stood, his hand lying against the small of my back. ‘So, I say we take a vote. I’d like to turn in for the night and know we’ve made the right choice. Each kingdom will send a legion, including any suitable Anomalies to strengthen my coastline. We’ll feed and clothe them, while Sorrow discovers the locations of the lost mines and then, we defeat the empress and go back to our own kingdoms,knowing The Alliance has achieved what it was set up for. Who stands with me? Raise your hand and say “aye”.’
Matthias raised his hand, as did Sarus. I held my breath as I scanned the other monarchs. I think Amala had a smile on her face as she raised her hand. That was half of The Alliance. We only needed one more to join us in order to stifle Romero’s attempted takeover.
‘Trespia, Itoras. Who will you stand with?’ Sarus asked.
King Cai smiled and raised his hand. ‘Aye.’
All eyes turned to Seth of Itoras, but he shook his head.
‘We’re placing the lives of every man, woman and child on Shuteran soil in the hands of a slip of a girl? A blind one at that?’
‘She. Is. Not. Blind,’ Matthias hissed.
