They were escorted to the queen’s private wing within the palace, and while it was well-appointed, it was smaller than Zane would have expected.Paintings and knick-knacks littered the space, giving it a cluttered yet homey feel.It was so unlike his father’s golden bedroom that Zane was instantly more at ease.
Within the receiving room, there was a small table set up with four chairs, and platters of steaming food were already waiting for them.Camilia and Halim entered from an adjoining space, still appearing regal, but more relaxed than he’d seen them before.
“Please, sit,” Camilia said.
After they all took their seats, the older monarchs began to serve themselves from the platters.There were no servants around, and Halim motioned to them to do the same.If this meeting had been with Uther, it would have been in the throne room, while he stared down at whoever had dared to bother him from up high on his dais.
The first bite of food had Zane holding back a moan.It was so flavorful with cumin and paprika, among other spices he couldn’t identify.Once he reclaimed his empire, he would need to hire an Istorian chef.
“So, young emperor,” Camilia said.“My husband tells me he’s spoken with you and your consort about this war.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.As you know, Nyr will not lend use of their armies unless you decide to join with me.Which is why I must humbly ask again for your help.”
The queen hummed.“It is no small thing to go to war.”
“I know this, Your Majesty.I have led many good men into battles where not all of them have walked away.”Zane glanced over to Talon.“We have both killed in the name of our empire, and sometimes for less than noble reasons.It is my great shame I did not stand up to my father earlier.I do not ask for this lightly.I understand fully the cost of war, and this is not only to reclaim my empire so that I may sit upon a throne; it is bigger than me and Athusa.This is to eradicate the world of the threat the stars pose to humanity.Rigil will not stop until we are all slaves under his rule.”
Camilia regarded him silently, and Zane forced himself to meet her gaze.He let her see the truth in his eyes—that he could not care less about a title, or a throne, or a castle.He only wanted to ensure the safety of his people.His friends and family.Talon.Above all else, Talon deserved to live in a world where there was no conflict or danger, and Zane would fight with everything he was for that future.
“I believe you,” Camilia eventually said.“But I will not promise you the use of my armies just yet.I need more time to discuss with my advisors.”
Zane nodded his agreement, simply hoping that she would see his point of view.
“However,” she continued, “should you find yourself back on Athusa’s throne, I would love to forge an alliance between our two nations.For too long, we’ve been on the brink of disaster, and it sounds as though a lot of that was thanks to your father.But you remind me of your mother, Selena.You look like her, but you are also kind-hearted as she was.Her loss is a tragedy.”
Tears welled in Zane’s eyes, and he felt Talon’s hand rest on his knee underneath the table.
“Thank you,” he managed to say.“That means more to me than you know.I would absolutely strike an alliance with Istora.I believe all three of our nations should be at peace, and through my relationship with the crown princess of Nyr, I think it’s a real possibility.”
Halim grinned broadly.“I’ll drink to that.”He raised his glass in a toast, and they spent the rest of the evening drinking delicious wine and speaking of less serious things.
Chapter 45
Emmeric
Theyhadn’tlingeredinImothia, not wanting to risk Hadar returning.Kaz promised Iyana that the villagers were safe in their hiding place, which Iyana explained to Emmeric privately was a nearby oasis, and they headed towards the Aula Pass.
Bypassing the town at the edge of the Forgotten Mountains, they began the trek up the Pass.Winter had come to the mountain range in full force, the snow line lower than it typically would be.They donned their warmer cloaks, and Emmeric was grateful Iyana could keep them warm with her magic.Snowflakes fell lazily from the sky as they debated the best place to leave the trail.
When wolves began to howl to their left, they collectively decided it was time to turn right and delve deeper into the forest.
“Kaz, is it true that the wolves in these mountains are descended from shifters?”Iyana asked.“When Altair and I had our run-in with them, they seemed to be bigger and smarter than normal wolves should be.”
Emmeric remembered that.It was when he had left her to go back to Athusia, still denying his part in all of this.He had hurt his ankle but didn’t know how, and it wasn’t until Iyana was telling the story that he realized his ankle hurt becauseherswas injured.
Kaz shrugged a shoulder.“There was a mass exodus of shifters out of Nyr centuries ago.I think they felt too contained within the wards.Obviously, many of them have died off, but it’s possible that some wolf shifters got stuck in their animal form and mated with actual wolves.”
“That can happen?Getting stuck?”Emmeric asked.
“It’s rare, but yeah.If a shifter stays in their animal form for too long, they can lose sight of who they are as a human, and then it’s too hard to find that thread that pulls us back.They’d lose themselves to the animal completely.”
The thought of that unnerved Emmeric so much he decided not to dwell on it.
“How do we know where to go?”he asked, directing the question towards Okab.He tried to avoid speaking to Altair if at all possible, but his brother was surprisingly likeable.
“I have no idea,” replied Okab.“As far as I know, nobody has purposefully wandered off the Aula Pass.But, then again, I guess we wouldn’t know even if they had.They’re called the Forgotten Mountains for a reason.”
Emmeric shivered.The stories said that any who left the Pass would be dragged below by the gods, and then they were slowly forgotten until they were nothing more than a name on the tip of a loved one’s tongue.A name they were familiar with, but couldn’t recall why it was important.
