The girl set into the tray of cakes with gusto while Katarina watched her with affection. “This one will make a fine queen one day. I must fight for a future where that is possible, for if the Harendellians have their way, they will rule the entirety of the north. They were quiet in Edward’s reign, but anyone who knows their history will remember that their might grew from conquest. It’s in their blood totake,and William’s youth makes him brash and ambitious. In combination with Alexandra’s intelligence, he will be deadly.”
Harendell’s history was something Aren had known from his childhood lessons but forgotten. No…not forgotten but ratherdismissed as a relic from the past that held no threat for the present, because Edward had never shown the same inclinations as his forefathers. Or at least, Aren hadn’t thought so.
Lara shook her head as Nina offered her a piece of cake. “Do not think I’m fooled by this charming picnic or your pretense at being a doting grandmother building a future for her granddaughter. You don’t make sacrifices. You execute strategies.”
“Lara,” Aren snapped, holding to the roles they’d agreed upon before stepping onto the beach. Before they’d learned that Ahnna was gone. “We have enough enemies without adding Amarid to the mix.”
His wife’s voice was like ice as she said, “They already are our enemies.”
Forcing a grimace onto his face, he met Katarina’s ratlike gaze. “You are forever tarnished in my wife’s eyes by your association with Silas, I’m afraid.”
“Sheis sitting right here,” Lara snapped. “Andshehas no interest in alliances with liars. Zarrah can supply everything she offers. This conversation is over.”
“You cannot afford to turn me down.”
“Yes. We can.”
Lara rose. Aren made a noise of protest but broke off as she cast him a blistering glare, and he got to his feet as well. She caught hold of his hand and started to haul him away, but then Amarid’s queen spoke. “Fine. I’ll sweeten the pot.”
Aren dug in his heels.
“Yes, Valcotta can supply weapons.” Katarina picked up yet another piece of cursed cake, the frosting sticking to her awful teeth as she took a bite. Chewed. Swallowed. “But what about food?”
Aren dropped Lara’s hand, and Katarina’s mouth quirked in a smile. “Your wife doesn’t know famine as you do, does she, Aren? But you remember the first war with Maridrina, don’t you? You remember what it’s like to be confined to your islands while typhoons rageacross the Tempest Seas. Fishing, impossible. Foraging, impossible. Forced to eat vermin because the bridge sits empty. You remember how disease walks hand in hand with that sort of confinement and hunger, taking first the very old…and then the veryyoung.Maridrina endures a famine itself, and Valcotta’s herds are infected by wasting disease. Though I’m sure you are aware of that.”
“What are you offering?”
“A trade. I will sell you a shipload of our best vintages at fair market value, which you can resell at Southwatch to recoup your costs. In exchange for your services, I’ll give you a shipload of grain of the best quality.”
“I could buy three shiploads of grain with the tolls on that much wine.”
“Except there is no grain for you to buy,” she countered. “It is simple economics, Aren. That which is in short supply is very valuable indeed. One cannot eat gold or steel.”
“We aren’t agreeing to extortion!” Lara grabbed his hand and pulled as though she could physically force him away from the conversation. “We’re through here.”
He allowed her to tug him a few paces down the beach.
“Two shiploads of grain for each ship filled with wine,” Katarina snapped.
“No!” His wife, ever the consummate actress, was crying. “I will not negotiate with this woman, Aren. She was my father’s ally!”
“Three.” Katarina rose to her feet. “And to prove my commitment to the agreement, given we shall have nothing in writing, my granddaughter will return with you as your ward for the duration.”
The girl’s face paled. “What do you mean, Grandmother? I don’t want to go with them!”
“You will do your duty, Nina.” Katarina rested a gnarled hand on the girl’s shoulder. “One day, you will be queen of Amarid, and having a strong relationship with Ithicana will be to your benefit.”
“Agreed,” Aren said, and reaching into his pocket, he withdrew a map and circled three locations. He handed it to Katarina. “Tell your captains to come in the next storm break.”
The queen took the map, but her eyes were on Lara. “Clever like your father.”
Lara stiffened. “I’m nothing like my father.”
“You keep telling yourself that, girl. Silas was also very good at getting what he wanted with duplicity. He learned the hard way about what happens when one leaves a trail of those one has duped in one’s wake. I would not want you to have the same fate as he did.” She snapped her fingers, and a pair of servants came forward with a traveler’s chest. “Do take care of my granddaughter.”
The weeping child walked toward them, and Lara gently took hold of her arm and led her toward the longboat. Leaving Aren alone with Katarina.
Katarina settled back down on the blanket and reached for a piece of cake. “I think I shall enjoy the weather while it lasts. In recent years, I have learned to savor the small moments of pleasure.”
