“Calm yourself, sir.” Katarina gave a soft laugh. “We will trade, and hunger will be a thing of the past in Maridrina. But we will do it in partnership with Harendell.”
No.Horror pooled in Ahnna’s chest, and she felt as paralyzed as she would be beneath a bed of venomous snakes. It hadn’t worked. Katarina hadn’t taken the bait, and she and Alexandra were as allied as ever.
Silence stretched, then Hector said, “That would be ideal, Your Majesty, but your two nations are not known for working together.”
“Times change,” Katarina replied. “Those who fostered the animosity between our nations are in the grave, and those who live on finally have the chance to move toward a new era of collaboration. Harendell and Amarid will share ownership of the bridge, the responsibility of administering trade, and the duty of protecting it.”
“I see.” Through the ringing of panic in Ahnna’s ears, she heard Hector’s dismay as he realized his powers to negotiate were not half what he’d believed. “We were not aware.”
“It is a new, freshly inked alliance,” Katarina said, her tone gloating. “Harendell’s representative is late to arrive, but I think it safe to begin negotiations while—”
She broke off as a distant scream filled the air.
No one spoke, and that meant Ahnna heard the clash of swords from down the slope toward the cove. More screams and shouts of alarm.
“What’s going on?” Hector demanded. “Is this some trick—”
“No trick,” Katarina interrupted. “Guards, investigate!”
Rolling onto her belly, Ahnna crawled to the edge of the foundation. Aren must have seen the arriving Harendellians, realized their plan had failed, and rallied his forces to fight. He was throwingeverything he had at trying to expel a unified front of Amarid and Harendell. A battle they were destined to lose.
But Ahnna would fight alongside her brother until she could not lift her sword.
She reached the edge of the foundation, ready to throw herself into the thick of it, only to freeze. It wasn’t Aren and his soldiers fighting the Amaridians, it was Harendellians. Dozens upon dozens of uniformed men racing up the slope to the house and cutting down anyone who got in their way.
What is happening?
Has Alexandra turned on Katarina?
Rolling back under the cover of the house, Ahnna listened to the shouts of alarm coming from within. “We’re under attack! The Harendellians are attacking!”
More screams and the clash of blades, and then the Harendellians were in the house, boots pounding over the floor. Ahnna forced herself to breathe as she listened to the Amaridians try to surrender, only for the Harendellians to slaughter them without mercy.
A door creaked open, and a Harendellian voice said, “Well, well, well. If it’s not the Crimson Widow herself!”
Ahnna recognized the voice as belonging to one of William’s courtiers. A minor nobleman named Archie Bennett who was terrible at cards but good in a bar fight. He wasn’t in the military, so Ahnna had no idea what he was doing here—and in command, no less.
“What is the meaning of this?” Katarina snarled. “This was not what we agreed to.”
“No, I don’t suspect it was,” the Harendellian replied. “You thought that you couldmurderan entire nation and take the bridge beneath our noses and that no one would be the wiser?”
“That isn’t what—”
“Shut your mouth, old woman,” Archie barked, then demanded, “Who are you?”
“Hector Adrias,” the Maridrinian replied. “I am a member ofMaridrina’s lawfully elected parliament and have been sent to represent my fellows’ interests. I hope you have not shown violence to our escort, else Harendell and Maridrina will soon find themselves at odds.”
Archie gave a soft snort. “Your men are well enough for now, but you chose poorly when you chose to deal with Amarid and not Harendell. This will not be forgotten.”
“Trade must flow,” Hector answered. “Maridrina will negotiate with whoever holds control over the bridge, though that seems to change by the minute.”
“Maridrinian rats,” Archie said with disgust. “Amarid poisoned an entire nation. Murdered innocent people. Innocentchildren.Shame on you for your willingness to do business with such monsters. If there is justice, King William will punish your lack of morality, sir. Get out of here and flee back to your sand dunes.”
There was a scuffle of noise as the Maridrinians were dragged from the room, then Archie said, “You are a war criminal, Katarina. What you have done is a crime against humanity that will not be tolerated. In the name of King William of Harendell, I am charging you with murder. You will be returned to Verwyrd, where you will be executed for your crimes. May God have mercy on your soul.”
Katarina screamed in protest, her small feet drumming the floor above Ahnna’s head as she was restrained and removed from the house.
“The captain said there is a storm coming and there is nowhere to anchor for safe harbor,” Archie said to whoever else remained with him. “We’ll leave as many men as possible to purge the Amaridians north and south. Get your hands on whatever deal the Maridrinians were ready to offer, and we’ll bring it to the king.”
