“LestarahatesKeris,” she said softly. “Which hardly mattered when she was being led around on a leash by Virginia Ashford and fed dog biscuits by the ladies of the court, but now she’sfuckingqueen of Harendell. If she finds out he’s in Ithicana, she might use her newfound power to take revenge on him.”
“Trust the storms,” Dax intoned, and Zarrah bit down on a retort, because every storm season had an end and every War Tides a beginning.
But she could not stop the turn of the seasons, so Zarrah fixed her sights on the Maridrinian palace where Sarhina waited.
There was no ceremony or fanfare at the gates, only covert nods as she and her small entourage passed by the Maridrinian guards. Word of this meeting would travel north eventually, but stealth might buy them time.
“Get some rest,” she said to Dax. “I’ll meet with Sarhina alone.”
Striding down the corridor where Keris’s brother had once dragged her as his prisoner, Zarrah smiled for the first time in what felt like eternity as a familiar face approached. Tucking her gloves into her belt, she lifted her hands and said, “It’s good to see you, Ensel.”
“You as well, Imperial Majesty.” He smiled. “You’ve been practicing.”
At her request, Ensel had provided drawings of the signs he made with his hands to speak and sent them to her in Pyrinat. Zarrah enjoyed conversations with Sarhina’s husband, for he was a breath of calm in the midst of an endless storm. Maridrina’s queen was a force to be reckoned with, as tempestuous as any Veliant, but she always listened to Ensel. “How is she?”
“The world has never seen anger like this.”
Zarrah gave a tight nod. Sarhina’s hatred for Lestara and what she’d done to Vencia was a thing to behold. Dax had told her Maridrina’s queen had taken Lestara’s ascension poorly, and the timing could not be worse, because Sarhina had just given up most of her power.
Sarhina’s decision to begin abolishing the monarchy was commendable in many ways, but Zarrah did not think that these elected officials would be willing to risk much on behalf of Ithicana if it truly came to war with Harendell.
Zarrah silently cursed Ahnna Kertell for her rash violence, because the ripple effect of Edward’s murder would be felt across the known world.
Guards opened a set of doors, and Zarrah strode into a room dominated by a large table. Pulling her hood back, she fixed her gaze on the woman who sat at the far end of the table, hands resting on its flat surface and a scowl etched across her lovely face. “I wish we were meeting under better circumstances.”
Sarhina exhaled, then pushed her black braid over her shoulder and rose. “Ahnna Kertell has started a war, sure and true. The Harendellians will not let this go—Edward certainly deserved a knife to thechest for wedding that murderous sow to his heir, but he was beloved by the people.”
They both circled the table and embraced, then Sarhina gestured for Zarrah to sit, pouring them both glasses of water from a carafe on the table.
“Do you have any fresh news?” Zarrah asked after drinking. “Have you heard from Lara?”
Sarhina shook her head. “The storms have been vicious. Even getting a ship across to Southwatch has been nearly impossible, so the only news I have is what came via Dax before he pressed on to give you the same information. Lara has undoubtedly sent additional messages, but they will be stuck at Southwatch until the storms ease. I hate to imagine what has been happening in the north, but imagine we must. If it comes to war, we will have to pick a side.”
“I was under the impression we already had chosen a side.”
Sarhina leaned back in her chair. “Yes. And no. Dax’s information might be old, but on the matter of Ahnna’s actions, it was clear. Prince James and his men came upon Ahnna attacking Alexandra. She had the bloody knife in her hand. Had shouted threats of murder toward the Ashford family not hours before, after Edward humiliated her in front of his entire court. It’s possible that William will be placated with her execution—with luck, they’ve already caught her and seen it done—but Aren needs to vocally condemn her and her actions to put as much distance between Ahnna and Ithicana as he can. I say that knowing full well that he won’t. Dax indicated that Aren doesn’t think she’s guilty.”
“Would you, if it were one of your sisters?” Zarrah couldn’t help but feel defensive toward Aren, for she admired his stalwart loyalty immensely.
Azure eyes locked on hers, identical in color to Keris’s but for the black lashes that framed them. “Yes. Which is why I’m praying to every higher power that Bronwyn doesn’t involve herself.”
“Dax said she was in Ithicana.”
Sarhina grimaced. “Yes, but Taryn Kertell was taken prisoner. Given she’s Bron’s lover, I can’t imagine that my sister will sit idly.”
“It’s not the Veliant way.” Zarrah took another sip of her water. “I have the same concerns about Keris. He’ll be in the thick of things.”
“He’s not exactly a tempering influence, though, is he? Especially given Lestara’s rise to the throne.” Sarhina rubbed at her temple. “William’s a hotheaded idiot, so he’d have been easy pickings for Lestara. She’s beautiful, and more than that, she’s experienced with royal men. But what is Edward’s excuse for such a foolish decision? Ronan has other daughters he could’ve chosen who aren’t responsible for mass murder if a union with Cardiff was what he wanted. Why her?”
“She was convenient, and she’s likely done an excellent job of convincing William that she was a victim of my aunt’s manipulation.”
“We can blame Keris for that. I told him to cut off her traitorous head.”
Zarrah didn’t bother defending her husband’s creative punishment, because she was sure he was currently cursing the decision himself. “The past can’t be changed, but it most certainly will influence the future. We must assume that Lestara has her claws in deep and is more than capable of manipulating William to achieve her own ends.”
“Keris needs to keep his head down and out of her reach. There is no one in the world she hates more than him, and I don’t think your wrath is enough to keep her from killing him, should she get the chance.”
A band of tension tightened around Zarrah’s chest, and she drew in a steadying breath.
