Keris didn’t answer, and William gave Adrius a push forward. Adrius bowed low, his uniform travel-stained and his face marred with exhaustion.
“Well?” Alexandra had abandoned Harendellian civility, her anger palpable as William circled the table to flop on the sofa next to her. “What does Aren have to say for himself? Has his murderous sister returned?”
Adrius’s eyes shifted to Keris, and he gave a slight nod, trusting that the man would know what information should best be held back.
“There is no word from Princess Ahnna, Your Grace,” Adrius answered. “It is assumed she remains in the Blackreaches. His Grace, King Aren, will not condemn Lady Ahnna without first hearing her account of circumstances. It is hoped that, should Prince James arrest her, she will be given a fair trial and the opportunity to speak.”
“I didn’t agree with my father on much,” William muttered. “But he was right about Aren being an inept ruler who is wholly self-interested. How Ithicana doesn’t grow weary of him putting his favored women before all others is beyond me. One of them should put a knife in his gut and liberate the nation of his idiocy.”
The hypocrisy of William accusing anyone of self-interest was a thing to behold, but Keris bit his tongue as Alexandra abruptly rose. She strode to the sideboard and poured a large glass of wine, taking a mouthful as she stared out the window.
“Aren’s request is fair and holds to the rule of law of both your nations,” Keris finally said. “Guilty or not, Ahnna deserves a trial and the chance to speak her piece.” He hesitated, then added, “Have you heard word from Prince James?”
“No,” William responded even as Alexandra said, “Yes.”
William stiffened, looking to his mother in surprise. “You’ve heard from Jamie?”
“From his men. I didn’t wish to alarm you until I’d heard more, but…” Alexandra exhaled a long breath. “James was separated from his men by an avalanche that Ahnna set off. A malicious trap that was nearly the end of him. He’s not been heard from since.”
Fuck.“How do they know it was Ahnna who set off the avalanche? They happen naturally all the time.”
“Because she was seen fleeing the scene.” Alexandra didn’t turn from the window. “There is no doubt that it was her.”
Which, assuming this was the truth, meant that Ahnna was alive. Unless James had caught her.
Though it was possible she’d caught him.
William rested his head in his hands, and for all the conflict of sentiment the king of Harendell had for his half brother, his distress seemed legitimate. “If she hurts him, I’ll…I’ll…”
“How much more injury must we suffer, Your Highness?” Alexandra asked softly. “How many more attacks on my family and people must I endure until the proof of Ahnna’s guilt is sufficient for Aren to give us justice and condemn his sister? This is not the behavior of an ally.”
Given that Ahnna had acted to protect her family and then in self-defense, there was no chance of Aren turning on her.
“Ahnna’s actions are her own and not reflective of Ithicana,” Keris said, ignoring the thrum of anxiety rising in his veins, because everything was going wrong. “Aren desires peace. Desires trade. Desires the bridge to serve to the benefit of all nations. It is imperative we keep level heads, lest those we rule suffer the consequences.”
“Your homeland already suffers the consequences.” Alexandra strode to the table and retrieved a folded piece of paper from a stack, tossing it before him. “It is a plea from Maridrina’s new parliament that we resume trade, because their famine has grown worse.”
Keris skimmed the document, his stomach souring at the desperate plea for grain and livestock. At the account of fatalities and rise ofdisease. Maridrina was always dancing with hunger, but all that had happened beneath his father’s rule, and his own, had put the nation in a state that it struggled to extract itself from. “Valcotta will—”
“Valcottacannotaid.” Keris’s heart skipped as Alexandra withdrew another report, tossing it before him.
“Wasting disease in the cattle herds,” she said. “Harendell knows that illness and we know it well. The empress will have to order mass culls to prevent the spread, and the dead animals will need to be burned, for infected meat is fatal. Valcotta will scarce be able to feed itself, much less Maridrina and Ithicana. Hunger will reign in the south, and it will be because Aren refuses to condemn a murderer. Every life lost is onhishands, so I ask you to urge him to reconsider his position.”
“If you care so much for civilians, then reopen trade and negotiate with civility,” Keris snapped. “Ithicana has acted in good faith and all Aren asks is for a chance to hear Ahnna’s testimony, but you won’t even commit to that. What is it that you are so worried she’ll say?”
“Obviously she’ll lie to try to save her own neck!” William leapt to his feet. “Why are you defending her, Veliant?”
“I’m not.” Keris met the king’s gaze. “But it troubles me that you will punish Aren, punish Ithicana, punish the whole fucking south for the actions of one woman. Whatever she did or did not do, Ithicana has only ever acted in good faith. Yet you treat them like the enemy!”
The door opened again and Keris nearly turned to curse at whoever had interrupted, but he bit his tongue when Cavendish stepped inside.
“We’ve received a report from Riomar.” His expression was grim. “Taryn Kertell has arrived and is being treated as an honored guest alongside Bronwyn Veliant. Katarina has committed to returning both women to Ithicana. The Amaridians sing Ahnna’s name in the streets for killing King Edward.” He drew in a deep breath. “But worse are the rumors gleaned by our spy in deep cover in Katarina’s palace. King Aren has promised Amarid choice trade on the bridge ifKatarina delivers Ahnna safely, and the Beast was set to the task.” Cavendish’s throat moved as he swallowed. “Carlo knows James is in the Blackreaches, and he aims to kill him.”
Every eye in the room slowly tracked to Keris.
“Ithicana has only ever acted in good faith,” William said softly. “And yet Aren conspires with our oldest and most dangerous enemy to steal justice from our grasp. Worse still, he has set the Beast to hunt my brother down.”
What could Keris say? It was a twisting of the truth, but no one here would believe Aren’s true intentions. “Aren does not seek James’s death. If Katarina, or Carlo, takes advantage of circumstances, then that is between Harendell and Amarid. One can hope that James had the wisdom not to cross the border.”
