There are five tables large enough for three to sit at set up in a u-shape. The Tronovians take the head spot as our hosts. We are to their immediate right, and the Bavans are next to us. The king, queen and crown princess of Bava are kind and wear bright robes and head adornments. The jungle dwellers present themselves in a cheerful light and I can tell they're the life of any party they're invited to.
The Dwarves are across from us. King Torben is flanked by his son and daughter. The men sport bushy beards and all three have small pieces of bones and beads woven into their intricatelybraided hair. They also have quite a lot of leather and metal on their person, as if they already know they're about to step onto a social battlefield. They have a gruff and fearsome appearance, but they get along stupendously with the Trolls, and I have a feeling, they'd throw one mean party together.
Lastly are the Hydrans, neighboring the Dwarves for the evening. From Eris' descriptions, I know exactly who everyone is. On the left is Jocasta, the eldest Talay daughter and heir to the throne. On the right is Eris' father and the king consort. Leaving the hauntingly beautiful and sharp-eyed woman in the middle to be Queen Astrea Talay. If I were to describe her in a word, it would be menacing. Her blue eyes shift person to person as if she's sizing them up. To my embarrassment, I dip my eyes before she has a chance to meet my gaze, not willing to risk her sensing my nerves and preying upon me.
A clinging of metal against glass brings everyone to a hush. Soren stands, his ringed hands open wide in greeting. "Welcome, my friends, to Tronovia," his voice booms. "I am honored you all accepted our invitation to attend my son's wedding. It's been long overdue if you ask me."
Some chuckles flitter across the room, but my eyes stay fixed on Astrea Talay. Not even a hint of a smile. She remains cold and silent, eyes piercing and conniving as she swivels her head around the table.
"Even though all the wedding festivities will begin tomorrow," Soren takes a deep breath and presses forward. Either the other leaders will be accepting of what we have to say or they will be irate at our double-intended invitation and storm out. "Tonight, there is a matter of great importance we must discuss. One that will affect all of us." The room stills and my heart leaps to my throat. Where is Atlas when I need him? I twist my hands on my lap until my mother slaps her hand atop mine to still me. "Myfriends," Soren says solemnly, "war is coming. A war we have seen and defeated before."
"War?" The Troll King's thick accent slices through the quiet hall. "What do you mean? What war?"
"As you can see, Garren and Keres Kitarni from Midori are not with us. That is because – "
"You kidnapped their daughter," the Dwarf King chimes in with a gruff voice.
Voices stammer around the room, dozens of conversations ringing until Thrane's voice cuts through them all.
"Rescued," Thrane corrects.
"What did you say?" King Torben narrows his eyes to the point his bushy eyebrows nearly cover them.
"She was rescued," Thrane repeats, carrying himself like he's ready to fight anyone who dares to argue. "In fact, she's sitting beside me now." He waves a hand to me, as if displaying his favorite portrait hung on the wall. Eyes go wide around the tables, but Thrane doesn't permit anyone to ask questions. "But I assure you she is not Ilaria Shaye Kitarni, but Aurelia Basilius-Sol. Taken by Armas Basilius and given to the Kitarnis who so desperately wanted a child when she miscarried hers."
"This is the same girl?" The Troll King eyes me in complete disbelief. "She doesn't look like a Midorian."
"The Midorians gave hersugovan," Soren explains and by everyone's stoic faces, it's clear they understand what that particular plant is capable of. "Granted, when my nephews first came into contact with the princess, none of them knew of her true lineage or magical prowess."
The Dwarf King smashes his huge fist on the table. "Meaning, they kidnapped her."
"What were your nephews doing in Midori, Soren?" The Bavan Queen finally chimes in, her voice sweet but I sense a venomthere too. "We all know the Kitarnis have not entertained Tronovians since the Great War."
Soren takes his seat and smiles, "Not for lack of trying, I assure you."
"You dodged the question," Astrea Talay hisses, her shoulders tensing like a coiled snake. "Why were Tronovians in Midori? How did you come torescuethe princess?"
Even though I promised Soren I would let him do the talking, I feel compelled to say something. I have to stand up for the Tronovians before they reap negativity from the others. As I open my mouth, Thrane speaks.
"I asked Soren to retrieve her."
Everyone, including myself, stares at Thrane. He doesn't seem bothered with his outright lie. And although it seems everyone knows it's a lie, no one makes a move to accuse him of such.
Thrane sips his wine, as if he has all the time in the world to explain himself. "I would have sent soldiers of my own to investigate, but I did not want Armas discovering I was aware of his crime. Not without evidence. And I did not want to give Sylvane hope that her and Enver Sol's daughter was still alive until I knew for sure. Now," he clears his throat and straightens in his seat, "with that firmly behind us, let's get back to the war business, shall we? There is much we have to discuss before we part ways."
"Do you mean to tell us," Astrea curls her lip, "we were invited here under false pretenses?"
Holy shit. I knew from Eris' stories her mother was intimidating, but I severely underestimated how frightening she can be. Part of me can't really blame her for being upset. If I made a long trip expecting a wedding and was ambushed with a war council instead, I'd be irritated too. Am I really defending Astrea Talay right now?
"We travelled here to show our support and good will for Prince Ronan taking a wife and it's all a sham?" She echoes my thoughts as if she can read my mind.
"Forgive me, Queen Astrea," Ronan draws her attention, "but there is no falsehood in my upcoming marriage." I swallow hard and my chest constricts. Up until this moment, I wasn't sure if Ronan was going to go through with the wedding. But it appears he's doing exactly that. "Yes, you were invited here to attend my wedding, however, I will admit the event was moved up significantly so we could gather everyone in one room to discuss the upcoming war."
Astrea is not satisfied. She is out for blood. "A war that is nothing more than whisper and rumor."
"It's coming whether you believe it or not, Your Majesty." The words leave my lips before I have a chance to think the repercussions through. Not only do I now have the queen's undivided attention, but she stares at me as if she can see right through me. It's unsettling but if I shrink now, she'll toss me up as a weak, silly girl playing soldier. But that's not who I am. Not anymore. "I've seen the Beast of Midori. I've battled his Soul Eaters. I know their plans to free Drogon from his prison – the prison my father sacrificed himself to seal so the rest of us could be safe. That victory is being threatened. A victory some of you fought for, lost loved ones for. All of our lives, our kingdoms, our way of life are at stake now. We are asking for your help to stop it before it begins."
The Dwarf King is the first to speak, his sausage fingers raking through his scraggly beard. "Without coming across as unfeeling, Princess Aurelia, how can we trust what you say is so?"
