Reviewing the last page of theRaza-Vylaagreement, Idon’tbother glancing up atTanya.Josiestandsbeside her mother,andbothof them arearmed to the teeth, no doubt, but Jaceisbehind them.By the time theydrawa weapon, they’llbe gurgling through the new hole in their neck.
“Your nieces committed treason,” Isayas I make a note on the last article.Iwon’tbe able to sway the Court to give up even a centimetre of the land they deem as ours –even if thatlandiswellinsideVyla.Although Iam planning on destroying the Court as soon as Arienna has her coronation, I’ve long learned the future is never certain.
After all, I was never supposed to be king.
“They partook in a tradition of marriage,”she says.
“While armed.”
“Against you and Jace.They were teenage girls barely through their training.It would’ve been suicide for them to try to assassinate you.”
Finished with the agreement, I put my pen down and look up.“If theyhad beenon their own, perhaps I could believe that.But they were with eleven others, many of whom were not, as you say, teenage girls.Lei and Prione trained with Jace as children.”
“They were friends.”She shrugs.“There was a kingdom’s worth of gold on the line.Who wouldn’t be tempted?Even split between thirteen people, theywould’ve beenable to buy a city.”
I glance over at Josie, ignoring her flirtatious smile.“Yet your daughter was nowhere to be seen.”Pulling the top pile off the stack of petitions Ihaveto get through tonight, I start to read.
Another request to deny citizenship to an enemy of war.Great.My eveningcan’tget any worse.
For the last decade, I’vebeen fighting to keep our borders open.Ithasbeen hard enough trying to convinceRaziansto accept people from the countries wearen’tat war with,like the brownies.The only reason that law has been left alone is because brownies never venture outside of their towns –which are dotted all over the forest, surrounded by other kingdoms– unless they’re inviting people to orgies.
Getting my peopleto acceptimmigrantsfrom places weareactively at war withisgoing to be a ball-ache.But itisn’tsomething I’mwilling to go back on.A veteran – of any countrydeservesto find peace wherever theycan.And as the cause of their unrest, the least Icandoishelp.
Fighting the urge to chuck the petition in the bin, I start to read theauthor’sreasoning.
“Regardless of whether or not you believe my nieces’ innocence,”Tanyasneers, “they’re members of the Court, and killing them is punishable by death.”
I still.Looking up, Icatchher gaze.“There are twelve members of the Court, each of whom have one vice member that steps in should they be needed.Josie is yours.”
Her smile cutsacross her cheeks, chilling medownto my bones.
“If you’re aware of the exact wording of the law, it says, ‘to killamemberof the Court is to commit an act of treason’.”
My fingers tighten on the pen in my hand.When I get close to snapping it, my grip loosens.The tension in my shouldersdoesnot.
“A member is a term that can be used to describe any and all family members,”she continues silkily.
My chest tightens.I refuse to give in to the urge to look at Jace,the man who killed her nieces.“That’s bullshit,Tanya.A family member has never been shortened to just ‘member’.It is always followed or preceded by ‘family’.”
“We’ll just have to let the Court decide that.”Her smileisfull on feral.“Now who was it that killed them?So I know whose name to put on the form.”
“Get out.”
“You are legally obligated –”
“I have three days to get you that information.Now get the fuck out of my study.”
Jace stepsforward behind them.
Turning towards him,Tanya’ssmile twistsinto a sneer.“I know it was you, and Ican’twait to watch Richard skin you alive.”
Nodding at her daughter, she headsfor the door.As the twoof them leave, the pen finally snapsin my hand.
“Careful,Your Highness.If you break any more pens, you’re going to bleed the treasury dry.”
Glaring at him, I throw the two halves into the bin.Ink flicksthrough the air, staining the petition I’mworking on.Fuck!
“She has a good argument, Jace.”
