“Have you already aligned yourself with Lachlan?” Magnus said, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair.
Airyn met his stare and did not back down. “There have been conversations with someone who is affiliated with him, but I would be a liar if I told you I haven’t considered his offer.”
“And why is that?” King Eamon asked. “Why is it you feel you need more? We’ve worked together in harmony for the past century, even longer before the war. You have made out better than any of us. The trade in Kidora is lucrative, is it not?” Airyn nodded once. “And yet you are so greedy you seek more?”
I looked toward Matthew and Eva, who watched with increasing interest. When I looked at them, I only saw the leaders they would become and how they would love their people as they loved each other. Both of them would die for Helia. Even though Matt had not been sworn in under any official capacity, he already would put his life on the line for this kingdom because of the woman he loved.
“It is not about greed,” Airyn said, splaying his hands out on the table. “It is about the uncertainty of Aethion if I do not agree to this. He will cut off all trade routes and then not only my people will suffer, but the entirety of the continent will as well.”
We’d thought about that, and I knew Lachlan would make good on his promise as he did the last time. The Great War resulted not only in a loss of life because of bloodshed, but many smaller villages were wiped out from famine. Parents died to keep their children from facing the same fate.
Lachlan would only increase that tenfold this time around. He would ensure the loss of life was substantial, just to prove he could.
Alric nodded. The lines in his face grew more prominent as he surveyed the heavy silence. “I understand your position is not one that is easy, but the right things rarely are. Am I to understand your decision has already been made?”
It had. The entire room knew it had. Alric only wanted to hear him say it in front of witnesses. Airyn took a deep breath. “It has been.”
“And there would be no way we could change your mind?”
Airyn shook his head. “Unfortunately not. The loss of life will be worse if I refuse.”
Alric sat back in his chair, his fingers rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Though I respect your decision, I hope you know you cannot stay here should that be the case.” He motioned his fingers and four sentries came from the corner of the room and stood behind Airyn. The assembled party looked at each other nervously, wondering what was going through the men’s minds. “Please escort King Airyn to his guest chambers and allow him to pack his bags. Then see that he is off of Helian soil by nightfall.”
The sentries bowed at the waist, placing their fists over their heart. “Yes, My King.”
Airyn strode to the door, not resisting the small tugs given by his guards as they escorted him out. He stopped for only a moment, turning over his shoulder and staring at those left at the table. “I hope you make me regret my decision.” With those parting words, he left the room.
“Where do we go from here?” King Tieran asked, glancing around the room. “Are we confident in the allegiances in this room?”
Ciena rolled her eyes. “It is no secret that most of the kingdoms in Aethion were approached by Lachlan in some capacity, with the exception being Helia for obvious reasons.” Trystan chuckled next to her, and Matt shot him a glare to get him to shut the hell up. “But I will declare in front of everyone here that I will never side with that lecherous snake. I stand with Helia and stand against Lachlan.” She stood and took a small dagger out of her bodice and sliced her hand.
“I thought there weren’t supposed to be weapons,” King Eamon muttered to his wife, but Nerin smiled and nodded in Ciena’s direction.
“I like this one,” she told her husband as she stood and held her hand out for the knife. Ciena handed it over, and both Nerin and Eamon cut their palms. “Druiston stands with Helia and stands against Lachlan.”
Magnus came next, reciting the pledge with pride. Then came Tieren and Mariska without hesitation, each drawing the dagger across their palm. King Alric and Eva were the last to do so, and I swore they did it with tears in their eyes.
With the final swipe of the blade, Ciena muttered an incantation that drew drops of blood from each palm and encased itself in blood red crystals for each member. They stared down at the creation with a mixture of fear and wonder as Ciena dropped back into her chair. “It’s a reiteration of the blood oath sworn between two individuals. This is a reminder for each member who pledged to fight treachery. Should you break the oath, you will face death. There will be nothing that can hide you from it.”
“Gods above, Ciena,” Trystan muttered. “Must you be so dramatic?” She only shrugged and pocketed her crystal in her bodice before slouching back into her chair.
* * *
For the next few hours,we spent an agonizing amount of time scouring the maps we’d compiled, sharing the locations of known Horde camps. Each kingdom promised to send out ravens to their generals when the meeting had concluded, and to dispatch patrols in their respective kingdoms.
Ciena and I attempted to tell of what we knew, though I hadn’t found a way to discuss what Arabella had told me without alerting everyone I’d seen her. Every kingdom decided to send out additional spies, but I reminded them we needed to be prepared at a moment’s notice. Lachlan could strike at any time, so we needed every person who could wield a sword.
Matthew, Eva, Alric, and I had moved to a small chamber room to eat dinner. Ciena, Trystan, and Magnus joined us, sitting around the smaller table near the roaring fireplace. The other rulers took their leave shortly after the meeting was called, hurrying off to discuss matters in private.
Renai went with Nerin and Eamon, all smiles and happy tears flowing as they left the room. They informed her that her parents had arrived just before the meeting and were taking rest in their rooms. She’d invited me to dine with them, but I sensed a small sign of relief when I’d declined. She rarely was able to spend time with her family, and I knew she was anxious to get back to her parents.
That was not to mention the fact I didn’t think I could stomach seeing her mother dote on her as she did. It was a painful reminder of my own mother’s suffering at the hands of my father.
Voices drew me from my thoughts as Briar brought in a roasted duck with potatoes and various fresh vegetables from the garden, announcing dinner was ready. My mouth watered as she sat a plate down before me. Instinctively, I reached for my fork, but she slapped my hand down before I was able to make my move.
“What was that for?” I asked her, tilting my lips into a smirk I knew made her blush.
To my utter delight, her cheeks reddened ever so slightly before she swatted my arm with her dish towel. “You are the devil, Kalen. Hush up, and wait for everyone to be seated and served before digging in.”
