How observant.
“One of our ambassadors?” I whispered to Anderz as comments ricocheted around the table.
“Yes, to the Glades,” he murmured, eyes flitting as different discussions broke out.
Gladier, a nation we had traveled through, sprawled to the southwest. However, a narrow strip of its land separated Wynterborne and Tilamuik. Poor relations with that region meant we risked losing commerce with the deep south. And if I learned anything throughout this meeting, it was that trade was important.
“Does our prince regent have a replacement?”
“Who would go willingly? It would be a death sentence.”
“Was there no cause?”
“No, a rumor of him bedding King Reid’s daughter.”
The room dissolved into murmurs, and I leaned toward Counselor Dyre again.
“How do we know it’s a rumor? Wouldn’t that be a crime?”
“Piers was… a man who did not enjoy women’s company,” Anderz said, studying a woman across the stone table. “To say that he lay with King Reid’s daughter… He would sooner grow a pair of wings and fly to the gods than do such a thing.”
I hummed in interest and leaned back in my seat.
“He was a citizen of our country,” a councilwoman bit out. “There should have been negotiations.”
Leihim shook his head and spoke up. “Our ambassador was killed without trial. My merchants would not dare to pass through Gladier.” His light hair swayed around his shoulders as he scrutinized the paper before him, jotting notes with a quill and ink.
“We need those crops.”
“If the southern trade route is severed, our people will starve.”
“Does the prince regent know of this? He needs to send another ambassador.”
“It is not his priority,” the woman cloaked in darkness remarked.
I frowned, tilting my head at her.
Right, my brother’s main focus was either eliminating me or expelling me from the kingdom. If he had the throne, he could do whatever he wanted. He only needed to kill me first.
“The rites are important, but this has greater urgency, Reuthland.”
“Prince Adastrus attends to matters he deems fit, and he sees this as a situation for future consideration,” she said.
Her dark stare flicked toward me, sending a cold shiver down my spine.
“Then perhaps we should send someone who thinks it is a priority.” The room fell into a sudden hush at Leihim’s suggestion.
I met his unblinking gaze as he focused on me, and the weight of everyone’s stare pricked across my skin, all of them anticipating my response. Silence lapsed and no one offered a comment in my place.
I cleared my throat, forming my words with care. “I await the third rite.”
“The God Stones are on their way, but with the Howls upon us, retrieval might take weeks.” Leihim leaned forward, a smile forming. “If a member of the royal family were to visit, perhaps King Reid would be more open to another ambassador, and trade could resume.”
“Sending Princess Elspeth into such a volatile kingdom is a grave request, Master Hinyte,” a woman’s voice cautioned.
I didn’t dare break my gaze from Leihim—his intensity held me captive.
“A risk. A gamble,” he mused, tapping his finger against the paper. “Perhaps a test.”
