“Agreed,” Luca said from her side.
“Challenging Renard is one thing,invadingPyrenee is another,” Joseba answered before turning to the current leader of Ardenia’s military. “General, you must agree.”
Xixi leaned forward, pensive. Her gloved hands remained in her lap, her head tilting slightly as she gathered her thoughts on the matter.
“Your Highness, I agree that if you are to enter the Bellringe on a peace-seeking political mission, we should have at least one regiment, perhaps more, at the ready if we need them.” Relief swelled within Amarande. Yes—the general understood. Xixi glanced up, addressing Joseba and Amarande at the same time. “The goal would not be to attack, butifa battle breaks out, or the king imprisons either or both of you under more false pretenses that he then plans to sell to Basilica and Myrcell upon their arrival, you would have immediate, physical support.”
Finally, the tide was turning—Joseba nodded.
“So, the military comes separately? And the rest of the Ardenian party as well?” Like the ins and outs of battle, military strategy was not Joseba’s strong suit; history and words upon paper were his world, not the lives of real men and women put to the blade. “Perhaps that will mean we are bolstered in more than one way—militaristically and politically.”
“Yes. That is exactly what it would mean if we do it correctly.” Amarande’s voice was level but her heart was singing with the need to leave, to do, to make this happen.
“Luca, myself, and an appropriate guard will approach for a meeting. Ula and Urtzi can lead the general’s chosen regiment to the Bellringe through our previous escape route—and await our signal, should we need aid.” They both nodded that, yes, they could absolutely do that. “And then the rest of the conclave party, including you, Joseba, will arrive on the appointed day. Likely, no matter what happens, we will have much to talk about.”
“Which reminds me, I have some ideas about the succession disc—”
“None of that matters as long as Ferdinand is with Renard.”
Amarande was firm on this, and to her relief, Joseba did not re-up what he’d planned to say, but instead nodded.
“I will address the Torrentian group. They’ll want to be there, oneway or another,” Luca said, and nodded to Xixi, “and they have a few new tricks to use.”
It was a plan.
Amarande stood, her mind already spinning with ways to approach Renard, when Joseba sighed. Despite his nod of agreement, he addressed her with the furrowed brow of someone who couldn’t see the strengths of the plan, but rather only a million ways it could go wrong.
“Your Highness, can you promise us that you won’t kill Renard?”
It was one more question. And yet, it was the easiest of all.
“He’s already dead. You have no need to worry about that.”
As visibly annoyed as she was internally, Joseba pinched the bridge of his nose in a way that reminded her of Satordi. “My queen—”
“I cannot promise he won’t kill me.” Joseba’s eyes flew open. “I cannot promise he won’t kill Luca. Or that he hasn’t already killed Ferdinand. Or that Geneva won’t kill any of us orall of us.”
Color drained from the councilor’s face. Perhaps he’d just now realized he was in almost the very same spot where Geneva had stabbed him.
Amarande addressed him with shoulders back, voice clear, strong and sure.
“Icanpromise you that I will protect those I love and my people.”
The councilor swallowed heavily. He knew exactly what that meant. Amarande told him anyway, a deadly certainty in her expression, her stance, the words themselves.
“If Renard doesanythingto hurt them, I can promise you that I will kill him again. And this time I will ensure he cannot come back.”
CHAPTER 44
SLEEPcame less and less to Renard each night.
His heart galloped under his breastbone. His skin flamed against the sheets. His face slicked with perspiration despite the cool night air of the mountains in summer.
As he lay there, damp and thrashing in his father’s old bed, his mind churned but with a single focus. As if the only path was the one put forth by the anger that lapped at every one of his edges inside and out, caustic and burning.
Revenge.
In a very specific order of priority.
