Page 62 of Ghosts and Ginger Tea

“What does our king think of the warlord?” Pua’s voice rang out, drawing everyone’s attention to her, then to Keanu. “You seem to love foreign alliances. So what of the warlord? Are you going to put our people last again?”

Keanu didn’t miss a beat, his air of confidence so sure, I wished I could be more like that. I was trembling a little not knowing what I would even say myself. I mean, I knew what should be done, but I worried I might say it wrong. My thoughts went back to our wedding day, when Keanu told me not to say anything to anyone, because I was not used to this world yet.

I will never fit in here… Unless I had Keanu. That thought stung, even if I knew it wasn’t true. I’d proven that I could sit in the court and discuss politics, or help the people.

But Keanu had always been there.

“Our people will not go to war again,” he said. “Unless we must do so in self defense.”

“Many nobles have signed a petition,” she replied sweetly, smiling at me as if she was glad he finally looked at her. I wanted to puke. “Ever since you’ve married this wench, you’ve run from fights. The Keanu I knew would never run from a fight. We must cast these foreigners out.” She gave Peter a dirty look, then said, “And then we will decide what to do with the warlord.”

The Keanu she knew? Ugh, I wanted to throw my food at her face. My suspicions rose.

She had nobles sign a petition against him? If she had so many people behind her, she could’ve easily found someone to attack Keanu, right?

“Who said I’m running from a fight?” Keanu smiled, but I felt something behind it. Anger? Annoyance?

A servant who came in and whispered something distracted him. Keanu nodded. “Let him in.”

All eyes and ears turned to a door at the side, where the servant walked in with…

My stomach churned, and I couldn’t help but grab Keanu’s hand. How long had it been since I’d seen the man? But seeing him reminded me of how he pointed his dagger at me, and sweat accumulated on my forehead.

And Keanu abandoned me. He squeezed my hand, as if to say he would not leave my side.

“Kalani.” Keanu nodded and held out his glass. “Care to join us?”

The enemy chief–the man who had caused death and destruction in this kingdom–merely grinned, looked around at the nobility, then settled on staring me down, as if he was happy to see me there, as if to remind me of something he once tried to get me to agree to…

Do I have your word that you will convince your husband to join forces with me, and, in return, I will free you both from the curse, and protect you in my kingdom?

It felt so long ago, but I could almost hear his voice asking the question in my mind.

Bargain with him, Oli…

I looked around. Pua frowned at Kalani.

Peter had his hand on the hilt of his sword, like he might pounce at any moment. But on who? Kalani, or Keanu? He looked from one to the other, his eyes dark.

Malakai stood to the side, his stance cautious as he watched. Waited.

So who is it?

“I have come to offer you one last chance to join forces,” Kalani said. “The warlord quickly approaches, and if you do not join with me and the other chiefs, you will become slaves.”

“If Kāne is with the warlord, then he is not with us,” Keanu said.

“Then that is your answer?” Kalani turned red with rage. “You will turn against all of us? Abandon the people of this island?”

“Since when were we allies?” Keanu asked.

Kalani glared. “You will pay for this, Keanu.”

“What about your people?” I realized the words were mine, slipping out all on their own like a net being pulled into the depths with a stone weight.

Kalani looked at me, disgusted. “Who are you to speak, peasant?”

Keanu stood up, hand on the hilt of his sword, the light purple gem glinting in the lantern light. “You will not speak to my wife in that way–”