Page 217 of Winter Gods & Serpents

War and Allies

Snowlin

Dressed back into my uniform, I made my way to the usual weekly meetings. Witnessing his features unravel to my plans was my indulging for the day. Father could have tried his mightiest to keep me away from the meetings, but Nia had been there to represent me all and every single time without missing a single piece of information. Today he will finally get to see me again and his loving arse might finally fill with joy.

“King Magnus has sent the mercenaries, the Brogmerian Lord was correct and now I fear more than before. If Magnus had to resort to this solution it means something is wrong, terribly wrong. What they were looking for remains in a temple up north, in the village Sodart. I have left north to the village along with the mercenaries to enter the temple to find what your father is hiding. You were right to fear. If I do not return, go north, your answers are north.”-Sam.

The lords got over the surprise of my presence fairly sooner than thought, prompting myself back on the chair and my feet on the meeting table, I drew a large smile for them. Celdric, Sebastian, Albius and Freja amongst them, Malena missing. The horned eudemon finally left my father’s side.

Alex Casmere approached me in a bow. “Your Highness, I suppose we owe you gratitude for what you did in Brogmere. I was not the slightest aware how many trades the previous lord had stopped and the criminal activity he was letting skid past to us.”

A smirk rose on the corners of my mouth and I nodded. “You’re most welcome. It is what any other good Isjordian would do, to protect its people and lands.”

He measured my words. He too had been deceived by the ex-Lord of Brogmere, made a fool. Isjordians did not enjoy being made fools. This one particular fool was Renick’s brother and my extra favour. The oath still burned fresh on my arm. Oar number five laid down at my request while his brother seethed in his loss, quenched in fear of me, both under blood oath, both hanging by thin strands of my mercy.

“Modr too,” Freja said, throwing me a wink. “Isjordians are people of value and morals, to allow such creature upon our own was a mistake us as a council should have prevented. We owe people of Brogmere and you an apology.” She bowed slightly, a small smile across her face. Power suited her, the best accessory to her new confidence. Freja had played the part along with Sebastian as offended at my behaviour to not show partiality that would have prompted suspicion.

“So does Brisk,” the lord said. Oar number six bought on dept from my unusual friendship with the autumn queen—he too now on my side.

“Us too, most grateful,” Ivar Venzor nodded with a smirk.

Elias noted the interactions in pinched concentration, his eyes flickering in some realization.

Father entered, his eyes staggered back and forth noting my presence. He cleared his throat in attempt to warn my un-mannerly posture. Tortures came to many kinds, to my father disrespect and defiance, was the cruellest one. I saw his frustration at not getting a reaction from me. He killed Sam in thought of enraging me, he’d killed someone I loved only to torture me, and he’d achieved it.

“My team heads to the Islines in less than an hour, shall we wrap this one quickly?” I asked, breaking their important and interesting discussion on the fine quality of fish caught in Venzor these past weeks.

All of their heads snapped in pinched frowns toward me, including him. Dear father had kept me from dealing with the Solaryan vandals and the raiding for a reason Samuel revealed before his dying moments. After all, there were indeed direct intentions to keep me particularly away from them. Judging from the severe difference in reactions the meeting room attendees gave me, more than half were definitely not aware of what their king was planning. Sam had fallen in my father’s traces and I Melanthe’s. Her craft pattern had traced over one specific location, Islines, particularly a tiny village near a temple, Sodart. Big surprise, right? The two were after all somehow connected and I was a short trip away from getting my answers.

I was no Adriatian empath, but I knew how to test a room, as expected their reactions were like black ink on white canvas, extremely giving, very few knew, very few that were not lords as well. The tyrant was into his secrets, or was it fear of refusal and defiance from Winter court?

“That is not for discussion, General Moregan is already dealing with them, you will not leave for the Islines, that is an order,” father said calmly, almost unbothered. Not the truth, my bet was he was thickly considering stabbing me to death.

“My, my, since when does anyone decline well needed help? The Solaryans are growing in masses and you can only spare so many soldiers from your east war fort's, father. Surely, Moregan is in some need of help?” Hiding from him was no longer any concern of mine, I wanted him to know his secrets were only part secrets now, the game was out in the open, his turn to move.

His eyes widened in half confusion and realization, jaw tightened so tight the whole room heard the crack and grinding of his teeth, exquisite. Right under my foot, let me go or let me reveal.

“I see you are well informed,” he said calmly, “Very well, you can attend the vandals, another captain will escort you with their team as well, too much of a danger to take so close to your wedding,” he continued looking uncomfortably between the room. Not as planned but I would still get to go with his blessings even, asking him was only a courtesy of mine and a test to his reaction, I would have gone, nonetheless. He must be sure I won’t find answers, little did he know he had only intrigued me further.

“I will escort her,” Elias interrupted. “After she returns to Tenebrose I will head to Moregan’s camp, it was my route either way.”

My father agreed without further comments and I stood to exit not wanting to delay this any further, also not very fond of spending my nights in the Islines. Isjordians had terrifying tales of a snow creature that ate your spleens. Eren had sworn for months to us he had seen one during his travels with father. We had not believed him, but he had never been one to lie, he was too honest for his own good.

“How did you know of the war forts?” Elias finally said, breaking the silence while we headed for the stables.

“Just as I knew of the Solaryans, Seraphim, the Adriatians and much more. I have my sources.”

“Did I serve as one of them?” he asked coldly. So had he realized it just now, or since Arynth?

“What if you did?” His lids faltered, bad blow on my side, he looked hurt. “But it was never just that, you know that well so enough acting hurt. You are a friend, Elias, one I really appreciate, so be honoured. It's very rare.” Elias was nothing like his father, I’d done my research a plenty before deciding the route I’d take with Venzor. Elias would do good once he took his position. I had faith in him, that was why I had grown such a like for him. When you live amongst demons you learn to recognize a saint.

“You truly are trying to stop him,” he glanced around cautiously. “Truly take him down from the throne, truly take Isjord.”

“Will you run to him with that information?”

He took a moment, silently. “No, I owe you a debt.”

“It is not that and you know, Elias, captain of the fifth guard, soldier with no kills. You cherish life that is why you won’t.” It was rare, one like him was truly rare.