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Aren rose as well. “I put the chance of peace before old grievances. Which is something you might consider.”
The Empress whirled back around, eyes flashing with true anger. “Peace with Maridrina? Son of my friend or not, in this you go too far. On my life, I’ll not lay down my staff until Silas Veliant lays down his sword, and we both know that will never happen.”
“It won’t,” Aren agreed. “But Silas won’t rule forever. And neither will you.”
A flicker of fury rose in her aunt’s eyes, but she smiled as Aren pressed a hand to his heart, saying, “It was an honor to meet the friend of my mother, but now I must take my leave. Tonight, I sail to Ithicana.”
He departed, but Zarrah remained, waiting for her aunt to speak.
“He’s wrong, you know,” the Empress finally said. “My will and rule will continue after I’m gone—through you, my dearest. The Valcottan Empire will grow and expand in its power; and united in mind and desire, you and I will destroy our enemies.”
Except we are not united,Zarrah thought.You will sacrifice honor and decency to have your way. Will allow a nation to be crushed, families torn from their homes and children orphaned—like I was—by violence, all for the sake of achieving power and revenge.
But she bit her tongue, because in order to stop her aunt, Zarrah needed her to believe she was complicit. So Zarrah inclined her head. “I understand your will, Imperial Majesty.”But I will have no part in seeing it done.
“They need to be on a ship north now.” Her aunt stared into the space between them, too caught up in her own thoughts and schemes to notice what Zarrah hadnotsaid. “The Magpie’s spies will know they are here, and it won’t be long until an attempt is made on their lives. Posting guards around their accommodations will imply I’m protecting them, which won’t do, whereas if they are escorted onto a ship and dumped across the border, my stance on Ithicana is clear.” She snapped her fingers, and a guard stepped into view. “Arrange an escort for the rulers of Ithicana. I want them at the harbor within the hour.”
When he departed, the Empress turned back to Zarrah. “The sooner Aren stirs the conflict with Maridrina over the bridge, the sooner we can attack. Which is why you need to return to Nerastis. We’ve three Maridrinian vessels that we’ve captured, and I want you to fill them with soldiers and sail north on the heels of Aren and hiswoman.Mark my words, the moment his people have him back, Ithicana will rise up, and Silas will be forced to commit his reserves.”
“And when he does?”
The Empress’s eyes gleamed. “Then you will enact our revenge, dear one. You will sail your ships into the Vencia harbor and attack. Will burn the city, tear down the palace, and make sure every last man, woman, and child bearing the Veliant name is put to sword.”
Sickening horror filled Zarrah’s stomach, but she nodded, watching as her aunt moved to her desk, writing on a sheet of paper. “Give this to Bermin. Silas will pull soldiers from Nerastis soon, if he has not done so already. Once they are gone, Bermin is to take the northern half of the city. His orders are the same: ensure every Veliant in the city is put to death, with special care given to thecrown prince.” She lifted her head to meet Zarrah’s gaze. “Keris Veliant will suffer for what he did to you, dear one. My son will make sure of that.”
Ice ran through Zarrah’s veins, and it felt as though she was seeing her aunt for the first time. Finally seeing her for the villain that she was. Yet what made Zarrah want to vomit was that she also still saw the woman who’d rescued her. Who’d cared for her. Who’d brought her back from the edge and made her strong. And seeing her flaws, Zarrah stilllovedher. “I understand.”
“You are to share our intentions for Vencia withno one,General,” her aunt said. “Your excuse for sailing north is reconnaissance and the protection of Valcottan merchant vessels, and you’ll reveal the true plans to your soldiers and crew only at the final hour. The Magpie has spies everywhere, and wecannotrisk word of our intentions reaching Silas in Vencia.”
Zarrah nodded. “I’ll keep your confidence, as always.”
Her aunt sealed the letter and handed it to her. “Get Aren safely to the north side of Nerastis. His ability to rally Ithicana is critical to my plans—nothing can happen to him. Or tothat woman.” A flicker of a smile crossed her face. “Ithicana suffered under Veliant hands. Let them have their own revenge.”
So much hate.
There was no tempering it. No argument that would cause the Empress to see reason. No speech that would make her understand that her actions benefited nothing but her own pride. There was nothing Zarrah could do, especially in the short time that she had, to convince her aunt to change her plans for war with Maridrina.
Which meant the time for words was over.
“I’ll take my leave.” Zarrah pressed a hand to her heart. “I love you, Auntie. I hope you know that.”
“Of course, dearest.” Her aunt had returned to her desk and was staring at a map, eyes distant. “And I, you.”
Hopefully enough to one day forgive me,Zarrah thought, and left the palace. In pursuit of an alliance with Ithicana.
And treason to Valcotta.
77
KERIS
Keris read the page containing his father’s orders, frowned, then tossed it across the table to Philo. He waited for the grey-haired man to read the contents, then asked, “How many men will that leave us with to defend the border?”
“A little more than a hundred.” Philo set down the page. “And only two ships.”
Not nearly enough to defend Nerastis if Bermin made a move, which was a large concern. But what worried Keris more was that by emptying the barracks here, his father would have the ships and men he needed to end the war with Ithicana and kill every last Ithicanian he found alive. His father would be victorious, the master of the bridge, and Keris’s plans to use the dissent of the Maridrinian people to overthrow him would be in shambles, which meant peace with Valcotta would be a distant dream. And knowing how much Zarrah had given up in pursuit of that dream, Keris refused to allow that come to pass.
Ithicana, even with its rulers lost to the Red Desert, needed to endure.
