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Although we all laughed, I actually shook my head. “Lissy is truly the Dagna’s offspring. Any male needs an ass kicking, your daughter will take care of it herself.”
Ravik puffed out his chest while the rest of the council nodded in agreement. He had every reason to be proud. Despite being only nine years old, little Lissy was already proving to be a fierce warrior. It shouldn’t be surprising considering she was of the Warrior breed of the Veredians—like her mother—which gave her natural combat abilities. Mercy had not only trained her daughter, but mine as well. My Siona never ceased to amaze me.
Knowing that I would lose her soon once more infuriated me. But I couldn’t kill Prince Zerien for “sniffing around my daughter.”
“To answer your question, Boros, yes, Prince Zerien will be here in six months,” I said reluctantly. “Well, nothereon Braxia,” I amended. “The agreement was that once Siona turned eighteen, he would get to spend one month courting her on Venus Hive. If she consents to marry him after that, they will return together to Sarenia for his coronation, the following month.”
“So itisconfirmed that Siona will be his queen?” Raylor insisted.
“He waited six years for her to reach adulthood. The entire time he remained faithful and steadfast in his commitment to her. As much as I wish I could keep my daughter right here with me, there is no doubt in my mind that she will be his queen. She’s crazy about him, anyway,” I added dejectedly.
“It is never easy to let go of one’s daughter,” Boros said with sympathy. “But this union will cement the alliance between Braxia and Sarenia, just like Ravik’s union with Mercy created an invaluable bond with the Veredians and, by extension, with the Xelixians and Korletheans. Who would have thought we’d be in such an enviable position today?”
We all nodded.
“We have indeed come a long way from the brink of bankruptcy. But the tide did not turn as favorably for some as it did for others,” Ravik said, casting a meaningful glance at Boros.
“That is undeniable,” Boros conceded.
His clan had been one of the poorest on Braxia, to the point he had considered sending his clansmen away to work as mercenaries over the winter, as he wouldn’t have been able to feed everyone in his clan. Their lands were rich in nyrian stone, that were considered as trash at the time, here on Braxia. Without Mercy, we never would have realized off-worlders deemed them luxury gems. Overnight, Boros Grumar’s clan—as well as Clan Curik and Clan Hurwas, who all shared the Jyriak Plateau and surrounding mountains—had achieved obscene wealth.
And with riches, came power…
Those left behind and whose power and status had steadily declined over the years since then resented those clans’ newfound wealth and laid the blame at Magnar Ravik’s feet.
“We will continue to work on improving the lot of the disgruntled. But for now, we need to start making plans for Prince Zerien’s ascension,” Ravik said. “We must decide who will be part of the delegation that will represent us on Sarenia, as well as discuss an appropriate wedding gift. As my son will be Magnar by then, he has provided me with a list of suggestions for the council to go over in his absence.”
“Speaking of which,” Raylor interjected, “when will Keran return? His own crowning is looming—”
Loud voices outside the private council chamber interrupted Clan Leader Caldes. We exchanged curious looks while waiting to see what the source of the commotion could be. To my shock, I recognized my grandson’s voice.
“I must speak to the Magnar NOW!” shouted Gavin’s muffled voice through the closed door.
Seconds later, the door abruptly opened, Gavin effortlessly holding the guard at bay with one hand. We all jumped to our feet. Thankfully, while every council member took on a defensive stance, no one pulled a weapon.
“Gavin, what are you doing?!” I demanded sternly.
“I must speak with the Magnar and you, right away,” Gavin said, his voice tense.
“We’re in the midst of a council,” I reminded him, my tone making it clear it should be obvious to him.
“Grappa, itcannotwait. We must speak,now!” Gavin insisted.
I gave Ravik a confused sideways glance. He was staring at my grandson, a frown creasing his strong brow.
“Speak then,” Ravik said.
Gavin shook his head. “Not here. We must speak in private.”
What the fuck is going on?
“Please,” Gavin insisted when Ravik hesitated.
Teeth clenched, our Magnar gestured sharply with his head for Gavin to follow. When Ganek made to tag along as well, Gavin glanced his way before giving him a stiff nod. That worried me even more. As we left the room, the weight of the other Councilors’ stares burned my back.
This spelled trouble.
My grandson wouldn’t interrupt our meeting in such a dramatic fashion without a very good reason. With the growing rumors of challenges to Keran’s rule, the slightest mishap would suffice to set the whole thing on fire. Right now, the Councilors would be fiercely speculating.
