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“Well.” Aurora’s soft voice drags me from my reverie, and I focus on her words. “We all know that the human population will get hurt the most if there is bloodshed. So we will need to accomplish as much as we can without violence.”
“How are we supposed to do this with so little information?” Zalith asks, and I am reminded that he has had a royal education, the same education I have had.
He might value strength of the body above strength of the mind, but he is as intelligent as I am. I just wish he’d use his brain more.
“I don’t suppose the letter gave you any more information?” Zalith directs this question at me. His tone is sharp and curious.
I shrug and then I start to cut into my vegetables.
“There were a lot of vague threats, but nothing specific. The anticipated sentiments about disrespecting tradition, wrongs being righted, et cetera,” I murmur.
Then I voice something that I know they probably won’t agree with. “That’s why I was thinking that I could go into the territory and find out what is happening. It’s not like we can send in an army, or even a spy, because if they’re caught, well, then war will certainly break out.”
“No.” Zalith and Aurora speak in unison, and I wince as Zalith brings his fist down on the table again.
“That is far too dangerous for you! You are not trained like our soldiers or spies are! It would be asking for death to walk into Kriseri!”
“It’s the only way,” I say calmly as I place my knife and fork neatly on the table and plead my case. “I don’t see any other way to get information, do you? I’ll go in quietly. I’ll visit the southern villages where I am sure I can gain some information. There is always someone willing to talk around there.”
Zalith sighs and leans back in his chair. I am struck by a wave of pride. He is finally starting to look like the world-weary King that he will be someday.
Aurora takes a sip of the fine mead we imported from Milthar and then dabs her mouth delicately with a napkin before she speaks.
“Are you sure about this, Slyth?” she asks me directly.
I nod firmly and take a sip of my own wine.
“I am sure. This is the only way. I won’t be gone long, a few months at most. I want Lasta to run things in my absence because he is the only naga I trust with the job. He’ll keep the place running while I’m gone, and when I return, it will be like I never left.”
Zalith grimaces and snorts before he finishes his zhisk, which we imported from Vhoig.
“It sounds like you have it all figured out. You were never going to listen to us asking you to stay, were you?” Zalith says, an accusatory tone in his voice.
I shrug smoothly and stand up from my place at the table.
Now that I’ve told them, it is time to get the ball rolling.
“You are both very important to me, but this is one thing I need to do – for me, for our territory. For both of my closest friends. This whole matter needs to be handled delicately, and I knew you’d want to send an army in right away. I am your royal advisor, Zalith. You appointed me in the role because you knew no one else could do the job better.”
Before I leave, I walk around the table to them and bow to Aurora before I kiss her forehead. I bow to Zalith, who rolls his eyes before he pulls me into a massive, rough hug.
A thousand memories flash across my mind, and I am sure that the same memories are flashing across Zalith’s mind, too. Memories of us. Of life up to now. Memories of our childhoods. Memories of our teenage years.
I know that our memories are probably different. Zalith will remember us being friends.
I remember learning to be his faithful servant in between moments of our adolescence. Everything I do now is to continue the legacy that I was born for.
The memories do not fade when Zalith lets go and I walk away from the dining hall.
I meet Lasta outside his chambers, where he leans against the doorframe with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Lasta.” We shake hands, and he looks me up and down before he snorts derisively.
“You don’t look like you’re ready to infiltrate the Kriseri,” he mutters before he turns and walks into his study.
“You’d say that even if I looked ready, Lasta.” My tone is mild.
Lasta tends to be… abrasive. I have learned not to take offense at this point because I know he doesn’t mean anything by it.
