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In the days that followed their liaison’s ending, Jareth did as Yandro wished. He stepped back and behaved as he’d done before they started their affair with one significant difference. He dropped the subtly flirtatious manner with which he’d oft-teased Yandro and treated his aide as professionally as he did the rest of the staff. He spoke and acted exactly as Yandro had asked of him.
To Yandro’s relief, they remained amicable with each other. They conversed and worked together as if nothing was amiss between them. It was as he had hoped for.
But unexpectedly, he found he missed the way Jareth had acted around him previously. Even the provocative behavior that had oft driven him to distraction and befuddlement. It was contradictory of him and unfair and confusing, he ruefully admitted to himself. But the heart did not always align itself with the mind, eschewing logic for instinct even when it went against self-preservation.
He wondered when and if he would be brave enough to resume relations with the ambassador and bear the hurt and uncertainty involvement with him would probably entail. But even if his courage returned, it was entirely possible Jareth would have tired of waiting for him by then and found someone new to share his bed. Yandro tried to convince himself such a scenario would be for the best. That he would be spared worse pain.
Unsurprisingly, he failed. His treacherous heart continued to yearn for the Deir who’d captured it without even trying.
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Barely a sennight later, dire news arrived from Ylandre, as well as a royal command. Within an hour of the message’s receipt, Jareth’s staff assembled in the embassy’s spacious audience chamber in order to be briefed about the ambassador’s latest undertaking and the reason for it. It fell to Yandro with able assistance from Valin to explain the circumstances that had fed the present crisis.
“If you’ve studied our history thoroughly, you know Tenerith and Vireshe once comprised old Varadan. When Ylandre repelled the Varadani invaders and eventually defeated them, Diorn Essendri annexed the entire country to Ylandre, in effect dissolving Varadan’s sovereignty and deposing the Ferrendas.”
“Is that the reason their descendants keep stoking unrest in Tenerith?” one of the new staffers asked. “They think they can regain part of their kingdom?”
“That’s correct,” Yandro said approvingly. “But they’ve never come close to succeeding and if their latest failure is any indication of the chances of future attempts, they likely never will. Nevertheless, we can’t take them for granted and even less can we disregard their allies, even the loosest ones. But even more so those whose rulers have blood ties with the Ferrendas. For this reason did we maintain some caution with Asmara even when their Shaja was friendly and supportive and only recently have they gained our full trust. Now Teraz is even more suspect.”
The Terazian ruling family was closely related to the Ferrendas with whom they continued to marry even after the latter were dethroned. As a result, Teraz had been nigh continually hostile to Ylandre all these centuries, its rulers resentful of the loss of an ally and realm-by-marriage and envious of Ylandre’s increased power and wealth. Diplomatic relations between the two realms was intermittent and remained so to the present day.
Shortly before Rohyr Essendri ascended to the throne, ties were cut once more. In recent years, tension had been at an all-time high with the Terazians occasionally instigating raids and skirmishes along the northern marches. Neither the Ardan nor his Council had expected much change on that front.
Then just before the latest insurgency attempt in Tenerith, Anri Hamara had put out feelers regarding the possible reopening of diplomatic relations between his principality and Ylandre. His proposal was routed through the ambassador of the Ballar Dominion, a nation friendly to both realms. Always desirous of long-term peace, Rohyr had in turn implied his openness to the possibility.
However, before anything more concrete could come of the proposal, the ailing Anri had passed away. It had fallen to his successor, Kilion, to continue his sire’s initiative, which the young Hamara had done. As soon as the rebellion in the north was quashed, Kilion declared his wish to treat with Ylandre and bring hostilities between the two nations to an end.
Rohyr had been wary of the new prince regnant. Kilion was a callow youth just past his majority. It was suspected the real power in Teraz was Kilion’s birthing father Xeren who’d stood as regent briefly until his son came of age.
It did not help that Xeren was also the half-brother of the current Varadani pretender Jubal Ferrenda, whose son Malkon had tried to usurp power in Asmara two years ago. Furthermore, it was Jubal who had stoked and financed the latest rebellion in Tenerith. Small wonder Rohyr was suspicious that Xeren would care to ally Teraz with the country that had scattered his kin and foiled the Ferrendas’ latest attempts to regain power.
Nonetheless, he could not ignore an offer of peaceful relations on the basis of mere suspicion. Not when it presaged the possibility of a war-free border and therefore safety and security for his subjects who lived in the region. Thus Rohyr had sent an envoy to Teraz as requested, choosing the veteran diplomat Jareth had personally vetted. This was none other than Ambassador Theron Leyhar, sire to Riodan Leyhar, who was recently espoused to Rohyr’s brother, Dylen.
All appeared to go well enough. Admittedly, Jareth and Yandro had remained uneasy when matters proceeded too smoothly and the Terazians appeared obliging almost to a fault. This they had communicated to Rohyr who in turn kept in constant contact with Ambassador Leyhar and stayed watchful for any signs of deceit.
The indignant missive charging the Ylandrins with treachery had been totally unexpected given that Theron Leyhar’s last message to court had reflected his elation over the anticipated success of his mission.
“They’ve accused Ambassador Leyhar of slaying Prince Xeren,” Yandro concluded the report. “They say the ambassador has fled to places unknown in company with his aide and secretary who they claim assisted him in this heinous deed. And now Kilion threatens to invade northern Tenerith which, coincidentally enough, constitutes his father’s former hereditary fief.”
“They think the ambassador slew Xeren Hamara?” a senior Myaren staffer said incredulously. “But Theron Leyhar is a fervent pacifist. He’s been known to openly oppose the Ardan’s officers when they advocate the use of force. Why would he do something he knows would guarantee the outbreak of war?”
“Precisely what we think about the whole business,” Yandro replied. “It smells of subterfuge, but we have no evidence to counter their charge. Hence the push for further investigation into the matter. But meanwhile, the Terazians threaten retaliation and we must find some way to avert it.”
He kept from rolling his eyes when Gawyn scoffingly said, “Why this dithering about then? The royal army is more than capable of turning back an invasion and launching one instead. They could easily repeat history, but this time with Teraz.”
“War should never be the first option,” Valin declared. “Think of the wrack and ruin that would follow.”
“Well put, Val,” Jareth said. “Rohyr’s instinct—and mine as well truth be told—would be to meet force with force and simply destroy our foes. But we can’t let instinct rule us else we’d quickly descend into mindless retaliation and chaos. War with Teraz, however swift, will only bring death and destruction upon Tenerith’s citizenry. Rohyr has decided that we must first discover what really happened and locate Leyhar if possible and if he’s still alive.”
“But why is he sending you?” Gawyn asked. “Why not Leyhar’s son? He’s an ambassador too and very well received everywhere, or so I’ve heard.”
“Rohyr can’t send him precisely because he is Ambassador Leyhar’s son,” Jareth retorted, placing emphasis on the former’s title. Yandro glanced at him, wondering if he’d imagined the testiness in his voice. “Riodan would in all likelihood be arrested immediately, if not killed on the spot.”
“So the Ardan gave you the assignment instead,” Gawyn said, sarcasm underlining his comment.
“With good reason,” Yandro answered in Jareth’s stead. “Kilion wouldn’t harm someone of Lord Jareth’s position and reputation in the diplomatic community. At least, not at once,” he added dryly.
While many of the others gaped in some dismay, Jareth chuckled and dipped his chin in tacit agreement. Gawyn however laid a reproving glance on Yandro.
“That’s a most unfunny jest,” he huffed.
“It isn’t a jest,” Yandro coolly replied.
Gawyn looked at him suspiciously. But when Yandro ignored his glare, he turned his attention back to Jareth.
“So who will accompany you?”
Jareth raised an eyebrow, obviously surprised by the question. “Yandro, who else?”
“Who else?” Gawyn repeated. “But there are many amongst us to choose from.”
“Your Excellency,” Valin supplied with a glower.
Several of the others also leveled disapproving stares on Gawyn. Apparently abashed, he flushed and fidgeted a bit in his seat. That would be a first time, Yandro thought with some amusement.
“I beg your pardon, Excellency,” Gawyn muttered. “But as I was saying—”
“There are indeed many amongst you to choose from,” Jareth brusquely cut in. “But only one whose experience and talent approach mine. This is no assignment for neophytes, much less unskilled ones.”
Yandro darted a disbelieving glance at Jareth and then at a visibly nonplussed Gawyn before exchanging a questioning look with Valin who obviously shared his surprise. He started a little when Jareth lightly tapped his arm and quickly returned his attention to the ambassador.
“We leave as soon as I receive word that Kilion will grant us an audience,” Jareth quietly said. “I suggest you prepare for a fortnight’s stay.”
Yandro frowned. “A fortnight? Will it be enough time for us to solve this riddle?”
“More than enough time if deceit is afoot. By all accounts, Kilion isn’t yet as learned or shrewd as his sire was. And the Hamaras’ mind gifts have diminished considerably as well. He won’t be able to deceive us for long if he’s behind this.”
“But what if he isn’t, but rather a shrewder, more learned Deir? A member of his Council for instance.”
“I wager we’d still discover the ruse sooner than later. I highly doubt there’s any in the Terazian court with wit and skill to match yours.”
Yandro felt the beginnings of a blush bloom in his cheeks. “I seriously hope you aren’t underestimating their capabilities or overestimating ours,” he murmured.
“I’m not. I trust you, Yandro. You haven’t failed me yet.”
“You have too much faith in me,” Yandro protested. “There’s always a first time.”
“Veres forfend it should happen now,” Jareth said with a warm smile. “But verily, I know it won’t.”
He turned back to address the others before Yandro could respond.
“Valin will be in charge while we’re gone,” he said, fixing each staff member with a swift but hard look, “I trust you all to assist him to the best of your abilities.”
Jareth stood up and headed for the door, motioning to Valin to join him. In the process, he cut off Gawyn who’d started to ask, “But why Valin—”
As he prepared to follow them out of the room, Yandro noted Gawyn had not risen and was staring after Jareth with his mouth agape. He hid a small smile as he too left the chamber.