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Valeria confessed as she and Eliya slowly walked through the encampment, followed by Torena and by Valeria’s ladies. “Yes, I knew of the armies. Your unapproved impending marriage was the perfect excuse for my uncle and Lord-king Belkrates to force Lord-king Laros into this meeting.”
“Why?”
“We’ll be told at the meeting.”
“And my lord-father wasn’t summoned to this meeting because—?”
“I don’t know. I presume because he would have defended your marriage and Rakiar.”
Eliya huffed out a maddened breath. She must fight bitterness. If her lord-father had been invited to this enclave, as he should have been, he and her siblings might have survived Khelqua’s catastrophe. Bracing herself against the pain, Eliya nodded. What else could she do? Except hope that good might come from this meeting. “Then this gathering might yet dissolve my marriage contract. I pray it’s so! I’d rather live in a mud hut and forage a wilderness for the remainder of my life than marry Laros Rakiar.”
Valeria answered with a mirthless chuckle. “My lord-uncle would be offended at the idea of allowing a princess to live in poverty. We need only be patient to achieve our goals.”
“And what are your goals?”
“Peace and happiness, of course.” Her silvery eyes shining in the morning light, Valeria whispered, “I hope you approve. I intend to beg my lord-uncle to offer Lord Valo a contract. For me.”
Valeria of Ceyphraland ... her future sister-in-law? As the thought took hold, Eliya smiled. “Of course, I approve—if Valo approves, and if you have your lord-uncle’s permission.”
“He’s granted me the freedom to choose my husband as long as he approves of the man personally, and as long as I marry a highborn lord. Valo fulfills both requirements. Even better, I won’t have to leave Ceyphraland. My lord-uncle has feared I’d fall madly in love with some foreign-born lord and ....” Her voice trailed off as Lord-king Laros Rakiar crossed their path, then waved back his guards and halted, his gold-embroidered green robes splendid, glittering and refracting the morning sunlight.
Rakiar waited, silently commanding their approach. Eliya marched toward him with Valeria gripping her elbow as if prepared to drag Eliya away should their confrontation turn violent. Rakiar didn’t smile, but his gaze flicked from Eliya to Valeria as if comparing them. Eliya bowed her head toward him. “Good morning, my lord.”
Valeria forced a smile. “My lord-cousin. Good morning.”
Rakiar’s fine mouth thinned slightly, though Eliya couldn’t decipher his look. A suppressed smile? Annoyance held at bay? The ruler of the northern realms released a breath. “Why do you call me ‘cousin’, lady? The term’s a mere courtesy and hardly apt.”
He was annoyed, then. Eliya held her peace as Valeria explained, cool and polite. “I call you cousin because my lord-uncle has named you one and I bow to his example.”
“Don’t.” Again, he glanced from Eliya to Valeria, and his gaze rested on Valeria. “I wish you a good morning, ladies.”
As he walked away, trailed by his guards, Valeria muttered to Eliya, “I don’t want to be related to him anyway.” She sniffed. “But why should he take offense at being called cousin? It’s always been a pleasantry between the tetrarchs and their families. Anyway, I’m sure if we check our lineages, we are related somehow.”
Watching her handsome, soon-to-be rejected fiancé, Eliya shrugged. “Perhaps he believes his dignity’s lessened by such familiarity.”
“Or ...” Torena ventured from her place just behind them, “Perhaps he doesn’t wish any possible connections, however distant, to be remembered, lest his Chaplet faith forbid marriage to the Lady Valeria.”
Valeria snorted. “That’s ridiculous!”
Torena watched Laros Rakiar’s tall form as he walked away with his guards. “Lady Eliyana, what if he’s already planning your replacement if you should die early? My contention’s possible. He said almost nothing to you just now, as if you no longer exist for him. It seems he considers Ceyphraland’s Lady Valeria a finer option.”
Valeria put one hand to her throat. “You’re serious. You’re convinced he’s considering me? No! Not for ten thousand shieldcoins. Thank the Eternal that my lord-uncle loathes his royal ‘cousin’!”
“Only consider the thought.” Torena leaned toward them, her voice low. “How easy it would be for a tetrarch of the northern realm to be rid of his wife. Childbirth. An accident during a journey. Or ... an agreement. Some of the Chaplet ‘faithful’ are eager to forgive even a murder if the guilty one forfeits a fabulous amount of gold to the Chaplet’s ruling council.”
Childbirth or an accident. Or a secret agreement to have her murdered. Eliya almost nodded. A man like Laros Rakiar would pay the forfeits and never think of her again. Unless he relished cruelties and savored memories of her death.
A young man bellowed from across the encampment, “Lady Eliya!”
Valo. As Eliya met her brother’s gaze, he lifted a scrolled parchment, then stalked toward her, his dark mantle flaring, quite befitting his grim gaze. Beside her, Valeria breathed, “Isn’t he beautiful? I could stare at him forever.”
“I’ll tell him you said so.”
Still gazing at Valo, Valeria whispered, “Say also that I’ll marry him as soon as possible. Thwarting any of the northern realm’s plans will be his wedding gift to me.”
Valo stopped and grimly offered Eliya the scrolled parchment. “Your marriage contract, sister. Have you read it?”
“Some, before Father signed it. But that was months ago. What’s wrong?”
“If Laros Rakiar repudiates the contract, he will owe you most of his personal income for years to come. Sixty thousand gold shieldcoins. Lord-king Danek estimates that’s more than five years’ worth of Rakiar’s household revenues.”
“Therefore, Rakiar must marry me.”
“He has no choice. Unless he’s willing to carve his own meat and groom his horses for the rest of his life.”
“Yet, once we marry, he can do with me as he pleases. What will happen if I refuse?”
A wry grimace worked one corner of Valo’s mouth. “Father will owe him an equal amount.”
“But,” Eliya persisted, “father’s no longer here. Nor is Khelqua. What will I owe him?”
Valeria murmured, “Nothing. You didn’t sign the contract. Any court in Ceyphraland will absolve you.” With a tiny cough, she added, “Uncle will be sure of it.”
“Lady Valeria....” Valo’s golden eyes glinted, alight with admiration. “If I didn’t already adore you, I would now.”
Pretending irritation, Eliya waved a hand between them to break their mutually appreciative looks. “Obviously, you’re both lovestruck. I order you two to plead with Lord-king Aniketos for a marriage contract. Immediately.”
“Thank you.” Valeria rested one hand on Valo’s arm. “If my Lord Valo doesn’t object, I’ll kneel before my uncle at once.”
“I’ll kneel with you,” Valo pledged. He glanced over his shoulder, adding, “After we’ve heard whatever Lord-king Danek has to say.”
Danek? Eliya schooled her expression to serenity, then risked glancing at the Syvlande Empire’s most fascinating lord-king, who approached at his typical brisk pace.
His strong face calm but warmed by the morning’s light Danek nodded to them. “Lord Valo. Ladies, good morning. Lady Valeria, I’ve no wish to cause you trouble, but this should be presented at the meeting today.” He removed an arrow from beneath his cloak and offered it to Valeria. “A reminder. This arrow was taken from one of the bodies in the ambushed Ceyphraland cavalcade. Their lives should not be forgotten. The arrow’s yew wood, taken from the Na’Khesh Mountains, perhaps bought from your own people, then used against them.”
Her silvery eyes darkening, Valeria lifted the yew arrow from his hands. “Thank you, my lord. We intend to speak to my lord-uncle at once—before he’s too distracted by today’s meeting. Will you walk with us?”
She nodded to Valo and they walked ahead, leaving Eliya with Danek. He smiled down at her, “Shall we follow them, lady?”
Aware of Torena watching her sharp-eyed as a silvered, ever-hovering Aeryon, Eliya said, “I wish we could claim their same purpose for walking together.”
“What purpose, lady?”
She smiled, drawing her mantle closer as she walked with him, following her brother and Valeria.
LISTENING TO VALO AND Valeria as they knelt before Aniketos and requested royal blessings and a marriage contract, Danek cut a glance toward the Lady Eliya.
She wished to claim their same purpose. With him.
Eternal Liege .... She was serious. The melancholy look on her face told all as Aniketos laughed and held out his broad hands to Valo and Valeria ... then hugged them together, approving their union. Eliya envied their joy, even as she smiled at her just-betrothed brother.
He must consider the implications for his people. He’d ensure the Walhaisii never suffered retribution from Trisguard if ... no, when he broke Eliya’s marriage contract. Unless she broke the contract first.
What was she planning?
TRAILED BY HER GUARDS, Eliya walked with Torena to Valeria’s tent. Just beyond the encampment’s fringes, two armies waited. Trisguard’s much smaller force waited near the designated meeting area, notably restless. What were they planning? Eliya murmured to her teacher, “I’ll be grateful to have this meeting done. Not even Valeria knows why the tetrarchs have congregated here. My marriage contract’s been a superficial excuse for this meeting. If these lord-kings can’t reach an agreement, we’ll be thrown into war here and now. By gathering in one place, they’ve all put themselves in danger.”
“I believe it’s providential.” Torena sighed. “I’m sure the lord-kings trust they prompted this meeting, but undoubtedly the Eternal’s willed them to act upon His plans.”
“And what might those plans be?”
Torena’s gaze turned distant. “As much as I dislike the thought .... If the whole empire’s become as faithless toward the Eternal’s Rone’en as Khelqua and the northern realms, what should the Eternal do, except ruin the Syvlande?”
“If that’s so, then I pray we survive its ruin.”
In Valeria’s tent, Eliya washed her hands and face, then allowed Vaiya to dress her and pin up her hair. “A diadem, lady?”
“Whatever you please, Vaiya. I trust your judgment.” Would this be the last time Vaiya dressed her? Would Laros Rakiar insist upon marrying her and taking her away—to kill her in the northern wilderness before dawn? Or would he whisk her to the northern realms, then put her to trial and death for trusting the Rone’en? Or would he ensure she somehow died of natural causes? Enough women died in childbirth—perhaps he hoped she would.
She mustn’t allow her imagination free rein. Her thoughts behaved as untamed horses trampling reason, urging her to panic.
Willing herself to relax, she prayed inwardly as Torena fastened her ceremonial cloak while reciting low-voiced from the Rone’en.
“‘Whom shall we trust?
Wickedness burns like a fire; consuming briers and thorns.
Tempest and ruin,
Battle and dirge
Why should the faithful be crushed?
Shout to the Eternal, who will destroy your conqueror!
Seize your weapons and lift your shields.’”
Eliya smiled. “Revered Torena, that’s a very warlike set of verses. What are you saying?”
Her dark eyes fierce, Torena met Eliya’s gaze, unflinching. “I’ll accompany you to this meeting.”
“You won’t.” Softening her tone, Eliya added, “I command you to stay here and pray for us all. Whatever happens, I want you to live and protect the Rone’en and Vaiya. Go to the Walhaisii. Of all the lands, it seems they’ve welcomed the Liege’s believers. You won’t be safe anywhere else.”
Vaiya begged, “Don’t speak as if you’ll die, lady.”
“Vaiya, I’m about to openly reject the Lord-king Laros Rakiar. Whether I marry him or not, I may have no choice about dying.”
Her hands shaking, Vaiya pinned Eliya’s exquisite pearl and amethyst diadem high in her hair, then fastened Eliya’s matching pins to her purple and gold ceremonial cloak. Finished, she pressed Eliya’s shoulders as if to reassure them both. “Who could think of hurting you? Lady, you’ve never looked more beautiful.”
“Good.” She’d never felt readier to take up weapons and go to war.
She stepped out of the tent just as Valeria and her ladies trooped in to dress for the meeting. Whether or not they’d be allowed to attend, clearly, they’d honor this event’s potential significance with their richest garments. Her eyes shining like polished moonstones, Valeria seized Eliya’s hands and kissed her cheek. “You look magnificent! Rakiar will rue what he’s lost—the fool! Wait for me and I’ll walk with you.”
Torena edged her way outside and stood with Eliya. “At least I can wait and pray with you while you wait for the Lady Valeria.”
Before they could clasp hands to pray, Aretes approached Eliya and bowed, one hand resting on the sword strapped to his side, the other flexed uneasily around his official long-spear. “Lady, your lord-brother has pardoned my offenses and granted my plea to join his guards today. May I again beg your forgiveness and approval? And yours, Revered Torena?”
Eliya studied his trimmed hair and freshly scrubbed face. Aretes watched her, anxious as a man begging for his life’s wish. “You’ll defend a vanquished, sunken country? Why?”
“While you and your brother live, lady, something of Khelqua remains. Perhaps enough of our people survived the disaster to regroup and reclaim our country’s borderlands. Who can say? As for the Tetrarch Laros ....” Aretes shook his head. “I cannot trust the man.”
“What about Revered Torena and the Rone’en? If you despise them still, then I cannot trust you.”
Muscles worked visibly beneath Aretes’ dark-bearded jaw, a man struggling for composure. “Years ago, I told myself that the Liege’s prophecy was nothing. I fed myself lies. Even so, the Rone’en is true—that sea of dead water testified against me.”
Raw honesty played over his face and resonated in his voice—imploring the least chance to help restore his lost homeland and faith. Eliya nodded. “Thank you. I believe you. And I don’t trust Rakiar. Guard my brother against him, please.”
Aretes pressed a fist over his heart. “Lady, I’ll join the others and guard you both.”
Clad in a splendid crimson gown, Valeria emerged from her tent and brandished the arrow as if it were a sword. “I’m ready. My ladies will wait with Torena and Vaiya.”
Valo approached, his dark robes almost obscuring the heavy gold baldric and sash over his sweeping purple tunic. “Not to rush you, ladies, but Lord-king Danek’s already at the meeting place.”
Eliya had no need to search for Danek. As they neared the meeting place—she heard his richly indignant voice lift over the press of the gathered crowd. “I have no army. Why should I send away my own guards?”
Rakiar’s lordly voice answered, “One guard’s sufficient for each dignitary, my lord. Any more and we’ll be crowded out. Aren’t we all among friends?”
Eliya and Valo grumbled in hushed unison, “No!”
Valeria laughed and swiped her arrow toward them. “Trust me, the Ceyphralanders will defend you three—you’ve our hearts. However ....” She paused at the edge of the circle of spring grass chosen for this meeting. “Rakiar has two guards. My lord-uncle and cousin each have one. Lord-king Belkrates and his heir have two ... and we’ll each have one. Trisguard’s outnumbered.”
Valo hissed, “At least we haven’t been disarmed!” He nodded to Aretes and another guard. “Aretes, stand with the Lady Eliya and let your comrade guard me. Where are our seats?”
While Valeria sped across the open grassy circle to sit near her lord-uncle and Adalric’s regal chairs, Eliya nodded toward a pair of haybales covered with several layers of canvas and fine dark wool. “There. Near Lord-king Danek.” Adjacent to Laros Rakiar—much too close—the four of them facing the delegations from Ceyphraland and Belvasae.
His movement languid, Belkrates lifted one hand from his chair’s arm-rest, summoning a Chaplet cleric to pray. Coughs and shuffling stirred the crowd of onlookers, as did a cool springtime breeze, making Eliya shiver.
Aniketos began the talks by snatching and raising Valeria’s yew arrow to gather everyone’s attention. “Before we address the main topic, I wish to say that the next time my people are attacked, as they were at the borders between Ceyphraland, Trisguard, and the Walhaisii, I will search out the offenders and strike them all down, no matter who they are! Fair warning to all offenders!”
His tone lazy, almost disinterested, Laros protested, “What’s a rogue-bandit’s attack to do with anything of importance? Speak of imperial business. I wish to know why you’ve dragged me here, away from my wedding preparations.”
As if he cared. Eliya suppressed a snort.
Adalric straightened on his covered haybale, obviously infuriated. “The ‘rogue-bandit’s attack’ is important to us, cousin. Some of Ceyphraland’s finest statesmen, clerks, and guards died while traveling imperial roads, though they should have been safe! This matter certainly pertains to imperial business. If these had been Trisguard’s citizens, you would have been hunting for offenders and demanding recompense.”
“However—” Rakiar leaned forward, his voice oozing genial sarcasm. “This doesn’t explain why you’ve disrupted my wedding plans.”
Clipping every syllable to a sharp edge, Valo called out, “There will be no wedding! Khelqua is gone, and I see no reason for my sister to marry a man who treats her with such disrespect.”
Laros Rakiar dismissed Valo’s accusation with a scornful wave. “That’s your own misperception. I have never disrespected the Lady Eliyana, and I honor my contracts.”
Eliyana leaned forward, coercing him to pay attention. “I signed no contract, Lord-king Rakiar, and I’ve no interest in a connection I’m not bound to honor. There’s no profit in the marriage for either of us—I’ve no wish to marry you.”
“Furthermore, Cousin Laros,” Aniketos brandished the arrow, arguing loudly, “We’ve all found it interesting that only your messengers arrived safely in Khelqua to negotiate with Lord-king Rodiades after he sent us all requests to discuss his daughter’s marriage prospects.”
“Mere chance!” Rakiar sat back and folded his arms across his chest. “You were laggards, you and Belkrates.”
“We were attacked!” Belkrates snapped. “Belvasae and Ceyphraland alike! Your negotiations and motives are suspect, because we’ve lost worthy citizens who never had a chance to defend themselves or to represent us in Khelqua. For the Lady Eliyana’s sake, we declare the contract void. There will be no wedding!”
Standing in attendance around the royals, the courtiers hushed, clearly avid for their slightest reactions.
“Good!” Valo groused beneath his breath. Relief weakened Eliya almost to faintness.
“No matter.” Laros Rakiar stretched out his long legs and relaxed, bland-faced. “I’ll plan another.”
Aniketos shrugged, then winked at Valeria, who smiled. Ignoring them, Rakiar continued, “Now that we’ve dispensed with nonessentials, tell me why you two dragged me here—to a meeting in the middle of nowhere.”
Belkrates reached into an ornate box held by an attendant and lifted out a magnificent gold crown, its flaring spires and golden sapphires reflecting the sunlight. “We intend to dissolve the empire.”
Disbelief silenced everyone for an instant. Then, as others around him either applauded politely or muttered disagreements, Rakiar protested, “I disagree!”
“Too late,” Aniketos told him, as Adalric smirked. “We’ve already approved the dissolution.”
Already approved? Eliya shook her head. This was why they hadn’t invited Father to their meeting. Aniketos and Belkrates wanted Laros Rakiar and his forces overwhelmingly outnumbered, and Khelqua sidelined in order to coerce Trisguard’s approval. She nudged Valo, who looked away, undoubtedly remembering their brother’s grandiose empire-conquering plans in Khelqua.
His motions defiant, dramatic, Belkrates placed the magnificent sun crown at his booted feet, then stomped it flat, while the onlookers seethed with whispered comments and gasps. Belkrates said, “Did you think, Rakiar, that we’d wait, idly yawning, while Trisguard and Khelqua united to wrest control of the empire from us? No! We’ll divide this crown into five pieces and return to our separate countries. Just as this crown was brought together by our separate realms, so shall it be broken.”
Rakiar stared at the extraordinary crown’s flattened remains, his handsome face blank, his voice smooth. “You cannot be serious.”
“We are,” Belkrates told him. “We’ve dissolved the Syvlande Empire. Our separate peoples want their freedom.”
Rakiar’s sculpted mouth twitched, his eyes widening in murderous feral outrage. A shiver ran down Eliya’s back as Rakiar stood, baring his teeth as he snarled. “My people and I disagree!”
Lord-king Aniketos snapped, “You are outvoted!”
Valo stood, shielding Eliya while Rakiar swiped a dagger from his belt. “I cancel your votes!”