"I can't imagine why you wouldn't."
I straightened and flashed a thin smile. "I think I'm going to take a walk to clear my thoughts. Keep coming up with alternatives."
As I left the tent, I had no doubt that every one of Mark's suggestions would be on the western side of the country. The man was nothing if not stubborn, but he'd surely met his match with me. I just wished I had something to tell him other than "No."
A cloud of dust rose up from the entrance of the camp, and I heard raised voices, so I jogged in that direction, curious. There, I found a gaggle of soldiers with their swords raised and one very irate Jax.
"Oi! Larissa! Brynna! Whatever the hell your name is now," Jax barked when he saw me. "Tell these idiots to let me through!"
"Stand down," I called, pushing through the crowd. "He's with me."
"Your dogs need to learn some new tricks," Jax barked, wiping the dust from his face. "Nearly got stuck with an arrow on my way in."
"Glad to know the security's working," I said with a half-smile. The young soldiers still wore looks of uncertainty. "Run to Lady Beata and get some food and water. Bring it to my tent."
"Your tent. You seem to be taking to this queen thing again." Jax said with a snort, following me deeper into the camp. Mark was waiting for us inside my tent, but I waited until the soldier had brought Jax something to eat before I peppered him with questions.
"Neveri's kind of in an uproar right now," Jax said. "The citizens seem to have soured on Ammon a little. There's a curfew again, all that."
"Okay, but what about Ammon?" I said, leaning forward. "What did you find out about him and Ilara? Why'd he go back on our deal?"
"Because he's a rat."
I sighed. "Jax."
"Fine, fine." He wiped his lip. "Basically, from what I gather, he doesn't want to be the only country without an explosive powder. So he sent an envoy to Ilara to give her Forcadel back in exchange for whatever she used during the initial invasion of Forcadel."
"And he thinks Ilara will agree to that?" I looked at Jorad. "Does she even have any more of it?"
"I don't know," Jorad said. "We didn't hear of it if she did."
I sat back in my chair, comparing what I knew of Ilara's temperament to this new information. I was playing a card game but could only see half the cards I'd been dealt. It was hard to make decisions that way.
"My queen?" Jorad asked. "What are you thinking?"
"I think there are two possible scenarios," I began slowly. "The first is that Ilara doesn't ally herself with Ammon. It's the least possible outcome, but the best one for us. Ammon will be back to where he started, and we could potentially return to our original arrangement."
"And the other?"
"Less fortunate for us," I said. "Ammon and Ilara become allies. We lose the Vanhoja river, and we're down all the artillery they promised us. And Ammon has Severian ond to use against us."
"What do we do if that happens?" Jorad asked.
"I don't know," I said softly. "Aline and Elisha are back in Forcadel, hopefully getting through to Beswick. If we can get him on our side, then we'll have a stronger footing inside the city. But losing Ammon and the river support leaves us vulnerable." I didn't want to think about what would happen if I lost Ammon and Beswick.
"Do we have more ond?" Jorad asked. "Maybe we could use it to barter with Ammon?"
"A bag," I said. "Not enough to sway Ammon, I'm sure. And I don't think Ariadna would be too happy about that. I'm not in the business of selling ond to foreign nations."
"Beswick isn't, though," Jax said.
I turned to him. "I'm sorry?"
"I heard a rumor while I was there," Jax said. "Beswick's still trying to get ond out of Niemen into Forcadel somehow. But Skorsa is all but closed now, and Neveri is crawling with soldiers. So what they're saying is that instead of bringing it through the major cities, he's using an alternate route through the forest."
My eyebrows shot up. "You think he's using Celia's forest?"
"Celia the forest pirate?" Mark did a double take.
Jax ignored him. "The point is: if Beswick is using the forest pass to get through the border, that means he's gotta take the ond through Kulka. So I say you tell Ammon where to get ond in his own country. You'll cut off Beswick's supply and appease Ammon in one fell swoop."
"But it's basically giving the Kulkans the ond and betraying Niemen's trust, just without getting my hands dirty," I said. "I can't jeopardize my only remaining alliance. If they found out, Ariadna might pull her support—or worse."
But it did present a new opportunity. "What if, instead of giving it to Ammon, we just send it back to Niemen? Catch it when it comes through the forest. Mark's been telling me to move our camp. Why don't we just move a little closer to the border?"
"I'm absolutely sure that Celia would be fine with you and a hundred of your closest friends camping out in her forest," Jax said with a firm nod. "That sounds completely reasonable."
"It might if we ask her to help us," I said. "You said yourself that she's very interested in helping me get back on the throne."
"Yeah, but…not that much."
"She sent her second to babysit me," I said. "That's pretty invested if you ask me."
He made a face, but Mark finally spoke up. "I'm lost here. Are you suggesting that we move our camp to Celia's forest?"
"I'm saying that we ask her for an alliance," I said. "She can provide spies, food, even some weapons. And we can intercept the ond, thus cutting off Beswick's supply." I paused, smiling at him. "And we'll be within half a day of Neveri, so you'll get what you want, too."
"I must strongly protest. Celia isn't our concern. Neither is Beswick. Besides that, she is a dangerous criminal," Mark said, rising to his feet. "She would sooner shoot you with an arrow than let you inside her camp."
I stared at him, pursing my lips a little. "Are you unaware that I lived there, Mark?"
He started. "You…what?"
"When I ran away from the castle," I said, sizing him up, "Celia took me in and taught me everything I know about being a vigilante. And when Ilara stabbed me, Celia's the one who rescued me. So yes, I do believe she would be interested in an alliance. Especially if I demonstrate that I've been successful in gathering other forces."
"And how have you been successful?" Mark asked. "Ammon betrayed you, Beswick won't meet with you, and your soldiers are barely holding on by a thread. Thank the Mother that I showed up when I did, or your entire operation would've fallen apart by now."
My brows shot up to my hairline.
Jax snorted. "Where is the lie?"
"We don't need thieves and criminals on our side," Mark said. "It's time that you move on and move up from those people. Beswick is easily dealt with, after all. He's a businessman; if you bribe him, he'll go away. And this idea of going to Celia's camp and asking her to be friends? It's ridiculous. The best thing to do is to march on Neveri tomorrow and reclaim your alliances by force."
"In your opinion," I said.
"It is the best option, and we all agree," Mark said, gesturing to Jorad. "You were a passable vigilante, but you don't know the first thing about leading an army, or strategy, or anything of that sort."
I sat back, surveying him. "Is that how you really feel?"
"Yes," he said, a smile growing on his face. "If you want, I'll give the order for the troops to prepare for an assault on Neveri. We can prove to Ammon that we aren't to be treated as such—"
"I do not want."
"I— What?"
I rose, tapping the map. "As it stands, I don't actually believe that you're in the majority here. And even if you were, it isn't up to you. It's up to me. And I say we take our chances with Celia. If all else fails, we can camp nearby and catch the ond as it comes into Forcadel. And we'll figure something else out with Ammon."
Mark exhaled. "I feel like you might not be in the right mind to be directing the troops. Perhaps you've got some lingering vendetta against Celia
and Beswick, and that's what's coloring your vision, but you're not fit to make this decision."
"Not fit?" I said slowly. "And you are?"
"I am," he said. "Your father trusted me—"
"And you got him killed," I snapped. "Along with my brother. Within weeks of each other. Not to mention, you let Beswick grow his empire right under your nose. Perhaps it's you, Mark, who isn't fit to make this decision." I quirked a brow. "What, does Beswick have something on you? You did such a bad job managing him. It wouldn't surprise me."
Mark got to his feet, his cheeks growing ruddy with anger and his chest puffing with indignation. "I have never been spoken to this way. Your father would—"
"I think it's time for you to leave."
His eyes bulged. "What?"
"While I'm grateful that you showed up to help my soldiers when you did, I've grown tired of always being questioned. Clearly, you don't trust that I'm making the right decisions, so it's best that we part ways." I kept his gaze firmly. "I was a passable vigilante, but I was also responsible for the plan to take down Neveri. And in this case, I feel strongly that another assault on that city would fail—and I would know, as I took it once before. Patience is the name of the game with Ammon, and I intend to play it well."
"These troops won't listen to you," Mark said. "I am the only thing keeping them here."
"We'll just have to see about that," I said.
"You're going to fail."
"Then I'll fail," I snapped back. "But at least I won't have to listen to you."
The room went silent as Mark waited for the next volley. But I had nothing further to say to him.
"Your Majesty?" Jorad said.
"Pack up the camp," I said. "I'll take a group and ride ahead in the morning."
Chapter 21
"Captain Mark has been relieved of his command," I said the next morning over breakfast.
Surprise, and a little anger, rippled through the soldiers as they stood before me.
In truth, as I'd lain awake the night before, I reconsidered my haste. Arguments happened, and Mark was just trying to do the best he could. But him constantly disagreeing with me, even trying to go over my head, was too much to bear. I had enough voices criticizing my decisions; I didn't need to add another voice to the mix. In either case, my decision was final; Mark had left sometime in the night. And now I had to deal with the consequences.
"I've asked Lieutenant Llobrega to take over his duties for the foreseeable future," I continued. "I hope you'll treat him with the same respect and deference as you treated Captain Mark. His word is as good as mine."
I paused, waiting for arguments. None came.
"We'll be packing up camp and moving north," I said, deciding to leave out exactly where we were headed. "I'm riding ahead with scouts, and we'll send for the rest of you after we've found a suitable location."
I stared at them, unsure what to say next, and the seconds drew out between us.
"Dismissed," Jorad muttered beside me.
"Right," I said. "Dismissed."
The soldiers saluted in unison then broke into murmuring groups, some casting looks toward me. It was clear that for some of them, Mark was the reason they'd stayed. Would they defect, as Mark had predicted, or would they remain at my side?
"You don't need to worry about that now," Jorad whispered. "Just keep moving forward, and the soldiers will follow."
"Will they?" I sighed as I received dirty looks from a pair of female soldiers walking by. "It seems he was pretty popular."
"He was," Jorad said. "Most of us grew up with him as captain. When he arrived, we were heartened—some of us saw it as the Mother's intervention."
I cringed. "Great."
"It may take time, but the soldiers will learn to love you as they did him," Jorad said. "As long as you keep demonstrating leadership, making strategic moves, and showing them what you're capable of, they will fall in line." He cleared his throat. "And on that note, what should I tell the soldiers who are staying behind? We should leave someone in charge of moving the camp."
"Right," I said. "Erm…who do you recommend?"
"Enos would work," Jorad said. "He's still quite loyal to you and has the respect of the soldiers. Shall I fetch him to discuss the next move with you, or do you want me to do it myself?"
"Go ahead," I said. "I'm going to prepare for the trip."
Needing distraction and a friendly face, I ducked into the mess hall. Beata was in the back, already preparing her kitchen to be moved. Two soldiers were helping her, but they saluted and ran off when I showed up.
"Great. Nobody wants to be around me now," I said with a grimace.
"Oh, they're grousing a little, but I told them to hush up about it," Beata said with a kind smile. "I've packed you a bag of bread and dried meat to take with you. It's over there."
I pulled the bag off the shelf and stared at the mostly empty stores. "There should be more food at Celia's. She always has three weeks' worth on hand. And we'll figure out how to get more once we're there."
"Brynna, do you really think you can pull this off?" Beata asked quietly. "Celia's a dangerous woman. She might kill you before you can get a word out."
"She hasn't yet," I said. "I'm taking a calculated risk that she wants me alive, on the throne, and owing her favors."
"Even if it means giving up her camp?"
"I'm not going to ask her to do that," I said. "I'm going to ask her to join my cause. There's a difference."
"And all the people she's stolen from their families," she said softly. "All the children. You're just going to leave them there to be ransomed?"
I looked down at my hands. "I don't know."
"Well, you have some time to think about it," she said, forcing a bright smile onto her face as she handed me the bag of food. "I'm sure you'll come up with a brilliant solution. You always seem to."
With the bag of food slung over my shoulder, I walked through camp, feeling the gazes of soldiers on me as I passed. More than once, I caught a wisp of conversation about my plan, and how I was either insane or idiotic to attempt such a thing. Clearly, Celia had done well to instill fear into the hearts of even the bravest Forcadelians.
The forest was about half a day's ride northwest of our camp, and I wanted to get there before night gave the spies in the trees the advantage. I didn't think Celia would order them to fire on sight, but one could never be too sure. I'd asked Jorad to assemble ten of his best soldiers to come with me. It was more to appease him—I'd wanted to ride alone. After all, if things went according to plan, I would meet with her, she would agree to my terms, and we could peacefully integrate the camp.
"I hope you're gonna say pretty please." Jax walked up to the group with a horse and wearing traveling clothes.
"What are you doing?" I asked him. "Are you here to knife me or something?"
"If I knife you, I don't get Celia's gold," Jax said.
Jorad made a move beside me, but I held up my hand. "Why are you here then?"
"Why wouldn't I go?" He climbed into his saddle and shrugged. "Unlike the rest of these morons, I know how Celia thinks. And if, as you say, you're coming in peace, you'll need all the help you can get."
Our group set off into the afternoon sun, none of us saying much. We passed small villages and carriages on the main road, but no one seemed to recognize me in a dark tunic and without flags. Around midday, the menacing forest appeared. I halted the riders near a creek to water the horses and ourselves, and to make a plan for approaching Celia.
"I say we go in together," Jorad said. "A group of ten soldiers—"
"Would get arrows through their bellies before they got two steps in," Jax said, leaning against a tree. "She goes in alone."
"I refuse to allow that," Jorad said.
"Then isn't it so grand that you ain't in charge? Celia won't kill the brat. She owes too many favors."
Jorad got to his feet, but I pressed his arm to quiet him. "Very well, genius. What do you su
ggest?"
"No idea. This is your crazy scheme."
I looked at the other soldiers and forced a tight smile onto my face. "Give us a minute."
Jorad glared at Jax before rising to his feet. He led the others back down to the creek where the horses were tied up, out of earshot.
"Want to try that again?" I asked.
"Nope."
"Jax." I shook my head. "You rode all this way just to be an asshole?"
"Well, you rode all this way to fail, so…"
I released another loud sigh. "I'm listening. Say what you want to say or shut up about it."
"You're giving Celia way too much credit here," he said. "If you walk in there and ask her for an alliance, she'll laugh you out of the forest."
"What do you suggest, then?"
"You've got a hundred soldiers. Use them."
I shook my head violently. "I'm not marching on the camp. There are too many innocent lives there. Kids, Jax."
"Which is exactly what Celia's banking on," Jax said, a smile curling onto his face. "Nobody wants to raze a camp filled with children. That's why your father let her grow her little kingdom within his borders."
"That's ridiculous," I said. "If a contingent of guards showed up, the kids would—"
"Turn tail and run," Jax said. "It's a clever game Celia played with all of us. She made the royals think she'll force children to fight and die for her camp. And she made the children too scared of the real world to leave. But in reality, the only thing keeping her camp together was a pack of lies."
I'd never thought about it that way before. Celia's camp had always been this terrifying monster, a giver of food and beds, but who could take it away just as quickly. But Jax was pulling the curtain back and revealing the monsters were just trees.
"Which brings me to your current idiotic plan," he said. "Celia's always been terrified of you because you have the power to take everything away. Even before you were back on the throne, she knew you could've told that Captain Llobrega fellow exactly where to find the camp, and how to infiltrate it. So she's been working hard to plant a loyal seed in your mind ever since you arrived. Make it an impossible notion that you'd ever betray the camp." He flashed a grin. "That's why you keep going back to her to ask for help. And why, instead of taking over the camp for yourself, you've got this ridiculous notion of alliance."
The Veil of Trust Page 13
