The Complete Madion War Trilogy

by S. Usher Evans

  "Now hold on a second," Rhys said, the tops of his cheeks turning red. "I'll remind you that you're speaking to the crown prince—"

  "Oh, please," Olivia said with a sly smile. "Do your worst."

  I glanced between them, and sipped my champagne to try to stay out of the line of fire.

  Rhys's face was now the color of his military jacket. "Maybe we won't bother with you anymore. Move operations to Jervan for all we care—"

  Olivia shrugged and leveled her gaze. "And what will you do with your barethium miners? I know your mother wants them to ally with us. Would you turn back on the smokestacks in Mael?"

  "Shipbuilding and barethium mining aren't the only industries in Kylae," Rhys retorted.

  "But they comprise nearly forty percent of the gross national product," Olivia replied with a raised eyebrow. "Surely the crown prince knows that."

  "Of course I know what our GNP is," Rhys said, grabbing the champagne out of my hand and downing it with a frown.

  "Well, Your Highness, I hope for all our sakes that you grow a little backbone before you take the throne. The captains of industry in this country don't roll over for just anyone, and so far, you've been underwhelming."

  Rhys' mouth hung open as Olivia turned her attention to me. "Galian, always a pleasure."

  "Back at you," I said with a small chuckle as she took her leave. I glanced at Rhys, who still wore a stunned expression. "You might want to close your mouth."

  "I can't believe...the nerve of her—"

  "I think she likes you," I said lightly. "Hey, maybe you could marry her? She'd certainly make a hell of a queen..."

  "I need more champagne," Rhys muttered, storming off.

  Before I could process what had just occurred, Mom was by my side, a hand on my elbow as she led me toward a less-populated area of the ballroom.

  "What's going on?" I said, keeping my voice low.

  "I don't know," she replied, glancing back inside the room. "But your father has informed me he'll be announcing...something at nine sharp."

  "Fifteen minutes," I said, glancing at my watch. "What's got you so worried?"

  "It's how he told me." She chewed her lip, rubbing off some of the color. "He wanted the family to be present, to look excited. But specifically, he said the news was about you."

  "M-me?" A litany of scenarios ran through my mind. "You don't think he's pushing me back into the military?"

  "To be honest, son, I have no idea what he could be planning, but I wanted you to be on your guard," she said. "Whatever it is, we'll deal with it. But for the cameras, and for your father, I just want you to be calm, cool, and collected. Don't show any emotion, don't react. Just pretend you're pleased by the news."

  I nodded, wishing the butterflies in my stomach would go away. "And you have no idea what—"

  "I've sent Johar to ask around, but..." She sighed. "I think I've stretched my resources a little thin."

  There was a weariness about her, and it made me a little less angry with her than I had been. "It's fine, Mom. Like you said, whatever it is, we'll deal with it."

  Johar appeared beside us. "Your Majesty, he's asking for you to join him now."

  We made our way toward the front of the room, my mother putting on a fine act of smiling and welcoming those who stopped us mid-way. We met Rhys near my father's throne, and the three of us shared a look of uncertainty, before turning to the crowd.

  "Welcome, welcome, to our Midsummer's Ball!" my father's voice boomed behind us. The audience clapped, but slowly their expressions melted into confusion, even horror.

  And as I turned around to see what they saw, my jaw hit the floor.

  Theo

  The city's drunken euphoria continued as the sun set, and it became increasingly obvious that Kader and I were the only ones not drunk. If Bayard had wanted to improve morale, he'd certainly achieved it, at least in Veres. But Anson had also been smart to set up the meeting during the debauchery; the police would have their hands full keeping the peace.

  With all the people clogging the streets, I lost track of where we were in the city, but I guessed it was somewhere in the slums, for the partiers grew more scarred than the ones in the richer district, and the police more prevalent. Kader made sure no one was following us, circling a few buildings and waiting in alleyways, before we finally found the small, rundown building that was supposedly Anson's headquarters. Even in the dark, it was dilapidated, probably unlivable. But I recalled the phrase about dangers lurking under the surface, and I knew he'd probably built a palace underneath.

  I felt someone's presence, and glanced around the rubble, jumping when I saw a woman not much older than I watching me. Half her face was disfigured, and her left arm was gone at the shoulder. I kept her gaze, unsure whether I should say something to Kader, but she nodded and pointed at a pile of rubble.

  "Kader," I said, nodding in the direction of the girl.

  "What?"

  I blinked and she was gone, but I hadn't been mistaken. "Come on. I know where we're going."

  We approached the pile, and I almost missed the shape of the trapdoor. Kader bent down and rapped on it three times.

  The door inched up and a single eye looked out at us. Then the crack opened wider and a teenaged boy climbed out, hobbling on a wooden leg as he held the door open for the two of us. I shared an uneasy look with Kader and we descended a set of dark stairs.

  Two guards met us at the base of the staircase—one man missing his left arm, but holding a gun in his right, the other missing a leg. The legless man checked us for weapons while his partner kept a gun on us. I stood perfectly still, offering a half-smile as the legless man ran his hands along my sides. When he was satisfied both Kader and I were weaponless, he stood aside and we were allowed to continue inside.

  Instead of the palace I'd been expecting, it was just a small room with the man himself seated at a desk. He sat back in his chair, surveying me in the same manner as he'd done all those months ago. His long hair was pulled back, and his face void of hair or scars. But I could tell that he still didn't trust me, even as he held his hand out to greet me. "Major."

  "Thank you for meeting with me," I said, wishing my voice sounded stronger.

  His eyebrows twitched and he released my hand, offering Kader and me a seat while he took his own. "I'm pleased I was memorable enough to remember," he said with that same enigmatic look on his face. He gestured to the dark room around us. "You'll forgive me for being cautious. It's taken me almost a decade to build the infrastructure of my network. I don't fancy myself a despot like Bayard, but there's something to be said for an image. It would be most unfortunate if I were to die."

  I nodded, unsure what to say.

  "Images are important, as I'm sure Emilie Mondra made clear. She's a brilliant one, able to shape the hearts and minds of the Raven people to accept just about anything. But I have something a bit more potent."

  "What's that?"

  "The truth," he said. "This war could've ended decades ago, but we lack true leadership in Rave to do what needs to be done."

  That smacked too closely of Bayard's bomb. Sitting forward, I asked, "What would you do differently?"

  "You're wondering if I agreed with that bomb? No, I didn't. I thought it was crass and a move of a desperate man running low on options to retain his country." Another smile. "Funny what desperation does to a person, isn't it? I'm sure you know a little something about it, considering your history."

  "History?" I blinked. "I was plucked from an orphanage, same as every other kallistrate—"

  "I'm talking much more recent history," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Tell me about this mysterious benefactor who wishes to give me money in exchange for my alliance."

  I glanced at Kader; something felt wrong. But I chalked it up to my nerves. "When I was in Jervan, I met with a Jervanian businessman who offered me asylum in his country. After I found out about Malaske..."

  I trailed off. It was clear from the look o
n his face that Anson didn't believe a word I was saying. His eyes glittered with an unspoken amusement that set me on edge. I wasn't nearly that amusing.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that Kader had shifted, and my pulse began to throb. I needed to speed things along so we could get out of here.

  "This benefactor seems incredibly generous," Anson said, filling the silence. "But I suppose being the lover of the prince of Kylae has its benefits."

  A gasp escaped my lips before I could stop it.

  TWELVE

  Theo

  "W-what?"

  I would've thought I'd heard incorrectly, except for Kader's uncharacteristically shocked expression. My heart thudded in my chest and the back of my neck grew warm with nerves.

  "Your lover? Prince Galian? It's all over the radio tonight, although I'm sure you two were properly distracted by the festivities. It's fitting that Bayard chose a night when half the country was drunk to announce he was selling out."

  Selling out? I shared a worried glance with Kader, but realized we had more pressing issues. Namely, how were we going to get out of this room alive?

  "I've been very curious about you," Anson said. "To turn so quickly on Bayard after all he'd done for you. And suddenly you were flush with an unlimited supply of money that you handed over without any questions asked."

  "Anson—"

  "Please," he said, sitting back. "I'd love to hear what the Kylaen royal family told you to tell me. Are they interested in peace?"

  I shared a glance with Kader, and he nodded. "The queen is—"

  A throaty laughter erupted from him, and from the others in the room whom I'd forgotten about. A quick glance told me what I already knew—we were outnumbered. As good as Kader was, I doubted he was that good.

  The only thing I had left to salvage this situation was to convince Anson I wasn't there to betray him.

  "If I'd known you had such...elevated connections," he said. "I would've agreed to meet with you sooner. Here I thought you were a plant from Bayard. Imagine my surprise when I saw the news this afternoon."

  "Mind enlightening me on the topic?" I asked with more than a little venom.

  "See, that's the problem with working with Kylaens. They don't see you as human, so they're more than willing to betray you at the drop of a hat." He tutted and waved to his guards. "It's a shame, really, but I'm sure the prince will move on to another girl soon enough. And this treaty—"

  "Treaty?" I gasped as his guards pulled me upright and tied my hands with rope. "W-what treaty? Anson, what the hell is going on?"

  Anson laughed and patted me on the cheek. "We'll make sure to return your body to the Kylaens. Show them we aren't total barbarians. I'm sure your princeling will mourn for a bit before moving on."

  "Anson—Anson!" I cried as one of the guards shoved a bag over my head and the room went dark. Disembodied hands pulled me from the bright room backward into the dark hallway. I prayed they wouldn't separate Kader and me, because then I'd really be in trouble.

  I stumbled my way up the stairs and heard a car engine nearby. The door opened and I was shoved inside, my shoulder banging against a hard seat. When I didn't hear Kader next to me, I began to panic.

  "Kader!" I cried.

  "Right here," came the gruff response from outside the car. "Hit the floor."

  I barely registered what he'd asked when I heard two bodies slamming together, then a loud crack. I screamed his name, but then remembered what he'd said and pushed myself off the seat to lie flat on the floor. More cracks, more grunts and cries. I wriggled on the floor to get the blasted bag off my head, but there wasn't much room.

  "Kader!" I cried helplessly. If he was injured or...God forbid...I needed to get to him. I needed to get him back to Rosie.

  The car started and shot forward, throwing me back into the seat. There was more gunfire behind us, but it faded quickly. I tried to get up, but between my bound hands, the bag over my head, and the way the car careened through the streets, I couldn't get my footing.

  Finally, I shimmied around to sit on my butt and dipped my head between my legs, holding onto the bag and pulling it off.

  I released a sigh of relief when I saw the bald, shiny head at the wheel.

  "Kader?" I asked.

  "Hrn," he grunted. "St-stay low."

  I pushed myself to the front. Kader had one hand on the wheel, the other gripped against his shoulder, which was a dark, crimson color.

  "Oh my God, you're hurt," I said.

  "I'm fine," he said, glancing into the rearview mirror. But when he turned the wheel, the grimace was unmistakable.

  God, if only Galian were here, I thought, staring at Kader's injury.

  "Get the bag that was on your head," Kader said.

  Hands still bound, I scooted to the backseat and picked it up with my mouth, handing it to him. He grunted in appreciation and pressed the burlap to his wound.

  There was nothing but our two headlights on the dirt road and the stars and moon in the sky. I kept my gaze on the white orb, drawing strength from it, and praying that Kader and I would make it back to Norose alive. I wanted to process everything—Anson's enigmatic comments, that he now thought me a dirty Kylaen traitor—but Kader's situation was more pressing.

  "How did you...I mean..."

  "I always keep a razor blade in my pocket," he said. "Can't feel it when they search you. Cut the ropes, took care of the two guards, and gunned it." He grunted. "Could've done without the gunshot wound."

  I chewed my lip.

  "Theo, stop looking at me like I'm going to die."

  "B-but—"

  "I've had worse, and I'll have worse again, probably. We'll be at the safe house soon, and there's a med bag with wires to stitch me up."

  Although he smiled at me, it wasn't nearly as confident as usual.

  The car was swerving by the time we reached the dark house. Kader sat in the front seat and cut my binds with the razor blade.

  "You're...gonna have to carry me inside," he said.

  I moved under his uninjured shoulder, and he leaned all of his dead weight on me. My knees nearly buckled, but together, we made it inside. I flipped on the light and helped Kader to the large kitchen table. He collapsed on top of it, clutching the bloody shoulder which I now saw in the full light. His shirt was drenched in red, and it dripped down his arm. His face had grown paler, but he still retained his cavalier expression.

  "There's...a bag...in the pantry..." he grunted out. "And grab the whiskey, too."

  I rushed to the tall door in the kitchen and procured a first aid kit and half-drunk bottle of alcohol. I handed the latter to Kader, who pulled the cork with his teeth and muttered something about Gibbs drinking all his good booze.

  "W-what do you need me to do?" I asked.

  "Didn't Galian teach you anything?" Kader asked with a wry smile after he'd swallowed a large gulp of the whiskey. He gritted his teeth and poured half the liquid on his open wound, screaming as it burned him.

  "Kader!"

  He chuckled, although it was clear he was still in pain. "You've got to get the bullet out."

  "How?"

  "Put on those gloves," he said, nodding to the open bag in my hand. "There might be...tongs in there too... But use your finger..." He gulped down more of the whiskey.

  Trembling, I stared at the hole in his chest, but didn't move.

  "Theo," Kader met my gaze, "it's okay. It'll be worse if you don't get it out."

  I nodded then with a deep breath, dug my finger into the wound. Kader inhaled loudly, but he didn't cry out. It took a few slow, painstaking minutes, but I found the bullet.

  "L-l-let me look at it," Kader said, grabbing my bloody hand and pulling the bullet close to him. "G-g-good. Didn't f-fragment. N-now sew me up."

  I tossed the bullet away and picked up the sutures. My shaking hands made it difficult to thread the needle, but I managed. I couldn't look at Kader, so I plunged the needle into his ripped skin and threaded it to the
other side. Back and forth, I tugged the wound closed, praying I was doing this right.

  When I'd finished, I could finally stomach looking at Kader, but his eyes were closed. His chest rose and fell deeply, so that, at least, was welcome news.

  I pulled the bloody gloves off and sank to the floor, running my hands through my hair and letting my terrified tears fall.

  I must've fallen asleep, because when I awoke, bright light shone in my face. My clothes were stiff with blood and stuck to my body uncomfortably. I was on my feet in an instant, staring at the bloody, empty table.

  "I'm in here," Kader called softly.

  I followed the sound of his voice and found him, shirtless, on the couch, the wound in his shoulder clean and the sutures holding. He was still pale, but some of his color had returned.

  "Are you okay?" I asked.

  "Look better than you," he said, nodding to my bloody clothes. "Might have a change of clothes upstairs."

  I ignored him and sank into the chair across from him. "You almost died last night."

  "Wouldn't be the first time." He chuckled. "For either of us." He shifted, wincing and placing a hand on his shoulder. "But thank you. Galian will be proud of the stitch job."

  "At least you didn't need a transfusion, too," I said with a half-smile. "Not sure I could've managed that." I stared at a bird, which had flown to the window. "How did Anson know about me and Galian?"

  "I have no idea," Kader said, staring at the ceiling. "And until we get back to Norose, I don't think we will."

  "We're going to have to wait until you're better," I said. "You can't possibly sneak onto a Jervan-bound plane with a wound like that. And we have to get all the way to Herin—"

  "Good thing I've got a pilot here to fly me straight to Norose."

  I stared at him. "And what am I supposed to fly?"

  "You're going to steal a plane."

  "You can't be serious."

  "It's the last contingency plan Korina and I agreed on. If everything goes to shit—and apparently, everything has—we'll steal a plane and get back to Kylae that way."