The Complete Madion War Trilogy

by S. Usher Evans

  I shuddered as I turned away from the television. It was the second time I'd seen Theo's blood-soaked form on television, and was surprised they continued to play it. But it was all anyone could talk about now, and if my conversation with Rhys was any indication, it was thanks to the heavy-hand of his media relations aide.

  He'd called me again, late in the night, sounding wearier and more lost than ever. I wasn't sure why he called me as opposed to anyone else, but I hoped my council was helpful. He'd been distraught about using Theo's story, but as I'd told him the night before, if it helped keep things from getting worse, I doubted even she could find fault with it.

  Even better, the conversations in Jervan were now decidedly less anti-Kylae and more pro-Theo. She did make for an interesting story, one that tugged at the heart and prompted the dissolution of anger. Still, Kylae and Jervan might've been distracted by a crying Raven woman, but not for very long. I needed to cool the flames of war before they rose up again. Even with all Dixon's charm, he'd only been able to get me a meeting with Mendel Hueske, President Kuman's aide for business development. He'd been a friend of a friend from my time at the Royal Kylaen University, and the main reason why Jervan was our partner and not Herin. He'd come bearing lucrative deals on ports, tax breaks, and a charming smile that was still trying to work its way into my good graces.

  It wasn't the president, but it would have to do for now.

  "Ms. Collins, I hope you're finding your accommodations in Jervan to your liking," he said, shaking my hand firmly as he met me in my office.

  "I am," I said, forcing a pleasant smile onto my face. "Terrible news out of Kylae, though."

  He shook his head. "My condolences on your losses. You were close with Prince Galian were you not?"

  To that, I had to laugh. "No more than good friends. But I am worried about him. I hope he wakes up soon."

  "He might be better off sleeping. This world isn't one I'd want to wake up to. Riots in Rave, riots in Kylae. Seems Prince Rhys has his hands full."

  "To be sure," I said, shifting slightly. "I do hope Jervan isn't seriously considering military action."

  It was his turn to laugh, and I saw the distrust behind his eyes. "Unfortunately, Jervan's business is Jervan's. We might've offered you asylum, but we can't offer you our strategy."

  "True," I said, admitting I might've been a bit too blunt in my haste. "But would Jervan accept a letter of apology? Perhaps signed by the prince himself?" I brandished one of the two letters I'd taken to carrying on my person. I placed it on the table and slid it over with one finger.

  Mendel picked up the envelope, his gaze lingering on the unbroken wax seal. "This is from Kylae?"

  "Believe me when I say Rhys does not wish for more war," I said. Then, sensing I might need to add more weight, I continued. "I was there, you know. At the wedding. I saw...well, I saw everything.

  To his credit, Mendel's face grew a little ashen. "Horrible what that Anson did. That poor, poor girl. She spoke here, you know. At the Three Nations' Summit." He chuckled. "They said the prince was here around that time, too. Must've had a romantic interlude under all our noses—"

  "Yes, well," I said, not really interested in talking about Galian and his wife in great detail. "Rhys is trying to undo the damage his father caused. And that, of course, begins with a formal apology and rescinding of the war declaration. He would like Jervan to do the same."

  "I'm sure, and we'd like our money back from that crook Bayard."

  "There's blame to go around. But..." I smiled. "As Theo said, it's better to move forward together. Forgiveness and all that. This letter came from the crown prince himself. Please make sure it's delivered to the right hands. Rhys would very much like to avoid war, at all costs." I paused then said, "If not for me, then for that poor girl whose husband fell victim to all the fighting."

  He heaved a sigh and put the envelope down. "Fine. I'll speak to the president. But be advised, I can only handle Jervan's business. Herin might not be so willing to forgive."

  I nodded, already sensing that I would be taking a trip to the northern country. "Kylae will be different under Rhys, I know. But first, we have to let it survive the next week. And that starts with Jervan accepting the peace offering."

  Rhys

  "You're amazing, do you know that?"

  Finally, something was going right. I wasn't sure why I felt compelled to call Olivia for a second night in a row, but it had been a long day, Mom was still at the hospital, and I needed to hear a friendly voice—and a strategic one.

  Her laughter wasn't bad to listen to either. "You flatter me. I just had a meeting, that's all. I don't know if the letter will even get to Kuman. And Dixon's working to get my entry papers into Herin, which is taking longer than—"

  "Olivia," I said with a chuckle, "you're amazing. Please take the compliment. It's been difficult to find positives lately."

  "How is he?" she asked, after a moment.

  "I don't know," I admitted, with no shortage of guilt. "I haven't even had time to go down to the hospital."

  "Rhys, that's horrible."

  "I've been a little busy keeping the country together!"

  "That's no excuse not to see him, at least once."

  "I just...I don't know if I could handle it," I said. "Liv, he already died once..."

  "And he'll die again, eventually," she said, but it lacked the usual harshness. "But you need to go. Support your mother at least. And that wife of his."

  I shuddered, remembering her wails of horror. "I don't know if I can do that. Not now, not when there's so much else that needs my energy."

  "Go," she said simply. "The country can survive a one hour visit to your brother's bedside."

  "I will," I said. "And if I can help get you into Herin in any way, I will. Liv—Olivia—I really appreciate your help. I hope you know that."

  She chuckled again. "I suspect you'll make it up to me one way or another."

  My thoughts immediately went to an inappropriate place, and I coughed into the receiver. "Well, I'd better go order a car. Take care of yourself."

  "You too."

  I hung up the phone and wished I hadn't. It was true, I'd been busy. It was also true that I was avoiding the trip to the hospital.

  But it had been another day of getting nothing done while Kylae burned, and I needed...something. And since Olivia wasn't physically here, and since it was clear my mother wasn't going to come here any time soon, I would have to go to her. So, gathering my courage, I called for a car.

  For all the reports of rioting, Norose was dark and quiet. Mine was the only car on the streets (I was pleased that we were even stopped mid-way to the hospital to be questioned), and the only people I saw were security patrols. That, at least, gave me some comfort.

  But the closer we drove to the hospital, the more people I saw. They were crowded under lampposts, sleeping against walls. Among them were security forces wearing thick armor and heavy artillery, but so far, everything was calm. I leaned over to my driver.

  "What are all these people doing out here?" I asked.

  "I don't know," she replied with a shrug.

  But I knew. They were out here tired, hungry, scared. Looking for someone to tell them everything was going to be fine. I hadn't done anything but sit in council meetings and argue until I was blue in the face. A great king I was turning out to be.

  The car stopped in front of the hospital, and the normal crowd of tabloid photographers crammed in front of the windows, eager to take a photo of me. I barely heard their questions, forcing my gaze to the ground as Snyder pushed them aside to make room for me to walk into the hospital. They maintained their distance outside the facility, and I shook off the claustrophobia of having them so close.

  A nurse found me almost immediately, and I didn't even need to ask for directions, as she gently took my arm and guided me toward the elevator. She was young—maybe mid-thirties—but her eyes held a deep sadness in them, as if she'd seen too much violenc
e of late.

  "I'm sure he's going to pull through," she said, patting the arm she still held. "I'm sure of it."

  "I thought he was stable?" I asked.

  "He's been having issues today, still listed as critical," she said with a shake of her head. "Dr. Maitland finally went home, as Dr. Hebendon arrived yesterday. He's been monitoring Galian's—Dr. Helmuth's—progress."

  "Hebendon came back?" I asked. He'd been Gally's attending for months, and had driven my brother crazy. I was under the impression the Herinese doctor didn't like my brother.

  "Of course. He was very worried." The lift door opened and we stepped into the empty hallway. "But it's been difficult to spare any more staff. The queen has asked that the rioters take priority."

  "That's Mom for you," I said with a smile.

  "Here we are. Please let me know if I can assist with anything else."

  I thanked her, and she left me standing in front of the closed door. There was something intimidating about it, a fear of what might lie on the other side. The last time I'd seen my little brother, he was being wheeled off in a gurney and I'd thought him dead.

  Straightening my shoulders, I pushed open the door and found it horribly...serene. Gally was pale, motionless, with tubes running into both his hands and his nose. I half-expected him to stand and laugh at me for being so worried about him, but he slept on, oblivious to the world going to shit around him.

  Next to him sat my mother, her hair still balled behind her head as it had been on his wedding day, her face streaked with tears and her eyes focused on some place far away from the hospital room.

  "Hey," I said.

  Mom looked up, her gaze on me for a moment before she stood. "Rhys. Son. You're here."

  "Sorry it's taken me a—"

  "No." She shook her head and crossed the room, placing her hands on my shoulders. "I'm just glad to see your face."

  "How is he?"

  "He's...still asleep," she said, glancing at the form on the bed. "Stable. Dr. Maitland said the worst is over. Now it's just...it's up to him."

  "Where's Theo?" I asked, glancing around the empty room.

  "Rosie took her to the doctor's lounge to shower," Mom replied, wringing her hands.

  "She can't shower on her own?" I asked dubiously.

  "Son..." Mom said before shaking her head. "It's been a tough day—"

  "Three days," I corrected her.

  "It's been...three days?" she said, glancing at Gally. She sank down into the chair and put her head in her hands. "Dr. Maitland doesn't know if he'll ever wake up."

  "He'll wake up," I said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "He wouldn't leave Theo hanging."

  She inhaled and sat up, wiping her cheeks. When she spoke, it was more like the woman I'd known all my life. "Tell me what's happening at the castle."

  "Oh, well... You don't want that burden."

  "Son." She put her hand over mine. "I know about the riots. People come in, get bandaged up, and leave in handcuffs."

  I closed my eyes, trying not to sound as lost as I felt. "The council isn't doing anything, or they don't want to do anything. Their only concern is Anson."

  "And what is your plan for him?"

  My plan. I should've had one. "I don't know." I glanced at Gally, hoping I could find the gumption to sentence a man to death looking at the evidence of his crimes. But I just felt tired.

  "There's strength in mercy," Mom replied, adjusting the hospital gown on Gally's limp arm. "It would be a powerful symbol of the kind of ruler you'll be. Not to mention, it would strip Anson of his desire to become a martyr." She glanced at me. "I hear Theo's speech has been dominating the airwaves."

  I winced. "I'm sorry—"

  "No, don't be," Mom replied. "It was smart."

  "It was Emilie."

  "I have no doubt." She paused. "And Jervan? Herin? What do you hear from them?"

  "I sent two letters of apology with Olivia Collins—"

  "Olivia?" Mom glanced up at me, the first bit of real emotion on her face.

  "She stopped by the night of the assassination," I replied. "Wanted to help."

  "Interesting." Mom looked at Gally again, and adjusted his sleeve once more.

  "She's been a lifesaver," I admitted under my breath. From writing the letters to receiving my late-night phone calls, she had been...well, she'd been exactly what I needed. "She met with a Jervanian aide today, and she's confident they'll pull back on their talk of war. But Herin is another story. They denied her request to visit the country."

  Mom sat back on her heels. "Perhaps Dr. Hebendon could help. He's got connections in the country, I believe."

  The door opened, and the ghostly husk of my sister-in-law stood in the doorway. Her hair wet and dripping, her haunted eyes landed on Galian as if no one else existed in the world. She brushed by me, ignoring me completely, and put her hand on his face.

  "Did he wake up?" she asked, her voice hoarse and quiet.

  "No, my darling," Mom replied. "Why don't you try to sleep?"

  "No." Theo sat down in the vacant chair. And she said no more, threading her fingers through Galian's.

  "Come, Rhys," Mom said, standing and taking my arm as we left Theo alone.

  Outside the room, Eli Kader and his wife, Rosie, were engaged in deep discussion. Kader nodded in my direction, straightening a bit, but I might as well have been another regular citizen to Rosie.

  "She wouldn't eat," Rosie said to Mom, before adding, "Have you eaten?"

  "Yes, dear," she said with an absent wave. But I wasn't so sure she was telling the truth. Neither was Rosie, who took her hand and led her away, while my mother protested half-heartedly.

  "The country hasn't fallen into the Madion Sea. That's a positive," came Kader's gruff voice in my direction.

  "Is that the only positive you see?" I asked.

  He shrugged noncommittally.

  "I'm doing the best I can," I huffed, folding my arms over my chest. "The council wants to meet with me every second of every day—perhaps they're planning to murder me through too many inane meetings."

  "How did your meeting go with Collins?" Kader asked.

  I almost asked how he knew, but didn't have the energy. "She's proving a fantastic ally. Passing on letters to Jervan and Herin. Formal apologies, requests to cease war, all of that."

  "I figured she might be useful." He paused. "And what are you planning to do about Rave?"

  "R-Rave?" I asked. "What's going on over there?"

  "Same thing happening in Kylae. Power vacuum, rioting, excessive force by the Kylaen military."

  I groaned and put my hand over my eyes. "Great."

  "I don't believe Mark Cannon knows what he's doing."

  "And you think I do?"

  "I think you're more prepared than he is. He thought he'd just get a fat paycheck and lots of girls. Now he's in charge." Kader snorted. "At least you knew this was coming. I believe you should take a trip over there and offer him some moral support."

  "Kader, are you out of your mind? I can't go to Rave! The council—"

  "Are a bunch of morons. I'm not saying take a summer there. It will take you two hours to fly there, twelve hours to have a meeting, and two hours to fly back."

  I counted in my head. "Wait...twelve hours to have a meeting?"

  "Two to knock some sense into Mark Cannon, and nine to get into Herin, one to speak with Prime Minister Bouckley then head back."

  That I hadn't been expecting. "You want me to fly to Herin, who is about to go to war with us, and speak with their prime minister?"

  "I want you to fly to Herin and prevent war by speaking to their prime minister. But she'd only agree to it under complete secrecy. So you'll fly to Rave as a cover."

  "Are you telling me that this is already arranged?" I asked, taking a step back. "You guys already made contact with Herin—Prime Minister Bouckley—and set this up? Did Mom—"

  "Yes."

  "Were you going to inform me of this
plan?" I asked, feeling simultaneously annoyed they were planning behind my back and relieved by it. Perhaps I wasn't in this all by myself.

  Kader just offered his usual enigmatic, smug smile. "We're leaving in ten. Be sure to say goodbye to your mother."

  FIVE

  Olivia

  I would have to stop taking late night calls from His Majesty eventually, I decided with a large yawn. I was almost beginning expect them, much to the detriment of my sleep patterns. And while it was rather flattering to be the object of a prince's affections, Collins Shipbuilding needed my full, well-rested attention.

  I was finally able to get some work completed—approving a revised schedule for our ship, and taking a few meetings with some lower-level managers. They all voiced serious concerns for the happenings back in Kylae, news of which was becoming more scarce as the tensions widened between our nations. I had a stack of duplicate forms—requests for asylum that had been submitted to Jervan from family members still in Kylae—that I promised I'd do something with as soon as I could. I hated being so vague, but I feared I was using up my diplomatic favors by getting Rhys' letter to the right people. If all went well, my employees could remain in Kylae and we wouldn't have to worry.

  Around noon, Dixon informed me that Mendel was on his way, and I cleared my schedule. Anxious for good news to share with Rhys that night (or whenever he called again. I wasn't waiting for his call), I quietly prayed for the best while preparing myself for the worst.

  "The good news is that I was able to deliver your message to President Kuman," Mendel said after we exchanged pleasantries. "And he was pleased to receive it."

  I smiled, the action feeling strange after so many tense days. "That's wonderful to hear."

  "But," he said with a wince, "politics as they are in Jervan, most of the ministers here are onboard with taking action against Kylae."

  My hopes fell. "That's..."

  "Not to say we're going to start bombing anyone," Mendel said quickly. "Jervan won't go to war unless Herin does. And so far..."

  "They might be," I said, chewing my lip. "I've had Dixon working to secure me entry papers all day, but so far, all my requests have been denied." I batted my lashes at him. "Any chance you could help me out?"