The Amagarians: Book 1-3 (The Amagarians boxset)

by Stacy Reid

  Izumi glanced at the mysterious emissary. They would never question their daughter in front of the gathering, but she was anxious to know how this man came to be with her daughter at such a delicate time.

  There was something wrong with the man, but she could not identify what it was. He was dressed in grey shirt and waistcoat, black trousers, and a coat designed for royalty. His eyes were the color of tawny gold set in a beautiful face. His black hair was a shocking contrast to his pale skin.

  Yet he was kingdom less. She faltered at the realization. He wore no insignia.

  “Mother?”

  “All is well, come.”

  It had to be.

  Saieke sat in the drawing room. Her parents were present along with several council members. She smiled fleetingly at Sir Hugh, the only member of the prince’s council that was present.

  “Do you wish to refresh and have something to eat?” Her mother signaled for wine.

  Saieke swallowed tightly. “No.”

  “Are you well?”

  She wanted to sit with her mother in private chambers and atone for the pain she could still feel tunneling from her. “I am well, my queen,” Saieke answered formally. “I would request that the council convene so that I can bring to light what has transpired over the last few days. The man I arrived with…I request his presence at the council, my king, as he is central to what I must say.”

  Saieke met the king’s gaze as a princess and not as his daughter. It was a cold gaze which, oddly, did not disturb her as it once would.

  “The Nurian king will be present as well, along with his high chancellor,” her king responded icily.

  Her heart jolted. “I would confer with you Father, then privately with King Ajali.”

  “Our tribunal decreed in your absence, Princess, that the Nurian King is the one who has the right to punish you for attempting to break your oath.” He surged to his feet and paced the room, his royal robes swishing on the ground.

  Saieke flinched. They had held a tribunal and made a judgment when she was missing? She had only left for five days. She opened her mouth to restate that she had no promise with King Ajali and hesitated. Now was not the time. Her heart thudded, and slight fear snaked through her. According to their laws, they would have ordered punishment for her as well, if they thought she had broken a blood-oath. A tribunal usually took weeks to convene…but in five days?

  “Saieke?”

  She froze at the soft brush against her mind. Saieke slammed down mental barriers that she did not even know she possessed. She did not want Drac to be aware that she felt fear in her kingdom. Her heart stuttered at how he would deal with a threat to her, and they were her people.

  “Very well, my king,” she murmured and inclined her head in acquiescence.

  Saieke had always found the tribunal room grand and intimidating. This was where their laws were made and decided on, then recorded into the Oclui. It was a fierce room that showcased the heritage of their nation, from the olden bricks that still made the walls, the sculptures, and the many paintings of kings. To the cavernous ceiling glittering with stained glass.

  The seats were arranged in a circle, with a throne that sat high and opposite the audience. The imposing council seats hovered behind the King. The Nurian King had arrived with his high chancellor, and about one hundred warriors sat behind him.

  Saieke flinched.

  The King of Nuria drew her gaze like a magnet. Power rolled off him in waves, yet he fully contained his chakra. His skin was smooth, and a deep bronze and hundreds of twisted small plaited locks flowed over his shoulder and down his back. He had it held back from his handsome face with a thong. It was the contrast of forest green eyes against his dark skin that made him so riveting.

  He glanced at her and held her gaze. Before, it would have seared her and made her anxious. After being with Drac, she doubted the power of another’s glance could make her fretful. She had to admit, though, that King Ajali appeared a power to be reckoned with. If she had met him before she fled, she might have succumbed to him from sheer intimidation.

  Saieke stood before the podium in the center of the chamber and faced the gathering before her. Her mother sat beside her father, tension holding her form rigid. Her nervousness made Saieke anxious.

  The entire sixty council members were there, along with her king’s ten most trusted advisors. Her queen had several of her lady advisors with her as well. The warriors behind the Nurian king presented a united and powerful front. Ten of his warriors stood apart from the rest and formed a tight semi-circle around him. They looked deadly with their flat gazes and hands resting on the hilts of their swords. Her gaze encompassed all, and she smiled briefly at Sir Hugh and the members of the princes’ council that she sat on.

  “Princess Saieke is here before the council to account for her actions that had us presuming her missing for the past several days,” The high chancellor Azul announced to her king.

  “Begin, Princess,” he commanded.

  She glanced at Lachlan quickly, who stood to her left. His face was blank as he surveyed the gathering.

  “In Taryllion, my blades and I came under attack, and we had to seek sanctuary.”

  Her king raised his hand. “Why were you in Taryllion, Princess?” He asked silkily as he leaned forward.

  She looked at her queen. “I was distressed that I was being forced into a marriage without my consent, and I thought to leave briefly with my blades accompanying me,” she said into the stony silence.

  There were a few murmurs from the council.

  “You were breaking the pledge your king and lord made to the King of Nuria?” A voice to her far right asked. She glanced at councilor Camden.

  “Not precisely, my lord," she uttered, amazed at her gall and calm. "I was given to believe that King Ajali would arrive in twelve weeks’ time. When I learned that he was to arrive in, but a day's time, I panicked as I felt walls closing in on me. I thought to clear my mind and see how to resolve what I was feeling.”

  She flinched when another councilor asked, “So you sought to flee and break the blood-oath your king made, to give yourself time to extricate yourself from said oath?” he asked with menace.

  Her pulse hammered. “No, my lords, I sought time on how to reassure the nation that I would one day lead, that it was indeed in their best interest that I should wed King Ajali. I was aware our people were not as settled as I was.”

  “This council and your lieges were fully settled, Princess,” Councilor Camden said.

  Saieke communicated silently with Sir Hugh. He asked a question of his own before she was pinned any further.

  “You were attacked, Princess? Were you not wearing your armband proclaiming you as the Princess and heir of Boreas?” Sir Hugh questioned, bringing the matter back to what she wanted to discuss.

  “I was. My attackers were Mevians, and I was attacked because of my identity.”

  A ripple of shock rumbled through the tribunal. She noticed that even the Nurian king seemed more subtly alert.

  Her king sat forward. “Tell us everything!” he commanded.

  Saieke spoke of her attack in detail and her flight to the Darkage.

  “A Darkan rescued you from Mevian assassins?” her king demanded, shock rife in his tone.

  “Not precisely ‘rescued’ my king. I bargained for sanctuary, and it was granted."

  “Bargained?” her queen asked, as she clasped her hands tightly as she questioned Saieke.

  “I offered several jars of elixir for sanctuary against death and kidnapping, my queen. And it was indeed death, because I was attacked once more by Mevians within the Darkage and was dealt near fatal wounds.”

  An uproar erupted from the council and all the Nurian warriors now rested their hands on their swords. Tension and anger spiked. She continued in a clear voice, “This man is Lachlan Ravenswood; he is the emissary from the Darkage to fulfill the honor bargain.”

  Saieke blinked at the overwhelming silen
ce that permeated the council room. Her king froze in the act of speaking and glared at her in appalled shock. A surge of power roiled in the room from the Nurian warriors. They appeared alert and had death in their eyes. All analyzed him like a bug on display.

  “He arrived in the sun,” the high chancellor to King Ajali drawled out. “Are you sure he is a Darkan?”

  “I am a here on the command of my king, Gidon Al Shra. I am here only to fulfill the honor bargain made by the Princess of Boreas, and I will take my leave as soon as it is completed,” he responded with absolutely no inflection in his voice or sign of discomfort.

  Her queen spoke, “The dark kingdom has our gratitude and blessings for coming to the aid of our cherished princess. We will gladly honor any bargain she formed with you right away.” She made a motion with her hand, and several Borean warriors flashed to him for the parchment he held in his hand. The queen looked at it then passed it to the king who gave it to his advisor on his right.

  “The honor oath has indeed been signed by the princess and will be fulfilled. Advisor Chiang will escort you to the ground chambers where he will deliver the jars.”

  Lachlan executed a quick bow and left with the advisor. He met her eyes, and in them she saw the reminder that she should open the idea of a trade between the kingdoms. She had every intention of doing so, but she had to start with the princes’ council who would then confer with the king and his advisors.

  She was thankful they did not hesitate to fulfill her promise. She knew Lachlan would not tarry as Gidon had already outlined that he should return as soon as he had the elixir.

  She addressed the council before anyone could speak. “My king, my queen, and council members, I am aware of the worry that my disappearance has caused. Please accept my heartfelt apologies, as it was not my intention to be willful and cause harm. If not for the attack, I would not have been in this position now.” I would have been on Earth trying to blend with humans…and missing the most magnificent and scariest adventure of my life—Drac.

  “I hope that we can come to an amicable agreement with Nuria that would benefit all.” Saieke trembled and prayed that they would not ask more of her right at this moment.

  She wanted a more intimate meeting with her parents. Her heart thudded as the high chancellor Azul addressed her.

  “You speak of returning, my princess, if you had not been attacked. Why did you not send word that you were alive and well?”

  She hardened herself and bent the truth. “I had to recover from my attacks. I was severely wounded, and as soon as I healed I journeyed back, my lords. A message from the dark king would have been met with fear and suspicion if they had indicated that I was within the Darkage but unable to return.”

  She met their eyes boldly and fearlessly, though inside, her heart shook.

  “It is in your favor that you have returned without coercion, Princess. This tribunal held a hearing on how to punish your defiance of your king’s order. It was decided that you will be given thirty lashes for breaking an oath made by your king. However, by your testimony, you did not break your oath. Is that your stance, Princess?”

  Saieke heart thumped harder. She could not admit that she had willfully defied her king, even though she was shocked that the tribunal had already convened, and they had not placed an Ageni on her.

  “My stance, my lord, is that I panicked about how to explain to my king that I could not sign a blood-oath with King Ajali. My intention was never to break an oath that my king agreed on, but to explain why it would be difficult for me to fulfill the oath."

  Saieke’s clenched her hands into tight fists at her side. Shock flared in her mother’s eyes at the import of what she was implying. Saieke looked at her king and council and saw it had not occurred to them what she could say. Her mother only knew, because she had tried to talk with her about using the consort clause. She saw the plea in mother’s eyes not to mention it. Saieke lips and throat became dry.

  “Why would it be difficult, Princess? You are heir to the throne, and your king has given your hand to King Ajali to form an allegiance with our kingdom. This tribunal decided that your signing is a mere formality, and as of such you are Nuria’s blood-bound Queen.”

  The room spun around her. His voice droned on and she grappled to hear what he was saying. She forced herself to listen to his words.

  “It is imperative that the councilors for defense meet with the warrior factions to understand why Mevia would order an attack on you, Princess. We must get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible. There should be no more delays in the signing of the oath by you. Would you agree, my lords?” the high chancellor Azul asked.

  Panic clawed at Saieke’s throat. This was not how she envisioned it; she had planned to look at the law with Sir Hugh to refine her defense.

  “I agree, High Chancellor Azul. King Ajali has been patient with us as he awaited the return of the princess. Summon the masters of ceremonies. The wedding will be organized immediately,” her king proclaimed.

  Before she could protest, King Ajali spoke. His voice rumbled through the council like the hottest of fire. “I would like to proceed without delay, Williem. We have the papers drawn already. I would like to formalize the oath here in this council when the master of ceremonies arrives. I trust that this is acceptable?” His voice was smooth and deadly.

  There was a rush of voices through the council which was quickly silenced.

  “We agree” the high chancellor Azul boomed out after quickly conferring with her king.

  Saieke regarded the King of Nuria in disbelief. Satisfaction and triumph blazed in his eyes and something darker that she could not identify. He would have them marry now?

  “My lords,” she said, her voice high and clear in the chamber. “I would seek a private audience with my king and queen to explain my difficulties in formalizing the oath.”

  The silence that entered the room was deafening.

  “Come Princess, whatever you must impart to your majesties can be said here. After all, my king will need to hear your reason for attempting to break an oath made by your kingdom,” the high chancellor of Nuria snapped.

  Saieke gazed at her father beseechingly. Her mother reached over and gripped his hands under the folds of her caftan.

  “A private audience is denied. This is a matter that involves this council. Speak, Princess Saieke,” her king commanded.

  Saieke hesitated as fear rushed through her. This was not at all how she imagined unveiling that she had a consort. “I cannot fulfill my oath to the king as I would not be going to him true and pure as a queen ought to be,” she muttered shakily, her hands tightly gripping the folds of her caftan.

  “What madness is this?” the Nurian high chancellor demanded from his high seat.

  “I do not seek to be willful, but I have a consort. My king was not aware and as such could not bear that information in mind when he spoke with King Ajali at the summit. It has been a trying time for me to inform my liege, and I feel I must do so now to avoid complications.” Saieke tried to keep the blush from her face as she lied to the most influential peers of her realm.

  She felt as if a thousand eyes held her under scrutiny. She could feel the heat of King Ajali and the disbelief of the council.

  “This appears to be a ploy not to fulfill your oath, which then leads us back to the belief that you are trying not to honor a blood-oath made by your king,” the High chancellor Camden proclaimed in a harsh voice.

  The Nurian chancellor leaned in and conferred with his King. He held up his hand for attention. “We require proof that the princess is indeed impure. At this time, we cannot take her word on the matter."

  “I agree,” her king snapped. She could feel the anger in his voice. But she heard something else that made her wilt inside. Fear. “We will summon the castle healers—”

  “No.”

  Saieke bit the inside of her lips hard. The chancellor interrupted her king when he spoke, and her father allowed the i
nsult.

  “A physician is not necessary. A member of our warriors will question her.” He held up his hand and they collectively gasped when a Serangite stepped forward.

  Saieke went weak at the implication. The Serangites’ weapon of warfare was the mind. The female that came forward was petite and moved as if floating. She was slender with slightly rounded curves. She could have belonged to any other kingdom, except her eyes gave her away. They were like perfected diamonds—colorless, hard and sparkly ringed with black. They were striking and eerie. She stopped at the chancellor’s side and her piercing eyes met Saieke’s.

  “Are you impure, Princess?” the chancellor asked.

  “Yes, I have a consort,” Saieke responded meeting eyes with a calm that belied everything she was feeling inside. The hand that reached for the goblet of water beside her on the podium shook.

  ‘Truth,” the Serangite drawled.

  Her queen gasped.

  Saieke flinched spilling the water. They used their minds to ferret truth, implant suggestions, trap one under illusions, and to kill. If they asked the right question all she had plotted would tumble down.

  “Do you currently have more than one lover, Princess?” Azul’s beady eyes squinted at her in outrage.

  “No!” Saieke said.

  “Truth.”

  “Have you ever been with more than one person, Princess?” the chancellor queried flatly, his gaze never wavering from Saieke face.

  “No.”

  “Truth.”

  The chancellor whispered to King Ajali and he nodded. She braced herself for the question.

  “How many times have you lain with your lover?”

  She blinked in bemusement. Heat flared across her cheeks. “I am not sure,” she said in a strangled voice.

  “Untruth,” the Serangite said flatly.

  A throb started in her head.

  “I am unsure as to how the amount of times is relevant,” her queen snapped leaning forward in her seat to glare at King Ajali’s high chancellor.

  Saieke flashed her grateful look.

  “It is necessary as my king is trying to determine if the princess is still suitable,” he said icily.