A King's Caution (The Eternal War Book 2)
Page 21
The splinters fell silent, forcing Raimie to find another distraction from the growing distance between him and the ground. Generally, heights thrilled him, made his blood sing and heart race, but he currently trusted his control of Daevetch to keep from plummeting to a bone-shattering demise. He’d much rather have stable branches or a roof under his feet.
Dim made a funny, coughing noise, and Raimie stopped short, afraid he was about to lose his Daevetch source. The unexpected pause had Oswin tripping over his feet, but the spy gracefully caught himself before plunging from the stairs.
Both Dim and Bright hovered beside the step upon which Raimie perched, but Dim was hunched over, hands on knees, while Bright sympathetically patted his back.
“I could have told you that would happen,” the Ele splinter said.
What happened? Raimie asked.
“Nothing important,” Dim hoarsely answered, waving away his human’s concern. “I tried to speak our intentions, but the whole continues to restrict me. I don’t know why I thought this time might be different.”
Don’t hurt yourself trying to explain! Raimie exclaimed as he moved on. I never said I don’t trust you, just not fully, and your position isn’t a terrible one in which to be. I only trust one person to the extent you seek, and that trust only exists because he’s saved my life on multiple occasions, not counting the countless other acts which have proven his dependability.
“Kheled,” Dim darkly muttered.
Yes, Kheled. You should try to suspend your extreme hatred of him, Dim. I’ll be working with him for the foreseeable future, and I hope our friendship will last beyond Doldimar’s defeat.
Dim mouthed several complaints while Bright released something between a laugh and a sob.
“It would be nice if the backlash failed to take him this time,” the Ele splinter said.
Backlash? What’s-?
“Sir, I’d suggest ceasing your silent conversation with your invisible splinters,” Oswin interrupted. “We’ve neared the top. I doubt your soldiers will appreciate seeing their King distractedly gesturing at thin air.”
Oh gods, he was right.
Thanks for distracting me, Raimie thought at his splinters.
“Thank you for the warning,” he told the spy.
Climbing the last step onto the cliff’s edge, he bit back a gasp at the sheer number of people awaiting him there. The unknown army had erected camp some distance from his siege engines, but their number was vast, enough to swallow those under his command.
The numbers by themselves wouldn’t have overly concerned Raimie-skill counted enormously in a fight after all-but the orderly manner in which they'd arrayed their camp spoke to deeply ingrained discipline, a factor only a portion of his troops could claim. It was a significant portion, those who’d defected from Queen Kaedesa, but nothing compared to what this new, possible adversary possessed.
Spotting Marcuset conversing with a stranger, Raimie trotted to join them. “Please forgive the delay. I came as soon as I could.”
“Oh, there’s no need to ask forgiveness, Your Majesty,” the stranger said. “From what your commander has told me, I gather your recent days have been inordinately busy. I can understand why you might need time to present yourself. My name is Merlaro.”
“Raimie. I’m grateful for your patience,” Raimie said, one corner of his mouth tilting upward. “How may I help you?”
“Mine is not the task to convey my monarch’s desires,” Merlaro answered, “save that my liege wishes to speak with you privately.”
“A supremely terrible idea, Your Majesty,” Marcuset murmured for Raimie’s ears only. “Whomever their leader is most likely wants to remove you from the picture. With you gone, chaos would consume the ranks of those who follow you.”
“I’d love to meet your leader,” Raimie told Merlaro, blatantly ignoring the commander, “however, I fear you’ll have a hard time separating me from Oswin. He’s tasked with safeguarding my life.”
“I doubt my liege will mind one bodyguard’s presence,” the envoy conceded.
“Then where am I to meet him?”
Merlaro smiled crookedly. “My liege requests you first meet within our camp, but you shouldn’t stay there long,” he added before anyone could protest. “It’s simply a precaution. We’ve heard disconcerting stories concerning you, Your Majesty.”
“What about the danger to our King?” Marcuset spat.
“I assure you King Raimie has nothing to fear from my liege.”
“I’m more than happy to assuage your leader’s concerns.” Raimie glared at Marcuset. “Please, take me to him.”
Merlaro snorted, but he began his return hike to the conglomeration of foreign tents. Marcuset caught Raimie’s arm before he could follow.
“This is a bad idea,” he whispered. “We don’t know their intentions or where their loyalties lie. For all we know, that army’s appearance could be a trick of Doldimar’s.”
“Let me go,” Raimie commanded, tone brooking no argument, and Marcuset immediately complied. “I’m well aware this may be a trap but don’t see a reason to antagonize the overwhelmingly massive army arrayed against us. I’ll do what they want until they show signs of hostility. In the meantime, get our people ready for imminent attack in case your fears prove true.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Clicking his heels together, Marcuset saluted.
Raimie barely restrained an eye roll before jogging to catch up with the rapidly vanishing envoy.
As soon as he and Oswin broke through the first line of tents, his sense of unease ballooned, and his hands automatically rested on weapon hilts. The hostility directed their way carried the force of a tidal wave. It took enormous effort to stride behind Merlaro in what he could only imagine was a monarch’s proper carriage.
Only when they were past the point of no return, where it would prove nigh impossible to fight to safety, did Raimie notice the uniforms. Sprinkled among those wearing a soldier’s protective armor, scatterings of men and women sported clothing quite similar to what Raimie wore. Rather than vests, these people wore complete jackets whose waist lines fell below the hips, but in style, detail, and essence, their attire looked the same.
“Oswin…” Raimie muttered from the corner of his mouth, “are those what I think they are?”
“Quite possibly, sir.”
A loud pop followed the spy’s grudging admission, and Raimie’s apprehension deepened. Merlaro brought them to the forest’s edge, bursts of noise growing louder with every step. They rounded the last obstruction to their view of the sound’s source, and Raimie experienced a brief spurt of déjà vu.
A chestnut-haired woman aimed her pistol at a tree and squeezed the trigger. Sprays of wood showered from the helpless trunk, and the woman smirked. Handing the weapon to an attendant, she glided toward them.
“Your Majesty,” she said as she curtsied.
“Queen Kaedesa,” Raimie replied, inclining his head.
“Looks like you were right, sir,” Oswin murmured under his breath. “She did come across the sea for us.”
“And Middle!” Kaedesa exclaimed with a feral grin. “How good to see you! You had me worried when you disappeared without warning.”
“Your Majesty,” Oswin responded before locking his lips tight.
“Reticent as ever, I see,” Kaedesa shook her head, “and I understand the tales you told me so many months ago weren’t delusions, Raimie.”
“At the very least, enough people believe them to form him an army.” A pinch-lipped man joined the group, balefully glaring at Raimie.
“This is Pierdriel, my advisor,” Kaedesa said as way of introduction. “He’s here in an observatory role for the Ada’ir nobility.”
“Nice to meet you,” Raimie greeted before rounding on Kaedesa. “Why are you here? You’re a long way from your realm, Queen of Ada’ir.”
“Do you mean besides the fact that you stole from us?” Pierdriel subverted Kaedesa’s reply.
“Your Majesty, I would never think to-”
“But you did. Kindly keep your mouth shut, or do you know what might be better?” Kaedesa asked. “If the two monarchs had a nice, private chat together. What do you think, Raimie? Will you join me on a stroll through the woods?”
Again, the advisor spoke before the intended person could answer. “Your Majesty! The scandal! Leaving you alone with a man is unthinkable! And what if the rumors are true? What if he is a primeancer?”
“Oh, the rumors are true,” Raimie sidled into the man’s protest, “but I’ve no intention of assaulting the Queen either with primeancy or my manhood. From what I remember, however, Her Majesty’s more than capable of defending herself.”
“You see, Pier? Nothing to fear,” Kaedesa said.
“How can you trust him, Your Majesty?” Pierdriel protested. “All he gives you are meaningless words!”
“I swear on my honor and on the primal forces which give me power no harm shall come to your Queen,” Raimie intoned, “and if you need further assurances, you can keep Oswin as leverage until we’ve returned from our chat.”
Kaedesa snorted in a very unladylike manner. “Oswin?” she muttered to herself. “No wonder he clung so tightly to the title of Middle.”
“Does that satisfy you, Sir Pierdriel?” Raimie asked over the Queen’s contained chortles.
The advisor grudgingly agreed before retreating.
“What about my duty to keep you safe, sir? I can’t very well do that if I’m to serve as leverage,” Oswin asked while a squad of soldiers replaced Pierdriel.
“Same argument I gave that nasty man, Oswin. I can take care of myself, especially when the only source of danger will be the Queen.”
“Coming?” Kaedesa asked from where she’d retrieved her pistol.
“Of course, Your Majesty,” Raimie called to her as she slipped into the woods
“Be careful, sir,” Oswin murmured.
“I will.”
While trailing Kaedesa inside the forest’s concealment, Raimie attempted to clamber a solid defense of his actions together. He could only imagine what position he’d placed her in when he’d escaped Daira. She’d encouraged his flight, of course, but on top of escaping from her supposedly iron-clad imprisonment, he’d taken what amounted to one-fifth of her armed forces with him. What had such a theft done to her standing both with rival kingdoms and with the nobles in her own realm?
Her army’s encampment disappeared behind a mass of twigs and leaves, and she rounded on him. Raimie braced for the beating she was sure to rain on him, the one he thoroughly deserved, so when she wrapped him in a hug, surprise froze him solid, a shock which almost concealed his surge of bubbling panic and nausea.
“Thank Alouin you’re all right!” she whispered in his ear before withdrawing, taking alarm with her. “I’d heard you’d begun the ocean crossing bearing straight for the Accession Tear. I was afraid the storms had ripped my ships to flotsam.”
“You’re not angry with me?” Raimie asked, cocking his head. “I stole from you…”
“I assumed the theft was Marcuset’s plan, not yours. He always was a conniving bastard,” Kaedesa scoffed. “You should keep that man away from me, by the by. I’m liable to tear him limb from limb if I see him.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Raimie mumbled. His brain couldn’t accept the conversation’s turn. It kept revisiting the same question. “Why aren’t you angry? After what my people and I did to weaken Ada’ir, your army should be in the midst of destroying mine.”
“I’m sure the nobility would love it if I indulged that whim, but I don’t intend to sate their lust for battle.” Kaedesa wrinkled her nose. “Honestly, you did me a favor. Without a recent rebellion to trim the fat, Ada’ir’s standing army had grown bloated and unwieldy. The number who defected lowered its size to much more reasonable limits.
“Plus, you gave me the excuse I needed to leave Ada’ir, something I’ve desired for years. Ruling a nation has its perks, but travel isn’t one of them, and court life has become enormously stifling as of late.”
“Even so, Ada’ir invested time and money into the soldiers and ships that followed me to Auden. How am I to repay that debt?” Raimie asked.
“I’ll get to that soon,” Kaedesa answered. “First, I should return something I stole from you.”
Unhooking a sword hidden within her voluminous skirts’ folds, she offered it to him. Raimie took one look before backing away.
“Oh, no,” he raised a hand, “you can keep that thing.”
“Are you mad?!” Bright exclaimed while Dim shouted, “You idiot!” at the same time Kaedesa asked, “Why should I do that?”
Pressing a hand to his temple, Raimie squeezed his eyes closed. “A moment please,” he asked of the Queen while turning his attention to the splinters.
Must you choose to speak at the most inconvenient times? he asked.
“If it means we keep you from doing something incredibly stupid, we must,” Dim replied.
You think it’s stupid to refuse Shadowsteal? Raimie asked. It’s never helped me, and its reaction upon me wielding it is unpredictable at best. Besides, I already have a perfectly good sword. He patted Silverblade.
“You do,” Bright acknowledged, “but is Silverblade tied to your foretelling? Can it murder a-?”
“What are you doing?” Kaedesa asked. She continued to offer Shadowsteal to him.
“Holding a silent conversation. Don’t worry about it,” Raimie added at her confused expression. “Thank you for returning my family’s property, but I don’t think me touching it is a good idea. You remember what happened last time?”
“White light materialized from every surface, and you handily defeated my highly trained palace guard in mere seconds,” Kaedesa mused. “Perhaps you’re correct. For now, at least.”
She replaced the sword to her belt, and Bright and Dim groaned.
“Maybe another family member can take it until I can decipher why it acts so strangely when I hold it,” Raimie suggested. “Someone to whom it won’t react. Give it to my grandfather. I’m sure its return would overjoy him.”
“It’s your sword.” Kaedesa shrugged. “I’ll do with it whatever you will.”
“Then, that’s settled.” Happy?
“No,” Bright grumbled.
“But giving it to Eledis is better than leaving it with her,” Dim continued for the disgruntled Ele splinter.
“Now that that unpleasantness is concluded, shall we discuss how you’re to pay back your debt?” Kaedesa asked.
Gods, it was difficult to simultaneously hold two, separate conversations.
“If that’s what you desire, Your Majesty,” Raimie answered.
“Stop that!” Kaedesa made a face. “From what I hear, you’re a king in your own right. No need for deference lies between us. Call me by name.”
“As you like… Kaedesa.” The word stuck in his throat. “What can I, with my meager supply of resources, give you in exchange for the wrong I’ve committed against you?”
“Hmm. What should I request?” Kaedesa wickedly smiled. “What could make up for my loss? All that’s yours is mine for the taking. How fortunate for you I’ve already settled on something insignificant.”
“What is it?” Raimie demanded, masking his dread with irritation.
“I want a position at your side, King of Auden. I wish to make an alliance between our nations. To that end, I propose you make me your Queen.
“It’s simple, Raimie. If you wish to recompense Ada’ir, you’ll marry me.”
Raimie choked back laughter, the noise so loud several animals in the brush scampered from hiding. She wanted what?
“I’m sorry. I must have misheard you,” he coughed. “Are you asking to become my wife?”
“Is that such an unusual request between mon
archs?” Kaedesa asked, confusion and worry mixing on her face. “Marriage alliances are commonplace between the world’s kingdoms, are they not?”
“I wouldn’t know!” Raimie squeaked. “I wasn’t exactly trained for this job. It fell in my lap! You don’t remember how amusing you found my lack of court etiquette while I was your prisoner?”
“I’d forgotten about your relative ignorance when it came to anything unrelated to running a farm,” Kaedesa acknowledged. “I assure you, however, that such arrangements are mundane in the world of kings and queens.
“Would marrying me prove so distasteful? I can finance your war effort, and once you’ve cast off Doldimar’s tyranny, my experience in statecraft could prove invaluable while you establish your kingdom. I know I don’t necessarily bring much to the table physically, being a widow and all, but-”
“No, no, that’s not the issue,” Raimie protested. “You’re beautiful, Kaedesa. Any man would be lucky to have you, looks, experience, and all. It’s just that…”
How did one explain to a gorgeous, powerful Queen that another woman had already claimed one’s heart?
“I understand you’ll need time to think it over,” Kaedesa broke through his turmoil. “I don’t expect an answer right away, and while you make up your mind, my people are here to help yours.”
“I’m sure your soldiers will be ecstatic to work alongside those they view as traitors,” Raimie muttered.
“Yet another reason you should accept my offer,” Kaedesa said. “If we’re to be wed, I can declare I legitimately sent troops and supplies with my future husband to assist with his endeavor.”
“I’ll carefully consider it,” Raimie promised. “May we return now? I fear your people may grow anxious soon, and I’d rather my spymaster wasn’t harmed by them.”
“Don’t worry about… Oswin, was it?” Kaedesa laughed. “He’s more than capable of protecting himself and those to whom he’s sworn. You were supremely lucky Marcuset made that acquisition for you.”