Page 35 of Born of Blood and Ash

Frustration grew as I twisted my hair around my finger. Itshouldn’t be this difficult. And in reality, the Ancients should be helping us.

“There is only one Primal almost as old as Kolis who mayknow and would have taken an active role in entombing the Ancients, while theothers likely weren’t old enough to fight,” he said. “Keella.”

I twisted my hair tighter, hope sparking. There was noguarantee that Keella would have the information, butit was something. “Can we go now? To the ThyiaPlains?”

“We can, but I think we should meet with the others first,”he suggested.

“You’re right.”

“Always,” he replied, and I shot him a look. He grinned ashe reached between us and pulled my fingers free of my hair. “So, the game planis to find a way to entomb Kolis. Once we have that information—”

“We have to go after Kolis, which will start a war.”

“I’m afraid that is inevitable,” he stated, refilling ourglasses.

So inevitable, it seemed, that Ash had started planning forit by growing and training his armies long before I came to the Shadowlands.

“And how damaging that war is, how costly it becomes, willdepend on how big it is. Because it won’t just be us against Kolis,” Ashcontinued. “It will be us against whoever stands with him, and he will have hisloyalists among the gods and Primals.”

“I just don’t get how any Primal could stand with him beforeand continue to do so now that there is a true Primal of Life.” I shook myhead, frustration growing because I did understand how on some level.“But they don’t know me. However, they do know what Kolis is capableof.”

He nodded as my gaze fell to the golden swirl on his lefthand. Something occurred to me. “We won’t rule as Kolis has. Obviously. Butwhen your father ruled, did any of the other Primalstake part in the decisions that were made?”

“As far as I know, mostly not,” he answered.

“And this included decisions involving other Courts? And themortal realm?”

“I believe so.” Curiosity filled his expression. “Why areyou asking?”

“I don’t know. I’m just thinking. Like, I know things willbe different with you being King instead of Consort, but why shouldn’t all the Primals be involved in making major decisions?” I said.“Like officially involved.”

Ash’s head cocked. “Why would you want that?”

“Because no two people, Primal or mortal, should decideeverything, especially when it comes to things they have no experience with andothers do,” I pointed out. “Power should be shared. That’s what the Ancientsdid, right? The Ancients shared their power by creating the Primals.”

“Yes,” he said. “Inevitably, it didn’t stop what was tocome, but if they hadn’t done what they did, none of us would even be here.”

That was a scary thought.

Ash was quiet for several moments. “There was a kingdom thatexisted when my father was alive. It was in the west, where Terra exists today,and was ruled by a council of elected officials. I believe it was called thekingdom of Creta.”

“I haven’t heard of that kingdom,” I said.

“Probably because it was a young one full of ideals andpeople who also believed they should not be ruled by a King and Queen,” hesaid. “They inevitably collapsed into infighting when no one could agree onanything from common laws to how rent should be collected.”

“Well, that’s disappointing to hear,” I muttered.

“But one failure doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be attemptedagain.”

I glanced over at him.

“I think the other Primals shouldbe involved in the decisions. It would make them more invested in what occursoutside their Courts and Temples,” Ash continued. “But it won’t be easy.”

“Oh, trust me, I know. My brief interaction with some of thePrimals tells me that. But…there could be safeguardsin place, you know? If the majority decides something terrible—which, again,based on my interaction with some of them, could happen—a veto power or even anon-Primal could also step in. Actually, why should it just be the Primals? Shouldn’t the draken beinvolved in decisions?” Excitement grew. “Like Nektas.”

“I doubt he’d sign up for that,” Ash stated.

“Or any draken,” I said, silentlyadding that it would totally be Nektas. “There are somany better ways to do it.”

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