Page 7 of A Wrecking of Salt and Fire

“So…Mother is really anxious about Kohl’s father arriving early. I guess I can’t blame her, he gives me the creeps.” A shudder released down Ember’s back.

“He is not creepy, Ember. King Athanas is an honorable man.” Her sister grimaced at the words she spoke.

Katrin always told her she enjoyed the company of her future father-in-law. That the violence in his eyes even when speaking to his family was traumatic, but he would protect those he loved at all costs. Protect his people. The only good thing Kohl got from him.

“Honorable or not, one slice from the Viper of Votios’ sword and you’re done for. Not to mention if he uses those teeth.” It felt like spiders crawling all over her skin, the thought that she may need to face soldiers like the ones who made up King Athanas’s army.

She heard the rumors. Teeth sharpened like knives, blades laced with venom—something few possessed the power to heal. If they all went to war in the isles, these were the kinds of monsters Ember would have to defend her people against. She could barely handle the weight of a sword, no one would want her for protection.

“You know very well that no soldier in Morentius actually uses their teeth anymore. It is purely an homage to their people.” Katrin narrowed her eyes at Ember, she never took well to insults about Kohl or his family. “Have you heard any more about the army being raised in Nexos?” Katrin questioned, knowing fully well she would not have the answers.

Ember avoided going to the barracks at all costs. Not only because of the filthy smell of sweat and what literally could be horse shit, but because of Ajax and his pompous, self-righteous, narcissistic ass. The commander was handsome, anyone could see that, but she would not be caught dead acting like the mindless idiots he kept around him. Fawning over every push-up and strike of the sword, the way sweat trickled down his shirtless body.

“Ahem,” Katrin cleared her throat, lifting an eyebrow. Ember’s throat bobbed. Gods, she needed to stop thinking about him and this was not helping. “I need you to go down to the barracks and speak with Commander Ajax. It is imperative that I have all the information our spies have gathered before any of the Acknowledgement events occur.”

Sinking farther into the chair, Ember scowled. “I am not going down there to inquire. If the Spartanis knew any information they would deliver it to me directly.” Technically that was untrue, she wouldn’t receive direct reports until after she became Prytan. Ember should not even be told anything right now, but they seemed to give her tidbits of information as a courtesy to who she would one day be. Who she had to be.

“You are going down there and you will act pleasant.” Katrin’s voice heighted and cut like their mother’s, a true queen in training. “If you want them to see you as someone in power, you have to earn their trust, and that means spending time in their world.”

“But what if I don’t want to be in their world?”

Katrin shook her head, shoulders drooping. “We are far past being able to decide where we want to be, sister. We both must face our fate and I will need you beside me, someone I can trust wholeheartedly.”

“You can trust Kohl, and the commander is much more suited to the position of Prytan than I will ever be.” Everyone knew she would fail, it was a wonder the senators hadn’t pushed to rid Alentus of this outdated tradition.

“They are not blood, Ember. Kohl is too easily persuaded by love and the commander may be well-trained, but so could you if you tried. I have seen you in your history lessons—you act as though all you care for is the newest fabric for a dress, but Iason has somehow snuck in learning well beyond your years. My sister, you can do so much more than you give yourself credit for. So go, speak with Ajax, consider my words. Prove everyone that looks at you as the weaker sister wrong.” Katrin stood to leave, gripping Ember’s hand tightly. “And, Ember, you are right. I may need them, need the Spartanis, the senators even to help me be a successful queen, but I need you more.”

As her sister walked through the door, Ember could not help but wonder if Katrin was right? What if she could do so much more?

Mud coated the hem of Ember’s gown as she stalked through the barracks toward the commander’s wing. Apparently, today was not the day to wear such a flowing fabric. An even worse day to wear her new leather slippers that were now soaked through. They cost her ten gold coins at the market, ten gold coins now worth as much as the manure that coated them.

Dark and decrepit, that was how Ember would describe the barracks—the dim lit halls and the people that frequented them. The soldiers were often gone from their normal lives for months, years even, as they trained here, foregoing their partners by law for lovers of all kinds. Courtesans usually flitted about from room to room dressed in sheer gauze, showing off all manners of parts. Men, women, it didn’t matter who resided here. It was a permanent brothel, although the king and queen would never admit it.

Ember stepped toward the door of the commander’s quarters when a tall, raven-haired girl slipped out, still giggling as she finished sliding on her diaphanous dress. Despicable. There was no point to wearing the dress when it left so little to the imagination.

Straightening her posture, Ember strutted into the room. Eyes narrow. Lips thinned. Jaw hardened.

“The lady of the hour,” the commander drawled, cocking a brow at Ember. “I just finished up, but if you give me five…ten minutes I should be ready for another round.”

Insufferable. He was utterly insufferable.

Ajax sat in an old reading chair by the fire, his feet kicked up on a stool, white shirt still unbuttoned, leather trousers still unlaced. Ember could not help but trail her eyes from his cropped dirty blonde hair down his lightly tanned skin, roaming over his muscular abs right down to where the tan began to disappear.

Ajax’s warm brown eyes flickered with delight. “Like what you see, Drakos?” His grin widened, flashing his perfectly straight teeth in a devilish smile.

“Don’t flatter yourself. You are the furthest thing from my type, Demos,” Ember lied straight through her teeth, even as she felt a strange need deep in her core. Even as a light blush stretched across the bridge of her nose. “I am here on official business for the crown.”

“For your sister, you mean? You know I can’t share that sort of information with you yet.”

Ember looked straight into those chocolatey eyes trying to discern whether what he knew was really for privileged ears, or if he was just being a gods-damned pain. She couldn’t share the real reason she needed to know. That Katrin was reliving her terror of five years ago all over again. That if she did not find out for certain when Nexos would attack, she herself would go crazy. Ember envied her sister in many ways, but how she continuously fought to forget the trauma she endured was not one of them.

“Please, Commander, do not make me beg more than that.” Biting down on her lips, Ember shifted her eyes down toward her feet, scraping her nails over her palms.

“As much as that would amuse me to see, I truly don’t have any more information I can tell you. Our spies haven’t heard more than the rumors you hear swirling about the markets. There will be an attack, it is just a matter of when.”

A swift knock came at the door, before another member of the Spartanis entered.

“Commander, Princess, pardon the interruption.” The soldier glanced back and forth between Ember and Ajax, at the way he so deliberately sat, clothes half on and her standing there, skin flushed and a bit sweaty from the summer heat.

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