Page 96 of Stars May Fall

His face went slack with relief. “That sounds like an excellent idea.”

And once again, I had purpose. I straightened a little. “When I take risks and put myself in situations where I am not comfortable, it helps me feel strong and capable.”

He smiled. “Well, this sounds like a risk I can fully get behind—as long as no halfsouls are involved.”

The thought of halfsouls dancing at a ball made my lips curve of their own accord.

VENERICK

Never before had I left the borders of Fenland, and here I was riding into enemy territory where haemalcomy was common and thousands of our soldiers had died. My mood flicked between terrified and excited disbelief that the time for peace negotiations had arrived, and I was at the heart of them.

This was the moment I had always dreamed about. I just wished it didn’t feel so dangerous. Sir Chase and thirty elite members of Kasten’s first battalion rode beside me. I trusted them to keep me safe, but I wished Kasten was here too, even though I knew his presence could be interpreted as an act of war.

I tightened my grip on the reins as we trudged along the dusty path to the dried-up river that marked the border between our countries. Annabelle was trusting me completely with this, and I knew how valuable and rare her trust was. It meant a lot that she didn’t feel the need to do this herself as she was prone to doing. She was the most miraculous gift in my life. I wouldn’t let her down, especially when this was finally something I could fully get behind.

The first soldiers descended to the riverbed, their horse’s hooves kicking up clouds of dust. I raised my linen scarf overmy nose and mouth before leaning back in my saddle to aid my mount’s sharp descent.

A hush descended over our group as we entered Kollenstar. The soldiers’ hands moved to their heads as they turned their detectors’ dials to sensitive. Kasten had offered me one, but I had declined, finding their high-pitched whines intolerable.

Sir Chase pushed his horse close to mine as we ascended the other side of the river and paused on the sparse grass. We were greeted by a landscape of blazing sand dunes; they looked like a roiling golden sea broken by sharp black spears of rock. We had only moved a few steps, but even the air itself felt different here. Tension ran all the way up my spine. I tried to shake it free.

Sir Chase pointed to a road that bent close to the border about half a mile away. It was half submerged with sand and looked little used. “That will take us to Fr’kral for the negotiations. Our correspondence granted us safe passage, but don’t let your guard down even for a second.”

I nodded, wondering if anyone could ever feel at ease in this place. Fr’kral was only a day’s ride away. We would meet the Kollenstar officials there for the negotiations and then travel home. Neither side had suggested how long this would take. I missed Fenland already, and I was only a dozen steps away from it. But peace would be worth it.

We set off for the road, keeping our lower faces covered by scarves and grateful there was no wind. The sun was getting hotter, so I tipped a flask of water over my head. Flies bothered my horse, and salty sweat stung my eyes. Our pace slowed as the ground gradually turned to shifting sand.

Sir Chase stopped abruptly and raised a hand. At once, all the soldiers stopped. He pointed to the road where the haze of a mirage flickered. “There. Soldiers.”

I squinted after his gaze and my heart rate increased. He was right. Mounted men blocked the road. This wasn’t what we’dbeen expecting. They would have already seen us, and there was nowhere to hide out here. “Maybe an escort?”

Sir Chase only grunted in response and eased his sword in its scabbard.

We continued to the road. The Kollenstar soldiers and their horses were so still, I almost convinced myself they were statues, set up to scare away anyone foolish enough to stray into Kollenstar. However, as we neared, the details became clear. Every beast was pure black. Their riders wore strange dark metal armor with multiple curved spikes at the edge of each plate and across their helms. I’d read theories that the metal used in their armor contained some sort of kryalcomy to keep the wearers cool.

Sir Chase rode to the front of our party. “We have permission to pass peacefully to Fr’kral.” He repeated the words in Kollen, one of only two people in our party who knew some of the language.

A man on the tallest horse kicked it two steps forward. He raised the strange, twisted visor on his helm and spoke in heavily accented Fenish. “And what make you think we let you pass? What make you think we want peace? We men of war.” He cocked his head in question. His hands rested casually on the horse’s pommel as if he were so confident in his own abilities, he didn’t even see us as a threat. But I didn’t miss two of the soldiers at the rear fitting crossbow bolts.

I swallowed. Duke James’s words—calling me an unrealistic idealist—echoed in my mind. He had laughed at my peace treaty and told me to be realistic, saying Kollenstar would always be seeped in violence with no hope of any other future. I recalled his amused disbelief that somebody like me had been engaged to Annabelle. How he would have laughed at the thought of me becoming a king and standing here now with my stack of paper against their swords and arrows.

For a moment it all seemed ridiculous. Hopeless.

Then I remembered the hope in Annabelle and Kasten’s eyes when I had presented the treaty. They shared my dream, and they believed in it. And this dream of peace…it was worth everything. James had never understood that. And yes, James’s fate had ended in violence, but I wouldn’t let him sow doubts in my mind anymore.

Annabelle’s request for me to stop James had been hard because I hated violence. It had grated with every part of me, even though it had needed to be done. But this challenge before me, taking the role of a pacifist, suited me perfectly. This was a way I could serve my kingdom through and through.

I kicked my horse forward and met the man’s eyes. His eyes were lined with kohl under the shadows of his helm. I bowed my head in respect. “I am Lord Venerick, soon to be wed to Her Majesty, Queen Annabelle. Please let us pass and present this peace treaty at Fr’kral as we have authorization to do.” Behind me, Sir Chase translated.

The man was unmoved. “And I am Prince Krassian. What if I say no? What if I think this silly idea from your little girl queen. Your letters…permission are not from me.”

Frustration rose inside me. I had come so far, I would not be stopped now by this man, prince or not. I stared the man straight in the eyes. “You have heard of the starstone, yes? General Kasten wields unlimited power. He can kill twenty men with one sweep of his sword and is a hundred times harder to kill than a soulless. You must have heard the reports. Not even the greatest kryalchemist of Adenburg could stop him.” I was glad Callum wasn’t present to hear me call Lyrason that. “If you attack our lands, he’ll stop you. He could destroy your armies. Your country. Your monarchy. And he could do that all by himself.” I opened my satchel and didn’t flinch as dozens of the soldiers drew weapons in response. I brought out the stack of paper thatcontained the treaty and gestured to them. “This is your chance to stop that. This is your chance at life and prosperity and friendship. I have heard how great your cities are, how advanced your technologies are. Why let your advancement be stifled by war any longer? This is a mercy of our great Queen Annabelle. And Iwillget it to Fr’kral whether you try to stop me or not.” I nudged my horse forward another step to make my point.

For a moment nobody moved. The prince looked at the papers and back at my face. Then he laughed, a full rich rumble. “I like you. You look like mouse. But actually, you are sand wolf camouflaged to seem harmless. You have fire. Come, we will accompany you and your weapon of paper. Maybe the council will like you too.” He laughed again. All the soldiers behind him relaxed. “Come, come. We will lead and show you the water places.”

I felt a little dizzy as they turned their horses and formed an escort up the road. Beside me, Sir Chase was grinning. He clapped me on the back. “Well, I must admit, I didn’t know you had that in you. I’m beginning to think this document of yours might actually work.”

I smiled out of relief. “A bit more confidence in me would be refreshing.”

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