Page 86 of Lady for Embers

“And Rydeon?” Scarlett pressed.

“We did not necessarily have strained relations with Rydeon, but their leadership was newer. There had been a change of power there more recently than there had been in Toreall,” Callan explained. “Of course, now we know that Maraans occupy the thrones, but apparently that happened more recently in Rydeon than it did in Toreall.”

“That’s true,” Cyrus said suddenly, sitting up a little straighter. “We cared little about mortal politics, but we always knew who sat on the thrones. The current Toreall king has been on the throne for several decades, but Rydeon... ” His gaze swung to Callan. “When did the current Rydeon king take the throne?”

“Maybe two decades ago?” Callan said.

“Twenty-one years ago if memory serves,” Cyrus said.

“I do not recall exactly, but that sounds right. Why exactly does it matter?”

“Exactly when doesn’t matter,” Scarlett cut in, giving Cyrus an odd look, but the Fire Second didn’t appear to be listening anymore, lost in his own thoughts now. “But what you’re saying is they’ve had control over Toreall longer than they’ve had control over Rydeon, yes?”

“Yes,” Callan answered. Scarlett appeared to be mulling this over. “Is that all your questions?”

“No,” Scarlett said, beckoning him over to her. When he got to her side, he found a map of their continent spread out before her. She pointed to a spot in Rydeon a little southwest of the capital. There were a few small villages scattered about the area. “Is there anything here? Aside from the towns?”

“Well, yeah,” Callan said, hand rubbing along his jaw. “That is where the Eternal Necropolis is.”

“The what?” Scarlett asked with a slight frown.

“The Eternal Necropolis,” Callan said again, pointing at the spot she had asked about. “That is where the Rydeon royalty entomb their dead.”

“It is a mausoleum?” Sorin asked.

Callan shook his head. “No. It is far more than that. There is a network of stone pathways and chambers there. It is ancient. The Rydeons believe the gods blessed the area, and maybe they are right. The gods’ symbols are carved all over the stones.”

“You have been there?” Scarlett asked in surprise.

“A couple times,” Callan answered. “In the center is a chamber where the Royal families are entombed. It is a large, circular chamber with mirrors between the tombs.”

“Mirrors?” Cyrus asked.

Callan nodded. “There is a table in the center of the chamber.”

“Let me get this straight,” Scarlett said, sitting back in her chair and looking up at him. “There is an ancient network of the dead in the center of the continent?”

Callan grimaced. “Not the best wording, but yes, I suppose there is.”

Scarlett turned to Sorin. “Andnoneof the centuries-old Fae in this room knew about this place?”

They all grumbled something, Scarlett looking annoyed.

“Anything else?” Callan asked when she didn’t immediately ask any more questions.

Her head tilted, a knowing look entering her silvery-blue eyes. “That is all for now.”

He quickly made his way out of the room. He wasn’t exactly needed in those meetings. Sure, he learned a great deal from listening, but he wasn’t really paramount to any of the battle strategies. Scarlett had said he wasn’t ready, and while he hated it, she was right. He wouldn’t have survived if he’d been in the thick of battle a few days ago. Drake would ?ll him in on anything he needed to know.

He stepped out into the daylight, the sun obscured behind clouds.

They’d had one day of sunshine and warmth yesterday, and he’d spent it with Eva, reading to her all afternoon.

He scanned the deck, immediately spotting Tava. She was leaning on the side of the ship, her forearms braced on the edge. She still wore dresses most days, the attire likely ingrained in her. Todaywas no different with a teal gown ?uttering around her ankles in the breeze. Her golden hair was swaying gently, half tied back with a ribbon.

Callan made his way towards her, and when he leaned on the edge beside her, she didn’t look at him. He suddenly was unsure why he’d even sought her out. Why had he felt this need to speak with her only to ?nd himself unsure of what to say now that he’d found her?

That had been the problem for weeks now. He didn’t know what to say to her because he didn’t know what he was doing. He didn’t know what his future looked like. He just didn’t know.

---