Page 120 of What Fury Brings
“Nothing that requires your temper.”
When Vorika delivered the news that part of the king’s approaching army had branched off from the rest, Olerra had sent for Ydra immediately. She ordered that the scout be brought before her because she wanted to hear everything firsthand. Within a couple of hours, the woman stood before them in Olerra’s office off the training yard.
Olerra and Ydra leaned against her desk while Vorika stood beside the wall with her arms crossed. The scout sat in the proffered chair.
“It’s a small force,” the scout, Iseri, said. “Only fifty. They’ve gone around the city and wait to the south.”
Olerra turned to Ydra. “Fifty is not enough to breach the gate.”
“And Atalius would know that,” Ydra agreed.
Vorika added, “Some of my women have gone missing, and I don’t think the Brutes would have bothered to hide their bodies if they were behind it.”
“Who else would be involved?” Ydra asked. “Atalius is at war with the Ephennans. Kalundir profits greatly from the trade agreements we’ve set them at Shamire. Dyphankar, then?”
The lack of sleep was making her slow, but Olerra promised herself a full night’s rest tonight.
“No,” Olerra said as realization finally set in. “Atalius isn’t splitting because he expects reinforcements. Someone has promised to let the small band of Brutes into the city.”
Ydra’s blond braid slid off her shoulder from the sharp movement of her head. “A traitor?”
Olerra smiled. “We already knew Glen told Atalius I had his heir. What if that wasn’t enough? What if she madeplansin case things still didn’t go her way? She’s an over-preparer. Always has been. She would leave nothing to chance.”
“You think she agreed to let Atalius through the gates? To what end?”
“If she let him humiliate me and win the battle, he would use his forces to put her on the throne.”
“That would be treason, if we could prove it.”
“Glen will need to make contact with them somehow to finalize plans.” Olerra turned to the scout. “Return to the small force of Brutes. If anyone from Amarra approaches the camp, you’re to tell me who.”
“Yes, General.”
Several hours later, Olerra stood before the queen. Lemya had been roused from sleep, but there were no obvious signs of it. She was always put together, her eyes alert.
“You’re telling me,” Lemya said, “that Glen has conspired with our enemies, and you’ve captured one of her scouts, who confirmed it?”
“Yes, but the spy refuses to speak against Glenaerys publicly. My plan is to have women waiting at the southern gate to catch her guard in the act of trying to let in our enemies.”
“Glen could easily turn things around. Claim it was her guard who caughtyourstrying to let our enemies through the gates.”
Her aunt was right. “What then? Do we tell the council?”
“We can’t tell the council without risking Shaelwyn finding out and warning her daughter. We need something more.”
They paced. They strategized. Idea after idea was shut down. Finally, Olerra said, “What if I could get Atalius to admit publicly he was collaborating with Glen?”
“How?”
“Let me negotiate when he reaches Zinaeya. I can get him to talk. I’ve done it before.”
Lemya stepped forward and put her hands on Olerra’s shoulders. “It’s up to you, then. Do what you can, but do not risk a battle unfolding. If it doesn’t work, I will ask for a trial, and we will bring all the evidence we can against Glen.”
“I will not fail you.”
Two nights later, Sanos was roused in the middle of the night. Ydra stood in his doorway.
“Put this on,” she said, and threw a very small item of clothing his way.
