Page 34 of Of Blood and Fire
Anger flickered briefly through Aric’s eyes. “This is not the place to be discussing such matters?—”
“In front of so many witnesses, you mean?”
The anger increased. Aric had been outmaneuvered and he was well aware of it. If he didn’t make a public declaration and something subsequently happened to Garran, there’d be an immediate and hostile response from both Jarin and Neera. Aric might be king, but he wasn’tourking, and he certainly didn’t have the power, the military might, or even his tame mind reader here to enforce the placement of Damon on our throne.
Aric shook his head, his expression one of disbelief. “If you trust Zephrine so little, King Garran, then I declare, on the life of my oldest son?—”
“On the life of yourheir,” I cut in.
His gaze clashed with mine and promised retribution. Sparks briefly danced across my fingertips, but I clenched my fists and continued to meet his gaze evenly.
“On the life of my heir,” he continued flatly, “that I have no plans to murder either yourself or your heir to gain Esan’s throne. But we are at war, Garran, and sometimes Túxn turns her back on even the luckiest soul. I cannot be held accountable for that.”
A statement that was outwardly all Garran could want except for one little thing—Aric saying “he would never stoop so low” raised the possibility of his son or his henchmen performing the deed.
“If I’m taken out in a battle, then will you not also fall, given you intend to stand by my side and offer us the benefit of your wisdom and experience?” Garran’s smile was obviously false, and I doubted he cared. “However, if deathdoesfind me outside the field of battle, then Jarin, as my second-in-command, and Neera, our night shift general—both of whom bear witness to your statement here today—have, as of this moment, orders to arrest your entire entourage until a full investigation is undertaken.”
Aric’s expression did not improve, and I could not deny there was a section of my soul that rejoiced.
“This is not a noble beginning to what should be a long and prosperous trading partnership between our great nations,” he said, voice still so very calm, so very even, despite the fury that had to be surging through him.
In other words, he had not given up his machinations to gain our throne, even if the immediacy of those plans had suffered a pushback.
“I beg to differ, King Velez. Now that our cards are on the table and we both understand each other, there is little to prevent a long and successful trading partnership. Now, if you don’t mind, I am in dire need of a bath and some food. Jarin, could you send a couple of medics, along with a scribe tablet linked to Jakarra, to my quarters? Then call a meeting of allgenerals for the morning—Aric, you and your son are welcome to sit in.” His gaze came to mine. “Walk with me.”
He stepped away from the cage’s door and strode with purpose toward the palace steps. I glanced at Jarin and covertly motioned toward Aric and the fake husband. He nodded briefly, then turned and ordered a number of guards to follow in Garran’s wake and guard his door. At the rate we were seconding soldiers to personal guard duty, we’d have to bring more in from the military zone to cover the watch on the upper secondary wall.
My leg twinged as I hurried to catch up to Garran. I glanced down, saw the fresh blood staining the bandages. Obviously, I’d opened the wound, but that scared me far less than the anger washing off the two men behind me. I kept very close to Garran as we walked up the outer steps and entered the palace foyer. I was well aware neither of them would act when there were so many witnesses about, but still...
“I did wonder where we’d find the space for another war room,” Garran murmured, his gaze sweeping the room, “but it is a perfect solution to the problem.”
“Aric doesn’t think so.”
“I dare say that’s because we no longer have the view advantage, and he is not wrong in that.” He glanced at me. “I take it we’re concentrating on ramping up the lower wall’s resistance to the acid?”
“We are indeed.”
“Excellent.”
We wove our way through the desks and up the next set of stairs, but at the top, he hesitated.
I knew why.
“You are the new king,” I said softly. “Their rooms are yours now.”
“That doesn’t seem right.” He glanced at me. “Have you even been in there since their deaths?”
“No.”
“Then I shall take the grand guest?—”
“Aric and Damon reside in that. Besides, my parents’ suite is the most secure part of the palace.”
That, more than anything, got him moving. I followed, but the closer I got to my parents’ suite, the more my gut churned. The guard—a man I didn’t know—acknowledged us with a brisk salute, then opened the door. Garran stepped inside, but I paused on the threshold and turned to the soldiers following us. “Maintain watch down this hall. King Aric, Prince Damon, or any of his entourage are not to be allowed near until cleared with King Asli, understood?”
They saluted and positioned themselves. I stepped into the room, breath caught in my throat and my gaze down, trying to avoid really looking at the rooms I knew so well. I turned, closed the door, and then slid the internal lock across to ensure no one could enter unannounced. I trusted the guards, but until we knew exactly what the strange energy surrounding Aric’s spy was, it was better to be as cautious as possible.
Then I released my breath...
