Page 3 of A Warrior's Heart
“Enjoy your meal, Your Majesty.” Zander bowed to Triton. His blond curls bounced, and when he lifted his head, his gray eyes met the king’s. They exchanged what I could only describe as an affectionate stare before Zander turned to me. “Sir.”
He then exited the chamber, closing the door behind him.
Triton was known to bed many of the royal servants. He admired all beautiful things, just like the riches and jewels he possessed. However, I sensed there was something deeper with Zander. The tenderness in the king’s eyes as he gazed upon the younger male could not be mistaken.
The tenderness left his expression now. He stared at me with an iciness that pricked at my skin. As a god, his mood changed like the tide. He could be both self-serving and selfless, depending on the day.
“Eat,” Triton said, taking a wedge of bread from the platter and slathering it in creamy butter. “You must be starved after training.”
I cut off a piece of the fish and chewed it. The food was much better than what the soldiers were given, and guilt trickled through me at the fact. My men ate well, but nothing compared to this. They were in the mess hall now, probably draining their mugs of ale and shoving bread, meat, and cheese into their gullets.
I should be with them.
“We’ve known one another for many years, Malik.” Triton drank more wine before setting the goblet down. “Tell me what’s troubling you. Are you not pleased with your position in the army? I can remove Captain Orta and have you take her place—”
“That won’t be necessary, my king.” Captain Orta was a brilliant leader and I wished her no ill will. Whereas I had enjoyed leading the army in the past, I no longer wished to do so. “I’m pleased with my duties.”
“So, I suppose it’s my son that has you so melancholy?”
“Prince Lorcan is missed every day, yes. Though, his absence isn’t what ails me. I was only thinking of my men and how they were expecting me in the mess hall this night.”
“I see.” Triton smoothed a hand down the front of his shirt, causing the jewels woven in the fabric to glimmer in the candlelight. “We should discuss the reason you’re here, so you can return to them.”
“I meant no offense, my king. I’m honored to dine with you.”
“We have had our quarrels in the past, dear friend, but you are the only male alive who I trust at my back. Never forget that.” Triton’s expression briefly softened. “My inviting you to dine is more than for the pleasure of your company I’m afraid.”
I dropped my fork and focused on him, waiting.
“The human king is searching for something,” Triton said, gliding a finger along the rim of his goblet. “My scouts have observed him in secret meetings with his council and speaking of a weapon.”
King James, the human king, was as wicked as they came. For years, he’d tested the boundaries of the peace treaty between land and sea, one set in motion hundreds of years ago. The treaty stated that the land belonged to his royal bloodline, and the sea belonged to Triton. Though it was only speculation, we believed King James wished to overthrow Triton and rule the sea and all its inhabitants.
For money. For power. Humans were always waging war for such things.
“What kind of weapon?” I asked.
His blue eyes darkened like a storm in uncharted waters. “The trident of Poseidon.”
“I thought the trident was destroyed upon the sea god’s death.”
The king’s gaze shifted to the door as Zander walked in. The manservant refilled our goblets with wine, keeping his eyes downcast. Triton lifted a hand and gently caressed Zander’s side before the servant left again.
“The trident isn’t destroyed,” he answered in a cool tone. “Only… hidden.”
King James was on his way to finding it then. Using it.
“What’s stopping you from retrieving it?” I asked. King Triton could move through the sea faster than anyone. With the simple blowing of the conch around his neck, the waves did his bidding.
“The location is unknown to me,” he answered, irritated by the fact. “Upon my father’s death, the trident disappeared. Shielded itself from my powers to locate it. Swords, bows, any weapon forged is said to have a soul. When its master dies, it mourns. I believe the trident suffered such a fate.”
“So, the weapon hid itself out of grief?”
“Precisely. I don’t know how the human king learned of the trident, but it cannot fall into his hands, Malik. The trident was forged by Hephaestus, and it not only has the power to control the sea… but to kill a god as well.”
Understanding dawned on me. Triton couldn’t be killed by any mortal weapon. Neither sword nor arrow could pierce his skin. Canon fire had no effect on him. If King Jameswasin search of the trident, it would verify our suspicions of his motives.
The only way to rule the sea was to kill the god who governed it.
