Page 73 of The Traitor Queen (The Bridge Kingdom 2)

Aren only rested his chin on one hand, tapping his index finger against his lip thoughtfully.

The silence stretched, and to Lara’s surprise, it was the Empress who broke it.

“We have more to discuss, but I believe it a discussion best done in private.” She turned her cool gaze in Lara’s direction. “You will wait here.”

There wasn’t a chance Lara was letting Aren out of her sight. “No.”

The Empress’s eyebrows rose, then she snapped her fingers at the soldier. “Welran, subdue her.”

With a nod, the huge man charged across the room.

40

Aren

Aren struggledto stand his ground as the massive Valcottan tackled Lara, twisting her arm behind her back, her face turning red from the effort of trying to breathe beneath his weight.

The Empress motioned for Aren and Zarrah to follow as she headed for the stairs.

Aren trailed after the women, but paused next to Lara and the guard, Welran. The last thing he needed was things escalating. Pressing a hand against the big man’s shoulder, he said, “I can’t in good conscience go without warning you.”

The Valcottan’s brown eyes darkened.

“She saw you coming from a mile away. Palmed your knife when you took her down. And all that wriggling she’s doing? I’d bet my last coin that the blade is only about an inch from your balls.”

Straightening, Aren started toward the stairs, the sound of Welran’s booming laugh following him upward.

They climbed to the top, the staircase opening into a large room with stained glass windows featuring prior rulers of Valcotta, all with their hands reaching up to the sky. Zarrah stood next to the door, staff still in hand, but the Empress motioned for Aren to sit on one of the many pillows. A servant appeared with drinks and trays of desserts. Though he was not partial to sweets, Aren dutifully ate one of them, washing it down with the sticky wine the Valcottans preferred.

“Let us start first with a discussion of why you are here, Aren,” the Empress said. “I have my own theories, of course, but I’d like to hear it from your lips.”

He nodded. “I think you know that having the bridge under the control of Silas Veliant benefits no one, not even his own people.”

She made a noise that was neither affirmation nor denial, so he continued. “I’ve received word that my sister, Princess Ahnna, has secured Harendell’s support for retaking Northwatch. It is my hope that you’ll see the merit in assisting me in securing Southwatch from Maridrina and reinstating Ithicana as a sovereign nation.”

Picking up a glass, the Empress eyed the contents. “Southwatch isn’t assailable. Or at least, not without an unpalatable loss of vessels and life.”

“It is if you know how. Which I do.”

“Giving up such a secret would make Northwatch and Southwatch forever vulnerable—would makeIthicanaforever vulnerable.”

As if he didn’t know that. As if he had a choice. “Not if Harendell and Valcotta are true friends and allies.”

She gave an amused laugh. “The friendships between nations and rulers are inconstant, Aren. You yourself have proven that.”

“True,” he said. “But not so the friendship between peoples.”

“You’re an idealist.”

Aren shook his head. “A realist. Ithicana cannot continue as it has. To endure, we must change our ways.”

Silence sat between them as the ruler of the mightiest nation in the known world ruminated on his request, her eyes distant. Behind him, Aren could hear Zarrah shifting her weight. Valcottan rulers chose their own heirs from their bloodline, and it was known that the Empress did not favor her own son. Was Zarrah to be her choice? Would she remain the Empress’s choice if the woman knew what Aren knew?

“You look like your mother,” the Empress said, tearing Aren from his thoughts. “Though your father was equally easy on the eyes.”

Aren’s brow furrowed. “How could you possibly know that?”

Amusement passed over the Empress’s face—and pleasure at knowing something that he did not. “Surely you don’t believe that I’d bestow friendship upon someone who only spoke to me from behind a mask?”

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