Page 77 of The Traitor Queen (The Bridge Kingdom 2)

Lara clicked her tongue against her teeth, shaking her head. “Ithicana would win its war with Maridrina, but what are currently border skirmishes and a few sunken ships will turn into a war between Maridrina and Valcotta unlike any seen in generations.”

Zarrah gave the slightest of nods.

“So what is your suggestion?” Aren asked. “Because I’m not allowing my people to be starved and stripped of their homes for the sake of preserving the peace between Maridrina and Valcotta.” Jor and Lara nodded their agreement.

“I would not suggest that, Your Grace,” she answered. “Ithicana must be liberated from Maridrina, but it must be done in a way where Valcotta is perceived not to be involved. Which is why I intend to sail with you back to Nerastis, crew the Maridrinian vessels we’ve captured with my soldiers, and then take back Southwatch for you.” She smiled, and as much as the young woman might be fighting for peace, Aren could see she was also one who knew war, and knew it well. “The only witnesses to our involvement will be the dead we leave behind on your island.”

It was overcomplicated, with too many players, but Aren didn’t have any other options. “One problem,” he said. “You’ll be going directly against the Empress’s orders. Sabotaging her plans to invade Maridrina. And as loyal as your soldiers might be, there is no way you can possibly keep something like this quiet, especially given that casualties are inevitable. You’ll be charged with treason and executed.”

Licking her lips, she hesitated before speaking. “My fleet witnessed the Maridrinians moving on Southwatch, and we knew they intended to attack. We had the opportunity to warn Ithicana but did not.”

A warning that might have changed everything. “Your naval vessels had been warned to stay clear of Southwatch or our shipbreakers would be turned on them. I can’t hold you—”

“With respect, Your Grace, do not attempt to absolve me. I could’ve warned you, but I did not. Kings and queens make decisions, but it is the common folk who pay the price.” Her voice quivered ever so slightly, but she lifted her chin and stared him down. “There was no honor in what I did, Your Grace. I will not insult you by asking for your forgiveness, but please know that I will fight until my last breath to see Ithicana liberated.”

He had his alliance. “I pray you won’t breathe your last for many years, General.”

Zarrah gave a slow nod, and in her eyes, he saw a dream fading away. Not just one for her country, but one for herself. “Some things are worth dying for.” Rising to her feet, she said, “Pack your things. We sail for Nerastis tonight.”

43

Lara

The Valcottan soldiersarrived shortly after to escort them to the harbor, the Empress clearly having no interest in either Lara or Aren remaining in her country any longer.

Zarrah was already aboard the ship when they arrived, once again wearing the uniform of a Valcottan general. Soldiers and sailors scurried about the deck as they readied to make way, but as the young woman lifted her hand, every one of them stopped in their tracks.

“On the orders of the Empress, we are transporting the King and Queen of Ithicana to Nerastis,” she said, her voice carrying over the ship. “They are to be accorded every respect. If I hear otherwise, the individual will answer to me, and ultimately, to the Empress herself. Now carry on.”

“So much for avoiding detection,” Jor muttered from where he stood at Lara’s left. “Whole damn city is going to know that we were here and where we are headed.”

“That is her intent,” Lara murmured. “Serin anticipated we were coming to Valcotta, which means he knew what we were after. The city is crawling with his spies, which means word that the Empress declined to assist Ithicana will travel at pace with us back to Maridrina. Assuming Zarrah knows how to keep a secret, and I think she does, the Valcottan attack on Southwatch will come as a total surprise.”

Nothing more could be said, as Zarrah had made her way over to them. “If it pleases you, Your Grace, follow me. We’ll have dinner in the captain’s quarters.”

The room she took them to was large, with windows that overlooked the ship’s wake as they headed out to sea. The paneled walls were painted in bright hues, and elaborate glass sconces glowed with burning oil. Gesturing to the low table, which was laden with food, Zarrah said, “Please. Take a seat.”

Lara sat on one of the pillows, curling her heels under her as she took in the spread. Most of it was unfamiliar to her, but that was not what drove away her appetite. The ship was out of the harbor now, and the seas were far from smooth. A sour taste filled her mouth, and silently cursing the loss of her sea legs, Lara rose. “Please excuse me.”

“Lass isn’t good on the water,” she heard Jor say as the door shut behind her.

Dashing back the way they’d come, she barely managed to make it to the railing before her stomach contents came rushing up. The watching sailors laughed quietly.

“I thought you’d gotten over this.”

She lifted her head, seeing Aren had come to stand next to her at the rail. He handed her a cup full of water, then turned his attention to the waves, barely visible in the growing darkness of night. When she was through rinsing her mouth, he handed her a shiny candy. “It’s ginger.”

Slipping the candy into her mouth, Lara smiled at him. “Thank you.”

“There was a whole bowl of them on the table. I took them all.” Reaching into his pocket, he extracted a handful of the candies and tucked them into the pocket of her loose Valcottan trousers, his hand warm through the thin fabric covering her leg.

“You should go back,” she said, knowing that plans needed to be made and that it was just as well she wasn’t part of them.

“Soon enough. Zarrah won’t talk business until after dinner is done, and Jor has a healthy appetite.”

“That makes one of us.” She crunched the candy between her teeth, replacing it with another as she considered whether the ambient noise was loud enough to conceal their conversation. “How did you know Zarrah would help us?”

“I wasn’t certain until I realized that the Empress didn’t want the war with Maridrina to end, at least, not peaceably. Which was why she set a term she knew I’d never agree to.” He rested his elbows on the rail, then added, “Keris always spoke in riddles, but the longer I thought about the things he said, the clearer they became. What he wants is peace between Valcotta and Maridrina, and for that to be possible, Zarrah had to want the same. Ithicana is but a minor player in the game.”

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