Cassarah #2
Taking a deep breath, I pushed up from my seat and stood looking at the men before me.
“You are in this room because you are a trusted member of my inner circle or you have an alliance with me. That being said, I will be clear that nothing said in this room will be spoken of outside those doors to anyone. Not your wife, your children, and each other when you think the coast is clear. The Lost King has already wormed his way into our people before and that of every other kingdom. I refuse to give him any more information to use against us.” Everyone nodded and muttered their agreement.
“Queen Catharine was manipulated by the Lost King during a visit to a friend in Utros three years ago. He’s been having her send supplies and, I’m sure, information along.
What doesn’t make sense to me is the fact he didn’t take Creisal when he already had a strong inside member.
Every time I come back to this one inconsistency of his, it makes me believe there is something hidden in Creisal he doesn’t want us to find.
This is yet another reason I want to go there.
In answer to your question, Eleazar, I want to bring all able-bodied men, women, and dragons with us.
I don’t think the fight will ever get to Sheca.
It doesn’t serve him any purpose now that I’m the one connected to the magic that was locked within the castle. ”
Alsten shot to his feet, slamming his fist on the table. “You would leave us here vulnerable with the weak, young, and elderly?”
“Yes and no,” I answered, holding his irate gaze.
“You will continue to have the members who are guarding the lands, which is also why I want them doubled. They will be the first to know if the enemy is coming your way. At that point, you can choose to fight or run to the hideout where the hundred dragons will be waiting. I won’t abandon you like the previous king, but I will not bring the fight to these lands.
Sheca is an amazing defense, but to have a battle here would put us at a disadvantage, trapping us in this valley back to the mountains and front to the sea.
Our women are just as skilled at fighting as our men.
The elderly might not make the journey into battle, but I have no doubt they can defend their homes, or do you have such little faith in our people?
I will also be creating a shield to protect this valley the best I can to deter dragons laying waste to it. ”
Alsten seemed to deflate after hearing my words, sinking back into his seat.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I never should have accused you in such a manner.
While I’ve never shared the same sentiment as some of my brothers about us being abandoned, I just couldn’t help but believe for a moment it was going to happen all over again. ”
“You’re forgiven, Alsten. Times of war bring out sides of ourselves we never knew were there,” I commented.
“A year ago, I was sitting in my bedroom as a noble lady, praying I would one day be accepted into Norden’s court so I could get away from my mother, who beat me.
Then I was given the strength and skills to stand up for myself, giving me the courage never to be a victim again.
That is what I want for our people. I don’t want them to be victims of this war born out of greed and pain. ”
Taking my seat, I took a long drink from my glass of wine before moving on. “King Thomas, I don’t know why I think this, but is there something your wife brought back from that trip to Utros?”
The king rubbed his chin, thinking about my question, and slowly shook his head. “Nothing other than silly women things like dresses, shoes, and other frivolities.”
“What about is there a place in the castle, city, or surrounding area where she goes but never lets anyone else but a select few come with her?” I pressed.
A flash of recognition shone in his eyes as he snapped his fingers. “We have a summer house near the sea, and she goes there from time to time to get away. The children aren’t even allowed to go with her most of the time. It’s just her and her personal maids.”
“Is that something that started to happen after she came back from Utros?” Abbott asked, catching on to where I was going with this.
“Now that you mention it, I suppose it was. Before, it was every other time she would go alone. Otherwise, the children always went since they loved the place. It’s been awful for them to be denied enjoying time there.
When they were first born, we would go as a family, letting them play in the water.
I became too busy and couldn’t get away as easily, so she took them herself,” King Thomas explained.
“Then when she returned from Utros, we fought so much more that she claimed she needed space for herself. Our fights were always blamed on me feeling threatened by her trying to step up and take on more. While I can’t argue that the matters we fought over the most were things I didn’t agree with and didn’t see us needing to do, it was never about me not wanting her help. ”
I gave him a reassuring smile as I saw how much that seemed to weigh on him.
“You’ll just have to keep reminding yourself she wasn’t her normal self.
She was being controlled by the Lost King.
The reason I ask you is because I believe she might have something in her possession that the Lost King doesn’t want us to find.
I have no idea what it might be, but it’s important enough to him that he refuses to let anyone get close to it, even himself. ”
Everyone seemed stunned by this revelation, but it’s the only thing that made sense to me.
Why else would he control the queen, use her for supplies to maintain his army, but never move for her to take Creisal from the inside out?
Queen Catharine could have easily won over the people and removed her husband from the throne over the past few years.
The only reason that he wouldn’t do that is because he couldn’t risk drawing attention to something.