18. Ezra
Ezra
I never had any intention of letting Eshe see Kavid.
I lied from the very beginning.
She never had a chance to see him. Until she defied me and came to see her brother herself. I put Casimir in charge of keeping her there. Whatever you need to do, I told Casimir. I trusted him.
And now, I was seated on a low couch in one of my studies in front of a frustrated Qahl putting out more fires than I had anticipated two days later.
I gave them the space I never wanted to in the beginning.
My eyes ached from the resistance of rolling them at the sight of Kavid, pacing in front of me.
We had spoken little over the last couple of days since he and Eshe rejoined.
“Why didn’t you tell me about my sister?” Kavid demanded, arms crossed over his chest, a few feet from me.
I tilted my head to my side. “She tried to kill me. I was taking matters into my own hands.”
“I’ll be taking matters into my hands now. She’s my sister.”
I gave him a tight smile. He said that already, but I kept my mouth shut.
“Let’s not discuss frivolous matters. What is it that you really want to talk about, Kavid? I don’t have all day, and I’m sure your men are growing restless for the trip back to Crahst.”
“Like I said the day before, this isn’t what we agreed upon,” Kavid said, pointing at the piece of paper in his hand.
His voice was now rough and deep. The truth always comes out.
He was upset with my response to his business proposal.
This man thought I was a fucking idiot if he thought I’d accept it.
“We never agreed on anything, Kavid. I said I would think it over.”
“Yes, I thought you’d realize how this is the best option for both of us.” He pointed between him and me, his eyes frazzled. “You don’t need that land as much as I do, and I have more men than I know what to do with.”
“I don’t need more men.”
“Are you sure? Last time I checked, I had almost twice the army you have. With you having more land than you need, I thought you’d have come to your senses by now. After all these years, is it still not making sense to you?”
I let out a chuckle, low and deep. “Until you can give me a reasonable explanation as to why you want that particular land, I won’t have to consider anything.”
“I already told you,” Kavid growled, the veins on the side of his neck slightly bulging.
Maintaining my calm, I said, “You lied, you mean.”
“I told you that I need that land for more ports. How does that not make sense in your brain, Ezra?”
Even when we were children, he had to go to such insults to make himself feel more superior. I remembered being able to antagonize him with a few words. I was mindlessly tapping my foot against the plush wool rug, reading between his eyes, when Eshe barged into the room.
My foot froze, and I had to literally stop myself from rolling my eyes, nearly giving myself a headache from these Barazi siblings.
Of course, she wanted to be part of all political matters. Norrah. Now Kavid.
The air shifted when Kavid frowned at Eshe disrupting his conversation.
“Eshe. Not now,” he spoke over his shoulder.
My jaw ticked.
“What is it that you want, Kavid?” Eshe strolled through the room, hands around a steaming mug of what smelled like kava, not giving an ounce of care to Kavid’s warnings.
“I told you already. Matters of politics.”
Eshe crossed her arms at that. “And?”
“Nothing you need to concern yourself with.” Kavid kept his voice soft but firm.
“I’ll be over with my meetings in an hour, then I’ll see you at dinner.
” He slid his eyes back at me. “Listen, I’d like to get this proposal going sooner rather than later.
What do you want or need in order for me to get this land? ”
The scoff that came from me was uncontrollable. This man wasn’t just dismissing Eshe’s words but mine as well.
I composed myself when I realized there was one thing I wanted more than anything.
“For part of the land you want, I’d be willing to continue the marriage as planned eight years ago.”
The mug of kava slipped from Eshe’s fingers, meeting the marbled ground and shattering into a hundred pieces. One piece even reached my feet.
I lifted my eyes and met hers. No doubt she was rattled to her core, out wondering which of the Navon brothers I was proposing she marry.
“I would never marry—”
“Eshe!” Kavid whirled toward her, seemingly rebuking her with his facial expression, and her mouth gaped open.
And I wonder who she would never marry. Me or Casimir?
Kavid continued, “I see what you’re asking.
It makes sense since this is what our fathers had planned, but I’ve only just gotten my sister back. ”
A single sigh of relief came out of Eshe.
“Suit yourself.” I gritted my teeth.
“She’s not up for trade,” Kavid pressed.
My lips twitched. “I heard you the first time, Kavid.” It was working.
“Eshe, I need to speak to my advisers. You’ll be all right here—”
“Don’t patronize me.” Her face was flushed. “I’ve been living and traveling on my own. I don’t need you to take care of me.”
“Very well, then, but that’s not how it will be from here on out,” Kavid warned her. “I’m going to take care of you because you don’t have to anymore. Because that’s my duty. Because I’m your brother and always will be.”
Eshe opened her mouth, closed it, and opened it once more.
Words had escaped her. First time for everything.
“I have a meeting with them now. I’ll see you both at dinner.”
With that, Kavid left my study to have a mysterious meeting with his one adviser, whom he brought with him. The man couldn’t make any decisions by himself.
Pathetic.
Eshe glared at me momentarily before she followed him out.
Dinner was held, but instead of my mother, Kavid joined us around the dinner table with Eshe. Our mother had been unavailable due to caring for my father’s illness. Casimir wasn’t here. He was late—as usual.
Eshe’s spine seemed more tense the more I stared at her. I refocused on the fresh-cut steaming chicken in front of me before Kavid began one of the most awkward conversations of my life.
“I have spoken with my advisers, and we decided that it is best to move forward.”
Eshe wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin. “With what?”
Kavid audibly swallowed before continuing. “The marriage… is something that we’d be willing to fulfill.”
The fork fell on her plate as she sprang up from her chair, darting daggers with her eyes. “You cannot possibly be thinking of agreeing with Ezra’s stupid proposition!” she thundered. Her rage was pouring out of her body.
“Eshe.” Kavid lifted a hand, silencing her. My blood began to warm, and I shifted in my seat. Kavid faced me. “I… I think that’s an option I’d be willing to consider, Ezra.”
“Kavid! You can’t be serious! You can’t possibly agree to this! Kavid!” Eshe pleaded with wide eyes. “I just found you!”
Her shaking hand pulled Kavid’s arm back, and he turned, placing a hand on her forearm, settling her. Controlling her. He mouthed to her to sit down.
My jaw ticked.
“If I agree to this, I’d want the whole of the land I ask for. Not partial. Eshe’s my sister we’re speaking of. I won’t be negotiating anything that is not of equal importance.”
The blood simmering within began to boil, but on the outside, I remained calm.
Eshe’s head snapped at Kavid, brows furrowed.
“Oh?” Boredom filled my voice.
“It’s best we finalize our agreement on paper, of course,” Kavid spoke with authority.
But he was wrong. He had no authority over Eshe. The only person who could tell Eshe what to do was me. He just didn’t know that yet.
“I won’t marry,” Eshe said, withdrawing her arm from Kavid’s hand. “I can’t believe this. After only having you for two days!”
“Eshe, this is what’s best. You trust me, don’t you?” Kavid spoke in a soft but firm voice.
Her face fell, eyes slowly dimming in submission with every blink. This was new and unfamiliar. Something in my chest tightened.
There was one thing I understood from watching that moment: I didn’t like it.
“You’ll come back home with me.” Kavid touched Eshe’s cheek in reassurance. My entire body tensed at his words. “We’ll figure out the arrangement for matrimony afterward. We’ll spend the time we didn’t have together and—”
Right when I was about to interfere with Kavid’s statements, negating what I was attempting to do, Casimir charged into the room at the most convenient time.
He threw a glare at Eshe—no doubt as annoyed with her as I am—and nodded at Kavid as he passed by.
Casimir dropped into the chair near me, but I wanted nothing more than to crush his head against the wall for not keeping a better eye on Eshe while Kavid’s been visiting.
When Eshe and Kavid found each other, I exploded on Casimir more than was appropriate. He was annoyingly suspicious.
“I’ve agreed to continue with the marriage, Casimir, upon your brother’s wishes,” Kavid spoke calmly.
Interesting choice of words, but I kept quiet.
Casimir straightened his spine and uncrossed his legs. He gave out a breathy chuckle, “What—what do you mean?”
He glanced at me and back at Kavid. He swallowed nervously.
He didn’t want this either, but there was no other choice.
“We’ll unite this family once and for all, as our fathers wanted. Technically, you and Eshe are still betrothed, and the act of breaking it would be cause for war. I don’t plan on doing so. Not when I just got my sister back. I’ll keep her by my side until it’s settled.”
Casimir’s eyes widened.
I glanced at my brother, not now.
He nodded, understanding. He leaned into the hardwood chair behind him. I knew my brother didn’t want this marriage, but it was what our father wanted. It was the plan. A good one.
“I don’t think it’s necessary for you to bring her all the way back to Zyriah, is it? With her betrothal?” I asked, shrugging, but really, I felt like I was walking on eggshells. “She’ll be part of this family now. It’s best she stays with us.”
I could feel Kavid tense from where he sat. “Like my sister said, we just found each other. Zyriah will be in full celebration for her life and—”
“You’re more than welcome to stay as well, here, where she belongs, and reconnect with all the time you need. I’m sure after the wedding, a visit to Zyriah will be expected.” I tried to maintain a cool tone in my voice.
Eshe remained still, gazing into the distance.
“No.” Kavid lifted himself a bit higher, trying to compensate for the authority of my voice. “My sister will join me back in Zyriah. I will have some time with her before we talk about the details of this marriage. That’s the only way I’ll agree to this.”
God fucking damn it. I fucking hated him. Always had.
The meal continued, but I couldn’t stop my glare into the distance. I was losing. And I didn’t like losing something that was mine.
“Ezra, I’d appreciate your forgiveness for my sister’s actions. She is young and clearly was mistaken… with her attempts at… you and Casimir.” Kavid leaned toward Eshe and whispered something in her ear.
Eshe finally lifted her eyes to me, eyes gray and empty.
A heavy weight settled in my chest, and suddenly, the air was hard to breathe.
“I… I apologize for any discomfort I might have given you.” Her voice was quiet. She was too fucking quiet.
I wanted nothing more than to slit Kavid’s throat and make him choke on his own blood.
“I’ll be heading home tomorrow. With Eshe.”
I gave him a tight smile.
Kavid nodded his farewell and pulled Eshe from the table, who was either in complete shock or denial.
My foot began to tap against the tile persistently. “One last thing before you go, Kavid. I recommend that you travel on the east side of Tehara, head north to Brestan, then cut across.”
Kavid stopped in his tracks. He turned around with creased brows. “Why the hell would I do that? That would take us a month longer. And is it a coincidence that the western land near the water is exactly where I’d like to visit?” He scoffed, shaking his head. “I don’t think so.”
“It’s a recommendation. Be careful. Atrovians have been seen there. If you’d like to travel home safely, I’d advise you to take the longer route,” I said curtly.
Kavid continued his way out of the door, and Eshe followed a step behind.
My foot hadn’t stopped tapping against my marble floor.
My mind hadn’t stopped racing on how I would fix where my brother went wrong.
I heard Casimir’s audible swallow.
“You idiot.”
“I—I—didn’t realize this would happen!”
I let out a long and deep exhale.
“You’re obviously not going to let this happen, right?”
I sneered. “What? You don’t want Eshe?”
Casimir laughed humorlessly. “No, and you know why. She was never mine. I don’t like women who aren’t mine. I don’t like sharing.”
“Me neither.”
I continued staring at the door Kavid and Eshe had left.