Chapter 6 Zarrah
Zarrah
Empress Zarrah of Valcotta opened the letter bearing Queen Sarhina of Maridrina’s seal, swiftly reading the contents once, then twice, the information adding to the knots of tension in her shoulders. “Sarhina has officially taken the first steps to dissolving the Maridrinian monarchy.”
Her father, Arjun Retva, took the letter as she passed it to him, his brows furrowing as he read. Shaking his head, he set the letter down. “Silas will be spinning in his grave.”
Pressing fingers to her temple, Zarrah gave a slight nod.
“I can’t help but wonder if that’s half her motivation.
” A wave of guilt immediately passed through her, because she knew that Sarhina was a true queen for the people.
Her decision to create an elected government would ensure that the tyranny Maridrina endured beneath Silas and his predecessors would never happen again, and resenting the loss of the crown’s authority because of the frustrations it caused Valcotta was selfish. “It’s a remarkable achievement.”
“Keris will be pleased.”
“Yes.” Zarrah rose and went to the window, the height of the tower allowing her to see the sea upon which her husband had sailed away. The early-morning sun turned the water orange, but the beauty was lost on her. “Perhaps Sarhina will have the opportunity to tell him herself.”
Her father gave a long sigh, joining her at the window. “You were a fool to think he’d accept being locked up for something as inconsequential as his own protection. Keris Veliant has flaws beyond number, but cowardice is not one of them.”
“I am aware I erred.” The words came out from between her teeth.
She’d been sick with regret and guilt since the argument that had driven him onto a ship north.
A mistake fueled by fear, because there’d been so many attempts on his life, and her imagination too readily supplied her with visions of the moment she was told that one of the assassins had been successful.
That the love of her life was lost to her forever.
So she’d let fear drive him away instead.
“It was wise of Keris to go visit his family,” her father continued.
“He knows his own nature, and choosing to undertake a role as ambassador was better than another quarrel. It is always wise to let tempers ease, and perhaps when he returns, he’ll be more amenable to accommodations for his own safety. ”
“He’ll never be amenable to being locked up in a palace.” And she was an idiot for having even suggested it.
“Force the issue.”
“I do not wish to discuss this anymore.” Her voice cracked, and Zarrah cursed herself for allowing her hurt to take control. “My marriage to Keris is not your business.”
Arjun crossed his arms, unmoved by her temper. “You are empress and he is prince consort. Your marriage is the business of the entire world.”
It was the truth, but God help her, there were days Zarrah desperately longed for it to be otherwise. To live in obscurity with Keris, doing what they willed with no one else paying any mind.
But the stars had other plans in mind for them.
Why couldn’t it be simple? Hadn’t they gone through enough for one lifetime?
Even as the thoughts cycled through her head, Zarrah knew they were wishful thinking.
It had been a delusion to believe their love would be enough to ease the generational animosity between Valcotta and Maridrina.
All it had done was put a target on Keris’s back, because many believed that if he were dead, the war would begin anew.
That much was clear from the propaganda circulating through Pyrinat that kept landing on her desk.
It never fucking ends.
A tear ran down her cheek, and Zarrah viciously wiped it away even as she wished desperately to see Keris’s ship returning to the harbor so that she could be back in his arms.
A knock sounded at the door, and her father cleared his throat and then called out, “Enter.”
A soldier entered, bowing low. “Imperial Majesty, we have an urgent report.”
Zarrah swallowed the part of her that was a woman, a wife, a person, and embraced that which was only the empress. “What is it?”
He stepped aside to allow one of her advisors inside, a servant also entering to set down a tray of letters before departing.
Her advisor bowed low. “Imperial Majesty. We have received word that a wasting disease is striking several cattle herds, which have necessitated culling to prevent the spread. Yet despite efforts, there are signs that it has already infected new herds. The farmers are requesting financial aid from the crown.”
Zarrah’s stomach dropped. With famine heavy upon Maridrina, it wasn’t just her own people who depended on the meat from those animals. “When did this begin? How?”
“Recently.” He heaved a large sigh. “It’s believed the origin is breeding stock imported from Harendell, as theirs are a bulkier breed. They were kept separate, but an infected bull escaped his pen and entered the primary herd. The disease spreads rapidly.”
“Take all measures to contain it,” she ordered without hesitation. “Military support to keep it contained, and have them begin immediately culling full herds. I will compensate the farmers for their losses.”
“Imperial Majesty—” her father started.
Zarrah held up a hand to forestall his protests that the crown couldn’t afford the measures. “If farmers fear for their income, they will resist the cull, and the disease will continue to spread. See it done, and done swiftly.”
Her advisor nodded and bowed low before departing.
Zarrah looked to her father. “I know what you aimed to say. That the coffers are drained and we can’t afford it.”
Arjun shook his head. “I aimed to suggest that we finally put effort into retrieving the wealth the Devil’s Island current deposited in the prison. Daria told me there are buried caches in multiple places on the island.”
A small solution in a sea of problems. “Do it.”
As the door shut behind him, leaving Zarrah alone in the room, she opened one of the windows to allow in the breeze.
It carried with it the scent of Pyrinat and the harbor beyond, and she inhaled, trying to find a measure of calm.
She moved to her desk and refilled her teacup, feeling the weight of obligation pressing down on her.
I need you here.
On the heels of the thought, her eyes tracked to the stack of letters on the tray. The one on top was held closed with thick wax marked with Edward’s seal. Picking it up, she slid her knife beneath the wax and unfolded the heavy paper.
Dearest friend…Zarrah broke off reading, realizing that it was yet another of Edward’s letters to Keris.
They kept up a regular correspondence of gossip and exchanges of trivia, which Keris found endlessly amusing.
She started to set it down, but then paused, because within every letter was always some tidbit hidden within code.
Dipping her pen into a pot of ink, Zarrah began underlining the letters that matched his usual cipher, her stomach dropping as the message revealed itself.
I will have wed William to Lestara by the time you receive this. Forgive the seeming betrayal of our friendship. As one who has risked all for love, you will one day understand everything, but know I regret the hurt my actions will cause you and your family.
She could barely breathe, it feeling as though her lungs were being squeezed by a steel band. It took long weeks for letters to travel from Verwyrd to Pyrinat. Longer still if the storms slowed traffic to the entrances of the bridge.
Which meant Lestara and William would already be wed. Lestara, the woman responsible for the sacking of Vencia, was the future queen of Harendell.
Dragging open a desk drawer, Zarrah dug through the contents to find what she was looking for. In a few short strides, she crossed the room and flung open the door. “I need a message sent with all haste to Queen Sarhina asking to meet me in Nerastis.”
The waiting guards blinked, then one asked, “Is there a letter to go along with the request?”
“None necessary,” Zarrah replied, heading in pursuit of her father. “By the time our messenger reaches her, Sarhina will already know why.”