Chapter 27 Zarrah
Zarrah
Zarrah strode down the ship’s gangplank onto the docks, and then made her way into the city. Nerastis, always its most beautiful at night, gleamed brilliantly in the moonlight.
But after meeting with Dax on the journey north, she had no room in her heart to appreciate the city Valcotta shared with Maridrina. Her heart was too full of dread over what was to come.
Edward dead.
Ahnna accused of murdering him.
William threatening war to avenge him.
Lestara now queen of Harendell.
And Keris on the front lines of another war.
“Did Keris give any indication of what he planned to do?” she asked Dax, who strode at her elbow.
The Maridrinian man shook his head, then rubbed his temples, his exhaustion written across his face.
“Only that he planned to find Lara and Aren. He ordered me to carry on to deliver the news of the murder to Sarhina, and then you, but I got stuck at Southwatch due to the storm. Everything we know is terribly outdated unless Sarhina has fresh intelligence.”
Every instinct in Zarrah’s body screamed that the situation had only grown worse, and she cursed the slow travel of news from north to south.
Cursed Ithicana’s storms for how they endlessly disrupted travel, though she knew that it was those very storms that would be preventing Harendell from retaliation.
“Lara will keep him out of trouble,” Dax said. “He’s probably drinking their wine and complaining about the quality of Aren’s library.”
Zarrah was in no mood for platitudes. “Aren and Lara are certain Ahnna is innocent?”
“Yeah.” Dax was quiet for a long moment. “But Prince James isn’t a witness who is easily discounted.”
“Agreed.” The bastard prince of Harendell was not one for schemes. Unlike the rest of his family. “Though we can’t discount that he’s Lestara’s cousin.” Another revelation that Dax had delivered. “What was Edward thinking?”
“Doesn’t much matter now that he’s dead, does it?”
Zarrah’s mind twisted over the fragmented information, trying to put together all the pieces as they pressed into Nerastis. But her thoughts kept circling back to one point, drawn there by her rising fear.
“Lestara hates Keris,” she said softly. “Which hardly mattered when she was being led around on a leash by Virginia Ashford and fed dog biscuits by the ladies of the court, but now she’s fucking queen of Harendell.
If she finds out he’s in Ithicana, she might use her newfound power to take revenge on him. ”
“Trust the storms,” Dax intoned, and Zarrah bit down on a retort, because every storm season had an end and every War Tides a beginning.
But she could not stop the turn of the seasons, so Zarrah fixed her sights on the Maridrinian palace where Sarhina waited.
There was no ceremony or fanfare at the gates, only covert nods as she and her small entourage passed by the Maridrinian guards. Word of this meeting would travel north eventually, but stealth might buy them time.
“Get some rest,” she said to Dax. “I’ll meet with Sarhina alone.”
Striding down the corridor where Keris’s brother had once dragged her as his prisoner, Zarrah smiled for the first time in what felt like eternity as a familiar face approached. Tucking her gloves into her belt, she lifted her hands and said, “It’s good to see you, Ensel.”
“You as well, Imperial Majesty.” He smiled. “You’ve been practicing.”
At her request, Ensel had provided drawings of the signs he made with his hands to speak and sent them to her in Pyrinat.
Zarrah enjoyed conversations with Sarhina’s husband, for he was a breath of calm in the midst of an endless storm.
Maridrina’s queen was a force to be reckoned with, as tempestuous as any Veliant, but she always listened to Ensel. “How is she?”
“The world has never seen anger like this.”
Zarrah gave a tight nod. Sarhina’s hatred for Lestara and what she’d done to Vencia was a thing to behold. Dax had told her Maridrina’s queen had taken Lestara’s ascension poorly, and the timing could not be worse, because Sarhina had just given up most of her power.
Sarhina’s decision to begin abolishing the monarchy was commendable in many ways, but Zarrah did not think that these elected officials would be willing to risk much on behalf of Ithicana if it truly came to war with Harendell.
Zarrah silently cursed Ahnna Kertell for her rash violence, because the ripple effect of Edward’s murder would be felt across the known world.
Guards opened a set of doors, and Zarrah strode into a room dominated by a large table.
Pulling her hood back, she fixed her gaze on the woman who sat at the far end of the table, hands resting on its flat surface and a scowl etched across her lovely face.
“I wish we were meeting under better circumstances.”
Sarhina exhaled, then pushed her black braid over her shoulder and rose. “Ahnna Kertell has started a war, sure and true. The Harendellians will not let this go—Edward certainly deserved a knife to the chest for wedding that murderous sow to his heir, but he was beloved by the people.”
They both circled the table and embraced, then Sarhina gestured for Zarrah to sit, pouring them both glasses of water from a carafe on the table.
“Do you have any fresh news?” Zarrah asked after drinking. “Have you heard from Lara?”
Sarhina shook her head. “The storms have been vicious. Even getting a ship across to Southwatch has been nearly impossible, so the only news I have is what came via Dax before he pressed on to give you the same information. Lara has undoubtedly sent additional messages, but they will be stuck at Southwatch until the storms ease. I hate to imagine what has been happening in the north, but imagine we must. If it comes to war, we will have to pick a side.”
“I was under the impression we already had chosen a side.”
Sarhina leaned back in her chair. “Yes. And no. Dax’s information might be old, but on the matter of Ahnna’s actions, it was clear.
Prince James and his men came upon Ahnna attacking Alexandra.
She had the bloody knife in her hand. Had shouted threats of murder toward the Ashford family not hours before, after Edward humiliated her in front of his entire court.
It’s possible that William will be placated with her execution—with luck, they’ve already caught her and seen it done—but Aren needs to vocally condemn her and her actions to put as much distance between Ahnna and Ithicana as he can.
I say that knowing full well that he won’t.
Dax indicated that Aren doesn’t think she’s guilty. ”
“Would you, if it were one of your sisters?” Zarrah couldn’t help but feel defensive toward Aren, for she admired his stalwart loyalty immensely.
Azure eyes locked on hers, identical in color to Keris’s but for the black lashes that framed them. “Yes. Which is why I’m praying to every higher power that Bronwyn doesn’t involve herself.”
“Dax said she was in Ithicana.”
Sarhina grimaced. “Yes, but Taryn Kertell was taken prisoner. Given she’s Bron’s lover, I can’t imagine that my sister will sit idly.”
“It’s not the Veliant way.” Zarrah took another sip of her water. “I have the same concerns about Keris. He’ll be in the thick of things.”
“He’s not exactly a tempering influence, though, is he?
Especially given Lestara’s rise to the throne.
” Sarhina rubbed at her temple. “William’s a hotheaded idiot, so he’d have been easy pickings for Lestara.
She’s beautiful, and more than that, she’s experienced with royal men.
But what is Edward’s excuse for such a foolish decision?
Ronan has other daughters he could’ve chosen who aren’t responsible for mass murder if a union with Cardiff was what he wanted. Why her?”
“She was convenient, and she’s likely done an excellent job of convincing William that she was a victim of my aunt’s manipulation.”
“We can blame Keris for that. I told him to cut off her traitorous head.”
Zarrah didn’t bother defending her husband’s creative punishment, because she was sure he was currently cursing the decision himself.
“The past can’t be changed, but it most certainly will influence the future.
We must assume that Lestara has her claws in deep and is more than capable of manipulating William to achieve her own ends. ”
“Keris needs to keep his head down and out of her reach. There is no one in the world she hates more than him, and I don’t think your wrath is enough to keep her from killing him, should she get the chance.”
A band of tension tightened around Zarrah’s chest, and she drew in a steadying breath.
“He won’t hide, that much I know.” Reaching into the pocket of her coat, Zarrah withdrew several folded pieces of paper.
“These are the letters Lestara sent in correspondence with Petra. They were found in my aunt’s quarters.
Proof, in Lestara’s own hand, that she knew exactly what her actions would achieve, as well as a clear statement of her ambitions to rule.
If William were to see these, he might better understand the woman he married. ”
Sarhina spread the pages flat, and though she made no visible reaction as she read, Maridrina’s queen seethed with fury. Zarrah’s skin prickled, and she was reminded of an offhand comment Lara had once made that Sarhina was the most dangerous of the Veliant sisters.
Though she’d read the letters many times, Zarrah’s eyes caught on Lestara’s looping script.
Maridrina must be rid of Keris, Imperial Majesty.
Any and all losses that the people suffer will be well worth it, for he is not fit to rule.
The people will grow to understand that the short-term costs are worth the long-term gains when I am on the throne, for through my rule, I will right this nation.
You and I will be the strongest of allies, for the stars themselves have foretold that to rule is my destiny.
It was pages and pages of the same, all of it making it very clear that Lestara had cared little who died as long as Keris, whose name she slandered at length, lost the crown.
Her obsession with being queen and ruling seemed to permeate the pages themselves, and just touching the paper filled Zarrah with intense unease.
With luck, William would feel the same upon reading them and would set Lestara aside.
Not a solution to all their woes, but not having a queen who wished vengeance upon Ithicana, Maridrina, and Valcotta alike would go a long way.
Silence stretched through the room. Sarhina quietly rose and poured two drinks, setting one in front of Zarrah, who stared at the amber liquid but didn’t take a sip.
“Ahnna’s choice to murder Edward may have set events in motion, but this is a multifaceted conflict.
” Sarhina sipped her drink, staring at a map of both continents and the bridge between them.
“I’d say all nations will be drawn into it, but in truth, we’re already involved.
We are all connected, in alliance and in enmity, and have been for generations.
I think that the revelation of Edward’s connection to Cardiff’s House of Crehan is but the tip of the iceberg.
We must show care, else this will spiral into something that dwarfs the Endless War. ”
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
“Yes?” Sarhina called out, and the door swung open.
Daria stepped inside, face shadowed with exhaustion and clothes stained from travel. At the sight of her, Zarrah’s heart lurched into her throat, because her fears had shown her this moment a thousand times.
Bowing low, Daria then straightened and cleared her throat. “Imperial Majesty…”
Zarrah was already on her feet. “Where is my husband? Is Keris all right?”
Daria winced. “He’s fine. At least, he was when I left him in Ithicana.”
“But…?”
“Keris sent me with a message. William has threatened war if Aren doesn’t turn Ahnna over for execution.
Which is complicated, because for one, Aren is not convinced of her guilt, and two, Ahnna isn’t in Ithicana.
The last information received before I left was that Prince James had pursued her into the Blackreaches. ”
Daria was looking everywhere but at Zarrah, and her skin crawled with unease. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“The Harendellians are up to something, but it’s hard to get information. So…”
“So?” Zarrah almost shouted the word, her stomach twisting into ropes. “Spit it out, Daria!”
“So Keris volunteered to be an intermediary.” Daria slowly lifted her head, meeting Zarrah’s gaze. “He’s going to Harendell.”
Where Lestara, the woman who hated him more than anyone else living, now ruled as queen.
“He said he’s sorry.” Daria gave a sharp shake of her head. “The Harendellians aren’t going to let this go. If Ahnna isn’t brought to justice, they’ll come for blood, and Ithicana is in no position to defend against them. Keris is trying to stop a war.”
“I know he is.” And God help her, Zarrah loved him for it. “But Lestara is going to kill him before he has a chance.”