Chapter 15 #3
“Palchur, you, too,” I said. “Gather however many guards you think you’ll need. Will we have to worry about Queen Sybil’s men?”
“Not if we have enough on our side, sire,” Palchur said.
“We will help you spread the word to the other monarchs,” Doria said. “You’ve established a relationship with Zall’s king. We can speak with King Horus and Queen Laylia.”
“Sounds good to me.” I nodded. “Who’s going to speak with Prime Minister Eriz?”
“I think you should speak with him, too,” Doria said. “He seemed to like you.”
“Alright,” I said.
I thought about the orientation of tents around the encampment, and I decided to speak with Mannie first because Eriz’s tent was closer to Sybil’s.
“Before we disperse…” Palchur said. “I’d like to get your security team on board and at least two guards with you and each of the queens.”
“Yeah,” I sighed as the weight of what was coming really hit me. “Good idea. Doria, Enken, do you mind if my queens wait here with you for a few minutes while he does that?”
“Of course, they can wait here,” Doria said with a friendly smile.
“Sire?” Anders called from outside the tent.
“Yes, you may enter!” Doria replied.
“Reggie came to get me,” Anders explained once he stepped inside. “I hear we’re about to move.”
“Yes, I need you and Tiberius to come with me,” I explained. “Tanell, Serra, Yori, Carissa, you four stay here until the rest of the team arrives. Then I want you back in our tent where they can keep you safe.”
“Do you expect us to miss the trial?” Yori asked.
“Not unless you want to miss it,” I said with a soft chuckle. “I just want you safe and protected until we have Sybil where we know she can’t do any more harm.”
“Don’t worry, ladies,” Doria said. “We’ll find a way to pass the time.”
“And it won’t be long before all of this is out in the open,” Enken said with a grunt. “Then, maybe, we can get on with dealing with Khorr and his cow shit.”
“Enken,” Doria gasped and giggled.
“Apologies, ladies,” Enken said, but he didn’t look very repentant at all.
I chuckled and turned to Anders and Tiberius.
“Come with me,” I said.
Then I marched out of Enken and Doria’s tent, and the two guards flanked me as I walked straight across the field to King Manolito and Queen Lucita’s tent.
King Mannie took the news of his ambassador’s murder better than I’d hoped, and he looked ready to take Sybil’s head himself when I explained all the evidence we had against her.
“What do you need from us?” Mannie asked with determination in his eyes.
“Your support,” I answered. “Can you add some soldiers to the patrol around Queen Sybil’s tent? We don’t want her escaping and running off to make things even worse.”
“Definitely.” Mannie nodded.
He summoned a soldier in full armor. I guessed he was a captain or something, and Mannie gave the man his orders.
The soldier bowed respectfully before he hurried out of the tent.
A few seconds later, the sound of several pairs of stomping feet passed by outside and headed in the direction of the Silver Coast’s tent.
“Thank you for investigating this matter,” Mannie said, and he reached out to take my hand. “Your effort is most appreciated.”
“Yeah, no problem,” I said as I shook his hand. “Sybil’s actions and motives threaten us all. We can’t let her pass anything on to that tyrant. The more surprise we can bring with us into this inevitable war, the better off we’ll be.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Mannie said.
We hardly bothered with pleasantries or goodbyes before I headed out of Zall’s tent and marched over to Valnar’s with Reggie and Tiberius right beside me.
I couldn’t help but notice the influx of soldiers from multiple countries outside Queen Sybil’s tent. Her soldiers were standing around like they were still doing their jobs, but they kept eyeing the other soldiers with curious expressions.
Good, that meant the truth of what was happening hadn’t spread too far yet.
Prime Minister Eriz welcomed me into his tent without hesitation, and I was surprised to see only three chairs set up in the front section.
“What can I do for you, King Ken?” he asked as he motioned for me to sit.
“I won’t mince words,” I said. “Our diplomatic meeting is about to turn into a Trial of Peers.”
“Well, damn,” Eriz sighed. “Tell me what’s going on.”
He handled the news well and didn’t seem all that shocked by any of it.
“I never liked her,” he said when I finished. “She always seemed…”
He grasped at the air like he could find the right word there.
“Like a bitch?” I offered.
“Yes!” he chortled. “I was going to say ‘too focused on selfish desires,’ but yes.”
“I appreciate your support in this,” I said.
“Of course.” Eriz nodded. “Valnar may be secluded by the presence of the Silver Coast all around us, but I am not above working with others to do what’s right for my people.”
“Hopefully, we can get King Giles on our side, too,” I said.
A rumble of voices started to grow outside Eriz’s tent, and it caught both our attention.
“What’s going on?” he murmured.
I frowned. “I’m not–”
Then Queen Sybil’s voice screeched through the air.