Chapter 28
I t took three agonizingly long days to get Father and the General to agree to the meeting.
I asked Spencer to attend, and Juniper of course, but limited it to just the five of us.
In that time, Juniper could use various objects to ward my chambers and Spencer’s helping keep our minds free of this God of Death.
Ivy and Amyra had taken to sleeping in my chambers for their own comforts as well.
Emberly had given us some techniques that seem to work to guard our minds.
I hadn’t heard from Death, as I started calling him, but I didn’t know if that’s because it’s working or if it’s because he was letting me think it was working so he could continue to listen.
I wasn’t the only one worried about that, so Emberly had really been pushing hard on us to keep our guards up, even when in our warded rooms. She worked with Spencer and me all day until we were exhausted.
It was already becoming second nature to protect my mind.
Spencer and I had arrived early for this meeting with Father and the General.
Spencer challenged my mental defenses while we waited in Juniper’s office.
To the outside world, we probably looked like a couple of lovebirds.
It felt a little surreal. Just a few months ago, I was positive that no man existed in the world that could be tolerable.
Who could ever compare to my Amyra? The thought of losing her made me feel like I couldn’t breathe.
But something with Spencer caused me to drop my guard, and I couldn’t be happier.
I never imagined picking a husband who could recognize and respect that I loved Amyra first, and that I would always love her.
‘ Aw, but will you love me too? ’ Spencer’s voice broke through. I grinned.
‘ Guess you’ll have to work hard and see what that gets you .’ I tease back.
‘ I’ll work hard all night long if I have to .’
‘ I bet you will .’ I bit my lower lip, looking up at him through my lashes.
A knock sounded, ending the flirting. I put my wall back up and then felt him tapping against it. He squeezed my hand, his way of praising me when he can’t whisper into my mind.
Juniper opened the door and allowed Father and a General in.
I realize that this man was a newer one I haven’t met.
I stood to greet them, with Spencer following suit.
“Hello, good morning, Father and General…” I read his name tape and emphasize his unfamiliarity.
“General Simms, it seems. I thought General Kellen would join us. No offense, Sir, we just had sensitive information and requested him specifically to manage that.”
Father allowed one corner of his lips to curl, a nonverbal acknowledgement on his otherwise stoic face. I would bet anything that he had the same objection in his office.
“Yes, well, the General is busy this morning, and I’m available. He read me into the situation.”
I raised my eyebrow at Juniper, just to catch her writing a note.
She folded the paper and then turned to a bookshelf.
When she turned back a moment later, the paper wasn’t in her hands.
If I didn’t know that she waved it away, I would have assumed she shoved it between books.
She positioned herself in front of her desk, and I knew she was both waiting for a reply and hiding the magic from this man. The priestesses hadn’t vetted him.
“All the same, as the heir to the throne, I expect you and other leadership to check with me before making such unilateral decisions. Sometimes, other matters must yield to my meetings. This is one of those times, but the timeliness of this issue is also a factor. Tell me, Sir, is the General in the castle at this moment, or has his pressing needs taken him off the grounds?”
I was hoping to buy time for Juniper to get the information she needed, all while feeling this man out and how he intended to treat me as his queen and his boss’s boss.
He bowed. “My apologies, Your Highness. I will speak to the General about this request to ensure you approve deviations.”
I nodded and glanced at Juniper. She was still waiting.
“Thank you, Sir. Can you tell me what the General informed you about for this meeting? I’ll have to adjust how much information I present once I have a grasp on your knowledge.”
‘ God, it’s hot to watch you make this man squirm. Guard up .’ I shot Spencer a glance, both of gratitude in his reminder, and slight embarrassment of his praise. He knew how to distract me with just a few words.
General Simms explained what he knew about Egan, but mentioned nothing about the Priests, our suspicions with the King of Scoria Bay, or show any familiarity with magic.
He had positioned himself between Juniper and me, facing me, still standing.
As he was explaining his knowledge, Juniper received her note, and after reading it, she gave me a nod.
“OK, very well. I’ll have significantly more explaining to do, as he left off more information. Juniper, will you open the door for the meeting room?”
Father’s smirk returned, along with a look of curiosity. No one had taken him to that room yet. I wasn’t sure if Emberly or Spencer had been working with him about mind shielding.
Juniper nodded and invited us to her next room. General Simms took the lead, which gave him a full show of watching Juniper move the wall without touching it. His jaw dropped. “Uh, yeah, I didn’t get those details. Can you…”
“Yes, we will. But first, if you will, follow me.” I reached for a torch just as Juniper lights it and assumed the lead. Spencer was close behind me, never one to let me get far while we walked through these tunnels. Juniper took the rear so she could close the doors behind us.
Once we arrived in the room, I placed the torch in the holder and found my seat at the head of the table.
Over the last couple of weeks, we had taken to making this cave room to be a bit more comfortable by bringing chairs, pillows, and even some blankets down to help protect against the damp chill.
Juniper closed the room and then warded it.
Once she completed her spell, I spoke again.
“A lot has happened in the last few days, since we last met, Father. I know this room isn’t one that we are used to, but you’ll understand why when I’m done. First, let me fill in the blanks for General Simms.”
I explained magic to him. Well, I asked Juniper to explain it to him.
She had a knack for sharing only the information needed.
We also provided him with the other holes in the theory about who’s backing Egan, and what magic he had used to be such a threat.
Once he heard the magic, he rubbed his neck and said, “Oh, the precautions we’re taking against that scrawny kid make more sense now. ”
Spencer didn’t bother to stop his chuckle from escaping.
“And now we are to the last meeting Father attended. During that meeting, someone spoke to me in my mind, a voice I didn’t recognize that deeply unsettled me.
He didn’t identify himself, and we ended the meeting immediately to avoid discussing things when we didn’t know who this was and how he fit into the situation.
After the meeting, Emberly and Juniper brought Spencer, Amyra, and me down here to talk.
This room’s design protects against mind reading, and we added a ward to keep information spoken here confidential.
What we realized is that the voice I heard must have been the God of Death. ”
I paused, not sure why. Father used the pause. “Sorry, we don’t have a God of Death? What do you mean?”
“We used to. He caused the Last Great War and was supposed to be banished. It seems as if that banishment has ended early, and we strongly believe he’s behind the Priests of Bel and Egan.”
Father had the deepest sigh. It was General Simms’ reaction that felt the most unsettling.
The color had drained from his face, his lips parting slightly, yet no words came.
His fingers twitched at his side, then curled into a trembling fist, his gaze locked on the stone table as though it might rise and strike him down where he sat.
Finally, he spoke. “Yes, the General should have been here. I will make sure he doesn’t underestimate you again, Princess. ”
I nodded. I’m not sure what else to say to such a statement, but appreciate his acknowledgement.
“We are about to start a war, Lyla.” Father said, and I agreed.
“I know. I think we are past the point of avoiding that.”
And with that, we settled in and planned how to handle this plot to end my life.