Chapter 71
Gaeren stood outside the council room doors, Enla’s arm wrapped through his. He always needed a moment to collect himself before facing his parents, but this time he took even longer.
“You could just listen to the results of their deliberation,” Enla suggested.
He side-eyed her with a snort. “Do you see that happening in any of my future paths?”
When her expression glazed over, he squeezed her hand.
“I was joking. I don’t want you sifting anything. You know I can’t hold my tongue in our parents’ presence.”
“One of the many reasons why it was best for you to be out at sea.” Her smile held a maternal wisdom that made her seem far older. What could their friendship have been like if they’d grown up as siblings without so much weight to bear?
“You’re entering the room with me instead of with them, so I assume you’re in favor of my reckless plan.”
She sighed and looked away. “I agree our parents have gone too far. I want to rule with more justice and mercy than they have. I didn’t trust myself to do it before now. I need you to balance me out.”
He tried not to squirm at her words, wondering if she’d sifted the possibilities of him betraying her. Was it something she saw and thought too impossible?
“They’ll fight it,” he warned her. “They may have wanted you to rule before I left, but now they’ll say terrible things about your sanity. It will help my case if you show an ability to stay in the present tonight.”
“I’ll hold back my visions if you can hold back your sarcasm.” The smile she gave was nostalgically reminiscent of the many she’d teased him in childhood.
The guards opened the doors, forcing them to adopt identical serene expressions.
They marched in and stood before the dais where their parents sat on their council room chairs overlooking everyone’s tables, and they bowed in tandem.
Gaeren held his hands out to his mother, who took them with tears in her eyes.
“Your father only did what he thought was best for you,” she whispered. Gaeren hid his scowl, using the time to run his thumb along his mother’s wrists and palms. Outside of the rough scars he’d seen from their old brands, he saw and felt nothing new.
He did the same when he greeted his father, unable to decide if he was relieved they weren’t branded again or if he wished he’d been able to blame their treatment of him on Mayvus.
With the ceremonial greeting complete, Enla and Gaeren left the dais and took their seats at the table closest to the king and queen. Enla purposefully ignored her normal position beside her parents’ council room chairs, and Gaeren couldn’t help the pleasure rising in him at his parents’ shock.
Gaeren’s sadistic joy dampened slightly when his mother’s face crumpled, as if the slight had been a personal rejection.
As the council room filled with royal advisors and progenies, Gaeren avoided catching his uncle Danton’s gaze, unsure if he could keep the knowledge of the man’s ongoing betrayal off his face. Instead, he focused on Tobias, wondering if he was yet another Recreant disguised as a Loyalist.
When his mother had trouble regaining her composure, Tobias bent over, adding something to her tea.
Gaeren frowned, still bothered by the so-called healer’s tonics but unsure why.
If Tobias was a Recreant, wouldn’t he have killed the queen by now?
And if he wasn’t, what could it be other than calming tonics?
One of the advisors stood, and Gaeren winced, remembering him for his uncanny ability to drone on with a single monotonous tone.
“We gather today to discuss the veracity of claims made by Emeris Wyndren and company, as well as Gaeren Elanesse.” He stuttered a bit over Gaeren’s name as if he knew the person accused of treason could one day be in charge of his position in the palace.
The formal evaluation of the progenies’ reports verifying the truth of Emeris’ and Gaeren’s testimonies grew long and dull. As Gaeren’s mind wandered, he recited his planned speech, wondering how soon he could make it without being too disrespectful.
It wasn’t until Enla nudged him awake that he realized he’d dozed off.
“Despite acknowledging the truthfulness of all their words,” his father said, “it doesn’t seem to be in the best interest of the Vendaran people to engage in war alongside these Recreants.” The words felt final, making Gaeren realize he’d missed significantly more than he’d thought.
“And how many of these Recreants are Vendarans?” Gaeren called out.
The room stilled, and despite knowing he’d spoken out of turn, he felt confident his words were the exact right ones that needed to be said.
His father chuckled as if tolerating the questions of a child. “Every single one of them.”
“So you would let your people be taken under the control of a woman known for using blood magic—a woman who recently enslaved you with it?”
His father’s face took on a shade of pink that bordered purple, reminding Gaeren that not everyone in the room had been privy to that detail.
But he held his ground, waiting for his mother’s calming noetic skills to permeate the room.
He warded them off, unwilling to let the peace she might give silence his words.
“Those same Recreants prepare a war on us,” his father ground out. “I will protect and defend those who are loyal.”
Gaeren leaned forward, tapping his chin as if contemplating a new idea even though he’d planned out every word. “I thought it was our role to protect and defend all Vendarans, regardless of loyalty. Wouldn’t protecting and defending them allow us to potentially regain loyalty?”
The king frowned. “You would waste all the resources we’ve built on people who would reject Enla as queen. By doing that, you would be setting her up with minimal resources when it came time for her to take the throne.”
Gaeren stood and shook his head.
While Enla closed her eyes, as if pained by his actions, she didn’t move to stop him, and she knew exactly what he planned to do.
“No, Father,” Gaeren said, making several around the room stiffen at his lack of formality in the council room.
“I would utilize the resources you’ve built to stand behind these people while Enla is on the throne, so they in turn will stand behind her, allowing them all to work together to rebuild those resources.
It’s what Enla would choose to do too, which is why I’m invoking my right as throne warden to claim her rightful place on the throne. ”
The gasps and murmurs spreading through the room were expected, and Gaeren didn’t drop his eyes from his father’s.
It could have been the small boy inside him longing for approval, but he thought he saw a hint of pride or maybe relief in his father’s eyes before the king guffawed and turned to Uncle Danton.
“He spends all his time out at sea and then suddenly returns and expects us to step down from the throne.”
Uncle Danton shifted uncomfortably. “Technically, he is within his rights. You can agree and save face, or you can contest the decision and potentially create a third battlefront. I will defend you to your death, but I cannot speak for the other soldiers faced with that decision.”
The king scowled at his throne warden, and Gaeren winced on his uncle’s behalf.
But then his father turned that glare on Gaeren. “You expect me to step down now, when you’re showing signs of making decisions that will ruin our nation?”
“I expect you to stand down out of respect for the laws that have put you in your position of power.”
“Where were you last summer when we offered it freely? Instead, you show up now, knowing the risk of putting Enla on the throne in her condition. You’re her throne warden. You should be looking out for her interests.”
“What do you say to this, Enla?” their mother asked.
Enla’s eyes fluttered open, her gaze too unfocused to put Gaeren at ease.
But then her voice rang out loud and clear.
“I support his decision. With Gaeren by my side, I think it’s the right move for the Vendaran people.
You have both served this country well, and you’ve raised us to do the same.
It would be an honor to take that burden from your shoulders and bear it on ours.
“Let me take your place with Croft. Enjoy the remainder of your life without the sorrows of leadership. Go to teas and parties. Spend time with your grandchildren.” Her face reddened, making Gaeren wonder if there was some announcement he’d missed.
“Spend the rest of your days free of the burdens of the crown. Spend the rest of your time in peace.”
“And if we refuse?” the king asked, his anger no more abated by Enla’s beautiful speech than by his wife’s calming noetic skills.
“Then the council reviews the royal decrees presented by the historian.” Danton hesitated before rushing on, unable to hold the king’s gaze. “You will likely be removed by force unless you can convince your soldiers to remain loyal despite the laws of your monarchy.”
The king stood, and the rest of the room scrambled to follow, all bowing in deference as he made his way to exit the room.
“We’ll reconvene in two days’ time with the historian and council members,” he called out.
But as he passed by Gaeren’s place at the table, he growled a few more words under his breath, just for his wayward son. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”