CHAPTER 70
It was the damnedest thing. Quin didn’t know quite what to think. Seeing the Royal Counselor suited up in leathers for battle, instead of robes for tackling contracts and statutes, made his head hurt. Like he was watching some warped sleight of hand that was going to explode in his face.
“Stop gawking,” Cosette said.
“Tyghan will explain what happened when he’s ready,” Melizan added.
“Maybe Kasta is ill,” Sloan suggested. “When we have more privacy, he’ll tell us.”
“Ill?” Cully said warily. “She seemed fine this morning. A little jumpy maybe, but that’s the only explanation that makes sense.”
Quin rubbed his chin. “If she’s so sick that even the High Witch can’t get her back on her feet, then it must be serious.”
All Tyghan had said so far was that Kasta was taking care of other matters in private, and that Eris was now his First Officer.
“He seems to know what he’s doing,” Dalagorn grumbled, as mystified as Quin.
They watched Eris walking alongside Tyghan and Commander Maddox, just ahead of them, checking the wagons that would depart that evening.
The wagons carried the tents and supplies to set up for the parley.
The advance teams would also secure Danu’s place on the rim of the valley and set up the tents so they were ready when the “witnesses” arrived.
With forty witnesses, they’d have the biggest spread of tents on the rim.
Eris gave the advance team specifics, the order of the tents, and exactly how far each should be set back from the rim—like he understood tactical maneuvers.
“One thing is certain,” Cully said, “the counselor will scrutinize every last detail.”
“And where the hell did he get that Gildan sword?” Quin asked. It had gemstones in it they didn’t recognize. It was decorated with the three traditional rubies of a Danu knight, but also had an enormous trillion-cut emerald. No one, not even Tyghan, had an emerald like that.
Melizan silently noted Eris’s physique, which his robes and loose clothing had always hidden.
He appeared fit for the role of First Officer, but did he actually know how to use that sword on his back?
But there was something in his walk, a certain swagger, not unlike Tyghan’s, that told her, yes, he knew how to use it.
Tyghan and Eris signed off on the last wagon and headed back toward the officers.
“Thanks for waiting,” Tyghan said, feeling six sets of eyes burning into him.
“I wanted to speak to you when I had you all together.” The news still turned his stomach, but he knew they were eager for an explanation.
It was the last one he wanted to deliver.
He remembered when he was crowned king, still on his sickbed and half-conscious.
He had called Kasta to his side. She was the most detail minded of all his officers—and his close friend.
Through gasps and moans, he asked her to be his First Officer—the king’s officer.
She had cried. He’d never seen Kasta cry before, and he’d thought it was for him.
Now he wondered if it was actually because of her guilt.
“Is Kasta sick?” Cully asked.
Tyghan swallowed. “No. Before you feel relieved, I want you to know she has resigned her position.” There was a murmur of disbelief, but before he was bombarded with questions, he continued.
“I will not be sharing details, but Kasta has disobeyed direct orders and put lives and the mission in jeopardy. Once she has shared all her tactical information with Eris, she’ll be dismissed. ”
“No punishment?” Sloan asked.
Tyghan was silent.
Melizan saw him struggling for an answer, his chin dimpling as he bit back words. “We all know Kasta,” Melizan said. “Knighthood is her life. Her resignation and dismissal are her punishment.”
Tyghan’s gaze met hers, and he nodded.
Eris motioned to the full wagons. “Everything is done here. Take the afternoon to give your horses a last go-over, gather your things together, and turn in early. We leave two hours before dawn tomorrow.”
Quin squinted. “You sure you’re up for this, counselor?” He motioned to Eris’s back. “That sword and all?”
“Hmm,” Eris said, drawing the sword from its scabbard. “This thing? I thought it was just for show. Maybe we should give it a go?”
Tyghan knew this moment had to come. Better they see it with their own eyes. “Sure, Quin,” Tyghan said. “Put the counselor through a few paces.”