Chapter Ten – Mira
Chapter Ten
Mira
‘Crown Prince Roran Valerian, of the Ravalian Empire–’
‘It’s Emperor,’ Roran corrected coldly, striding past the herald and the warriors guarding the entrance.
I watched him enter the banquet hall, marking his every movement. Roran didn’t seem concerned to find himself surrounded by Kalurians. He only had eyes for me, smiling a little at my retinue of armed guards.
‘Don’t come any closer,’ one warned.
‘There’s no need for unpleasantness,’ Roran remarked, ignoring the directive. ‘I come in peace.’
Yet I noticed that he wore black and silver – a deliberate colour choice, chosen to mock the priestesses and the Temple.
Roran strode over to Cassius. Without looking at his younger brother, he speared a slice of apple with his fork and lifted it to his mouth.
‘Well done on your plan to kill Father,’ he said.
‘I didn’t think you had it in you. Though you chose your accomplice poorly – how long has Kasmira kept you locked up for? Two months?’
I expected Cassius to deny his role in Emperor Kalias’s death, but perhaps Cassius – like me – had realised the futility of it. Better to be regarded as ruthless than a liar.
‘An improvement, I’m sure,’ Cassius drawled, ‘on the quick death you would have offered me.’
‘I doubt I would have any allies left, if all I offered them was a quick death.’ His reptilian gaze rose to lock with mine. ‘It’s good of you to allow my brother to participate in these negotiations, Kasmira. I do hope you offered him something decent in exchange for his cooperation.’
I ignored the barb – and its implication: that I had coerced Cassius’s support. ‘You took quite a risk coming here.’
‘Did I?’ Roran’s lip curled. ‘I was under the impression that you were desperate for this alliance. You certainly wouldn’t achieve that by throwing me out, and as for ordering my execution .
. . well, I feel confident that the clans would retaliate against such a grievous injustice.
Even if V?lund hadn’t promised that I was under his protection, allowing the murder of other rulers sets a dangerous precedent. ’
‘You’re not even crowned yet!’ I said, my voice shaking with rage. ‘Technically, you’re not ruler of anything.’
‘And you have no palace, and by the looks of it . . .’ Roran eyed my priestesses and few remaining non-clan warriors, ‘not much of an army, either. Yet the clans are prepared to negotiate with you .’ He smiled at my expression.
‘But we’re being rude, sniping at each other and ignoring our host. I am willing to set my personal feelings aside in favour of a pleasant evening. Are you?’
‘Of course, Prince Roran,’ I replied.
Roran’s eyes sparked with anger, but only I seemed to notice. After exchanging polite pleasantries with the clan leader, he turned his attention to Nari. And no one – not even V?lund – tried to stop him as he offered her his arm.
My teeth ground together, thinking of how Roran had captured Nari and Darius, dangling their lives in front of me for sport. Surely Nari wouldn’t allow him to touch her, to get within even a foot of her.
But Roran hadn’t hurt Nari , had he? It had been Darius with the wounds, the evidence of his beatings–
Nari glanced at her brother. V?lund gave her a small nod.
She threaded her arm though Roran’s, allowing him to lead her across the hall. At his sharp glance, the musicians hurriedly struck up a song – a jaunty tune that didn’t suit the severity of the situation. A funeral march would have been more appropriate.
Cool hands brushed my bare shoulder. And then a voice whispered in my ear, ‘You’re shaking, Mira.’ Pulling back from me, Cassius said more loudly, ‘We can’t let Roran and Nari have all the fun. Shall we?’
I hesitated, but only for a moment. Cassius waited patiently with his hand outstretched, and when I finally placed my hand into his, he offered me a faint, darkly amused smile.
‘What are you doing?’ I hissed as we approached Roran and Nari, who were elegantly matching the beat of the musicians’ song.
‘With Roran here, you can’t afford to be seen as weak – not by him, and certainly not by the Kalurian clans. In politics, everything is a show. So,’ he murmured, ‘let’s give them a show.’
Cassius wound his arms around my waist, drawing me scandalously close. And then we were moving.
Where Roran’s movements were slower and heavier, Cassius and I twirled around the hall in tandem. I had forgotten how it felt to dance with him – forgotten the way his body seemed to meld with mine, tempting me to surrender myself to the music and this exhilarating, all-consuming sense of oneness .
Like a panther in human skin , I had once thought Cassius, and that panther-like grace was on full display now.
The music grew deeper, resonating through me like a heartbeat, until even I forgot about Roran and Nari. Cassius’s movements were fast and impossible to anticipate, forcing me to give over control and trust him to lead. How thrilling it was – this familiar, dangerous push and pull between us.
‘You’re doing wonderfully,’ Cassius told me after a few songs had passed. ‘The clan leader hasn’t taken his eyes off you.’
I didn’t have the chance to answer before he unwound me. I twirled around the dance floor until his arms caught me once more.
A brief glance over Cassius’s shoulder showed me that we had quite an audience. Even Roran was watching from where he had rejoined V?lund and the clan heads, who were standing in a huddle while servants brought them refreshments.
‘Relax,’ Cassius said when I tensed. ‘You can join them in a minute. For now, try to enjoy yourself.’
It shouldn’t have been possible. Not with Roran standing so close, his hateful stare focused on us. But somehow, I felt lighter, calmer, more centred.
I wasn’t the only one. Priestesses twirled around the dance floor now, taking their cue from their queen.
‘Roran must be hating this,’ I said with satisfaction. ‘Seeing my people enjoying themselves.’
Cassius’s lips upturned in a wry smile. ‘I’m sure.’
The song drew to a close and I stepped out of his embrace. At the last moment, I linked my arm through his, earning myself a surprised – but approving – glance.
In our hatred of Roran, at least, we were united. An alliance of two.
Whatever lightness I’d felt while dancing disappeared as we approached the main table. Seeing Roran laughing and sipping wine, as though this was his party, and these were his allies, made me want to reach for the dagger strapped to my thigh.
Cassius shot me a warning glance. I tried out a smile instead.
He nodded. Better .
‘Nice of you to join us, Kasmira,’ Roran said smoothly. I resisted the urge to throttle him. ‘We were just discussing my generous deal. It’s unfortunate you don’t have more to offer potential allies.’
‘At least I don’t threaten their lives,’ I said, with a pointed glance at Nari.
‘Nari was treated with the upmost respect whilst in my care.’ Roran smiled thinly. ‘As for my threat . . . that was to prove my point: that you don’t value Kalurian lives. How ironic that I showed more respect for her station than her own queen.’
‘I let my personal feelings cloud my judgement. I’m sorry for that,’ I said, looking first at Nari and then at V?lund. ‘But an alliance with me offers something Roran cannot: security. If Roran kills me, he will invade the Wilds.’
‘Not if we reach an agreement,’ Roran replied, waving away a servant’s offer of refreshment with an impatient hand.
Thoren and Ulrik shifted uneasily, having noticed the same thing I had: Roran’s lack of a denial.
‘Any agreement you make will be meaningless,’ I said, directing my words to V?lund.
‘You know Roran’s history; he learnt warfare at Emperor Kalias’s knee, and he’s helped conquer three countries since then.
Is that the kind of person you want as an ally?
Is that the kind of person you can trust with Kalure? ’
‘A stirring speech,’ Roran drawled, ‘but fearmongering aside, it is well known that Ravalians value honour.’
‘Where was your honour, brother,’ Cassius broke in, ‘when you tried to assassinate children?’
Nari exhaled a sharp breath. ‘Is that true?’
Roran’s calm expression didn’t falter. ‘Cassius is referring to himself and our sister. The Ravalian Court believes in survival of the fittest – there is nothing dishonourable about weeding out the weak. If they die, then they have proven their inferiority.’
It was clear that the clan heads strongly disagreed with this. Roran must have realised that too, because he quickly moved on.
‘Regardless, there is a way I can prove my good intentions.’ Roran’s gaze shifted to Nari.
My stomach sank even before he said, ‘Were we to marry, our fates would be intertwined. Your brother would be free to rule the entirety of Kalure – not just the Wilds – and there would be a lasting peace between our countries. You could both be certain that I would never invade, and reap the benefits of being associated with the Ravalian Empire. As I’m sure you’re aware, its resources are immense. ’
And there it was. The blow that Roran had come all this way to deliver.
It made sense now, why he had come in person. He had wanted the opportunity to make his case in front of the clans – and to discredit me and Cassius. But most importantly, he had upped the stakes. Judging by V?lund’s intent stare, this was an offer he might not be able to refuse.
Roran’s eyes gleamed with victory. ‘I will leave you to consider my terms.’
‘I’ll walk you out,’ I said, slipping my arm from Cassius’s.
‘Are you sure?’ Cassius asked quietly, his body tense. ‘Perhaps I should accompany you.’
‘Roran knows that he can’t kill me in my own Temple, surrounded by witnesses. Besides, it would be dishonourable.’ My eyes bored into Roran’s. ‘And I know how much you value honour .’
Roran smiled in response. A shark’s smile.
A handful of warriors flanked us as we crossed the banquet hall. Everyone was staring but pretending not to.
‘My younger brother is quite besotted with you,’ Roran remarked, his tone conversational.
‘I doubt that very much,’ I said tersely. ‘But I don’t want to talk about me. I want to talk about you .’
‘Oh?’
‘You’re not really going to marry Nari. I know you better than that – you have no interest in sharing power.’
A soft breeze ruffled my hair as we stepped outside. Roran surveyed the courtyard and surrounding colonnades intently, his gaze rising to the living quarters on the second level. I didn’t like his focused stare: as if he was committing every balcony, statue and mural to memory.
‘Marriage isn’t a terrible idea,’ he said at last. ‘Obviously a queen or princess would be the long-term option, but for now . . . well, bringing Kalure to heel has proven to be a costly endeavour. Promising my hand to Nari is the most efficient way to take your country and your head.’
‘And what happens to her once I’m dead?’
Roran shrugged, clearly losing interest. ‘An emperor needs an heir. Perhaps we will grow to like each other.’
‘Or perhaps,’ I said coldly, ‘she’ll meet with a convenient accident.’
Roran smiled faintly, but didn’t respond. ‘I suppose this is goodbye, then, Kasmira,’ he said. ‘In more ways than one.’
Rather than accompanying my warriors towards the Temple steps, he walked past them – to where Nari stood beneath a sandstone archway. Even though she had every reason to distrust him, she still watched Roran with interest. Still allowed him to bring her hand to his lips.
Gods, she couldn’t actually be considering this.
‘Their engagement can never happen.’ Cassius came up behind me, watching Roran and Nari with narrowed eyes. ‘If it comes to that, you’ll have to kill her.’
‘And give the clans an even greater reason to turn against me? I don’t think so.’
‘I’m not suggesting a blatant assassination attempt. I’m suggesting–’
‘A convenient accident?’ I folded my arms. Cassius might hate Roran, but it seemed both brothers thought alike.
‘That was my first instinct. Though perhaps there is a better option.’ Slowly, Cassius said, ‘Even the clans are aware of the division within the Ravalian royal family. Both Scarlett and Zandri are known for their ruthlessness – and your priestesses stock poisons in the Temple. Some of them are Ravalian in origin.’
I wished his words shocked me. They didn’t. ‘You’re asking me to poison an innocent woman.’
‘Nari is Roran’s leverage,’ he corrected, without missing a beat. ‘She’s no longer innocent.’
I stared at him, feeling sick to my stomach.
‘Do you think I like suggesting this?’ Cassius asked, his face flushed – not with heat or embarrassment, but with the strength of his conviction.
‘I have nothing against Nari. She’s intelligent and interesting to talk to, for a Kalurian.
But the clans can’t ally with Roran. Not if you want to stay breathing. ’
I knew he was right, but my heart rebelled at the thought. I turned away from Cassius, unable to face him.
‘Either you lose your head,’ he called after me, ‘or she loses hers. It’s that simple.’