4. Conclave #2
“Is it war?” I continued. “Is it the downfall of a millennium of peace in this land? Does it mean the eventual genocide of our people?”
“No one is saying that your suspicions are unfounded, Your Majesty,” Freya Anja said hastily, her voice soft. She threw a furtive glance at Reynar.
“We mean only to avoid jumping to conclusions,” Vilke added, inclining her head. “There may well be a reasonable explanation for the Talon’s absence on the night of your mother’s death.”
“The law forbids us questioning one of them without a governing citizen of AEldin present,” Ingvar chimed in, waving his hand dismissively, as though speaking to a child.
“A few of us are yet ancient enough to remember the incident leading to that addition to the treaty. However dissatisfactory, we must abide by those laws to avoid any more undue bloodshed.”
My cheeks heated at the mention of my grandmother, and Ingvar’s brazen insinuation that I might follow in her footsteps. “Yes, Ingvar. Those amendments were made with good reason,” I said. “But it’s been fifty years since then. The treaty has been broken !”
I didn’t mean for my temper to run away with me. A queen was supposed to be level-headed and wise and discerning, like my mother. She’d always tried to teach me. Would the lesson have ever sunk in, even if she’d lived?
“Your Majesty.” It was Lenn’s soft voice and reassuring grip on my shoulder that calmed me. Slowly, I sank into my chair, smoothing the lap of my dress and tossing my snowy hair behind my shoulder.
Reynar cleared his throat quietly, drawing everyone’s attention. His piercing gaze cut across the table as he leaned forward, hands clasped beneath his chin. The picture of composure. The very opposite of me.
“Though your theories may be correct, Your Majesty, we cannot allow the Shifters to know we suspect them.”
“What—?”
“You can’t possibly mean that.”
Freya Vilke and I spoke at the same moment, and she shot me an apologetic look.
Reynar sneered at Vilke. “I do, in fact, mean that.”
None of the Thanes but that of the queen were allowed to speak at a conclave, but Clan ?asgrin’s Thane, Selgun, looked ready to strangle Reynar where he sat if given half a chance.
“When the delegation arrives,” I said, my voice dangerously low, “I intend to request a formal interrogation of the Talon and demand they remove him, and Grantis’s replacement, from Kjarra at once. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t.”
Reynar gave a small smile. “Because you need them.”
I couldn’t help the scoff that escaped my lips. At least I held my composure well enough not to roll my eyes. What Lenn would think of me then. “Lot of good they did my mother,” I said.
“You do not need them for protection, Your Majesty,” Reynar replied, obvious annoyance coloring his tone. “You need them as insurance.”
“Against what?” Lenn ground out.
Understanding settled in me like a stone sinking to the bottom of a lake, icy ripples spreading across my chest.
“Hostages.” The word rang hollowly through the room. “You want me to take them hostage.”
Reynar shook his head, displacing a few more pieces of his salt-and-pepper hair.
“Not in the strictest sense,” he continued.
“They are rather like glorified hostages as it is, aren’t they?
We like to pretend they aren’t by giving them a ‘ purpose.’ But in case of an emergency, you would at least have a bargaining chip. ”
A skeptical laugh bubbled out of my throat. I’d have to weather Lenn’s disapproval later, but I couldn’t help myself. “And why would the Council of Ancients ever give two shits about a couple of lowly wingmen?”
The look Reynar gave me told me I’d severely underestimated him. Whatever mocking skepticism I’d held died a swift, cold death at the smile that spread across his face.
“Your Majesty,” he drawled, sitting up straighter and placing his hands in front of him. “Surely you know I have informants placed within the Dragonhold of Ilfa Esari. Word has already reached me concerning Grantis’s replacement. It is no mere wingman this time.”
I despised the dread that snaked its way into my heart. Reynar saw the humiliation in my eyes—reveled in every ounce of it.
“Who are they sending?” I asked, flinching at the weakness in my voice.
Lenn shifted behind me, and a seeping warmth spread its way through my chest, heating the chill from my bones and calming my nerves.
Though he was no healer, Lenn’s heartsthread helped when panic threatened to overwhelm me.
He could read me better than anyone and I was thankful for his interference.
Reynar’s mouth curled in a smirk. Did he know what Lenn had done? The thought gave me discomfort.
“My informants tell me it is someone of noble birth,” he said. “From what they’ve gathered, the choice caused quite a stir in the dragon court.”
“Why would they do such a thing?” Anja questioned, tugging absently at her dark braids.
“We cannot be sure,” Reynar answered. “But in light of current circumstances, it is suspicious, to say the least.”
“Perhaps the delegation will offer some answers tomorrow,” Anja continued. She cast a reassuring glance in my direction.
“That is doubtful,” the Jarl of Clan Ylfring said.
“The likeliest scenario is that the new Talon has been chosen as a spy, though we’d be remiss in not considering…
other possibilities.” Reynar gave me a pointed stare, and its impertinence set my blood to boiling.
Before I could say anything, he continued.
“Either way, we cannot allow them to see our doubt.”
Freya Vilke turned to me, her dark eyes apologetic but the rest of her features stern. “I fear I must agree with Freyr Reynar,” she said begrudgingly, avoiding looking at the man to her left.
I bristled at that. Vilke may have been a hard woman, but she’d always seemed practical. Most earthdrivers were, truth be told. Something about the nature of their ability to control earth and rock seemed to compel them toward pragmatism above all else.
To my right, I glimpsed Anja shifting in her seat, her marigold gown swishing softly against her chair. I turned my scrutiny on her, though she seemed intent on looking anywhere but at me now. “And you?” I questioned, finally gaining her attention.
Her face was even more apologetic than Vilke’s—a dark flush bloomed on her russet cheeks.
But out of anyone at this table, she would be the one to know what to do.
In this moment, I wished I was a Flosser, like her.
The power to see the threads of life and time—the convergences and divergences—would be an invaluable skill.
“What Freyr Reynar suggests is… sound, Your Majesty. I can see no reason not to support this plan.” She wrung her hands in her lap, and the sight caused me to soften.
“Thank you for your honesty,” I said. And I truly meant it. I didn’t need to be surrounded by people who’d simply tell me what I wished to hear.
If I ever wanted to be a wise ruler, I’d need to heed the council I was given, even if I didn’t always agree with them.
But I trusted Anja’s wisdom, and Vilke’s prudence.
Even Freyr Ingvar had his merits, though he was prone to moodiness and melancholy.
Of the Jarlum before me, there was only one who made my skin crawl.
“I’m inclined to agree with the others,” Ingvar huffed, not waiting to be asked. “If there is some plot afoot, we need more information before throwing out unfounded accusations.”
Though it irked me, he was right. They were right.
Perhaps they would blame it on my youth and inexperience.
Or maybe they would excuse it, in light of everything that had happened the last week.
But my own shame came creeping like a vine, lodging in my throat and suffocating any further argument.
In trying to prove myself not to be a weak, frightened little girl, I’d only confirmed it.
“Very well,” I complied, trying my hardest to ignore the triumphant smile that crossed Reynar’s face.
In an instant, it was gone, speedily replaced with an appropriate look of reserved approval.
“When the delegation arrives tomorrow, I will allow this new Talon, whoever they may be, to enter my household. And with the governor here to oversee the change, we’ll finally get some answers out of Talon Arlbright.
“In the meantime, Freyr Reynar, I ask that you task your informants in Ilfa Esari to find out what they can about the Shifters’ involvement in the myrkva attacks. Whatever my suspicions of the dragonmen, these attacks can no longer be ignored. Freya Vilke?—”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“I’d like you to muster every earthdriver and flametender you have and ready them to be dispersed along the borders.
We’ll discuss the details later.” My mind whirled, but at least some small plan of action was coming together.
“As for you, Freya Anja, I’d like you to dine with me tomorrow evening. ”
“As you wish, my queen.” She inclined her head gracefully, her right hand laid over her heart in a gesture of respect.
“Anything you need of Clan Riis?” Ingvar asked, failing to hide his displeasure at being ignored.
“Not at the moment,” I replied. This man truly was infuriating sometimes. But it would do no good to lose my temper again. Not after I’d so thoroughly humiliated myself. “Once I know more, we’ll speak again.”
I stood swiftly, fighting through the pain from my fall. The others all scrambled out of their seats and sank into their respective bows and curtsies.
“It’s late,” I said, clasping my hands at my waist. It seemed to be the only thing keeping them from shaking.
“I will see you all in the morning. For now, notify who you must, but do your best to remain subtle, I beg you. The last thing we need is panic in the streets over rumors of another Drakon War.”
One after the other, they mumbled some variation of, “Of course, Your Majesty.” Freyr Ingvar tapped his fingers lightly to his chest, and the glamour he’d conjured to protect our privacy dissipated.
Without waiting for Lenn to follow, I strode from the chamber, startling the guards in the hall as I burst through the door.
Corbyn stood waiting at attention, his face plastered with its usual placidity. I didn’t spare him another glance before barreling down the corridor. Two sets of footsteps followed behind.
“Vor,” Lenn’s voice called softly. “Wait a moment, will you? These old legs of mine don’t work like they used to.”
I slowed to a stop, turning to look at him as he bounded after me. Corbyn trailed further behind.
“Please don’t,” I said, my voice sounding defeated to my own ears. “After that disaster, Lenn, I want nothing more than the comfort of my own bed.”
“It wasn’t all that bad.” He offered me a small smile and a reassuring pat on the arm.
I returned the smile reluctantly, but it fell when Corbyn’s leisurely pace brought him to a stop just short of us.
To Lenn, I said, “Please inform the Hersir that I’ll have them on guard tonight.
” Drawing in a deep breath, I looked at Corbyn, willing my face to be impassive.
“I suspect you’ll want to rest before welcoming your kinsmen and new companion tomorrow, Talon. You have my leave.”
If my sudden composure came as a surprise, Corbyn gave no outward indication. He bowed slightly and inclined his head. “And you have my thanks, Your Majesty. Until tomorrow.” He straightened back up, his gaze boring into me with a fire unique to the dragonmen. But one I’d not seen from him before.
The tense silence stretched between us only a moment before he quickly turned and strode back the way we came. I watched his scarlet cloak shimmering in the torchlight as it swayed. Once he was out of sight, my breath rushed out of me.
“This will not be easy,” I said.
“I know,” Lenn grumbled, hooking a thumb into his leather belt. The other hand stroked idly at his beard, smoothing out the wiry hairs. “But we’ll get through it together. I was not there for your mother when she needed me most… I’ll not make the same mistake with you, skatten min. ”
Not for the first time this past week, I glimpsed tears in the old Thane’s eyes. I reached up to place a hand on his cheek. “The fault does not lie with you,” I assured him. “But I thank you all the same.”
He took a step back, wiping hastily at his eyes. “It’ll be Oiva, Janfrid, and Maaren. I’ll send them up right away.” I nodded my thanks before he walked away.
Though it did ease my mind knowing Corbyn wouldn’t be in the antechamber tonight, it wouldn’t aid me in finding rest. Sleep had not come easily these past seven days—tonight would be no different.
One dragon I couldn’t fully trust was bad enough.
But a whole group of them would descend upon us tomorrow, bringing a new set of nightmares with them.