Chapter 47 #2
‘It’s just a feeling. They come here to trade, but I think they take advantage of Magnus. He thinks they need our help, that we should be generous. Maybe they do, but there’s something about them. The way they always leave here so happy, it’s like they know they’ve ripped us off.’
That fits with the glee I felt.
‘So why don’t you trust them?’ she asks. ‘There has to be a reason.’
It’s my turn to chew on the inside of my cheek. I’m once again struck with a desire to hold my cards close to my chest, but Brida’s slipped down my list of enemies. After all, what’s the old saying about the enemy of my enemy?
‘I had a run-in with them before, and they tried to kill me,’ I tell her through gritted teeth. ‘They weren’t too keen on my mixed heritage. Called me an abomination.’
‘A couple of days ago, I might’ve agreed,’ she says with a half-smirk that fades quickly. ‘I’m sorry … about Ruben. He was always nice to me.’
I pause. I should repay the sympathy, but it’s like acid on my tongue. ‘I know Stefan meant a lot to you too,’ I reply. It’s as close to an offer of condolences as I can get, and yet her face contorts.
‘I cannot believe he had it in him…’ she says. ‘To risk Isthyr like that is unbelievable. I wish it were untrue, but I heard he didn’t even try to deny his actions.’
‘No, he didn’t.’
A beat of silence pulses between us – silence that is not altogether uncomfortable. Yet this is not the time for bonding. Instead, I turn back to the window, and this time Brida doesn’t stop me.
Inside, the Torailians stand armed. Quivers full. Garnet eyes gleaming. But the lower parts of their faces are veiled, and I remember what Caz said about the veils. They want us to see the smiles on their faces as the life leaves our eyes. As long as those lips are covered, we’re fine.
Toren is the last Issen to enter the room before Magnus closes the door and takes his seat. It’s not a throne, of course. Just a standard chair, but it is central.
‘Aulia,’ he greets the Torailian, thankfully loud enough for us to hear up on the balcony. ‘It is good to see you. It has been a while.’
‘It has, King Magnus. We are grateful you will still see us, still trade, with all that is happening at your borders.’
Magnus nods. ‘It is not ideal – I will not deny that. In truth, I had thought I would have to send you away empty-handed. Our riverweed harvest has been poor of late, but thankfully, Oel sent a gift and now we have a surplus. Given the hand of the Gods in this matter, I cannot help but wonder if perhaps you come with a change of heart. A willingness to help us. Fighters of your skill on our side could put an end to this war far quicker than we will ever be able to do alone.’
I never realised before now how great a part lips play in determining the emotion of a person.
With Aulia’s veil in place, it’s impossible to read her reaction to his comment.
Is she angered? Amused? I can’t tell. It’s tempting to reach out, to try to feel her emotions alone, but that would certainly alert her to my presence, so I hold my curiosity in check.
‘The news of your good harvest is pleasing indeed,’ Aulia replies, ignoring Magnus’s request for help in the war with Korvane.
‘Nonetheless, you remember our deal?’ Magnus says. ‘You seem to be ignoring part of it. You are on our land, and so you must respect our ways.’
Aulia inclines her head. ‘You’re right. I apologise.
’ Her blinking slows slightly, and though she does not say anything aloud, I have the distinct feeling that she’s talking in her mind to her fellow Torailians.
In the silence of the moment, she breathes slowly before she lifts her hand, her fingertips reaching towards her ear.
Fear surges through me. They only remove the veils when fighting! Yet before I can scream out a warning, the air is stripped from my lungs in shock as Aulia’s full face is revealed. The sight is enough to make my blood run cold.
‘It’s her. It’s the one who tried to kill us,’ I whisper, trying to control the increasing thrum of my pulse.
I look to Brida and back to the throne room. What should I do? Stay hidden and tell Magnus when we’re alone about the incident? It would be the best option to save any upset for the trade agreement. Although there is still the possibility that they’re the ones who want the dagger…
My hand reaches down beside me just to check, though once my fingers find the hilt, they stay there, wrapped around the metal. No one is going to get this out of my grip.
‘Thank you,’ Magnus is saying, dipping his head respectfully. ‘Though with our harvest so great, we would happily make very agreeable terms with you, if you were to consider sending even a handful of fighters to our aid.’
Aulia’s smile is a mere twist at the corner of her lips. ‘I am sorry, Magnus, but you already know that it is not possible.’
‘Ah yes,’ Magnus replies with a sigh. ‘Remind me again why you will not fight a war that is on your doorstep, with a man who already invades your lands?’
‘The odd skirmish does not make a war,’ Aulia responds. ‘And we must save all our men and women for the one that is coming. For the Great War.’
‘The Great War.’
Every hair on my arms lifts up as my eyes lock on the Torailian standing before my grandfather. The Great War. The one that Oel mentioned. The reason he gave me extra powers in the first place. The one Caz hasn’t been able to find a single detail about.
Before I can even contemplate what I’m doing, I twist around and leap off the balcony.
‘Princess, what are you doing?’ Brida questions as she scurries after me.
‘What do you think I’m doing?’ I reply. ‘I’m going in there.’