Steel and Sorrow (10 page)

Nareash stood and dusted the black soot from his robes. “Something on your mind?”

“I’ve been thinking about what you said.”

“Oh?”

“You’re right. I am single-minded and don’t think for myself. It’s hard for a Kifzo not to have that mindset.” He pulled a worn and slightly singed piece of paper from the inside of his shirt. “I found this the first day we arrived. I’ve been trying to decide what to do with it since. Its contents are . . . troubling.” He extended his hand toward Nareash. “There are places outside of Hesh. I thought you may know something about that.”

Nareash accepted the paper carefully and his eyes widened. It was a map of the world at the time people inhabited Quarnoq. Hesh lay clearly in the far south. However, the remainder of the map interested Nareash the most. Though portions had faded or been partially destroyed, the High Mage still recognized the outline of Mytarcis, a few of the Byzernian Islands and most importantly the southern half of Thurum.

And north of Thurum is Cadonia.
His face brightened.
One Above, this is a way home.

Unsure how Hesh related to those lands he knew, Nareash had been unwilling to risk teleporting home. Even with the knowledge in his hands, he would have to take extra precautions in covering such distances.

But I know the spell is possible.

He frowned as a thought struck him.
I still have nothing to counter the scepter.

Nareash lifted his eyes. “Yes. Hesh is only one of many continents.” He paused. “Why did you think I would know this?”

“As you said, I’m not simple. You’ve never fit in with our clan. I’ve scouted enough of the Red Mountain Clan in my youth to know you wouldn’t fit in there, either. Your mannerisms and speech patterns are too different. You’re from one of these places, aren’t you?” Guwan pointed at the map.

Nareash nodded. “Yes.” He sighed and examined the sea route that would take ships through a space filled with storms and rocks.

The route would not be easy.

He lifted his eyes to Guwan as a thought struck him.

He had access to the greatest fighting warriors currently alive, perhaps who had ever lived. He looked at the map of Thurum in his hands and recalled the jewels all around him in the city. The rest of his plan to bring an army to Cadonia would still be possible.

The scepter would make Amcaro powerful, but not impossible to beat.

“Is there something you want from me in return for the map?” he asked.

“I just wanted you to know that I’m ready to seize the opportunities available to me and that I hope you’ll remember this gesture.”

Nareash smiled. “I believe I will.”

Chapter 6

Kaz’s gaze shot back and forth across the cylindrical council room. The looks of contempt didn’t surprise him. It had been months since he began attending the meetings, yet the attitude of the queen’s council had changed little toward him. If they weren’t casting stares his way, they were mentioning his name in their childish whisperings.

He thought about confronting some of the worst council members, if only to watch their nerve dribble down their legs and pool at their feet. He restrained himself for Elyse’s benefit.

Kaz hated that the nobles found their courage in underhanded remarks and in the company of others. When alone, many of them folded under the pressure. Kaz actually enjoyed being in their presence under those circumstances.

Only a few councilors had the ability to pose any real threat to Elyse and even then, the queen could squash their ambitions if she chose to. However, she remained hesitant at times, not out of the fear she once struggled with, but out of caution. Though Kaz understood her concerns, he had seen her deftly handle a council member in private or manipulate the overzealous Duke Jeldor several times over. He knew she could handle herself and enjoyed watching her do so.

I’m just the reminder to both her and her advisors that her words hold weight.

* * *

In the months that followed the battle of Cathyrium, Elyse had spent little time in Lyrosene. On the advice her brother gave her shortly before his death, she used her time to do something her father had neglected to do for years. She visited the cities and towns still under her control. Jonrell thought such a move would garner sympathy from those commoners prejudiced against the upper class, while strengthening her relationships with the minor lords. Like many of her brother’s suggestions, the strategy worked.

As a pleasant side effect of Elyse’s travels, her interpersonal skills had improved significantly. She spent so much time in private audience with her subjects that over time the lessons Jonrell tried to instill in her as a child had slowly begun to make sense. She no longer felt intimidated when discussing matters of the kingdom.

While away from Lyrosene, the council regularly sent her word about their doings and urged her to return to the capital to address their concerns.

Where they hoped to push me around again.

Elyse realized her council thought that with Jonrell dead, the threat of the crown held little weight to them. Her advisors had tried to manipulate her immediately upon her return, and Elyse struggled to maintain order in the first council meeting.

That first night back home she cried herself to sleep, not out of helplessness as before, but out of anger. Despite all that she had learned in the months prior, she had discovered that the players in her court had far greater skill than the minor lords of the land.

By the next morning Elyse had calmed herself and stiffened her resolve. She needed someone to take Jonrell’s place and help lend weight to her words while she continued to learn the ever-changing dynamics of the counsel.

Kaz had just returned to Lyrosene for the winter, and worked with General Grayer on recruiting and training her army in preparation for the following year’s campaign. Elyse had requested that he attend the council meetings with her.

“I wouldn’t know what to say,” said Kaz.

“You won’t need to say anything. I just want you there,” said Elyse.

“To scare them?” he asked and Elyse surprisingly saw something almost like hurt in his dark eyes.

She shook her head. “No doubt you will intimidate those who are there, but it isn’t your appearance that will scare them,” she said touching his arm. “It is what you represent as commander of my army that will give them pause. More importantly, I want you there.”

Kaz mulled over her words and after a moment responded. “Whatever I can do to help you, I will.”

A thin smile ran across her lips as she looked down at Kaz. She had offered him a seat next to her, but he declined. At each council meeting he stood in front of her, facing outward like a statue carved from granite. She could not see his face, but knew it held the intimidating scowl he normally wore except in the presence of a select few.

Gauge had handled the day-to-day duties of running the kingdom while she was away. However, Elyse had returned to a long list of things they needed to discuss and decisions she needed to make that he did not have the authority to handle. She felt guilty for placing so much on his shoulders while traveling. Since her return, she had done her best to relieve him of some of those duties.

“. . . Your Majesty?” asked a voice.

Elyse blinked and her face grew flushed when she realized that she had not been paying attention to the speaker. All eyes watched her. Thankfully, Elyse could recount Vulira’s same tired arguments by heart. “Yes, Vulira, I’m sorry but as I’ve said before, we will have to put off your pleas for stronger farming research to another day when the war is over.” She hadn’t meant to sound so put off with the woman, but she grew weary of repeating herself.

Vulira inclined her head with a puzzled look. “Your Majesty, I was not speaking about such matters.”

Elyse felt a lump form in her throat. She swallowed.

“Ha,” came a booming voice. “I think the queen has become so accustomed to your repetitiveness and lack in originality of thought, that like most of the council here, she has learned to tune you out.”

Laughter erupted and Vulira turned red in embarrassment, then anger, as she eyed Illyan. “I have the floor.”

“And dare I say, you’ve had it long enough.” He rose from his seat and made his way down to the center of the circular chambers. “You have raised a good point, but perhaps I can do a better job of summarizing your question, rather than making us all late for lunch again.” He slapped his thin frame and laughed. “Some of us cannot afford to skip another meal.”

Laughter continued and Vulira, thoroughly embarrassed, did not have enough fight left in her to continue arguing. She walked back to her seat, fists tightened into balls.

Elyse noticed the smirk on Phasin’s face, but most of all she noticed the ease with which Illyan had handled Vulira and the reaction from others in attendance. The short man had come a long way since that first council meeting after her father’s passing. Then, no one had dared to agree with Illyan. But since Adein’s and Vicalli’s acts of treason, the council had been searching to find figures to lead them again.

Phasin and Illyan had eagerly stepped into those vacant roles. Illyan’s rise to power made the queen uncomfortable.

“Your Majesty, I believe the gist of Vulira’s question related to some of the crown’s plans for the upcoming campaign. There has been an increasing amount of talk that you and your commander,” he nodded to Kaz, “plan to bring Olasi’s forces into play.”

Those plans were not talked about openly. Do we have yet another spy among us? Jonrell suspected as much.

“We could very well be planning for such a thing. But then again, it could all be a ruse to throw off our enemies.” She paused, allowing her voice to remain calm and void of the hatred she had for the little man. “Just as my brother once told you, I do not intend to seek military advice from this council.”

Illyan smiled in a way that gave Elyse a chill. “A wise policy, Your Majesty. And to your point, I think I speak for all of us when I say that we do not intend to lecture you or your commander on troop placement. However,” he said, raising his voice and pausing for dramatic effect, “where policy is concerned, I feel we have a responsibility to advise Her Majesty. And there have been murmurings—”

“I do not care about murmurings,” said Elyse, her voice suddenly filled with agitation.

I am tired of these games.

Illyan appeared surprised by her interruption and after a moment to collect himself began to argue. Elyse opened her mouth to fire back, but before the words could come, a gavel slammed onto the black marble. Gauge shot from his seat faster than she thought possible for the older man.

“Is this what you now waste our time with, Illyan? Murmurings? Nothing more than hearsay and gossip?”

The edge to his voice took Elyse off guard. However, once the initial shock wore off, anger replaced it. Gauge seizing control of her conversation with Illyan cast her in an unfavorable light. She calmed herself.

I’ll speak with him in private later. He deserves that. Anything I say or do now to address the issue will only embarrass him, and regardless of how I feel now the fact is I would be lost without him.

“I agree,” said Phasin. “He is quick to poke holes in the arguments of others, but what proof does he ever bring before the council other than some cryptic message meant to stir us up.”

“Yes,” agreed Gauge. “What do you have to say for yourself, Illyan?”

Elyse brightened at the chance to see Illyan made to look incompetent.

Illyan remained confident. “My lord, please have your seat. I did not mean to upset you. Or you, Phasin,” he said turning. “Make no mistake that the only agenda I push, the agenda that takes precedence above all others, is the one that ensures our great country will be whole in peace once again.”

Phasin snorted. “That is debatable.”

Gauge leaned forward. “Lord Illyan, I will not allow you to continue without revealing where you’ve heard this murmured since you only seem to be aware of it.”

Not allow? What has gotten into him? I’m sitting right here.

Illyan must have thought the same thing as he cast a look in her direction. “Your Majesty?”

Elyse cleared her throat, forced to go along with Gauge lest she make the man look like a fool. “Please answer the question. Are you withholding information from the crown?”

“Withhold is such a strong word. I simply prefer not to reveal information that might implicate my contacts,” said Illyan and for the first time Elyse saw him lose a bit of his composure.

“Since you believe that your informants are better than the crown’s, perhaps you could be convinced to bring those contacts in so that Her Majesty might have use of them,” interjected Gauge.

“No,” said Illyan. His smile had vanished.

“But didn’t you just say that you were only interested in the well being of the kingdom?” asked Phasin.

“That is why I refuse to expose them. They might be corrupted or compromised from outside influences.”

Elyse felt a shift in the room with those present. Many of those who had in the past several months slowly supported Illyan looked around at each other. Slight nods followed.

They see him struggling and wish to change sides before it’s too late.

“Are you making the accusation that the crown’s contacts are corrupted?” asked Phasin.

Elyse watched Illyan shrug nonchalantly. She grimaced.

That was the wrong move Phasin. One Illyan expected you to make.

“I would not be the first to make such an accusation. After all, the queen’s own brother proposed and proved the same thing just over a year ago,” Illyan said.

Elyse quickly judged the reactions of the other councilors and saw that Gauge and Phasin had lost some of their momentum.

I need to do something.

Gauge started to speak again when Elyse reached out to silence him. She had enough. Illyan had made a good point, just enough to save some credibility. She sensed that he was on the cusp of regaining complete control and she did not want that to happen.