Page 93 of The Golden Rose Of Valenul

“And what information would you need?” Markus leaned back in his chair. It was a test to see how much Azriel knew about this position and to see if he was even capable of handling such tasks. The Princeps knew well enough the information required to make such judgments.

Little did any of them know, this was something Azriel understood. Working with pompous lords and military officers wasn’t what he enjoyed. Planning in advance was Madan’s strength. Gathering information and acting upon it, though? He could do so in his sleep.

So Azriel stood, his imposing height forcing everyone to crane their necks to see him. “I need data. I need to know the time of day or night these attacks are occurring, their frequency, and where it happens most often. Give me information on who is being targeted or if it is random.”

“And how do you propose this information be gathered by dead men?” Damen glared at him, nostrils flaring.

“I will position small companies of soldiers along the main highways to begin narrowing down the information.” Azriel lifted a quizzical brow at him. He’d assumed this would be considered standard. “Each will operate with a messenger who will be dispatched to relay as much information as possible back to their base of operations.”

Damen scoffed. “Do you truly believe those beasts will let a messenger get away?”

Without missing a beat, Azriel spat back, “Do you truly have so little faith in your son’s men?”

Every Caersan in the room froze. Even the note keeper looked up with wide eyes. Perhaps they weren’t the wisest choice of words for his first night on the job. He refused to back down despite the rising color in Lord Gard’s face.

“I, for one,” Azriel continued, “have witnessed firsthand the valiant skills of our army. I believe them to be far more efficient than you give them credit for.”

A small smirk curled Alek’s mouth, and he sat back with an appraising look. “Here, here, my Lord.”

Damen shot Alek a sharp, warning look before returning it to Azriel. “You have now derailed my motion to ask for assistance in my province in favor of your own.”

“I am happy to step aside in favor of your ego.” Azriel raised his hands before him. “With the dhemons coming down through Eastwood to get to Notten, I assumed you would want my assistance. Bold of me to presume the provinces work together, I suppose.”

A trickle of laughter sent a shock of red into the Lord Governor’s cheeks. Schooling his expression, Azriel took a seat and leaned back. He glanced at Alek, who waited for Damen’s response, then turned to Markus. The Princeps had been surprisingly quiet through all of this.

“A vote.” Markus looked around the room. “Those in favor of sending additional troops to control the raids in Notten?”

A smattering of hands raised. Azriel’s heart pounded. Had he been too harsh with his words? The Gards had done nothing to win his favor, but speaking so openly during his first meeting may have turned too many Councilmen against him.

Markus made a note on his paper. “Those in favor of sending additional troops to monitor in Eastwood?”

Hands raised, including Alek Nightingale’s, to show their support. Azriel didn’t dare look back at the lords of his own province. If they didn’t vote for him, it’d speak volumes.

“Additional troops will be sent to Eastwood to monitor and make reports of dhemon movements through the mountain passes.” Markus scrawled another note on his paper without looking at any of them. “We will reconvene to discuss the status of Notten in one month. Any other business to attend to?”

For the rest of the meeting, Azriel remained quiet. He’d asked enough of them and gained more support than he’d anticipated. Damen Gard refused to look at him, and when they adjourned for the night, he stood, collected his things, and departed without a word to anyone. Azriel capped his inkwell, took up the pages he wrote on, and started for the door in his wake.

“Lord Caldwell!”

He froze, then pivoted to face Alek Nightingale. The Caersan’s black eyes glittered, and Azriel started back.

“Lord Nightingale.” Azriel held out his hand, which Alek accepted heartily. “I must thank you for your support.”

“Please,” he said as others funneled out of the Chamber, “call me Alek.”

Azriel nodded once. “Of course.”

“You must join me for a drink,” Alek said with a smirk. “I am fascinated to learn more about you.”

“I am free this morning.”

The smirk grew into a broad grin. “Fantastic.”

Chapter 21

Music drifted from the powder-pink Teaglow Estate ballroom on waves of laughter. The young Lord and Lady of the house swept from place to place, welcoming guests and thanking them for joining their first-ever ball. Ariadne watched from afar as Lady Teaglow, last Season’s Golden Rose, laid a hand over her swollen belly and turned her sparkling blue gaze up to her husband with his wide grin and thick beard.

She had done well at hiding from the spotlight since the engagement celebration. As soon as Ariadne walked into the room, the attention would turn from the newlyweds and their sweet blessing to the drama-filled, current Golden Rose of Valenul.

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