Page 75 of Requiem of Silence

“I’m rather busy right now, can this wait, Minister?”

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. It has to do with an important matter of jaywalking.” He fixed her with a blank look, but his words cut through her.

She and Camm shared a glance and she straightened from her position leaning over the table and tried to look as regal aspossible. “Certainly, Minister.” Back ramrod straight, she exited into the hallway.

“Perhaps the library is empty at this hour?” he suggested.

She couldn’t tell from his tone whether he knew that’s where she’d just come from, but given how much else he knew, she wouldn’t bet against it.

Once in the library, she spun around to face him as he shut the door. She opened her connection to Earthsong and found him simmering with indignation and… disappointment? That was unexpected. There was also a sheen of fatigue around him.

“Your Majesty,” he said, appearing somewhat weary. “How long are you planning to hold Zann Biddel in custody?”

Jasminda pursed her lips, deciding how much to reveal. “His arrest was perfectly legal and aboveboard. And how do you know anything about it?” Biddell had been moved to a private part of the dungeon and was not with the general population, but she’d long suspected Calladeen had his own network of eyes and ears.

His jaw was tight as he spoke. “His arrest is public record, and while it was legal, his continuing incarceration is, shall we say, a gray area.”

Jasminda breathed deeply, trying to control the temper that rose whenever Biddell was mentioned. “He is being held in the interest of national security. Why, may I ask, is this local matter of interest to the Minister of Foreign Affairs?”

“I am sworn in my duty to protect Elsira and her people.” He spread his arms apart. She raised her brows.

Calladeen sighed and surveyed the room. “Would you like to sit, Your Majesty?”

“I would not.” The man was nearly swaying on his feet, but she had no intention of making things easy for him and protocoldictated no one could sit in the presence of a monarch without permission.

He straightened his tall form. “As an advisor to the crown, it is my duty to warn you that you must tread carefully here. Zann Biddell is very powerful. Holding him in this manner may cause problems down the road.”

“Do you deny that he is a criminal?”

“Criminals are brought to trial and evidence is presented. What exactly are you doing with him?”

She rolled her eyes. “He’s not being tortured, for Sovereign’s sake. He’s being questioned. He’s done untold damage to this nation and needs to be held accountable for it. Someone sworn to protect Elsira should understand that. Is the court system willing to do anything about him? They’ve certainly had enough time. How long should we wait while the attacks on our people continue?”

Calladeen shook his head slowly. “You are on shaky ground, Your Majesty. Which I think you understand.” Dark eyes pinned her in place. “What does His Majesty say?”

Jasminda glared, crossing her arms. Calladeen’s brows rose. “Ah, King Jaqros does not know. And I take it he does not know about your little public information committee over there?”

“If you are pro-separation, that is you prerogative, Minister. But my concern is unifying this nation, not dividing it. I will take the steps necessary to protect it and hold it together.”

“On the contrary, I am not pro-separation.” His intense gaze shifted and Jasminda frowned. “I think it is a waste of resources and ultimately a stupid idea. Those behind it want to place all the Lagrimari on a plot of land in the north of Elsira. Well, there are landowners there who would need to be appeased. A costly and shortsighted proposition.”

She blinked. “I-I did not realize you felt that way.”

“You have never asked me, Your Majesty.” His voice held mild censure.

Jasminda refused to be chastened by this. She avoided this man like the plague and with good reason.

“And what of Raun?” he asked.

“What about Raun?”

“I had thought you were to make an entreaty to King Pia regarding the embargo. My office was told by King Jaqros that you would be spearheading all future contact with the Raunians. We are unable to move forward without you.”

Jasminda shook her head, still reeling from his admission. “I’m working on Raun.”

“So you will be attending the foreign relations subcommittee meeting which begins in ten minutes?”

She glared at him.

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