Page 103 of Thorns & Fire
‘If we keep this hidden from the common folk, it’s more fodder for the People’s Vanguard to use against us.They’ll say we’re hiding resources, that we’re deliberately keeping them in the dark,’ Lady Liora argued, her face flushed with passion.
‘And if we announce it to the midrealms, people will flock to Delmira and ravage the lands,’ Audra countered.
The dispute had gone on in circles like this for the better partof an hour, and to Wren’s further dismay, the chronicler Magnus Crane sat in the corner, scribbling away on a roll of parchment, glaring at her whenever he got the chance.Apparently, history was being written in this very room, by a biased fool.
Rubbing her temples, Wren glanced at Kipp, who was still quiet on the outskirts of the room, sipping from a mug she suspected contained something stronger than tea.But the strategist’s eyes were bright with interest, his brows knitted together as he followed the debate back and forth.
At last, he cleared his throat.‘Until there is a structure in place for the governing of the kingdom, we cannot let this information spread,’ he told the seated party.‘If Delmira is as superior as claimed, whoever holds the kingdom has an advantage in the conflict ahead.The last thing we can afford is for the enemy to get their hands on more potent ingredients, or to win over more of the common folk with promises of land.The People’s Vanguard nearly bested us in Drevenor’s own halls.If they can enhance their concoctions, it will be over for us.’
‘Kristopher is right,’ Audra said.‘Currently, only the silvertide rose from Delmira has been effective in Wren’s experiments against the dark alchemy.If they get wind of this, we’d be giving them the very blade that ends us all.’
‘So what?’King Leiko interjected.‘We’re to wait until the Embervale girls – who have previously rejected the crown, might I add – decide the fate of the whole midrealms?’
The way he spat the wordgirlshad Wren’s blood boiling, as though she and Thea were still teenagers running around Thezmarr.They were women – women who had defended the midrealms and nearly lost everything.She had listened to men talk about her as though she wasn’t there for long enough, and she wasdone.
Wren got to her feet and stared down the King of Tver.‘I may not wear a crown, Your Majesty, but I deserve your respect – or have you forgotten my role in the war?How I saved you?How I brought you back from the brink of insanity?’
‘That’s hardly—’
‘I’m still speaking.’Wren had learned from the women who came before her how to make her words sharp enough to cut glass.Audra.Farissa.Anya.Thea.She rarely used that tone, but the utter disrespect in this chamber called for it now.‘I have summoned my sister here, and as the only living heirs of Delmira, she and I will decide how to handle this development.I assure you, I have no intention of hiding resources or abusing power, but nor will I hand the enemy the best chance we have at defeating them.Unless you have any genuine questions or suggestions, I have work to do.’
Wren waited a moment, watching as the realization dawned on each face before her that they had no choice but to wait, or declare war on her homeland.
‘Good,’ she said curtly, before leaving the room.
Torj was waiting for her outside.‘That went well...’
‘You heard?’she asked.
‘I heard you put those pricks in their places.’
A smile curled Wren’s lips.‘Someone had to.’
‘Elwren!’a voice called after them, and Wren turned to see Audra hurrying towards her.‘I’d like a word with you in private,’ the Guild Master said without preamble.
Before Wren could answer, Audra was leading her into an empty room, dismissing Torj with a wave.When the door clicked closed, Audra faced her.
‘I have a list of Warswords for you to choose from,’ she stated, producing a piece of parchment from the folds of her cloak.
Wren stared blankly at the yellowed square.‘What?’
‘It was never my intention to break my word to you,’ Audra continued, still holding out the list.‘I agreed that in exchange for you creating the cure, Elderbrock would no longer be in your service, that we would find you a suitable replacement once Thea returned to her regular duties.I have not forgotten my promise.’
Wren stared at the tally of names as Audra pushed the parchment into her waiting hand.
‘I’ll have your choice of guard here within the next two days, and I’ll have the Bear Slayer removed by the end of the week,’ the Guild Master told her.
‘I don’t want a replacement,’ Wren blurted, pushing the list back.
Audra’s brow furrowed.‘You don’t?’
It was as though Wren were watching herself from a distance, a stranger to her own actions, her own words, even as they threatened to carve her open anew.
‘I’m his to protect,’ she said.‘And he’s mine.’
CHAPTER 41
Torj
