Page 99 of Thorns & Fire
As the cacophony of voices washed over Wren, the full weight of her decision crashed down upon her.She had tried to do the right thing, to maintain peace and order, to listen to her superiors, those who were wiser than herself...and yet before her, the past five years of peace wavered.Alliances and friendship forged in hardship were crumbling under the weight of this revelation.
And now, rage simmered in Wren once more.
Lightning pricked at her fingertips, and outside, thunder shook the sky.
Audra’s eyes flashed in warning.But Wren wasn’t in control.She couldn’t help it as the power surged through her, as it demanded that she yield.She thought she had mastered it years ago; she had always shown more command over it than either of her sisters, and yet here she was, losing hold—
Torj was suddenly at her side, covering her hands with his, stopping the storm from breaking.
‘Delmira needs to be protected,’ King Leiko declared.‘I shall have my army march there at once.’
Audra’s voice projected across the chamber, as steely and commanding as ever.‘Unless permitted by the rightful heir to the kingdom, to invade Delmira, ruler or not, is anact of war, an act against the peace accords of the midrealms.Thezmarr will answer accordingly.’
‘Are you threatening the King of Tver, Guild Master?’Lord Lucian asked.
‘I am reminding the King of Tver of his oaths,’ Audra said coldly.
The king’s gaze shifted to Wren, full of ire.‘Is there anything else Princess Elwren deigns to share with us?’
‘I didn’t know any of this until a few weeks ago.Our kingdom wasbarren, as far as I know.’
Lord Lucian sneered.‘Sonowit’syourkingdom...’
Torj took a step towards the nobleman, bracing a hand on the wicked blade at his belt.‘You forget yourself, Devereux.’
‘The truth of the matter is that Delmira is no longer barren.The kingdom belongs to the Embervales, as it has throughout history,’ Audra proclaimed.‘If this is something you object to, you need to make it known.We will reconvene to continue this tomorrow morning at the eighth hour.Meeting adjourned.’
Wren didn’t realize she was shaking until Torj pushed her gently back into her chair.He stood silently by her side as theywatched the chamber empty, with countless glares shot in her direction.
The weight of everything was crushing.Somehow, she had wound up with the fate of a kingdom in her hands.Again.
She only looked up when the door clicked closed.
The faces that stared back were of those she cared for: Torj, Cal, Kipp, Dessa, Zavier, Farissa and Audra.And Wren couldn’t bear it, couldn’t bear the pity etched into their expressions.
She went to Dessa first, tilting her friend’s head gently to the light so she could scan her for injuries.‘Are you alright?’she asked, noting where a trail of blood had dried on Dessa’s neck.Wren reached for her kit, but Dessa batted her hands away.
‘I’m fine, Wren.I swear.You have bigger things to worry about.’
Wren wanted to drop her head into her hands, to hide away from it all.But instead, she looked to Audra, whose mouth was set in a grim line.
‘That won’t be the last time such notions are voiced, Elwren,’ the Guild Master told her.‘I can station warriors at Delmira’s borders for the interim while we work out what to do, but I cannot give a rulerless kingdom a permanent guard.And I fear this will only get worse, especially once the People’s Vanguard are made aware.’
Wren nodded slowly, then turned, seeking the keenest mind in the room.
Kipp’s eyes locked onto hers in understanding.‘You know what you need to do?’he asked.
‘It’s time to call Thea back.’Wren took a trembling breath and rose to her feet.‘Delmira needs a queen.’
CHAPTER 39
Torj
‘A magic wielder steeped in emotional turmoil is a dangerous thing.It is one of the many duties of a Warsword to protect the sovereigns of the midrealms, but also to protect the midrealms from its sovereigns’
– The Warsword’s Way
TORJ DIDN’T KNOWhow many minutes had passed in that chamber.Twenty?Thirty?So much could change in such a short expanse of time.So much had.
