Page 59 of Aubade Rising
“Yes, and I will need your support.” With a cryptic expression, the King disappears into his private wing. I stare at his closed door for some time.
Chapter 59
Sleep is impossible with the memory of Eskar’s touch in the Koes Dowr and I throw my covers off in frustration. Moonlight illuminates my path through Chi An Mor as I wander the hallways lost in thought. Eskar’s rooms tempt me, but their location is a mystery, I don’t know what reception I would receive if I asked to pick up where we left off earlier.
He’s made it clear that he wants me and not just for a night, whereas I’m reluctant to take that step. Not because I have another option. I laugh as I recall the King’s bizarre request for dinner earlier. It feels so wrong to be consumed by thoughts of a relationship when my brother is missing, my good friend is imprisoned and the rebels are plotting to destroy Trevesiga. I have more important things to do than give in to the temptation he brings.
I stop wandering aimlessly and turn sharply to Dervla’s rooms. She will be awake at this hour. We need to make a plan.
“Who is it?” Dervla calls from behind her door as I pound on the wood.
“It’s me. Let me in!”
“Oh Sage, come in.” The door creaks open and I slip inside.
The room is lit by hundreds of small, tapered candles, placed round her desk and on the surrounding shelves. Their flickering glow emphasises Dervla’s ashen skin: she’s exhausted. Kaens perches on the windowsill, head tucked under one wing. She cracks open one beady eye at my entrance, clicks her beak and retreats under her feathers.
“Ignore her; she’s grouchy and tired this evening. Her wings need a rest.” Dervla strokes Kaens before turning back and passing me a glass of wine.
“How did the interrogation with Haelyn go earlier? I heard you convinced the King that Eskar wasn’t required and I believe you owe the King a private dinner?” She raises her eyebrows archly.
I open my mouth to argue that I haven’t agreed to anything with the King but notice her crack a rare smile. We burst out laughing and the tension that’s lingered unspoken between us since my return dissipates.
“I missed you,” I admit. “We could have done with an extra pair of hands in the Haag.”
“You escaped; that’s what matters,” she counters, reaching to hold my hand. The simple gesture relaxes me, grounding me in the candlelight. The mists of the Haag feel further away.
“But now our stock of serpentine has been destroyed. We need more if we’re going to stop the rebels.”
“I think the time to stop them without resorting to bloodshed has passed. The Concord are meeting tomorrow to vote on how to handle them. I think it’ll be unanimous.”
“What will they suggest?” I think of Ciaren and how he helped me escape, how I promised to make his case that not all the rebels wanted to attack the cities or harm anyone.
She sighs, the whole weight of Trevesiga heavy on her shoulders. “The King’s Admiral has the most support. He wants to take the Navy up the river as close to Tanwen as possible and wipe the whole town off the map.”
“That’s barbaric. Children were running between the market stalls when we first arrived. The town is still full of innocent people.” Even if some of those, adults and children, are in league with the Kevren Gwir.
“I know, but what other choice do we have? We’ve underestimated them for the last time. Thousands of peoplewill suffer and die this winter thanks to the destruction of the aqueducts. We don’t know what they have planned next.”
“I’ll vote against it.” My hand tightens around my wine glass.
“I know you will. As will Eskar, I’m sure.” I don’t know that he will. I think of the state of his body after the torture and the townspeople who tried to pass us over to the rebels. What I do know is that he just wants this to be over.
“And how will you vote?” I ask pointedly.
“I will vote in the best interest of the kingdom. And I will carry out the orders of the majority.” Her voice is a cold monotone. She will be complicit in the slaughter of innocents then. White hot rage boils up my throat. I turn and throw my wine glass at the wall. It shatters, staining the sandstone blood red.
“You’re a terrible politician, Sage.” Dervla regards me with a half-smile, lounging back in her chair. “I didn’t say that was the only thing I would do.” I freeze at her implication, my fury cooling.
“You have a plan?”
“Of course. I always have a plan. Although, right now the King thinks it’s his, thanks to your little visit to the dungeon…” Her dark eyes roll and she pulls the leather gauntlets off her wrists. Settling into the sofa, she pours herself another glass of wine but doesn’t offer me a replacement. Fair enough – I won’t apologise for the one I wasted.
Before speaking, she surveys me like a panther regarding a worthy opponent that’s crossed into its territory. “I will need your complete compliance here, Sage. You’ve always trusted me before, I need to know that hasn’t changed.”
I nod; I would follow her anywhere. Without her, I’d still be cleaning the fallout from failed experiments from the floors for Principal Alemond back in Athnavar, unable to secure a permanent research position. With her and my research, we will change Trevesiga for the better.
“We desperately need to send support to Cathair if the flooding and destruction is as bad as you described. The Navy is a formidable force but they can be spoilt and complacent. Over land, they are untested. With the rivers running low after the glacial melt and no aqueducts to use, travel will be slow and arduous after Cathair. I plan to leave at least half of them in the city to help rescue people and secure food and water supplies. The rest, we take to Tanwen as the King’s Admiral suggests. Keeping them motivated and battle-ready on the journey should be enough to keep the King and the rest of the Concord occupied.”
