Page 140 of The King is Dead
52. Come Together
SOUNDTRACK:Invincibleby SAYSH and Anderson Rocio
~ MELEK ~
My heart was beating quickly as I led a tense and wary Jannus and the others to meet the Shadekin Council.
The room was in an old lodge outside the palace walls, nearer to the city than I would have chosen. The building was drafty and cold with tall ceilings, bare rafters, and very little natural light because it had been abandoned for years and the forest was encroaching. But it was as close as we could come to neutral ground.
Yilan had sent servants ahead to clean, light a fire in the great room, and ensure we had enough food and drink available even for Nephilim warriors.
We’d named the Nephemissaries, but no one was fooled. So, when I entered first, followed by Jannus, then Kran, Drek and Hever, the Shadekin men—all soldiers except Hughes—stiffened. I knew those tightening shoulders meant there were weapons being grasped under the table. Of course, my brothers would know that too.
We hadn’t disarmed anyone, because we’d known they’d all refuse and we’d get nowhere. But I was praying no one would break and draw steel. They had all agreed to peace talks. But I could see the fury in Turo and the others when they laid eyes on the men who had taken a shot at Yilan.
I was still struggling with that myself, but I shook off the rage that wanted to come, and urged my brothers to take seats at the table.
To my surprise, Yilan had arranged her men spaced around the large, circular table, with chairs in between. Which left the Neph no choice but to sit between Shadekin—and visa versa.
I gave her a questioning look, only to find her staring imperiously at me, and every male who’d entered the room. She was every inch a Queen as she graciously nodded to the servants to help us get seated.
I was uneasy about it, but as my brothers settled into their chairs and eyed each other, I saw the genius in not allowing them to separate into groups.
Of course, the Shadekin could speak into each other’s minds. But I wouldn’t tell my brothers that, yet. They’d never trust a word from anyone’s mouth.
Let them learn it after we’d found our common ground.
As we all settled into the chairs that were large enough for Neph, but creaked alarmingly, I introduced each of the men, Jannus, then Hever as the eldest, then Drek, then Kran.
Yilan introduced Turo, Jhonas, Diadre—a surprise to me, but Yilan had wanted her here—Granbull and Hughes.
“Thank you for coming, all of you,” I said keeping my voice calm and sure, ignoring the twitching, wary looks everyone at the table was darting at everyone else. “I know everyone is… uneasy. But please remember: We’re allies. Everyone in this room has agreed that in order to navigate the coming coalition between our peoples, we must work together. We’re here to find solutions, not cast aspersions.”
Everyone looked left and right at the men—and women—next to them. Jann’s jaw rolled, but his lips tipped up on one side as he caught sight of Diadre to his left. I had warned him that the Shadekin were far more proper than us, and had very different ideas about the role and respect of women. He’d assured me he wouldn’t bait them, but I wasn’t sure he understood where the boundary lay.
Ironically, Diadre and Yilan looked the most comfortable of everyone here. Both of them appearing calm but curious as they scanned the table of tense and stressed male fighters.
“Perhaps the best thing we can do is each explain who we are and how we came to be trusted allies and Advisors,” Yilan said quietly. “I know Jann’s story, but I’d like to know the rest of you better. And I’m sure you’d be clearer on who we are if my men—and woman—explained their ranks and experience. There’s a lot of intelligence and courage in this room. I’d like it if we could… appreciate that in each other.”
Eyes darted left and right and bodies shifted in their seats. I wanted to roll my eyes when everyone remained silent for a time. I eyed Jann—he was good with people. Why was he staying quiet now? Were we children? But then Turo cleared his throat and I found myself grateful to the man for acting like an adult.
A pissed off, suspicious adult. But still an adult.
“I am General Arturo Niko,” he said tonelessly. “My rank is equivalent to what I understand Melek held in… your people,” he said with a twist to his lips. “I’ve served the Shadekin rulers as a soldier and Officer since her Majesty’s parents held the thrones. I am honored to remain a trusted Advisor to the Queen, and now her King. I enter this place in good faith. If you are friends and allies, I will be your advocate to our people, and fight to keep you safe. But harm our Majesties and I will see you dead.”
Jann huffed, and Hever rolled his eyes. I shot them both looks.
“Thank you, Turo,” Yilan said quickly. “But the threats won’t be necessary. Every person at this table has vowed their allegiance to Melek or me. What we need is for all of you to trusteach other.”
“Not assassinating our Queen would go a long way,” Jhonas said quietly, but with dark looks across the table.
“If we’d wanted her dead, she wouldn’t be here,” Jann replied abruptly. “She was being warned and—”
“I saw the arrows. That was no warning. God’s hand protected her fromyournefarious intent.”
“You saw them because they found the mark they were intended to find,” Drek said blandly. “We intended to take her, not kill her.”
“Bullshit—”
