Page 87 of The King is Dead
Berne opened his mouth, then closed it again, then cleared his throat. “I… yes, of course, your Majesty. Only, when your parents housed allies, it was after their marriage, while the visitors were generally married as well—”
“I do understand that it is a bit unorthodox, however, I don’t have time to debate it with you. Please see to the removal and replacement of the bed. General Handras is rather large and none of our other beds will be appropriate. That means you’ll need stablehands to move the existing bed out of the room as well.”
Then I turned back to the table behind me which was covered in a map of the grounds, and the shocked faces of Turner, my primary maid, and Nelly, her assistant.
I gave each of them a look, warning them to say nothing, then returned to the conversation we’d been having when Berne and the others arrived.
“As I was saying… I’m convinced the bonfire should be in the garden, not the courtyard,” I said firmly, pointing to the area in question. “There’s far more room and it will be more pleasant. Besides, it sounds like fun to dance on the grass.”
Both women gaped at me. Turner was the first to gather her thoughts and begin asking intelligent questions and making notes. But it was clear both of them were scandalized and distracted.
Because I had said it would be fun?
It wasn’t even an entirely honest sentiment. There was a hint of thrill under my nerves, it was true. I’d been trained in the night ritual since I was a teen. It was something I’d looked forward to when Iwas younger. But now that I better understood its purpose, that thrill was mostly anxiety.
I swallowed hard and pushed the thoughts away, praying the fluttering and fizzing in my belly would pass as I refocused, preparing to soothe the women’s ruffled feathers, when the door swung open quickly enough to make us all startle, and in marched Turo, face set, with Melek walking calmly in his wake, though now that I paid attention, the bond hummed with his tension as well.
Well, shit. I thought they’d gone to see Gall. What had happened?
I eyed Melek as Turo swept a bow in front of me, then straightened. “Your Majesty,” he ground out, “It’s rather important that I speak with you. Alone.”
The maids immediately curtseyed and hurried for the door. Turo waited for the last of them to bow and shut the door before he turned to me with a tight frown.
“I understand that you have mercifully offered the General his freedom,” he began quietly, ignoring Melek who’d come to stand not far behind him, arms folded, which emphasized his biceps in that tight jacket and forced me to avert my eyes to remain focused. “However, he claims that you are also insisting he meet personally with the Council. Is this true?”
“Yes.”
His jaw jutted forward. “Yilan—”
Melek glared at him for using my name so familiarly, but I sent a jolt of caution through the bond. There was enough to conflict over, I didn’t want to get bogged down inetiquettewith the man who’d served me for a decade and had just learned he’d been cuckolded.
“—your Advisors should have a chance toadvise youbefore he is allowed to influence… any of this!”
Melek watched me over Turo’s shoulder, but didn’t speak for which I was grateful.
“Turo, it’s imperative that you and the rest of the Council hear Melek’s insight into the Nephilim as soon as possible.Heis the one who insisted you have an opportunity to question him personally before we move to strategic decisions tomorrow. I thought you’d appreciate that.”
“Certainly. Give me the man to interrogate at will and I’ll spend as much time with him as you wish—”
Melek growled.
I shook my head. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
But Turo stepped forward. “Yes, I do—and that’s my point. I don’t think you truly grasp the gravity of the situation into which you’re leading us. Give us, the Council, who have experience in battle and enemy warfare, the opportunity to—”
“Your Queen infiltrated my people and was imprisoned during war, yet you believe she lacks experience in the realities of dealing with an enemy?” Melek growled from behind him.
I sighed, but Turo stiffened and turned on him. “Of course not, I only meant there is a difference between the strategic decisions in movement of troops and plans for battle, and the quieter—though no less dangerous—espionage with which she is quite skilled.”
I sighed again as Melek swelled in response. Turo often irritated me with his patronizing tone, but I ignored it because I knew he didn’t truly mean it. I’d have to tell Melek to do the same.
“I’m not going to get into a pissing contest with either of you,” I muttered, catching Melek’s eye because he looked like he was about to take a bite out of Turo. “I have called the Council to attend this evening so that you can speak with Melek and ease your minds about his… loyalties—without my interference, mind you—and then tomorrow we will all work together on the strategic plan for the front.”
“But—”
“No, Turo. I have given my instruction. Please move ahead,” I said more sharply than I intended. I exhaled. “Please,” I repeated more softly, but still firm.
Bristling like a stood-on cat, Turo raised his chin, his eyes cutting to Melek before he dropped his head and bowed to me.
