Page 100 of The Court of Secrets
He scoffed. “A meeting with Berovia is more important. This is a peace treaty with the largest, wealthiest kingdom in this world.”
“A kingdom who desperately needs our help,” I said, sitting back. “I have written to Lord Abor, and on my command, he will set up an allegiance with the firedrake wielders, promising our military backing if their dragons are attacked again.”
He watched me carefully. “I have the Ring.” He pulled it from his pocket, and it beckoned for me to snatch from his palm. He clenched his fingers around it, then pushed it back into his pocket. Brushing down the front of his ruby-red jacket, he blew out a tense breath. His advisor, a mousy-faced man in a white shirt and shiny black shoes, walked back in with Nissa.
“You chose Nissa?” I asked.
“We need two witnesses, one solis and one luna.” His advisor glanced at her, then back at me.
“Nissa.” I gestured for her to sit next to me. “You don’t need to stand.”
“Thanks, Your Majesty.”
“First order of business.” Kiros cleared his throat, leaning forward. “Aside from you ordering your lord to broker peace with the firedrake wielders on my behalf, you will allow the transportation of pixies between kingdoms. You told me of their healing powers when you were in Berovia.”
My eye twitched. Nissa’s eyes widened as she looked from him to me.
“How many?” I asked.
“As many as we need.”
I shook my head. “You’ll deplete us. Your kingdom is far larger. I need a number.”
His advisor nodded and whispered something unintelligible in his ear. Kiros straightened. “Initially, we will ask for three hundred.”
I almost coughed. “That’s a small army of them.”
“Charles,” he said to his advisor. “How many pixies does Magaelor have?”
He flicked through his papers, landed on one, and trailed his finger down the words. “There are an estimated eighteen thousand pixies in Magaelor and on its surrounding islands.”
I looked at Charles. “Did you come and count them yourself?”
Nissa suppressed a laugh, instead letting out a soft gurgled sound.
Kiros placed his hands on his knees. “Three hundred initially, to see how they fare in our climate.”
I swallowed thickly. I knew they’d be okay, because Cedric had had one, and I was sure others secretly had one they’d imported through shadow markets. “I’ll agree to three hundred, if you agree to three hundred oxen in return. Berovia has a plethora, whereas Magaelor’s farms dwindle.”
He looked to his advisor, who agreed over hushed whispers. “An ox is not a match for a pixie,” Kiros said.
“I’d like to think it’s a fair trade,” I said. “While their size may differ, they are both valuable.”
“Two hundred.”
“No.”
Charles countered. “Two hundred fifty.”
Nissa gave me an appreciative look. Our resources were scarcely low, and the truth was we needed cattle and grain. “Grain too,” I said. “Also, I want to discuss keeping the Forest of Tranquillium preserved.”
His light eyebrow arched. “What do you care for one of our forests?”
“I just do.” I didn’t want to have to explain how I owed the elves and wanted to keep them safe after they’d kept me safe. “In exchange, I know you require wood for ships.”
Kiros leaned forward. “I thought your forests were sacred.”
My heart pounded. I was glad he couldn’t sense it. “There are parts we can cut down. We need more space anyway.”
