Page 46 of The Eye of the Fifth
The fire within Gedeon sizzled, recoiling, as though disturbed by her words.
But the darkness bristled with elation.
‘The war is yours, my queen,’ Sekun crooned proudly. ‘And this first battle is already as good as won.’
Battle… could it be called a battle? It was to be a slaughtering of innocents, of women and children, and men who had likely never even wielded a sword. They were not warriors with a destiny to die with honour, defending their territory. They were just people.
There could benohonour in this task. None at all.
What sort of Fire Warden would he be, if he used Eraura’s power in this manner?
But what sort of prince, the Empress’ greatest ally, opposed his queen’s wishes?
‘Gedeon?’
He looked up to find his mother’s cutting gaze on him. ‘Your silence disturbs me. If there is doubt in your heart, speak it.’
Perhaps he was not as unreadable as he imagined he was.
Never in his life had Gedeon doubted her. Never once had he thought twice on an order before executing it. But never before had an order had the potential to create such universal chaos and devastation.
‘I have to wonder…’ said Gedeon slowly, suddenly finding it difficult to keep her gaze, ‘If this is truly the best way to commence this war? Would it not be more… moreprudentto invade the lands of those who oppose you? A clashing of armies, of soldiers and warriors, whose purpose is to bleed on a battlefield, rather than the decimation of a city full of harmless civilians?’
To his left, Sekun let out a disdainful snicker.
The Empress continued to glower at Gedeon. The silence grew ever thicker with each second that ticked by. ‘You doubt me,’ she said quietly. Her voice held such cold fury.
Not a question. A statement.
Gedeon chose his next words very carefully. ‘I am advising you, as any good son should.’
She moved to him then, slowly, carefully, like a predator stalking its prey. She was shorter than him in stature, yet her mere presence towered over him, shrinking him where he stood. Gedeon was sure if he were anyone else but her son, the wisps now swirling at her hands would have claimed its next victim already. She whispered, ‘You disappoint me, Gedeon.’
‘I only meant to-’
‘You will be silent!’
Gedeon immediately closed his mouth and bowed his head. Even Sekun stopped smiling.
‘Do not believe for a moment that I have not carefully planned every element of this coming war. Long before you were even born, these plans were in motion. Youwillcommit to this task and youwill notquestion me again.’
Both Gedeon and Sekun kept their silence. After a few long breaths, she placed a long finger beneath Gedeon’s chin, lifting his head. Her features were soft now, imbued with fiery love. ‘Everything I have ever done is foryou, my sons. This world will one day be yours to rule. And every life lost, every sacrifice made, every drop of bloodspilt is a necessary cleanse for the new world to arise. We are one. One mind. One vision.’ Her eyes flickered between them. ‘Are we not?’
‘Always,’ Sekun murmured.
She looked to Gedeon, eyebrows raised expectantly, innocently hopeful.
He was duty-bound to his position. Love-bound to his family. The prince stepped into the light as he smiled at her, bowed his head and said, ‘Of course.’
Returning the smile with a relieved exhale, she clasped her hands together, her forefinger subconsciously sliding over the inscribed flat golden ring on her left middle finger. ‘Then, go, my sons. Gods be with you. I await your return.’
Gedeon bowed low, his brother doing the same at his side, then they both turned toward the Throne Room doors, heading for Little Ash Harbour where a ship was waiting to carry them across the world.
To the icy harshness of the northern continent.
To Nythanor.
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