Page 65 of A Court So Dark
Silver went on. “King Naeduin’s wife might be ready to write that speech to Mythorne, but the king is a proud bastard. He has gone along with a traditional alliance with the Unseelie Court because he has autonomy and full control of the land and its resources. Now, Mythorne wants more, and Naeduin would become nothing more than a figurehead. If he’s allowed to stay, that is. No,” he shook his head, “I have a feeling he will choose to fight.”
“Fighting will only squander those precious resources you’re talking about,” Arabis said.
“I don’t disagree with that. I just think that Naeduin would rather squander them than let Mythorne have them.”
It seemed that Arabis could not argue with that comment. Instead, she sighed and stared at her plate in defeat.
Kalyll’s hands remained steepled as he listened without interruption. His eyes were narrowed, and behind their darkened quality, I could see a million thoughts speeding by.
“We have been in touch with your uncle,” Jeondar said, taking over.
Captain Loraerris was in a precarious position, and it was a wonder Cardian hadn’t thrown him in a dungeon. The male had to be artful at diplomacy to be able to convince Cardian he accepted him as king.
Jeondar continued. “Of course, he remains loyal to you as do others, and they are doing their best to delay things. Cardian’s orders were to send troops to the Summer and Spring Courts as soon as they were ready. Clearly, there have been delays due to conflicting commands from you and Cardian, which is fortunate, I suppose. They will not be ready to depart for another week. We have dispatched news to my father as well as the Spring Court king and queen, so they can be ready. I know for a fact that my father will fight.”
He appeared conflicted on the matter, which I could not blame him for.
“For him,” he went on, “it’s not a matter of resources and power. He fears what would become of our realm if people like Mythorne and Cardian are allowed to take control without opposition. I fear for our people, for the inevitable loss of life and the horrors war will bring, but on most days, I agree with my father. In Nerethien, you can feel the people’s fear in the air. They walk with their heads bowed and swallow their words when they see injustice. They are beaten down by their rulers’ evil, by the threat of retaliation should they speak against those in command. That is no way to live.”
I swallowed thickly, fighting the tears that rose to my eyes. In our history books, we had enough stories of such things and the horrors that came with allowing egotistical, evil people to rule.
“The Spring Court will also fight,” Cylea said.
Kalyll turned slowly to Kryn, a questioning look in his eyes. “Why have we not heard of the Fall Court?”
Kryn sighed heavily. “Because our father is an asshole.” His face lit up bright red, and he appeared both angry and embarrassed.
Leaning back on his chair, Kalyll waited patiently, giving Kryn ample time to formulate an answer. When he next spoke, he ripped off the bandage with a bombshell.
“Earl Qierlan, finding that he couldn’t marry his daughter to a prince, will now marry her to a king.”
I let out a gasp. Mylendra was going to marry Mythorne?
Kalyll formed a fist and his jaw tightened. “I assume he is forcing her.”
“He is,” Kryn confirmed. “She would have gladly married you, but Mythorne? For all her faults, she is not crazy. I tried to talk sense into him. I used your transfer token to go to Thellanora last night, but his mind is made up. He has struck a pact with the Fall King. They think Mythorne will look at them favorably and let them go on as they have, but they’re deluded. Father plans to visit Nerethien and make his proposal tomorrow.”
“You see,” Arabis told Silver, “the Winter King is hoping to prevent a war.”
Silver turned his mouth upside down. “If Mythorne thinks nothing of this proposal, King Naeduin will fight. Mark my words.”
“Is Mythorne looking for a bride?” I asked. “Or is throwing females around to see if they stick to some jerk a thing here?”
Naesala laughed as she daintily wiped her mouth with a cloth napkin. “That would be entertaining to watch. Demeaning, but entertaining.”
I ignored her and so did the others. “Is it even safe for them to go there?”
Kryn huffed. “I warned him they could end up in a dungeon, but he’s so stubborn and thinks so much of himself, he can’t conceive the possibility.”
A grunt came from Kalyll. Something in his expression as well as a spark in his eyes told me he’d had an idea.
“What is it?” Jeondar asked, noticing the same thing I had.
Kalyll slowly turned to the Sorceress and asked, “That elixir of yours—the one that helped Kryn impersonate me—tell me all about its attributes.”
“No! Absolutely not,” I protested for the hundredth time. “I just got you out of there. You’re not going back.” I pointed a finger at him as he paced in front of the large wooden desk.
“Once more, I agree with Dani,” Arabis said.
