Page 101 of Kingdoms of Shadow and Ash

Rouel left, and Fyia turned her gaze to Cal. He was studying her with the intensity of a hawk stalking prey.

'Do you agree with the general terms?' said Fyia, moving around and gathering her possessions.

'We will need to discuss details about trade …' said Cal, his tone flat, 'how many glasshouses and so forth you will help us build. And the Fae'ch barely tolerate us … I have no confidence we can help there, over and above our ability to ransom our dragon scales, which will not engender fond relations. However, in principle, I agree to an alliance with your kingdom …' He paused. 'With you.'

Fyia held his gaze and inhaled a long breath. There was so much she wished she could say. She gave a curt nod, then held out her hand. Cal took it, and she held on for a moment too long, but when she tried to pull away, Cal refused to release her. 'I have one additional term,' he said, finally dropping her hand.

Fyia cleared her throat, not trusting her voice … not trusting herself right now at all. 'What is it?'

'I will accompany you on your journey south, so I can see your lands, as I have shown you mine, and so I may attend your meeting with the Emperor.'

Fyia's head swam.

'And when the meeting with the Emperor is done,' said Cal, a hint of a smile in his eyes, 'we shall travel to the Great Glacier, and find the egg at the Temple of the Warrior.'

Fyia found herself nodding before she'd considered any of the pros and cons.

Zhura growled her disbelief. 'Need I remind you, you just executed the Queen Mother and the former King's brother? There will be unrest … some will call for your head. We are yet to send word to the other towns and villages … what should we tell the representatives they will surely send when they ask where you are?'

Cal swung his head to face his cousin. 'Tell them whatever you must in order to keep the peace. Tell them of our new alliance. Tell them my actions are in the interests of our people. Tell them the Queen Mother was a spiteful old bag who never recognized my authority, so she had it coming, for all I care. I am sure, when the engineers arrive from the south, there will be much to keep our people busy … much excitement and promise.'

A dark look took hold of Zhura's features. 'You're running away?'

'No,' said Cal, forcefully. 'I am securing a better future for our people. I can do nothing here that you cannot, but the Emperor's men attacked me in the heart of Black Hood territory only this morning. We have stayed out of the world's politics, and that has served us well, but the Emperor has invaded … he has brought a fight to our doorstep, and I will not roll over and let him take that which is mine.

'I wish to meet our enemy and take the measure of the man. Is that a task you desire, Zhura? Is it a task I should give to another?'

Zhura said nothing, although Fyia wasn't sure if that was because she knew her King was right, or because anger had clamped her mouth shut.

'I will address our people,' said Cal, 'and then, I will go south.'

Cal and Fyia boarded the airship. The eager faces of Adigos, Opie, and Essa greeted them, none of them hiding their questioning looks in Cal's direction.

'Your Majesty,' they said together, as they bowed.

'Good to see you all,' said Fyia, with a smile. 'This is Lord Calemir Talos, of the Black Hoods. He will be joining us.'

They'd agreed to keep Cal's identity a secret, so he could enjoy the freedom and security associated with being a mere ambassador.

'It is good to see you too,' said Adigos. His eyes lingered on Fyia, then turned to appraise Cal. Adigos frowned, as though Cal presented a tricky mental problem he couldn't quite work out.

'Come,' said Fyia, motioning to Edu and her guards to board, 'we leave at once.'

The airship became a tangle of activity, guards and crew running this way and that, loading the horses. Essa and Opie disappeared to the helm in the middle of the airshipthat housed the instruments needed for flight. Adigos fell in at Fyia's side, seeming to believe this his rightful place.

'You may assist Essa,' said Fyia. 'I will show our guest around, and we will reconvene in the dining room in a quarter turn.'

Adigos hesitated, but held his tongue in front of Cal. Fyia wondered if he would have had the two of them been alone … she doubted it, which meant he still hadn't learned his lesson.

Fyia led Cal into the hull of the ship, down the two flights of stairs to her lavish private quarters. 'I'm not sure what we have available in terms of cabins,' she said, as he put down his bag, 'but I'm sure we can find you something suitable.'

Cal's eyes scanned the room, taking in the plush rugs, the large chairs nailed to the floor, the inviting bed. He walked to the curtained window and looked out, perhaps saying goodbye to his lands, perhaps regretting his impulsive decision to fly south …

'Your cabin looks perfectly suitable to me,' he said, interrupting her thoughts, his eyes still trained on the land beyond the window.

She couldn't tell if he was joking, mocking, provoking, or being serious, so she changed the subject; he was still in a strange mood. 'How did your people take it?'

'Predictably.'

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