Chapter Four

“Out of the question!” Fon’s reply rang out, echoing against the stone walls so that it sounded as though half a dozen kings were objecting.

Vashri, naturally, was more measured. He stepped forward and bowed politely. “Torval does us a great honour, but the Lady Kyann is not a prize to be passed from one nation to another.” He met the man’s eye. “And while we would hope to be friends with our neighbours, we see no need for an especially close alliance.”

The envoy bowed. Stiffly. “Torval has much to offer our smaller neighbour.”

I lifted my chin. If he was here to woo me, he was mistaken to insult the Empire I would have given my life to protect. “Charnrosa’s worth is not tied to our size,” I replied.

“I did not mean to suggest you were not our equal.” The envoy smiled again, with another small bow that sent his cloak rippling. I was beginning to find him oleaginous. I didn’t consider that positive progress. “His Glorious Majesty envisages two powerful nations uniting.” His dark gaze settled on me. “And two powerful people becoming husband and wife. Our Shah is a handsome and strong man. He will make you a virile husband.”

I held tight to my polite, political smile. The idea of marrying a man I’d never even set eyes on turned my stomach over, no matter his looks or his – ugh – prowess. My gaze rested on the kings. Each one of them had stepped forward to give their response, standing in front of me as though offering protection. My stomach fizzed in a wholly different manner. If I were in love with anyone, it was with these men, not with a foreign ruler who sent another to woo in his place. My heart sped up and I swallowed. My heart couldn’t decide which of the kings it preferred, which simply demonstrated that I wasn’t ready for the lifetime’s commitment that was marriage. And I certainly wasn’t ready to abandon Charnrosa to make my home on the other side of the mountains.

But the envoy was speaking again, laying his wares before the kings, focusing on the things he clearly thought would sway them to give up the guardian. “Torval is a powerful nation. Our army numbers ten thousand men. Our swords are the finest on the continent, and our archers are renowned the world over.”

Except that I had never heard of either until this moment. Just as I’d barely been aware of the nation of Torval itself. I hid my face as my cheeks heated, glad I hadn’t spoken my feelings aloud. I knew so little of the world beyond Charnrosa’s borders. I might as well face it: I knew precious little even of our Empire. I was still that scared girl who’d run and found haven in tiny Myledene. I’d seen more of Charnrosa in the last fortnight than I had in the first eighteen years of my life.

If I told the envoy that truth, would he renege his offer? I watched him as he outlined to the kings how very great and mighty the nation of Torval was. I didn’t think he would take back his offer. I didn’t think he – or his master – cared how unsuited the two of us might be.

“We have enlarged our lands by alliance and conquest under the guidance of his Supreme Majesty,” the envoy was telling Axxon.

Was that a threat? It was impossible to tell from the envoy’s face. He had to be well-versed in politics. I felt as though I were swimming out of my depths. And currents were tugging at my legs.

“Charnrosa is united and peaceful,” I said. “We have no interest in war, nor in enlarging our lands. We are secure here, between the mountains and the sea.” I hoped there were no other geographical aspects of the Empire I should be aware of, but the envoy didn’t seem to expect anything further.

“Of course, gracious lady. A country at peace is a blessing indeed. I have done our Supreme Majesty a disservice if I suggested we are hungry for war. We prefer to make allies rather than enemies,” he continued blandly. “And there would be many benefits to an alliance with Torval.”

I opened my mouth to ask what he meant when he signalled and three of his servants stood forward.

“There is much we could share with you. This is but a taste. We bring you silver mined from the Torval mountains.” The first servant dropped to one knee, opening the small box she held. Inside, hundreds of silver clippings glinted in the light. I stifled my gasp at so much wealth crammed into such a small space.

The envoy continued, “And a dagger, to symbolise the might of our army and the protection we offer you.”

The kings stood forward, stiffening, but the second servant dropped to one knee as well and presented the ornate dagger to me hilt-first. I didn’t like to touch it, in case accepting the gift meant accepting the offer, and I was glad when Fon stepped forward and took the weapon from the servant to inspect it, pulling the steel blade from its pretty, jewelled sheath.

The envoy’s lips twitched. I hoped Fon hadn’t just offered agreement on my behalf. “And finally…” The third servant knelt like the others, head bowed. I couldn’t see what he was carrying. “A slave for your protection. He has been trained in armed and unarmed combat and would serve you faithfully as a bodyguard.”

I sat rigidly, trying to assess whether the envoy – unpractised in our language – had made a mistake in his word choice. “A slave?” I queried. “Or simply a servant?”

He appeared startled. “A slave, naturally. He is yours to command unto death.”

Queasiness gripped my stomach. “We do not have slaves in Charnrosa.” It was centuries since the four kingdoms had enslaved their fallen enemies. Slavery was abhorrent, especially after the Stalwart Emperor had enslaved people with magic. I lifted my chin. “If he wishes to stay, he will do so as a free man and we will find him employment.”

The envoy struggled to understand. “He is a gift from his Glorious Majesty. He is yours to dispose of as you wish.”

A country where people were disposed of… And it wasn’t as though I’d been in any doubt about rejecting the Shah of Torval’s offer to begin with.

Vashri caught my eye and stepped forward. The envoy raised his brows. Vashri addressed him. “We will consider the matter. We’ll have an answer for you in the morning. In the meantime, we would be pleased if you would accept Charnrosa’s hospitality.”

“You do me a great honour.” The envoy bowed for a final time, flicking his cloak so its colours flowed brightly across the stone floor. Then he retreated, his servants going with him, the poor slave following last of all when I waved to one of the castle servants to take care of him.

When the doors closed behind them, I blew out a breath of relief. “How do we tell him no without provoking a war?”

All the kings began to talk at once, so I could understand nothing of what they were saying. Essa, who had stayed quiet throughout the proceedings, touched my shoulder to get my attention and spoke clearly. “Do we tell him no?”

The kings fell silent. My mouth gaped. Essa smiled tightly. Her attention rested on me. “You are the guardian of Charnrosa, sister dearest. You are now our Empress, if that’s the title you take. Your life will be one of politics, of negotiating alliances just like this one. Perhaps it might be the right thing to negotiate a match between this Supreme Majesty of Torval and Charnrosa’s Empress.”

“I don’t wish to be the Empress in that case. I resign.”

Essa regarded me calmly. “That’s childish, Kyann.”

My cheeks heated. She was right. I took a breath and tried to speak calmly, to marshal my thoughts in the way a leader might. “I see no need for an alliance between our countries. We are self-sufficient and need no support. And I am concerned that it wouldn’t be an equal alliance. I will not allow our Empire to become a part of someone else’s lands. We didn’t destroy the Stalwart Emperor only to let someone else conquer us.”

Essa nodded. “Well said.” She scanned the kings’ faces. “You all agree?”

“That envoy had a cheek to even ask!” Fon’s jaw worked as though he were holding back more words than those. I was pleased I wasn’t the only one struggling with politics and diplomacy.

“Charnrosa has no need to make this match,” Axxon agreed with me. His gaze sought out mine. “And Charnrosa’s guardian should certainly not be pushed into an alliance that is not to her taste.”

“Then we need to decide how to rebuff the offer without causing a war.” Essa looked at me again. “And the council needs to know that the offer has been made.”

I held back my sigh. She was quite right. What a shame they hadn’t already returned to their lands.

~

“Perhaps we should consider it further.” Horris’s cold eyes settled on me. I was sure emotionlessness was a useful trait within the council to balance out, for example, Fon’s wildness, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that Horris wanted to get rid of me. I would take great care to keep a careful eye on how he was guiding his lands and his people.

“What exactly are they offering?” Lord Hullar was the voice of calm reason.

“Wealth,” I answered. “In the form of silver, and swords, and archers. And peace, in that they wouldn’t use those swords and archers against us.”

Lord Hullar’s brows rose.

“He didn’t say that explicitly,” I admitted. “But there were definite hints.”

Lord Hullar considered what I’d said. “It seems to me that we have swords and warriors enough for the Empire. And anyone wishing to conquer us would need to get over those mountains. It is something we should be aware of, but not fearful of, I think.”

“And the Empress should not be sacrificed for Charnrosa’s ambition or safety,” Lady Pardal stated. She had gone quite white. I hadn’t spoken much to her, and I wondered now whether her match with Lord Pardal had contained much affection. From her choice of words, I suspected she’d been sacrificed for someone else’s ambition – her father’s, perhaps?

“As the guardian, it is my role to keep Charnrosa secure.” Fon started to protest, but I held up a hand to silence him. Since our meeting with the envoy I’d had time to consider the matter – and to calm down so that I wasn’t ruled by fear. “But I do not feel that a marriage alliance is needed to make us secure. If the Shah truly wished to take over our country, then surely he would have sent a force to invade while we were fighting the Stalwart Emperor. A country divided would be much easier to subdue. Instead, he’s waited until now. He simply wishes to ally himself with the winning side. I do not think he would be terribly upset to have his offer rejected. Perhaps that is why he didn’t come himself.”

The entire council considered that for long, slow seconds.

“I agree.” Lord Hullar spoke first, but everyone else agreed, even Horris, for all that he was last to speak and allowed a tone of querulousness into his voice.

“Then it’s decided,” Vashri said. “We send the envoy on his way with our good wishes and promises of friendship, but without the hand of our Empress.”

“Guardian,” I corrected.

“If he brought you silver and slaves, ought we to send him something more tangible than good wishes?” Essa queried.