Aerity couldn’t help but notice the tension throughout her father’s office as Harrison, Lief, and two officers filtered in—a tension that had nothing to do with the danger at hand. She held in an inappropriate smile as Harrison and Lief shifted, looking everywhere but at each other or Wyneth. Tiern and Vixie were the last to arrive. Vixie had a bow and quiver of arrows across her back.
“I see you’re staying armed these days,” Aerity admired, “even within the castle.”
“I’ve been practicing with Tiern. I just . . . I feel more comfortable having it.”
“All right, then.” Aerity moved to the map of Eurona on her father’s desk. “The eight of us will have to come up with a plan to protect the kingdom from imminent attack. We don’t know when or how, but we know it’s coming. I want another proclamation issued throughout the lands today. Homes and businesses should prepare as needed. Everyone should be on the lookout.”
“Should we hold off on the Lashed infirmaries, Your Highness?” asked Harrison.
“No. Life should proceed as normal. It could be months before the Kalorians decide to attack. Perhaps the existence of the infirmaries will deter the Rocato woman when she sees we are making changes, though I’m not counting on it.”
Harrison nodded. Aerity listened to their counsel and together they decided how many soldiers to place in which areas, mostly to protect royal lands.
“There’s simply not enough manpower to protect all the villages,” one of the officers said. Aerity swallowed her bitter disappointment. Hundreds of new, young faces had joined the army and navy after her parents were kidnapped, but their forces were still stretched too thin.
“Your Highness,” said the senior officer, “perhaps you, Princess Vixie, and Lady Wyneth should join your family on the Isle of Evie while we wait this out—”
“No,” Aerity said.
“It’s not a bad idea,” Lief interjected.
“My answer is no. Wyneth and Vixie have my blessing to go, but I must stay.”
“Absolutely not!” Vixie huffed.
“I’m not leaving you,” Wyneth said firmly. They both looked defiantly at the faces around the room, and the men did not argue. Harrison looked down and rubbed his jaw.
Aerity said to the officers, “Go. Send out the next proclamation. And have our fastest messengers deliver word to Toresta and Zorfina of our circumstances.”
When the senior officer opened the door, they saw a guard standing there, about to knock. He gave the princess a quick bow, his eyes alight.
“Your Highness, we have visitors.”
Aerity’s heart beat a heavy hammer. “Who?”
“The king and queen of Ascomanni and their council, Princess.”
Lief gave her a surprised look before bolting from the room.
Suspicion flapped through Aerity like an angry crow. She peered at Harrison. The last time foreign royalty had come to the castle, her parents had disappeared. But Harrison gave her a nod.
“They are allies,” he reminded her. “And Lief’s people. You will be surrounded by armed guards at all times. I’ll make sure of it.”
“All right.” Aerity looked at the guard. “Let them in. Have the kitchen prepare breakfast in the formal dining room. That is where we shall meet.”
The feeling of unease did not leave Aerity as she stood before the doors to the dining room, dressed in finery, an emerald heavy against her forehead. As the doors opened, she saw that Harrison had been true to his word about guards. They lined the room, but they were not alone. The Ascomanni had brought many guards of their own.
King Dagur and Queen Agnetha Vikani stood when Aerity entered, along with Lief and a couple Aerity didn’t recognize. All were wearing the finest fur-lined leather vests, with kilts and boots. Harrison and Wyneth stepped to the far end of the table. Aerity went to her father’s spot, feeling extraordinarily strange at the head of the table. Vixie took the queen’s chair at her side. Still standing, Aerity addressed the visiting king and queen.
“We meet again, King Dagur and Queen Agnetha.”
The king inclined his head. “We have much to discuss, Princess.”
“Surely you are weary from your travels. Please, accept our hospitality before we discuss any matters.”
The king looked down at his plateful of food before nodding his agreement. As they all sat, Lief remained standing.
“My lady Aerity, I give you my parents, Lord Daan and Lady Hanna Alvi.” Lord Daan was a beefier, thinner-haired version of Lief, and he gave her a lazy grin that had probably swept many women off their feet for years.
“We finally meet,” said the senior Lord Alvi.
“It is a pleasure, my lord and lady,” Aerity said. “Our kingdom owes much to your brave son.”
Lady Hanna, a formidable woman, smiled proudly up at Lief, who finally sat and sent Aerity a grateful look. The coldlanders dug into their breakfasts without further ado. Aerity tried to eat. Between small bites of eggs and sausage she sent furtive glances down the table to Wyneth and Harrison, who seemed as alert as her, not eating much. Same with Vixie at her side. Her sister was being uncharacteristically quiet, which was good.
Aerity was glad that one of the officers had been willing, and even slightly eager, to take Furball out to the gardens for a bit of exercise. She wasn’t ready to spring that surprise on their guests.
Once they’d finished their meals and the plates had been cleared away, King Dagur smoothed down his beard and crossed his hands over his belly. He eyed her closely.
“Shall we speak in front of everyone, then?”
“Aye, King Dagur. I would prefer it, if you don’t mind.”
“Fine. Any word on your parents?”
She forced strength into her voice. “Nay, sir. Not a word.”
King Dagur looked around at the tapestries that told of Lochlan history.
“Our fathers were good friends,” he murmured. “Your grandfather and my father, that is. Your papa and I used to play in this castle when we’d come to visit. He never wanted to break the rules, your father.” King Dagur grinned mischievously. “But I made him. While the kings worked, we explored every inch of this castle and beneath it. . . .”
His eyes glazed, remembering. Aerity wondered what he meant by beneath it. Surely he wasn’t speaking of the tunnels. She’d only just learned of them herself.
He sighed heavily, disrupting her thoughts. “My sources say that Kalor means to take over Lochlanach in less than a week’s time. Days, perhaps.”
Days? She tried to hide her surprise. Her own military spies had not been able to give an estimated time, but she didn’t want to admit that. Days was not good. Breathe, Aerity, breathe . . . bluff your way through this.
The king rested his elbows on the table, tenting his fingers. “I daresay your army is not prepared.”
“They are preparing as we speak.”
A slow smile came to his lips. “You put on a brave face for a young woman, but surely you must be terrified at the prospect of war.”
Responses vied in Aerity’s mind, but she chose not to say any of them.
“Would it ease your mind, Princess, if I told you my troops are ready to move on your behalf? To fight alongside your army?”
Oh, great seas, yes! Aerity wanted to press her hand to her heart and laugh at the sweet relief coursing through her, but she remained steady. She glanced at Lief, who watched her with an oddly remorseful expression of seriousness.
“Any forces you would be willing to offer against this foe would be much appreciated.”
“Good. That is good.” King Dagur sat up and leaned forward on his elbows, his fingers linked. “I can make that happen just as soon as our kingdoms are properly united.”
Aerity went very still as she stared into his calculating eyes. She dared not look away or show weakness as she fought to keep her breathing even.
“You speak of my marriage to Lord Alvi?”
“Exactly. With your father currently . . . out of the picture, I would hate for our agreement to be put aside much longer.”
Hot, rigid fury filled Aerity. She felt her spine straighten as she sat up taller.
“I intend to honor my father’s proclamation whether he is on the throne or not. Our wedding will go on this spring, as planned.”
Again he smiled slowly. “I had heard it was moved up to this winter.”
Curse it!
“There was talk of moving it up to distract the masses, but that was before war became imminent. I hardly think this is the proper time for a wedding. I want to give the people something to celebrate once all the madness is over.”
“And if you die in said madness?”
Vixie gasped. Aerity did not take her eyes from King Dagur as she held her index finger up to Vixie to silence her. She knew what was going on here: Ascomanni believed Lochlanach would fall, and they wanted it for themselves in the aftermath.
“If anything happens to me, my sister will reign, and my brother after her.”
“But they are so young. Is it wise?” His show of worry made Aerity ill.
“My aunts and uncles are safely hidden away, and they will return to advise our ruler, however young she or he may be.”
“Do you truly believe anyone in your family is safe right now? Do you think they will not be targeted out on that island? Kalor wants Lochlanach for its own. I am offering to prevent that.” His voice had risen, and a war broke out inside her. Of course he knew about the royal island. Was there anything he didn’t know?
If her parents were here, they would absolutely have her marry Lief that very moment to secure the country. They would fold to King Dagur’s demands.
“If you are to marry my nephew in a matter of months, what does it matter?” he asked. “Be reasonable. This is not the time to dally, Your Highness.”
Seas, his words were so much like what her own father would tell her, but his voice held an arrogance that set her on edge, as if he couldn’t believe he had to deal with her. Aerity gritted her teeth. In her heart of hearts, she believed her army and navy could defend the lands against Kalor once they set all their plans into motion. Would it be pretty? No. But it would be their hard-earned victory. And after all was said and done, she would have to face all Eurona, possibly as queen. These first impressions of her reign were important.
Aerity hated making decisions. Up until now she’d had everything decided for her, like it or not. In that moment the pressure piled upon her, and she knew that what she decided now would determine how she would be treated throughout her entire reign.
She had watched her father’s will bend to others too many times to count in the past six months. She had thought his decisions were made for the benefit of the kingdom, and she’d admired his humility in the face of it all, but now she couldn’t help but think her father had been driven by fear, just as King Dagur was being driven by greed.
Aerity could not afford to begin her rule by allowing the coldlands to bribe her. She had to set a higher precedent.
“King Dagur,” she said steadily, “if you fight alongside me, I will marry your nephew the moment Kalor is defeated.”
His eyes narrowed and his jaw locked. This was not a man who was accustomed to hearing no. He pressed his index finger against the table. “Marry him. Today.”
“I will not.”
Queen Agnetha clucked her tongue, and Lady Hanna sucked in shocked breath. King Dagur pushed his chair back from the table and stood.
“Do not be a fool, girl! This is a sensible arrangement. We both know your father would agree.”
“I am not my father, as you can clearly see.” Aerity pushed back her own chair and stood tall. “Lochlanach is an ally of Ascomanni and will adhere to all promises. But I will not allow my hand to be forced in a time of despair.” And shame on him for trying.
The coldlander king placed both of his fists on the table and scowled at her. “You will regret this.”
“I am not your enemy,” Aerity told him. “Please do not leave here angry.”
King Dagur gave a growl, turning with a flourish. “Our business here is done,” he said to Lief’s parents.
Queen Agnetha gave Aerity a disbelieving stare before following her husband. Aerity stood her ground, careful not to return any of their furious looks.
Next was Lady Hanna, who raised her chin. “You dishonor my son.”
“I will honor him, my lady, in due time,” Aerity promised. But Lief’s mother humphed, leaving the room. Lord Daan Alvi took his time standing, his entire being like a keg of gunpowder, prepared to blow at any moment. His glare was deadly, making Aerity’s heart hammer, but he never said a word. Just moved like he owned the place, shrugging his heavy furs over his expanded shoulders.
“See them out and leave us,” Aerity said to her guards.
After the four Ascomannian royals left the dining room, followed by the clomp of guard boots, Aerity stared down at the table, feeling as if icy water had been poured over her head. She began to shake.
What had she done? Her actions had probably made an enemy of a viable ally. What have I done? She planted her palms against the tabletop and breathed. She felt Vixie rubbing her back but could hear nothing over the rush of thoughts pummeling her mind.
Fool.
Your pride just lost you this war.
You’ve killed the kingdom, and for what? Pure stubbornness? Concern for yourself?
Oh, seas! Aerity wanted to chase them, to fall at their feet and beg forgiveness, to tell her staff to ready High Hall for a wedding and do what she must to save her kingdom. Why had she made such a rash decision? She should have told King Dagur she needed time to discuss the matter with her council! She could have put them in comfy guest quarters, given them Lochlanach’s finest wines, and loosened them up a little.
“I’ve ruined everything,” she whispered to herself.
“Aerity.” She blinked up into Vixie’s pale face. Wyneth and Harrison were right beside her, looking aghast. She turned her head and saw Lief on her other side.
She whispered to him, “What have I done, Lief? That was awful!”
And to her utter surprise, Lief palmed her cheek and gently said. “No, Princess. That was incredible.” And then he began to laugh.