Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 137958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
“And why is that, Carrington?” she asked quietly.
Why it was, I knew, was because of the campaigns against Firenze.
There was silence, and while I waited on tenterhooks, my heart beating madly, it jumped, as did my entire body, when I heard a door open down the hall.
I turned that way.
And my mouth dropped open.
Serena of the Nadirii was rushing down the hall.
And she was wearing the garments of a female Firenz.
An orange brassiere festooned in yellow, red and salmon beading, sheer orange skirts that showed her legs with an elaborately bedazzled waistband that went over her hips and fell in dangles and fringes of beads.
She was not hurrying.
She was scurrying, her eyes darting this way and that, as if she feared someone would see her (and fortunately, as she did this, she did not see me).
And I would imagine she did for I never would imagine I would be seeing her in such clothing.
What on earth?
Had the world turned upside down?
“We can salvage this situation, Your Grace,” Carrington was speaking again, sounding like he’d calmed himself.
Serena scooted around the corner to the stairs and I lost sight of her.
But I would have returned my attention to what was happening in my king and queen’s chamber regardless of Serena’s shenanigans.
For I, like my aunt, did not take kindly to anyone calling my cousin traitor.
“Aramus has promised his armada to Cassius’s crusade,” Carrington continued. “Ophelia would not make a binding vow at this time to offer Nadirii arms, but as you know, if what Cassius intends to do is instigated, she’ll obviously offer support, and if it should become necessary, her warriors’ bows and staffs. Most importantly, Firenze has promised their horses to Cassius’s crusade.”
With True’s offer of the Dellish army, this meant the entirety of Triton would stand in support of Cassius.
That made me feel warm inside.
Especially as Mars had offered his as well.
“However,” Carrington went on, “when Airen descends into chaos, as it will, and the Mar-el armada sails to its shores, the Nadirii warriors align behind their princess, who will be princess to the Airenzian usurper, and Firenz horses ride in aid, we will send our armies to Firenze. With the warriors of Firenze occupied on their northeastern border, indeed everyone occupied elsewhere, we will retake our southwestern border that Firenze stole from us with ease. And once we do, we will continue south.”
I gasped then bit the inside of my cheeks and again studied the servant.
But he was well down the hall and he did not have as good of hearing as I did, so he made no sign he heard me.
“You’re saying break the promise King Wilmer made to all the realms in order to secure a ruby mine and a saffron field?” Aunt Mercy asked in derision.
“The promise Prince True made,” Carrington corrected.
“It will not be True’s name on the parchment, Carrington,” Aunt Mercy retorted.
“Then yes. Rubies. Saffron. And riches south,” Carrington stated confidently.
“Do you not think Mars will send his warriors west the minute he hears of this?” my uncle asked.
“Yes. I do. But when he does, if what I have planned comes to fruition, it will be too late,” Carrington answered. “Thus, at your leave, I’ll dispatch a raven and send a rider on its tailfeathers. We’ll begin recruiting immediately. Add to our numbers now. Begin training. Prepare for our campaign. We’ll overwhelm them with our force this time. And as we have months to plan, we will be ready.”
“And use what, precisely, to pay these new soldiers, Carrington? The dust in our king’s chests?” Aunt Mercy asked.
“Those chests they will know will be far richer once we re-secure what’s rightfully ours,” Carrington sniffed.
“So we promise them pay, just…later?” Aunt Mercy scoffed. “Should any be foolish enough to agree to that, how do we arm them, provide armor, and, say, food?”
“There are those in our fertile lands who would offer us loans,” Carrington suggested.
“Ah yes, be in debt to our aristocracy and merchants. On a quest that will again prove fruitless, so we’ll have to tax our citizens in order to pay their beaten, downtrodden sons and repay our debts. This is an excellent idea,” Aunt Mercy murmured.
“When you’re dripping riches and furs, I’ve no doubt you’ll have more assurance in my plan,” Carrington returned.
I wasn’t sure she would. Aunt Mercy wasn’t a riches and furs type of female.
She made that clear to Carrington.
“I’m sure you’re aware that that tract of land you so desire, Carrington, was of Firenze first, five centuries ago. We wrested it from them. They wrested it back, seven generations ago. Do you not think it’s time to forget this and focus on Wodell’s strengths as well as negotiate trade and safe sea passage with Mar-el while we have their king here and at the diplomatic table for the first time in recorded history?”