Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
I went with him, perching on his wide chest and looking down at him resting on the pillows.
“I am torn,” he said to the ceiling.
I could imagine.
I’d been fully apprised of all that was happening…everywhere.
He looked to me. “I promised everyone everything.”
“You cannot give everyone everything,” I murmured truthfully, but drattedly unhelpfully.
“I do know that, my wife,” he replied on a sigh.
I tucked my lips between my teeth.
“We all meet tomorrow, and I must know before then what I will do,” he shared. “I have made my promise to Cassius. We’ve known each other for years. His rule is in jeopardy before he’s even officially assumed it, and half the population of his realm is in the same position, have been for centuries, and if he’s defeated, will remain thus. Mars may no longer be able to provide the support he promised as well, and with what happened today, knowing this Rising is at work in his land, I cannot blame him. Cass’s capital city is under siege. I cannot not offer him my armadas now that the unrest has sprung forth to actual campaigns. Especially as they’ve started with Sky Bay, where my ships might be of service.”
“Yes,” I agreed.
“But True’s mother was killed today and this Rising is an issue, we know, in at least two realms, and I cannot imagine the infiltration of it in Firenze and Wodell has not happened as well in Airen. Indeed, with the deviousness of this lot, they may even be operating on our island.”
I hated to admit it, but he might not be wrong.
“Yes,” I repeated.
His visage shifted to a scowl. “You are not being helpful, Ha-Lah.”
“This is not true. I am,” I refuted. “For I do not know these answers. I do not know what you should do. Both choices are the right ones, and from what Serena told us of the little she and Chu have been able to learn, I too fear for our own land. However, you are but one man and we are but one nation. Even the vastness of our armadas could not cover three realms as well as continue to protect our own.”
I pressed closer to him when I finished what I wished to say.
“What I can do is listen to you as you speak of it, share what limited advice I may have, and in this way, help you work it out on your own.”
“You have much more to give than that, my queen,” he returned, and the manner in which he did made me grow still. His hand came to my cheek and he dropped his voice when he went on, “You have had many opinions in the past, and showed no reluctance in voicing them. But now, when we have been made very aware of what is at stake, you have little to say.”
This was true.
But I was stung.
“It is not easy, what destiny has tasked us to do,” he said carefully, his warm brown eyes on my face just as cautious. “So many see the castles, the grandeur, the riches, and think they have all the answers so it will not be difficult to live in luxury and rule. They do not see the decisions we make have ramifications, in some cases, for centuries. And thus, we must weigh them to the utmost of our abilities before we carry them through.”
He was very right, and until that day, seeing Mercy seated in her pew, staring unseeing at the vaulted ceilings of that temple, arrows protruding from her bloodied chest and throat, I hated to admit it, but I couldn’t escape it…
I had felt I had all the answers.
I as well had no problem sharing I felt as such.
And now, I was not nearly as certain.
I nodded to what Aramus had said.
My husband continued speaking.
“Thus, I understand your hesitance in providing guidance. When there seems nothing at stake, it is easy to offer your opinion. But when you realize just how much weight any decision carries, I fully understand why you would hesitate.” He shook his head. “But this is not the time for hesitation, my Ha-Lah. Do we give all we have to one, while protecting our own shores? Or do we divide ourselves amongst many…?” He grinned. “While protecting our own shores.”
At his encouragement, it took a moment, but I reflected, then I waded in.
“I do not think this Go’Doan faction has a hold in our realm, Aramus,” I noted.
“I wish to agree, but with all that has happened, can we take that chance?”
I grew silent for I did not think we could.
I broke my silence and shared, “We are too long gone from our own realm, my king. These delays mean we will not be gone three to four months, but much longer. We’ve already been away three and with what’s happening with Airen, we cannot know when Cassius and Elena will wed.”