The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles 3)

“Yes,” he said quickly, “duty! And that is what we wish to talk to you about.” Generals Perry, Marques, and three other officers stood behind him. “With your father ill and your brothers away, so much has fallen on your tender shoulders. I want you to know there’s no need for you to worry yourself about military matters. I can see you’ve already gotten yourself worked up over this barbarian army, which is understandable considering what you’ve been through at their hands.”

I swallowed. No, not going well at all. Rafe and Kaden shifted dangerously on their feet beside me, but I put my hands out on either side. Wait. They got the message.

“Worked up, General?” I asked. “Have you ever met the Komizar?”

He laughed. “Barbarians! They change their rulers more often than their underclothes. Today’s Komizar is tomorrow’s forgotten gutter brat.”

He glanced over his shoulder at the other officers, sharing a small chuckle with them, then turned back to me. He tucked his chin close to his chest and angled his head, and I suspected he was ready to confide a great truth that I had overlooked. “What I am telling you is this is not something for you to fret about. You are not trained in military tactics or even in assessing threats, nor are you a soldier. No one expects you to be. You’re free to return to your other duties. We will handle this.”

I smiled and in my sweetest voice said, “Well, that is a relief, General, because I did so want to get back to my needlework. Would you care to pat me on the head now and send me on my way?”

His smile faded.

I stepped closer, narrowing my eyes. “But before you do, would you please tell me how you’d address the fact that both of these soldiers at my side agree with me about the threat that you think I got worked up over?”

He gave Rafe and Kaden a cursory glance, then sighed. “They’re both healthy young men, and how shall I say this delicately … easily influenced by a pretty face.” His smile returned as if he had just educated me on the ways of the world.

I was so astonished at his shallow opinion of all of us that for a moment I couldn’t speak. I eyed the fountain behind him, but Rafe and Kaden beat me to it, their rage bubbling ahead of mine. They stepped forward in unison, each scooping him under an arm, and dragged him backward. The other officers leapt out of their way as they hurled him into the fountain.

Rafe and Kaden turned, eyeing the other officers, daring them to step forward to help the general. I watched their rage turn to satisfaction when they heard the general coughing and sputtering behind them. My rage wasn’t so easily cooled, and I marched to the fountain edge.

“And now, General, I hope I can say this delicately enough for your tender ears. In spite of my utter disgu

st, instead of calling you an ignorant, delusional, pompous, self-absorbed buffoon, I am going to extend my hand and strongly suggest that you take it, because I will not let your patronizing insults nor my pride get in the way of saving Morrighan. As much as I may loathe the idea, I need whatever miserable expertise you will bring to the table, and so when we convene to plan our strategies at a time and place I shall designate, you will be there ready to serve your kingdom. Because, make no mistake about it, I am ruling Morrighan now as my father’s regent, and I will get worked up over silly little things like traitors and armies that seek to destroy us. Do you understand?”

His chest was a barrel heaving with anger and water dripped from his nose. I extended my hand, and he stared at it, looking at the other officers, who dared not rush to his aid. He reached out and took my hand and stepped from the fountain. He nodded as if complying with the order and walked away, the sucking sound of water sloshing in his boots. I didn’t think the word pretty was swimming in his thoughts anymore.

Gwyneth heaved out a generous whuf of air. “Well! I’m glad you didn’t call him a buffoon.”

“Or pompous,” Pauline added.

“Or ignorant,” Jeb chimed in.

“Or an ass,” Kaden said.

“I didn’t call him an ass.”

Rafe grunted. “You may as well have.”

Now it was settled. I may have had the confidence of the troops, but at least a few of the officers were still entrenched in a system that had no place for me. Some things last, even after a decisive uprising, and I knew they’d be counting the days until my father recovered or my brothers returned.

CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR

RAFE

We stood on a long stone dais that looked out on the camp. I imagined Piers setting the first stone when it was only a fledgling kingdom. The dais was now eight stones high, with centuries of battles and victories behind it. Anyone who stood here commanded the attention of the entire camp. Lia spoke to the troops first, and then she introduced me. It was the third group we had addressed. It was necessary to keep the numbers small, especially in this last group. It held all the newest recruits according to the Field Marshal—a hundred in all. I told this group of soldiers what I had told the others. My presence and that of my soldiers did not mean an invasion, only an effort to help stabilize and prepare their kingdom. I assured them I had no other motives, because with the looming threat, what benefited Morrighan also benefited Dalbreck.

When I finished, Lia spoke again, emphasizing the joint effort of our venture and evoking the nods of the generals who stood on the dais with us, including the water-soaked ass whose tongue had dried up considerably since his dunking yesterday.

I watched Lia. Watched every movement. Watched her pace the dais as her voice rose, reaching the last row. Watched the soldiers watching her, their attention fixed on every word. Whatever goodwill she had sown before she had left I didn’t know, but the respect the lords had halfheartedly yielded was given freely here. The soldiers listened, and I saw what I had already known, what I hadn’t wanted to accept back in Venda. She was a natural leader.

This was where she needed to be. Letting her go had been the right choice, even if the decision still burned in my gut.

She spoke again, this time getting ready to introduce Kaden, and we were all prepared for what was to come. She began her speech as she had the others, but then there was a noticeable departure—at least for some of us.

“Vendan drazhones, le bravena enar kadravé, te Azione.”

Jeb, Natiya, and Sven stood behind us, whispering a translation for those of us on the dais who didn’t know the language. Vendan brothers, I give you your comrade, the Assassin. Lia lifted Kaden’s hand with her last words, the two of them standing together as a strong unified front, then she stepped back so he could speak to the troops.