House of Shadows (Royal Houses 2)

Lorian glared at Helly. “This is uncalled for.”

“We’re in the middle of a war,” Trulian snarled. “Arguing over one girl is pointless. We have exactly forty-two dragons and riders present and no foot soldiers. We are at least a two days, maybe more, away from any reinforcements, and you’re arguing about one girl? She is trained in the art of warfare. We will use her as I see fit. Do you understand?”

Lorian looked very clearly like he wanted to argue with Trulian. But how could you argue with a legend?

“Understood,” Lorian finally said.

“Good. Then, let’s get on with it. One of the scouts is back. Alura, would you like to give your report?”

Alura stepped forward, her hands held stiffly behind her back. She didn’t glance at her father once. “Yes, General. The city has fallen. The walls are barred. I counted roughly six thousand soldiers.”

Kerrigan’s stomach dropped. Six thousand soldiers? They’d moved them that fast? Holy gods!

“Any weaknesses?” Trulian asked.

Alura ground her teeth together and then shook her head. “None that I saw. They’re carting large wooden crates and depositing them around the walls. I couldn’t get near enough to see what was in them.”

Trulian nodded and then looked to Fordham. “Well?”

Fordham inhaled sharply, as if realizing for the first time what Trulian wanted with him. He must have guessed from the start, but actually hearing it aloud was something else. “Sir?”

“They tell me you’re the crowned prince of the Dark Court.” Fordham clenched his jaw at the old insult. “Society before tribe. Tell us what we need to know.”

“Sir, respectfully, we shouldn’t be in this fight,” Fordham said plainly.

“Explain.”

“I believe that we should hold off on an attack and send in someone for negotiations.”

“You believe they’ll surrender?”

Fordham shifted on his feet, which was how Kerrigan knew that he was going to lie. It was his only tell. “Yes. I think they’d listen to me.”

Trulian scoffed, “That doesn’t sound like the court I remember.”

“That was a thousand years ago, Trulian,” Lorian interjected. “Perhaps the boy’s information is more up to date.”

“I’m well aware that I was fighting the Great War long before any of you were even a glimmer in your parents’ eyes. What I want is the truth. What does negotiating bring us?”

“No more death,” Fordham said.

“They started this fight. They understand casualties.”

Fordham squared his shoulders. “I’m well aware. But it is their first taste of freedom. I would think that they would like to live to see it last more than a few days.”

“I have to agree with him,” Lorian said. “You fought them. You have your old prejudices. But are they really all that different than you and me? They’re Fae. They want land. I can understand that. We can settle this without bloodshed.”

Helly snorted at Lorian. “He has old prejudices? Last I checked, he was fighting for the end of the human and half-Fae slavery that you still support in your outdated ideals.” It was the first time Helly had actively spoken out against him in public, but there were no other council members here. It was just her versus Lorian, and Trulian was backing her. She had the power.

“I don’t support slavery,” he said, offended by the accusation.

“Indenture is common in the Dregs among half-Fae and humans. Many are homeless. They don’t feel like they have a voice. The Red Masks are running free. And now, you want to negotiate with the people who would put them in more danger? Are you out of your mind?” Helly turned to Fordham. “No offense to your people, but the last thing we need is more bigotry in Alandria.”

Fordham stiffened but said nothing.

“Then, it’s settled,” Trulian said. “No negotiating with the enemy. Tell us if Alura’s judgment is accurate.”

Fordham balled his hands into fists. “It’ll be closer to ten thousand soldiers. We’ve been fighting since we were old enough to carry a sword, and we know precisely what we’re doing. These aren’t young bucks. They’ll stop at nothing. They’ll slaughter us.”

“They don’t have dragons,” Trulian countered.

“Oh, shut it, all of you,” Zina said, jerking out of her trance. “Leave the boy alone. Six thousand or ten thousand. Dragons or no dragons. We’re all about to walk into literal hell. Let them get a good night’s sleep, and we’ll figure it out in the morning.”

“Zahina,” Trulian barked.

“You know we have the advantage, General. If you’re not going to give them the option of backing out, then what does it matter anyway?”

Trulian sighed at his daughter’s words. “Fine. Fordham, you’re dismissed. Kerrigan, I want you to work with Zina on your casting.”

“Of course, sir.” Kerrigan bowed and then followed Zina out of the tent.

Fordham stomped off away from them.

“He’ll be fine,” Zina said. “He just learned a hard lesson about war.”

“Yeah. Your dad is…”

“An asshole?”

Kerrigan laughed. “Um, I was going to say intimidating.”