A Queen of Ice (A Trial of Sorcerers #5)

Chapter 10

10

W hen morning broke, she was alone. Olivin’s absence didn’t sting and she spent her entire time dressing for the day wondering if it should. Wondering if it meant anything that it didn’t.

Their evening activities had been good. She’d wanted—needed it. Satisfying like a well-earned meal. Now she was full, and could focus on the day.

Which led her back to Qwint’s hall of government.

Eira followed Lavette down the hallway between the rings of chairs that led to the center of the Hall of Ministers. Her other friends had been relegated to the balcony mezzanine that circled the room. Fortunately, so far as she could tell, her parents weren’t in attendance. Eira wasn’t sure if she’d ever see them again and was oddly comfortable with the notion. She genuinely could wish them well while simultaneously not ever needing them again.

Lavette exuded confidence. Eira suspected that, unlike her own appearance, Lavette’s was genuine. She had nothing to fear here.

Eira, on the other hand…her fate, and the fate of her friends, of Meru and possibly this whole swath of the world, was about to be decided.

The center of the room was bathed in dawn’s muted glow. It cast everything in a gray, almost somber tone.

Dozens of eyes were fixated on her, above and below. Some had mild curiosity, others didn’t even bother to expend effort to hide their disapproval. Eira took a breath as she moved into position on a steel ring that circled before the lowest rung of chairs, but outside the circular pedestal where the three head ministers stood—Morova among them. Lavette had given her a primer on what to expect, but that didn’t stop her from feeling somewhat like she was on trial once more.

The bell behind her chimed.

“We call this meeting of the Hall of Ministers into session,” High Minister Uhn said. Eira’s snooping in Lavette’s late father’s office last night had served her well in offering the broad strokes of people and positions. “The first matter is brought before us by Morova.”

As the last echoes of the elderly man’s voice faded, Morova stepped forward.

“I bring forward a matter on behalf of my niece, Lavette D’astre. I yield my time to her to present her case.”

Lavette stepped before Eira with confidence. Every movement seemed practiced and trained. When she spoke, it was without a second of hesitation.

“Eira Landan has come to us from distant shores. She went to Meru as a champion of Solaris. Then she survived the Pillar’s bloody uprising. She has sailed from Meru to Carsovia, and now here, all to return myself and another of Qwint’s champions. Her mission is to unite the peoples of the world’s edge together once more in a common cause.” Lavette’s words were part factual and part inspirational, already trying to compel others to their cause. And judging from some of the faces, she was doing a good job of it. “Carsovia has backed the force on Meru that was behind the attack on the tournament. It is because of them that our friends, family—our brothers and sisters in democracy were lost. She sees our aid. A force to join Solaris, and the remnants of Meru to expunge those behind this coup and regain the treaty we fought so hard for.”

“And tell me,” a man interjected, standing, “why should we care about a coup on Meru?”

“If Meru should fall—or become a puppet to Carsovia—then we are surrounded on all sides by a hostile force. How long will it be, then, until they turn their eyes to us?” Lavette retorted without missing a beat.

After the matter is brought to the hall, there will be open debate. It’s free-flowing, so long as it’s kept orderly. During this time, you can walk along the steel ring that surrounds the center, but step nowhere else , Lavette had instructed her before they entered.

“Carsovia is already knocking on our door,” a woman said. “Lavette is right. Do we want to risk having two fronts?”

“You always were courting the favor of the D’astres, Sahm. Tell us, who owns the land your manor is built on?” another jabbed.

Sahm bristled. “That is hardly relevant, Orloth.”

“Oh, I think it is,” he retorted.

The bell rang behind Eira and they silenced. “Let us focus on the matter at hand,” Uhn said with a scolding note.

“I do not seek aid that you cannot give.” Eira took the opportunity to interject her voice. “A single ship, a small but mighty force that can join with the remnants of Meru’s army and Solaris’s forces. I have seen firsthand the extent of Qwint’s magics. It will not take many from among you to be formidable.”

“As you have aptly taken note of, we are a small city-state. While, yes, we do possess our strengths, those strengths must be kept for ourselves and the benefit of our peoples. We have little and less to spare,” Orloth countered.

“Which I assume is precisely the reason why you sought the aid of the treaty to begin with.” Eira wasn’t going to be thrown off, or dissuaded. “I spent the first half of the evening yesterday admiring your city.” She began to walk along the lower circle slowly, addressing the entire room, everyone, all the way up to the balcony. As subtly and slowly as the incoming tide, she allowed her magic to flow across the room, lapping against jackets and shoes, listening in the back of her mind. “Your buildings are breathtaking. Artistry stunning. Your naval fortifications are—and I assure you this is not empty flattery—the best I have witnessed in this world.

“But you know what I did not see?” She paused for emphasis. “Fertile farmlands. Mountains rich with resources to mine. Trees to fell for lumber to build your houses and warm them through the winter.”

“Those magics you so praised can make a little in resources go a long way.” Orloth was positioned behind her now.

“If you had enough, you wouldn’t have joined the treaty in the first place.” She barely spared him a glance over her shoulder.

A purse of his lips was his only retort. But there were other murmurs. She knew she was risking their offense with that remark. But it was worth it to strike at the heart of the matter.

“The Solaris Empire has been building its armada—a fleet that is still strong and free of the Pillars’ influence. A fleet that will join our cause and could ferry all those resources you need from the lands of Solaris.” Eira folded her hands before her, standing a little taller. She allowed an authoritative tone to creep into her voice, giving her words weight. “I am not asking for charity. I am proposing a deal.”

“And how will we know Solaris will keep its side of the bargain?” someone else asked.

Eira lifted her eyes. Don’t hate me for this, she half hoped, half silently begged. Her gaze landed on Cullen. His eyes widened a fraction.

“I sail with a noble lord of the Solaris Court, the first Windwalker returned, favored by the Empress Solaris herself. He will have the ear of the Solaris senate, the people, and the Imperial family, whatever remains of it.”

Eira had been expecting Cullen to resent her. This whole time, he had been trying to escape the trappings and expectations of his nobility. And here she was, pulling him back to it. Demanding that he wear the mask and take on the mantle.

But, instead, an expression of raw determination overtook him. There was fire in his eyes, contrasting with a slight but confident smile. His chin dipped. I will , the movement said.

She brought her eyes back to the hall, more determined than ever.

“And, if not Solaris, then Meru will be forever in your debt. There is no way Qwint doesn’t succeed,” Eira finished.

“Unless your attempt to overthrow the coup fails,” Orloth said bitterly. Murmurs followed his response.

“Minister, if we fail in unseating Ulvarth, then Carsovia has won and you face not one but two fronts as you so feared,” Eira said gravely, framing the circumstances in a way that would matter most to all of them. “Helping me—helping Meru and Solaris is the only way for Qwint to come out ahead.”

Silence fell over the grand chamber. In the hush, Eira’s magic snagged on a familiar voice.

She’s going to do it , said the echo of Drogol. Expect her tomorrow .

Eira’s attention landed on a woman. She gave the unfamiliar minister a pointed, knowing stare. There was expectation in it. Recognition flashed in the minister’s eyes. Then, a brief, impressed rise of her brow. The woman slowly stood, as if she had been waiting for Eira to find her among the crowd—as though finding her had been some kind of lingering test for Eira to prove herself and her magic.

The subtle expression on the woman’s face faded as if it were never there at all.

“I think what my fellow ministers are trying to say is…how do we know we can trust you ?” Her voice was steady, a stark contrast to the murmurs and nods. “You want us to have our ship follow yours, into waters where Adela sails, to certain danger that awaits on Meru. You , a woman who has been rumored to be associated with Adela herself, want us to follow your orders blindly.”

“I am not—” Eira wasn’t given the opportunity to get in an objection. The murmurs had given way to outright whispers that carried all the way to the balcony. Skepticism was threatening to crumple the house of cards Eira had been building her hopes upon. Wasn’t this woman supposed to be helping her? Unless hindering her was its own help. An invitation. “Then perhaps I could pass some sort of test?”

“A test?” another minister chimed in. The woman was silent, with an expectant stare.

“Surely there is some task I can perform that would prove both my trustworthiness and lend aid to Qwint?” Eira hoped she wasn’t being too obvious.

“My fellow ministers, perhaps she is right. Is it not true that what we fear is weakness before Carsovia?” The woman gestured to the room and was met with nods of agreement. Though a fair amount of confusion at where her final point rested. “I would propose we send the young woman into Carsovia to weaken them. Let her be the one to compensate for the defenses we shall lose by sending forces to aid Meru.”

“You mean to send a child into Carsovia?” Sahm bristled.

“Minister, I assure you that I am not a child,” Eira couldn’t stop herself from saying. Let them be skeptical of her alliances, but not her abilities. “I have infiltrated Carsovia once before and lived to tell the tale. I am more than capable of bringing back whatever it is you need.”

“Good.” Drogol’s ally smiled thinly. “At the same time, we can send a small vessel to Solaris. We shall not follow Eira’s commands to their letter, but make our own path. In this way, we can independently test Solaris’s willingness to align with us—send back their citizens, too. It will earn goodwill and be less mouths for us to feed.”

Nods and murmurs of agreement blanketed the assembly.

“This lord of hers can write us a letter. If she speaks true of him, then they can verify her claims—further proving that she can be trusted. Vote yes to my plan, my fellow ministers, and we shall know where Solaris stands, verify Eira’s loyalty, and gain new weapons in the process. We will not send any more resources until we have confirmed Eira can be trusted. At the worst, we shall only lose a little bit of time and a fast ship.”

“It is…a suitable proposal,” another agreed after a long minute of contemplative silence.

“Worth considering.”

“ If she can be successful.”

“But what do we lose if she’s not? Not much.”

“Is it worth risking at all? I’ve my doubts in the woman—look at her.”

The gauntlet was thrown at her feet. The challenge made. All Eira had to do was rise to it.

“It was me and my crew that brought down the flash bead mines of Carsovia,” Eira spoke above the rising murmurs and mumbles. “I am no stranger to trials; I outright welcome them. They were what started me on this journey, and they shall no doubt be the last that I conquer. Give me this opportunity to prove myself and my skill. If my loyalty is what you seek, then I will give it to you with abundance.”

“Then let us call this matter to vote,” Morova said. “All those abstaining?” A speckling of white paddles. Not many. “Those against?” Five, maybe seven of the fifty paddles. “And those for?”

A sea of green answered her last question.

Eira stood taller, shoulders squared. She was going back to Carsovia.