He stopped, not knowing what to say.
As he turned to leave, he thought he saw Laisha’s little sister peeking from behind some curtains at the far corner of the room. He stopped, looked twice, and recognized that it was her. He gave her a little wink and left the room without telling the others she had been listening in again.
*
Chancellor Tin Abtalion had served the royal family of Avisahn for seven Silvan years out of a ten-year term. He had known Laisha since she was a young child and had always admired and respected her intellect and her ability to make difficult decisions. Until this one.
“You mean to keep Quickfellow here and send another to Landmoor?” he said, repeating Laisha’s words to make sure he understood.
“I will not be manipulated by the Mages of Safehome. An heir of Quicksilver is needed to invoke the magic. My father made the same decision. The risk is too great.”
Abtalion was tired. He missed his warm bed and the companionship of his wife. “According to the record, your father sent a Warder in his place to invoke the magic if the threat could not be avoided. The Warder was Ravin Silversheir, a cousin. We don’t know what happened to him. You could be sending another to their death.”
Laisha bit her lip. “Then I should go myself.”
“By the Three, no! And leave Lucyanna to rule Avisahn? I don’t want to go through that again. One underage monarch is enough for any chancellor. No, the Sunedrion would never allow it, especially once they read about the dangers of the Silverkin. Using it could kill you!”
“Not using it could kill me. What if you’re wrong about the boy?”
“Boy, Laisha? Now who is the one being condescending?”
“I can patronize whom I wish,” she said, and he saw her temper flare again. “The banned Sunedrion has been pushing husbands towards me since I was Lucyanna’s age. I did not work this hard…earn it on my own to lose it now. I’ve barely reached the age of majority. I won’t be tied down to a husband before the first Silvan year is out!”
Abtalion kneaded his temples. “His name has been floating in some circles for years now, Laisha. You know that. You cannot deny that there are certain…advantages if you took him as your…your consort. What if the Mages of Safehome got what they wanted? What if they returned the records of magic? Think what that could do for our people. The benefits begin to outweigh…”
“My heart?”
He sighed. “You’ve hardly given him a fair chance, my dear. Why are you so opposed to considering it?”
“Why are you so intent on demanding it?”
“You already know why.” He looked her full in the eye. He had daughters of his own, but they were not as old as her—nor did he know them as well as he knew her.
Laisha buried her face in her hands. He watched, waiting. Silence was the best instrument with her. It always had been.
“This isn’t fair, Abtalion.”
“Neither was your brother’s death during the Purge Wars. We do not always comprehend the will of the Three.”
Laisha’s frown hurt his heart. “I’m not afraid, Abtalion. My brother faced the dangers of the Shoreland during the Purge Wars. If I don’t go and claim this magic myself, the people will think that I’m afraid. That I fear leaving Avisahn. I don’t!”
“They are afraid of losing you. Send Thealos.”
She shook her head. “No. I won’t risk it.”
“You’re being stubborn. You realize that?” The look she gave him was full of ire. Sadly, he was used to it. The worst she could do was dismiss him—wouldn’t that be a blessing! “Then who will you send, Laisha? Whomever you choose will be esteemed as your potential consort. You have cousins in the families of Silverbanin, Silverlock, and Silvermore. Several others if you want to scrape the barrel—like the Silverthistles and the Silverwrens. Why not Quickfellow though? He’s been there. He knows the way.”
“He’ll cooperate with my decision, or I’ll turn the Council of Elders loose on him. Nordain would be very happy to be in my favor again.”
“So who will you send then? Silverbanin’s son is loyal to Keasorn. He’s in the army and doing quite well from what I’ve heard. His younger brother is a Warder, I think.”
“No,” Laisha said. “I’ll send someone old. Someone they won’t mistake as a marriage prospect. Like Fesit Silverlock himself.” She started pacing again. “I want the Silverkin brought to Avisahn, unused. Perhaps the Foretelling was warning us not to use it at all.”
“I don’t think that’s what it meant. Fesit Silverlock is an old man. He would hardly be up to a journey like that.”
She shook her head. “We need to draw Ballinaire out of Landmoor so that we can send in several quaeres of Crimson Wolfsmen to seize it. He’ll be well protected.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea, Laisha.”