Kerwyn sat on my right in the throne room, and Amarinda was on my left. Beside them at the wide table were Harlowe and Mott, and also Tobias, who was supposedly there to help represent the regents. In truth, he had been with me since I had taken the crown, and I wanted his advice. Beyond that, I didn’t want anyone else here. Not until we had decided on a firm course of action.
At my request, Kerwyn leaned forward to begin. “Avenia has moved in from the west and will have thousands of men at their call. They will fight hard and without mercy, and because of that, they are the greatest danger to Carthya. Our spies also tell us there is movement from the soldiers of Gelyn. We must stop them from overtaking our northern border. The cavalry of Bymar can help us hold them back.”
“If Bymar comes,” Amarinda said. “My country will answer, but only if we find a way to tell them what’s happening here.”
“We must also consider Mendenwal,” Mott asked. “They have yet to attack, but our spies are certain King Humfrey has ordered his armies into Carthya.”
I hadn’t expected Mendenwal to be a part of the attack. Of the three countries surrounding us, Mendenwal was the most civilized, least aggressive, and had the longest tradition of diplomatic relations with Carthya. King Humfrey and I had a bit of a history, however — I had cut his thigh years ago after challenging him to a duel. But that was hardly reason to go to war. Besides, he’d deserved it.
Kerwyn was probably taking this news harder than anyone. He and Humfrey had seen a lot together over their years and almost could have been considered friends. Having Avenia as an enemy was bad enough, but Mendenwal worried me as much. Carthya could not withstand the full force of Mendenwal against us, even if they were the only aggressor we faced.
I pressed my lips together and looked at Kerwyn. “Why Mendenwal? Is it because my father lied to them? Or something more?”
“I have sent him letters of apology and explanation,” Kerwyn answered. “All have been ignored.”
“We can’t afford to have them as an enemy. Mendenwal’s armies are three times the size of Avenia’s.”
“But they can be reasoned with,” Tobias said. “They’re not bloodthirsty like Avenia, or hungry for our gold, like Gelyn.”
Perhaps so, but something had drawn them into this war, and I didn’t know what. I turned back to Kerwyn. “Can you get King Humfrey to come here?”
“How? If he won’t answer my letters —”
“You’ll have to travel to Mendenwal and remind him of your friendship.” I hated to ask so much. It was a long journey and we seemed to be enemies now. “It’ll be risky.”
For some reason that prompted a smile from him. “If I’ve learned anything from you, sire, it’s how to take a risk.”
“Thank you, Kerwyn.” With that settled, I turned to Mott. “You and I must attempt a rescue of Imogen. We’ll find the camp near Libeth where they’re holding her, then —”
“No.”
I did a double take. “What?”
He didn’t flinch. “No, Your Majesty. I will attempt a rescue. I will go there alone, or accompanied by an entire regiment of your soldiers if you prefer. But you will not be anywhere near the Avenian camp.”
“Yes, I will!” I often wondered if Mott had made it his life’s mission to oppose me. If so, he should feel very good about his success. I suspected if I chose something as unimportant as wearing a gray coat for supper rather than a blue one, he’d find a reason to argue about that too.
“They’re expecting you to rescue her,” he said. “This is a trap.”
“Do you think I haven’t considered that?”
“I think you’ve escaped some tight situations in the past and believe you can do it again this time. But it’s different now. They know you and they’ll prepare for your tricks. If you enter that camp, you will not leave it alive.”
I stood, shaking my head ferociously. “If they’re watching for me, then you’re no safer going in there.”
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
“But I’m not!” I yelled. “You will not fall into a trap meant for me! You will not die for me!” There hadn’t been a word from Roden since I’d sent him away three weeks earlier. For all I knew, he was gone. And now, perhaps Imogen too. The thought of something happening to another of my friends terrified me. If he really understood that, then he would stop arguing and let me have my way.
In the face of my frustration, Mott managed to remain calm. He licked his lips and said, “My first duty is to you, Jaron, and I will gladly go in your place. But your first duty is to this country. Not to her.”
That only made me angrier. “Do not lecture me about duty! What else have I done in life but my duty? I disappeared in the name of duty and returned for the same reason, and I will fight this war because it is my duty to do so. No matter how I wished to do otherwise, each time duty presented itself, I answered. But not this time. I am coming with you!”
Silence fell in the room. From the corner of my eye, I saw Amarinda lower her head, and I immediately regretted my words. My betrothal to her was a duty as well.
Tobias cleared his throat to get our attention, and then said, “Mott is right. Jaron, you should call Roden to come back. Send him to Libeth instead.”
At the mention of Roden’s name, everyone grew quiet again. Ever since our argument, I had refused to have any public discussion of Roden. Tonight would be no different.
“Roden can have no part in Imogen’s rescue,” I said stiffly.
That should have been the end of it, but Tobias pressed further. “Whatever fight the two of you had, he’s still the captain of your guard. If we’re at war, you’ve got to call him back.”
Thankfully, Mott intervened for me. “If Roden were ready to lead, he would never have left us. Let Jaron be.”
I took a deep breath before continuing. “The last question is how to protect the princess. They took Imogen because she was easy prey. We will not risk Amarinda.”
Her eyes widened as if she had not considered that she was in personal danger too. She glanced over at Tobias, who gave her a grim smile, then her attention returned to me.
“I want to keep the fighting away from Drylliad,” I said. “But if they know you’re here, this castle will become their top priority. You must leave to someplace safer.”
“She could go to Farthenwood,” Tobias suggested. “We could hide her in the secret passages if necessary.”
“I’d rather go home to my family in Bymar,” Amarinda said. “Someone needs to bring their armies to the border of Gelyn to fight. They will listen to me better than anyone else.”
“But you can’t get to Bymar without crossing through either Gelyn or Avenia,” I said. Neither was a safe route.
Without flinching, she answered, “I must go. The fastest route is through Avenia, where I could get a ship from Isel. Perhaps with an escort of soldiers, I can sneak through safely.”
I smiled back at her. She was braver than I had given her credit for, and she was right: Bymar would answer her call without hesitation.
“Any escort strong enough to protect you is sure to draw attention,” Kerwyn warned. “And once you’re in Avenia, you’ll stand out even further.”
“I agree.” Mott leaned forward and clasped his hands. “Unfortunately, my lady, you’ll be safer with the quietest possible escort.”
“Well, that’s me.” Tobias said it matter-of-factly, as if he had finally accepted what everyone already knew — that he would never be a warrior. Then he added, “Nobody would believe I was all you sent to protect a princess. Jaron, we could use the escape carriage.”
Late one night, when we were both too tired for any rational thought, Tobias and I had begun a discussion. It was born out of a joke for how I might one day slip back to Avenia for an afternoon on the beach, and at best was completely ridiculous.
“What’s the escape carriage?” Amarinda asked.
“It’s designed to look like a church wagon bringing charity for the sick and poor,” Tobias said. “It will appear to be carrying only food and supplies, but there’s a hidden compartment below it where we can hide, if necessary.”
I shook my head. “It was a joke, not an actual plan for escape. It’s not safe enough.”
“There are higher priorities than safety,” Amarinda said.
“Not for you,” I said sternly.
“When has your safety ever been a priority in protecting Carthya?” she countered. “Am I fit for nothing but decoration on your arm? We must get word to Bymar, and I am the best one to deliver it.”
“You and Tobias? Alone in Avenia?” That was absurd.
“The carriage isn’t a joke,” Tobias said. “I designed it, and I built it.”
I turned to him. “When?”
“While your leg recovered. I wanted to prove it was possible.” Tobias leaned forward. “Nobody could look at it from the outside and know it has a false floor. It will protect her. I will protect her.”
Everything in me fought against their suggestion. But in the end, I knew that our options were narrowing, and none of them were particularly good. If Avenia could get at Imogen, who was supposed to be unconnected to me now, then I didn’t dare think of the lengths they’d go to for our future queen. If she could get home to Bymar, she would be safe there, no matter what the outcome of this war.
Reluctantly, I gave my permission and said, “Get it ready for the morning. I want you to bring Fink.” Fink was an Avenian boy who returned with me from the pirates. He asked too many questions, paid attention to nothing for more than a few minutes, and seemed intent on crowding multiple sentences into each breath he took. But as far as I was concerned, he was family now, and I had to be sure he was safe as well.
With some apparent reluctance, Tobias agreed, and then I retreated to my seat to address the entire group. “Everything must be done with the greatest of speed. Our armies are strong, but so are theirs. Every day this war goes on, the enemy digs deeper into our lands and terrorizes more of our people. With three countries against us, we cannot outlast them. I want a war measured in weeks, not months.”
Heads nodded back at me, though none of them had any more of an idea than I did for how we might accomplish that. I only knew that we had to find a way.
“Is there nothing you want from me?” Harlowe asked. It was the first time he’d spoken in this meeting.
I turned to him, but drew in a slow breath before speaking. “Your assignment may be the most difficult of all. Word must be sent throughout the kingdom, especially to the homes outside the cities. Invite anyone who wishes to come to Drylliad. Here we will offer them sanctuary within the safety of our walls. In exchange, all able-bodied men must prepare to fight in defense of the capital. Those who cannot fight shall help in any other way you ask of them.”
Harlowe dipped his head at me, then said, “The regents suggested we offer release to any prisoner willing to fight for Carthya.”
“What about Conner?” Even if he were Carthya’s last hope, I wouldn’t dare put a knife in that man’s hand. Bevin Conner would likely protest to his dying day that he was still a patriot, but I’d never be convinced he wouldn’t use that knife against our own men, and find a way to justify it in the name of patriotism.
“We wouldn’t release him, of course. Especially not now.” Harlowe cleared his throat, as if the words about to pass his lips made him uncomfortable. “We just learned he’s been sending information beyond our borders, to someone unknown.”
My eyes narrowed. “What information?”
“The message we intercepted describes the details of your fight with Captain Roden. There were likely others before it.”
“Let it be sent,” I said. “And follow it. I want to know who Conner is talking to.”
“As you command,” Harlowe said. “My king, Drylliad will stand until your safe return.”
To which I only lowered my eyes. When I raised them again, Amarinda was staring at me with her brows pressed together in concern. She opened her mouth to say something, but Kerwyn spoke first.
“Your Majesty, I won’t bother with protesting about the risks you’re taking,” he said tiredly. “I know it never does any good. But if you intend to do this, then there is something we must discuss. We’ll do everything we can to protect you, but —”
“It’s a trap for me, I know.”
Kerwyn leaned forward. “After your family’s deaths, Carthya nearly fell into civil war. You cannot leave without naming an heir.”
Nodding at the princess, I said, “It should be Amarinda, naturally.”
But she shook her head. “A Carthyan must be named as successor. Not me.”
“That’s ridiculous. You might not have been born here, but you’re as Carthyan as I am.”
“I’m here to seal the treaty between our countries, nothing more,” she said softly. “Your people will accept me as the wife of their king, but not as their sole ruler.”
“Though you are both young, there is another possibility.” Kerwyn’s tone was cautious now, careful not to push too hard. “If you were to marry, should anything happen to the king, Amarinda would automatically retain the throne as queen. Nobody could question her rule then.”
Amarinda and I looked at each other, startled by a suggestion neither of us had considered and certainly weren’t prepared to answer. There had been other royals who had married at even younger ages than we were now, and usually at desperate times like those we now faced. But this was so sudden. I knew I had to say something, and say it quickly. And yet the words were stuck in my throat.
By then I had hesitated too long and Amarinda spoke first. “None of that will be necessary because Jaron will come back from this.”
“Maybe I won’t.” It was foolish to pretend otherwise. And Carthya needed a ruler. “We should marry,” I said to Amarinda. “Tonight. To preserve your reign.”