“What now, then?” asked Tristam.
Malikel pushed back the sleeves of his official’s robes, though they fell right back to his wrists. “I will continue trying to sway my colleagues who voted with Willem. In the meantime, we do our best to prepare those who will be sent in. I’ll have the smithies work as fast as they can. Tristam, I want you to help me develop training drills and formations for unskilled soldiers against these beasts.”
“Yes, sir.” He was already sifting through the possibilities. Basic spear work was essential. Any complex maneuvers would be too difficult, but perhaps some simple formations…
“Kyra,” said Malikel.
She straightened. “Aye?”
“I need your help with the Demon Riders. I realize they’ve warned you to stay away, but your history with them still makes you better suited to approach them than anyone else in the city.” There was something unnerving about the way Malikel looked at Kyra, and Tristam wasn’t sure if he detected another layer of meaning behind his words. He wondered again how much the Defense Minister knew and felt a stab of guilt at deceiving him.
Malikel continued. “I need to make one more effort to negotiate peace. They’ve not been willing to talk to us before, but perhaps, if we impress on them what lies ahead, we can avoid mutual destruction.”
Slowly, it dawned on Tristam what Malikel was asking. “You want to send Kyra as an emissary for peace? Sir, if I may speak freely, we have no reason to think we can trust any promises made by the Demon Riders.” If Malikel had seen firsthand how the Makvani looked at humans, he would understand how na?ve it was to try for peace.
A flicker of something passed over Kyra’s face, but Malikel spoke before Tristam could give it more thought.
“In affairs of the city,” Malikel said, “I will decide who is trustworthy.”
Tristam bowed his head, and the Defense Minister turned again to Kyra. “Kyra, you’re not sworn to me as a soldier or an emissary. I can’t command you into the forest, given the risks. But if you are willing to go back to the forest once more, the city would be grateful.”
Kyra met Malikel’s gaze for a moment before she looked down again. “I’ll have to think about it.”
The Defense Minister dismissed them after that. Kyra left the compound, and Tristam worked his way through the still-buzzing courtyards back to his own quarters. To his surprise, an old courier of his father’s waited outside his building. The man bowed as Tristam approached, and Tristam’s fear for his family returned.
“Stanley,” said Tristam. “Is all well at Brancel?”
“Your father and brothers are well, milord, though they fight hard. I carry a message from your father.” The servant bowed again as he handed a parchment to Tristam. It was addressed in his father’s unmistakable bold script.
“Thank you,” Tristam said, breaking the seal. The letter inside was long, and he began to read.
Despite Kyra’s show of reluctance, she knew she’d go back to the forest. She’d been feeling the need to return, the same itch that had driven her out there the night the demon cat attacked her. Malikel’s request was just the excuse she needed.