There was an outburst of sound all around Tanvir, but he just sat in his chair stunned. Three weeks? He’d known this was coming—it was inevitable—but to only have three weeks to prepare?
She’ll succeed, he assured himself. That’s the plan and it will work.
“I volunteer to go with you,” General Kelwyn stood from his spot beside Evelayn, and General Olena immediately jumped to her feet also.
“I offer my services as well.”
“We still haven’t agreed that anyone should go on this accursed mission, let alone the queen!” Lord Teslar burst out, also jumping to his feet.
“Enough!” Evelayn cried, but it was like a pebble dropping into a lake. The shouting and arguing continued, growing ever louder. Tanvir was on the edge of his seat, prepared to try and get everyone’s attention for her when she shot a burst of light out of her hand to explode against the far wall with a loud boom.
“I said that’s enough,” she repeated coldly into the sudden silence.
All eyes were fixed on the queen, and one by one the council members all resumed their seats, some looking abashed and others—like General Olena—visibly irritated.
“I appreciate all your opinions and concerns. However, I am the queen of éadrolan and I have made my decision. It is final.”
Tanvir’s heart beat faster in his chest as she stood tall at the head of the table, the sharp scent of her power still lingering around her.
“The silk is our only hope of defeating Bain, especially if we only have three weeks until he attacks. I will leave at dawn with General Kelwyn and Lord Tanvir, because they are both knowledgeable in this war and can keep up with me. General Olena and High Priestess, I leave it to you both to see to the preparations for the rest of the plan, so that when I return, we are prepared for Bain. Lord Teslar, I need you to take a message to the priestesses at the warfront and to all of the generals still stationed at the border. Everyone else assist those three as you best see fit.” Evelayn looked around the table. “That is all. You are dismissed.”
She turned on her heel and marched out of the room, leaving everyone at the table sitting in stunned silence.
Tanvir almost felt like applauding, but instead he merely stood up, bowed slightly to everyone else, and followed Queen Evelayn from the room.
General Kelwyn was already waiting for Evelayn the next morning when she reached the appointed spot in the courtyard, her pack strapped to her back and a full flagon of water at her side, but Tanvir wasn’t there yet. She’d been hoping to see him alone first, as there had been no time to speak to him in private the night before; she’d been too busy preparing everything for her trip, including a plausible excuse to give the court for why their queen would be gone for a week.
In the end, Ceren had saved the day. She’d come up with an idea to claim that Evelayn needed a week to rest and mourn the loss of her mother in private, and would be accompanying Ceren to her family’s holdings in Diasla—a city partway between Solas and the castle, and the Sliabán Mountains.
“Are you sure you’re willing to leave the castle—and Quinlen—for an entire week?” Evelayn had questioned but Ceren had been immovable.
“This is far more important than a few walks around a garden or a shared meal or two. Of course I’m sure. Just as long as you promise not to get killed and to come back as quickly as possible.” Ceren had waved her hand in the air, trying to sound blasé, but failing miserably when her eyes filled with tears.
Evelayn had hugged her then, trying to keep her own fears at bay. “Of course I promise. This week will be over before you know it, and then you can go back to arguing with your mother and flirting with a certain handsome Draíolon in the gardens each morning.”
Ceren had responded with a watery laugh. “Sounds heavenly.”
“It will be. Soon this will all be over and you will have a lifetime of walks in the garden to look forward to. No more attacks, no more war.”
“Now that really does sound heavenly.”
They’d hugged again and then Ceren had left to prepare her part of the plan.
“Where is Tanvir?” General Kelwyn’s deep rumbling voice broke through Evelayn’s thoughts and brought her back to the reality that if things went badly that very well may have been the last time she’d ever see Ceren.
No, she told herself viciously. Don’t even think that. This will work. It has to.
She’d secured the offering from the priestesses in her pack; something as valuable as Máthair Damhán’s silk.
“I’m sure he’ll be here any moment.” Evelayn turned to the castle, watching for his familiar frame to emerge. The sun had crept a bit higher in the sky when she began to feel uneasy. He was never late for their runs—why this morning?
Just when she was about to suggest they go looking for him, he rounded the corner, striding toward them in the burgeoning dawn, looking harried.
“I apologize most profusely,” he began before he’d even reached them. “I had to finish taking care of a few pieces of business before I could go.”
“What business could have been more important than this?”
Tanvir turned to Kel. “A few pressing matters with my family’s holdings. Again, I apologize.”
“It’s fine. Let’s go.” Evelayn started to walk toward the forest north of the castle. “General Kelwyn has spent the night studying what route we should take, so he will take the lead for now. We must make up time this morning. When we stop to eat, he can fill us in on where to go, and thereafter we can take turns leading. The only way we are going to make it there and back in time is if we run as fast as we are able from sunup until sundown.” She paused at the outskirts of the castle grounds and turned to Kel and Tanvir. “I know I’ve asked a lot of you both and I don’t pretend that this is going to be easy.”
“It’s my pleasure to serve you, my queen.” General Kelwyn pressed his fist to his chest and bowed to her.
“And mine, Your Majesty.” Tanvir winked at her, so quickly she almost didn’t catch it, before also bowing. With General Kel there, she realized he probably wouldn’t dare use her given name.
That would make for an even longer week than she’d anticipated.
“Thank you, both. General, after you.”
Kel straightened and then took off at a sprint, Evelayn at his heels and Tanvir taking up the back. They had three days to reach the border and cross into the southeastern tip of Dorjhalon near the Sliabán Mountains, one day to bargain, and three to return to the palace. It would only be possible with a grueling pace that most Draíolon couldn’t maintain for one morning, let alone six out of seven days. But Tanvir and Kel weren’t just any Draíolon. As the forest blurred around them, and the hours passed, Evelayn was more certain than ever that she’d made the right choice.