More silence.
“Then be gone with you and argue somewhere that you are not disturbing my thoughts.” Aldrik turned toward the map as the majors shifted to leave the tree trunk they had made their temporary council room within. “And if I hear word that the men see any rifts between their leadership I will personally and publically remove the causes.”
Her cousin was as sharp and precise as a surgeon’s knife. He was unrelenting and ever calculating. People hated him because he was never wrong and perpetually perfect. It was for those same things that Elecia both loved and admired him.
She remained in place as the rest of the majors left, an unquestioned presence at Aldrik’s right hand. If she had been born to any other notable family in the West she would have been Empress, she knew it. But, she was born a Ci’Dan, noble and proud. And for it she had worked to become the best council Aldrik could ever have. She would succeed her grandfather as the Lady of the West and rule half the world at Aldrik’s side, in her own way.
Elecia watched as Aldrik’s eyes studied the map, seeing invisible forces moving across it like ants. She waited quietly, patiently, trying to think like he was.
“What do you think, ‘Cia?” he asked finally.
“I think we should root out the enemy whenever possible, especially since we know where they are now,” she advised with confidence. Aldrik was unforgiving to uncertainty. She’d learned he would rather someone be convicted and wrong, than waver until the right path was blatantly apparent.
Aldrik said nothing.
“You disagree.”
His persisted silence told her everything. His wavering was unnatural and unbecoming. Aldrik had always known what to do and Elecia suspected she knew the source of his conflict. The Eastern girl wasn’t worth the trouble.
“Wouldn’t she be better protected if we eliminated any possibility of a flank?” Elecia tested her theory and the look Aldrik gave her told her everything. She’d been right but she’d learned better than to point out Aldrik’s foolishness for his fondness in the girl.
Elecia had always imagined Aldrik with someone strong, convicted, determined. Someone who could be his mental equal. Someone more like Elecia herself. But he’d chosen Vhalla Yarl and Elecia had yet to see the girl stack up to her high standards.
“You must do what’s right by your men, not just Vhalla Yarl.”
“If you think I don’t know that then you have less faith in me than I thought.”
“It’s not a matter of faith.” Elecia frowned.
“If you have no further council, you can leave as well.” Aldrik turned back to the map with a scowl.
Elecia studied the haggard man. They’d sustained four attacks since crossing the border of Shaldan. It seemed the North knew where they were at any given moment and the constant alert was pulling at Aldrik’s seams. She knew he’d endured far worse, but that didn’t change the fact that Aldrik was a mortal man.
Elecia rested her hand on his shoulder and he nearly jumped out of his skin, startled by the fact that she was even still there.
“I do have further council,” she said gently. “You should sleep on this.”
He opened his mouth to object.
“Cousin, when was the last time you rested?” Aldrik avoided her gaze as if he could avoid her words as well. “The majors and men see the circles beneath your eyes deepening. Even your magic feels thin.”
“Don’t diagnose me.” Aldrik pulled away from her hand, catching on quickly that she had been probing him magically.
“Too late.” Elecia grinned with a hint of coyness. “I’ll watch personally. Rest an hour.”
He clearly considered it for a long moment. “No, we must push on.” Aldrik scooped up the map, rolling it quickly. “Or we’ll fall behind the arranged meeting with my father on the other side of the Pass.”
He was out in the open, his helm on, before Elecia could even make a sound of objection. She scowled at her cousin’s back as he began to reorganize the troops. She was loathe to agree with the girl about anything, but Vhalla Yarl may have been right about being the death of her cousin.
Elecia clasped her hands together, feeling out her Channel. She wouldn’t concede anything to Vhalla Yarl. She’d keep Aldrik safe, Elecia vowed, by whatever means necessary.
ALDRIK