Born of Blood (The Valdir Chronicles Book 3) Read online

  “Thank you, Lord Lithern. I will take your suggestions under advisement.” He looked up and met Kalina’s eyes. “Now, to the business of Ethea.”

  “Thank you, your Majesty-” Kalina began but the King cut her off by continuing speaking. She looked sideways at Leif and caught his eye for a moment. She rolled hers and she saw the corner of his mouth twitch.

  “While Ethea has a new ruler, and my son was deposed and then killed, it seems they continue to cause trouble for Askor. My grandson, Osian, was being held captive in the Great Grey Mountains by a band of Valdir. And now I’ve been told that he is missing, perhaps dead.” His dark eyes seemed to pin Kalina to the spot. He wasn’t telling the truth, at least not all of it. “I assumed that Queen Kalina had been hiding him from me but she assures me, and her council assures me, she is not. She was just trying to keep him safe. But now they have lost him. I offer a reward. Three hundred thousand gold pieces and title to anyone who can find him and bring him home to Askor. I made this same offer this morning to my troops and to the ship captains. They will search high and low for my grandson.” Murmuring erupted around the council table at the declaration.

  Kalina’s blood ran cold. Of course, he would want Osian only for himself. Of course, he would offer an obscene amount of money to recover him. Kalina didn’t even think they had that much gold in her own treasury, let alone all of Ethea. How would she manage to get her brother back now? She forced herself to smile at the King.

  “Thank you, your Majesty, for being so diligent in searching for my brother.” She gave him a sweet smile. No need to let him know how much she wanted to leap across the distance between them and rip his heart out through his chest still beating. For the first time since arriving she missed wearing her twin axes. When she was in her dresses she didn’t carry the axes but she still carried multiple daggers on her person at all times, leaving the axes safely tucked under her bed.

  “Now, we must discuss the terms of our new alliance with Ethea. When my son was King alongside her mother, he was granted equal power to rule. It was agreed upon with her father when the engagement was brokered. Now, had I known my son was receiving damaged goods, I would have pushed for him to have full control of Ethea, but alas, that part was kept from me.” The King gave Kalina a small smirk. All his kindness and accommodation from the last few days was a farce. Just a way to make her and her people feel comfortable. She tried to keep her temper in check, a blush traveling up her scarred and tattooed cheeks.

  “My mother had been previously engaged to my father. It was the war with Askor that necessitated a change, and it was not one my mother favored. As a result, I was hidden away and my mother married Terric.”

  “Yes, she was engaged. To a heathen, a barbarian prince from the Wastes. A prince who abandoned her once he knew the war was over.” His sharp eyes bore into her.

  “A prince who tried to save his people from destruction.” Kalina glared back, her own stare just as harsh. They were sparring without swords, their only weapons their tongues and their goal to see how much they could hurt one another. A soft hand on Kalina’s arm had her looking to Lord Illeron beside her. He shook his head slightly. She was letting her emotions dictate the meeting. She took a deep breath and when she let it out she tried to let the anger go with it. “But we’re not here for a history lesson. We are here to discuss the future.”

  “Too right you are, your Majesty,” Prince Endre spoke up, giving his father a steadying look. “What my father is trying to say is that my brother Terric had equal say in the running of the country when he was married to your mother. And my brother Simen deserves the same.”

  “The same rights as our Queen?” Leif sat forward in his chair and Kalina watched his jaw clench and unclench in frustration. The comments about the Valdir had clearly affected him. He had been a small child when he and his family had been forced to flee their homes and head into the Wastes. He remembered the fear and uncertainty. “Prince Simen is not equal to our Queen. She is the Queen of both the Valdir and Ethea. She is a dragon rider. He is just the youngest prince, one of many.” Kalina could have kissed him for that. Despite what was or wasn’t between them, he still fought for her. He still had pride in her being his queen. She looked back to study the faces around the room. Those were fighting words, words that could spark another war.

  “I think what my general is trying to say is that this situation is different. I am not my mother. I was heir to two crowns the moment I was born, and I hold more responsibility on my shoulders.”

  “All the more reason to share the load with my son.” The King said, steepling his fingers before him. He gazed at her over them, as if just by looking at her she would cow, bend and scrape. But she never would. Not to him.

  “All the more reason for me to maintain my current position and level of power. I am a new queen. If I suddenly gave up half my power to a foreign prince, even if we were married,” she almost couldn’t choke out the word, “that might weaken my position. It might destroy what trust I’ve gained from my people.” The King’s mouth twitched in a smile. Kalina’s heart sank. She’d just proven his point. That she was a young, inexperienced queen who needed help. And he thought he would be the one to give it. “No,” she said forcefully. “I won’t share power. I’m sorry.” She put her foot down. She wasn’t going to be bullied by him.

  “Your Majesty,” Lord Averil finally spoke up. Kalina ground her teeth together at the sound of his voice. Sometimes, she wished she’d just pitched him overboard during that storm. “Perhaps his Majesty has a point. The responsibility of ruling two peoples that are so different is a huge burden. Learning to share power with your husband might ease that load.” His tone was placating with a dash of condescension. Kalina’s anger rose once again.

  “I said no, Lord Averil. I will not give up power to an Askorian prince. Either we find a way to rule together with him as my consort, and a king in title only, or we find another way to make peace.”

  “I think this conversation may have to be continued tomorrow.” Prince Endre said, eyeing his father’s and Kalina’s faces. “Thank you, Queen Kalina, for your presence in our council chambers today.” He bowed his head slightly to her. She couldn’t decide whether she was grateful or angrier. Now the Askorians would have more time to plot and find a way to make her give up her entire kingdom into their power. At least she had a better understanding now of what they wanted.

  “I agree. Until tomorrow.” She stood and gave a small curtsey to King Blackbourne and a nod to Prince Endre before exiting the cold chamber. She wanted to fly with Maska. That would help to clear her head, and then she wanted a warm bath to take away the chill that was settling deep into her bones.

  “Your Majesty,” Lord Illeron said as she walked down the hall, making her pause. “We need to find a way to make peace with him.”

  “I know. But I can’t figure out what to give him that will appease him.”

  “Perhaps we give him part of the Great Grey Mountains. That is what the last war was about- mining rights. Maybe if we give him part of it that will satisfy him enough to make a deal.”

  Kalina thought a moment. She made eye contact with Leif who stood just a few paces behind Lord Illeron, listening. Kari stood beside Kalina, her face red with pent up rage. If Kalina gave up the Great Grey Mountains, it would not only take away part of the Valdir’s territory, their homeland but also it would take away part of the natural barrier between their two countries. It would give them a foothold on her side, making her vulnerable. But it might be their only shot at securing her freedom to rule.

  “I’ll think about it.” She gave the older man a smile. “Thank you, Lord Illeron.” As she turned to go, she caught a glimpse of Lord Averil exiting the council chambers talking rather intimately with King Blackbourne. She frowned. Since when had the lord and the King become so familiar? She decided to think about that later, after her flight and a bath.

  Chapter 24

  That evening after her long, ho
t bath, a note arrived. Delisa closed the door to the hallway and brought over a sealed purple envelope.

  “I wonder who it’s from?” she mused as she handed it off to Kalina and then resumed brushing out Kalina’s silver locks. Despite having gotten used to wearing battle braids every day, Kalina was relishing the feeling of having her hair unbound and hanging down her back in long waves to the top of her bottom. She wished she could wear it down when flying with Maska but knew it would only get so tangled from the wind she’d have to shave it off.

  “I don’t know.”

  She opened the letter. The dark blob of wax had a fox symbol in it, but it wasn’t one she was familiar with. Inside was an elegantly written letter.

  Dear Kalina,

  I do hope you’ll forgive my informality. I really hope we can be friends.

  Would you join me for tea at half-past the midday bell tomorrow? I would consider it an honor.

  Yours,

  Malin

  “Who is Malin?” Delisa said, reading the short letter over Kalina’s shoulder. Kalina realized she knew who it was.

  “The Queen of Askor. She is now Malin Blackbourne but was originally Lady Malin Crevan.” The fox symbol made sense now.

  “Well, the letter seems nice enough. You should go, and try to be friends. Maybe it will make this whole debacle go more smoothly.”

  A small squeak sounded from the hearth where the maid Seri was setting the evening’s fire. Kalina turned towards her.

  “Is there something wrong, Seri?”

  The girl’s eyes were wide in fear, but she shook her head violently no.

  “No, your Majesty,” she barely whispered.

  Kalina eyed the frightened girl, her mind spinning.

  “Was it something we said about the Queen?”

  Seri’s eyes widened at her words.

  “Please, what can you tell us? I don’t want to go in blind.” She reached out for the girl’s hand and Seri joined them, sitting on the couch. “I promise, whatever you say won’t leave this room.”

  Seri looked between her and Delisa, the door and the changing room door where Kari and the other guards slept. Kalina could practically smell the fear on her. Finally, the maid swallowed hard and looked at Kalina.

  “You aren’t like any royal I’ve ever met, so I will tell you.” Her voice was soft but steady. “The queen is not your friend, your Majesty. She puts on a kind face but then will do everything she can to ruin you. She-” the girl trailed off before clenching her jaw and continuing. “There is a rumor that she killed the last queen, Prince Simen, and Prince Ivan’s mother, in order to take her place as the next queen. She is ambitious and cruel.”

  Kalina sat back at the girl’s words. So the Queen was a murderer who would do anything to be in control. It didn’t surprise Kalina but she had hoped that the first impression of the young queen had been wrong.

  “Thank you very much for telling me, Seri.” Kalina said gently, patting the girl’s hand. “Are you happy here? Do they treat you alright?”

  Seri shook her head slowly.

  “You don’t know, your Majesty?”

  Kalina frowned. “Know what?”

  “All of the servants here are indentured. We are here working off a debt, not because we want to be here. But you never pay off the debts.” Her voice began to hold an edge of anger as she spoke. And then it seemed as if a dam broke and words came spilling out. “My father was a merchant, high up in the merchant’s council and he was working hard towards gaining a lordship. But one day, a few years after the war, a huge storm sank most of his ships, losing him his entire fortune. He begged the King to help him rebuild, to loan him the money so he could rebuild his fleet and begin trading again, paying the King off in a few months. The King agreed but said if my father failed to repay him, then he would take me as an indentured servant. I was to work until my father’s debt was paid.”

  The bitterness was clear in her voice. “My father never rebuilt the ships. He began drinking, gambling, hoping he would win big and he wouldn’t have to pay back the debt. His few remaining ships began to lose shipments, and soon he was broke, destitute, and sick. We lost our nice house down on Potter’s Row and were forced to live in a hovel by the docks.” She sniffed, wiping a tear from her eye. Kalina’s chest ached in empathy for the girl. “He never repaid the debt. One night they came for me. I was dragged from my bed with my mother screaming and my father wailing. They told me I would work until the debt was paid, but the debt will never be paid. My mother left my father and is now living in Ablen with her sister. And my father is dying, alone in that hovel.” Tears spilled in earnest down her cheeks and she wiped at them fiercely.

  Kalina looked to Delisa who had a horror-struck look on her face and gestured for her to hand the maid a handkerchief. Delisa did, dabbing at her own tears. Kalina gently wiped the tears from Seri’s face.

  “Listen, Seri. Your story is safe with us. We won’t tell anyone you told us. When I leave, I promise I will find a way to pay your debt and get you back to your father. But if I can, I’ll try to change the King’s mind on indentured servitude. No one should be forced to work, especially forced to for someone else’s debt. It’s too much like imprisonment.” Kalina knew what that was like. Trapped in a cage, all your hope and life draining out. She thought suddenly of Nash, trapped in the dungeon back at her own castle. He had tried to kill her, but only because they had killed his dragon. She vowed to do right by him and get him out. Perhaps there was a home where he could stay, or perhaps he could go be with their people in the mountains. At least he’d be free then.

  “Thank you, your Majesty.” Seri gave her a deep curtsey before kissing Kalina’s hand. Kalina’s face flushed at the attention and she quickly pulled the girl to her feet.

  “No need for that nonsense. Just run along. I don’t want you getting into trouble on my account.”

  As the midday bell rang the next day, Kalina found herself nervously straightening her dress as she stood outside Queen Malin’s chambers, waiting to be announced. She had never been alone with another Queen before and that old familiar pit in her stomach was beginning to fill with panic. She fought hard to tamp it down as the door before her opened and a maidservant ushered her inside.

  The queen’s rooms were even more opulent than her own. Velvet curtains swaged from huge windows that looked out over the harbor. A long balcony sat beyond two double glass doors, boxes filled with now-dormant flowers waiting for spring to finally descend on its railing. Every inch of her sitting-room was covered in lush carpets, every wall covered in beautiful hangings. Her couches were plump and inviting and Kalina’s eyes felt like they were going to bulge out of her head as she looked at everything. There were shelves filled with beautiful trinkets, the surfaces inlaid with gold. Kalina’s own rooms in her own palace had a sort of comforting nobility to them, but they weren’t as ostentatious as this room.

  Queen Malina sat on a pretty red settee, her red hair flowing down around her shoulders and spilling over her blue dress in russet waves. She was one of the most beautiful people Kalina had ever met, and that beauty intimidated her slightly. But she wouldn’t let it show as she gave the queen a small curtsey. She had to remind herself that she was every bit the equal of this woman, and in fact, she was above her as the sole ruler of Ethea and the Valdir.

  Queen Malin flashed a coy smile at Kalina before gesturing to a nearby couch.

  “Please, Kalina, sit.”

  Although Kalina normally preferred for people to call her by her name instead of being formal, she wasn’t sure she liked this woman’s immediate familiarity. But she decided to play along, at least until she discovered if this woman was an ally or a foe.

  “Thank you, Malin. Your rooms are lovely.”

  “Thank you. I designed them myself. I do love being surrounded by pretty things.”

  Kalina accepted a cup of tea from a nearby maid and noticed that the maids were not pretty however, they were in fact exceptionally plai
n. Either the queen was lying, or she only liked pretty things she could control. Malin saw Kalina looking and one corner of her perfect mouth quirked up.

  “And you are very pretty, aren’t you? Under those tattoos and that scar. A little cosmetics and you’d be stunning.” Malin’s voice held an edge and Kalina knew they were on treacherous ground. She smiled demurely at the other queen.

  “Not nearly as beautiful as you are, Malin. I’m sure the King is completely in love with you.”

  Malin smiled at that and tossed her hair over her shoulders. A little flattery always went a long way.

  “He is. He gives me whatever I want.”

  Kalina smiled politely at that. Perhaps this woman was the key to ending indentured servitude or even to help her negotiate her marriage to Prince Simen.

  “How are you enjoying Askor? Have you and my son-in-law made friends? Are you falling in love yet?”

  “Prince Simen has been very gracious and kind to me and I’m looking forward to our many years of friendship.” Kalina gave Malin an equally sweet smile. “Askor is very lovely but very cold. I never expected it to still be this cold so close to summer. Ethea has its harsh weather, but nothing compared to this.” She gave a little shiver, hoping that it appeased the queen, making her think Kalina was weak, in need of care.

  “It is very bleak sometimes. Where I’m from, there are green hills as far as the eye can see. But I traded that in for this dismal view in exchange for, well, power.” Her green eyes glittered.

  “Where are you from?”

  “I’m from Ablen, but my father moved me here when I was just a child. He was the ambassador for Ablen in the Askorian court. I was raised here, among the Askorians.”

  “That must have been a hard change,” Kalina ventured, hoping to pull the conversation back around to the subject of power.

  “Ablen is weak, a small island country full of dreamers. Askorians are strong, powerful, and fearless. I aspired to become like them.”