Page 10 of Artemysia
“He doesn’t let anyone into his cold, vicious heart—except to manipulate.” - King Galke
I n a torrent of dark fury, Riev storms out, followed by the colonels. While Throg salutes the colonels outside the war room, King Galke summons me aside.
Shocked that the king would speak to me directly, alone, I compose my face into a neutral expression. Calm and collected.
He clears his throat but lowers his voice.
“We need Riev, but don’t ever trust him.
He’s dangerous. A man like that has no ties, no loyalties.
He doesn’t let anyone into his cold, vicious heart—except to manipulate them for his own gain.
We all have motivations, and he’s in it for himself. Riev has betrayed me before.”
His deep-set eyes shift toward the door, as if he’s afraid someone will overhear.
I nod once.
“Your innovative style of command has been noticeably successful. You’ve gained the trust of troops that others could not command, and your ratio of soldier deaths to Syf kills speaks for itself.”
King Galke does not dole out compliments lightly.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
He scratches his graying beard. “Half the colonels say that you’re too young and too inexperienced.
That you’ll never be able to control Riev out there.
The others believe you may be the only one who can do this.
I side with them. But with the likes of Riev Wolfgang and Ivy Morrigan, you will need to break the rules.
” His somber look doesn’t falter. “Gods know I have.”
Break the rules .
Cold dread runs up my spine. Which rules? Before I can ask what that will entail during this mission, he goes on.
“He’s grown out of my control, unfortunately.” He sighs and presses two fingers against his temple. “Should you find that he works against us, by my authority, you must neutralize him.”
Neutralize? It takes me a second. “Arrest and detain him?”
He shakes his head, then drops me a knowing look. “If he becomes detrimental to the mission…”
Oh, gods. My gut lurches with disgust, threatening to spew out my breakfast.
He would sacrifice Riev like that? How can he expect me to eliminate one of my own men? To work to gain his trust, only to stab him in the back?
I would never.
He must sense my hesitation, because he adds, “You’re prepared to do whatever is necessary to succeed?” It’s less a question and more of a command.
I wipe my face clean of any emotion. A good leader appears adaptable, even if their mind is made up.
My gaze clashes with his. “The strongest tree moves with the storm; because it bends, it does not break,” I say assuredly, hoping he gleans the answer he wants from it. My mother said it all the time, and it’s stuck with me over the years.
He nods, studying me. “Precisely. I am only trying to save South Kingdom, same as you. I have no other agenda,” he adds grimly.
I want to believe him, despite every book I’ve ever read on politics and strategy warning me otherwise. The texts say there are three typesof rulers.
Those who seek more power.
Those who fight to retain power.
Those who have achieved their ambitions and look to relinquish their power, knowing their work is done.
I want to believe King Galke is the second type, and that is why he uses Riev—to retain power. I don’t want to believehe seeks more power, because those who seek more power usually do not deserve it.
While I don’t doubt that he wants to save the people of South Kingdom, I begin to see that there has to be more to crossing Artemysia than that.
It’s what I have no other agenda usually means to those in power.
That there is one.