Page 233 of Scorched Earth

Helene purpled.

“Do you even understand what they are demanding?” Malahi glared at the woman. “Or were you too trumped up on your own rise in station to stop and think?”

The room devolved into accusations and arguments, but all fell silent as Lydia’s voice cut through the commotion. “Helene is right.”

88TERIANA

“What do you mean, Helene is right?” Killian demanded. “You aren’t honestly suggesting we agree to this?”

Teriana internally cringed at the panic in his eyes, because she’d felt the same when Lydia had swiftly communicated her plan. This sort of self-sacrifice wasexactlythe sort of thing Lydia would do.

“What choice do we have?” Lydia walked toward the group, and Teriana followed her, keeping her expression grim. “We can’t defeat the blight, and Rufina’s victory will cost every Mudamorian theirlife. Whereas the Cel only require obeisance. For the cost of my freedom and Malahi’s mines, our people have a chance. The Cel are civilized, whereas Rufina is not.”

Killian opened his mouth, then closed it again, his eyes narrowing. Suspecting a ploy, because the Cel were anything but civilized. Teriana moved next to Seldrid and stepped on his toes; ever political, Seldrid showed no reaction, but Teriana knew he’d understood.

“You willingly accept this?” Helene demanded. “Or is this an act and you’ll flee the moment you have a chance?”

“It is no act.” Lydia’s expression was resigned. “This is the only way to save Mudamora.”

Helene dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. “Your sacrifice will never be forgotten. Though in truth, you’ll be able to leave this horror for the soft life of Celendor, so I do not think you’ll look back.”

“It is the right thing to do,” Lydia replied, her jaw set and eyes resolute. “Seldrid, would you please take Helene to a quiet place and aid in drafting a response to the Cel legatus? We should not risk the opportunity with unnecessary delay.”

“Of course,” Seldrid murmured. “It would be my honor to aid in the drafting of this important letter, although I believe we should send for the other High Lords first.”

Silence reigned after Seldrid led Helene from the room, and Teriana took in all who were present. Bercola and two members of Eoten Isle’s council. Xadrian and Adra. Agrippa and Malahi. Lydia and Killian.

“I take it you have a plan,” Killian said. “Because while I would not put it past you to risk yourself, Lydia, IknowTeriana wouldn’t agree to such a scheme.”

Teriana shot him a smirk, but Lydia only said, “Adra, will you ensure this room is secure. We cannot afford listeners.”

Adra gave Lydia a knowing smile, then strode with purpose to the doors.

Picking up Marcus’s letter, Lydia tapped the edge of it against her palm. “Teriana cannot cut off the Cel supply lines in a day. She needs time. The giants”—she gestured to them—“can delay the Cel in setting sail, but the toll is high. So what we need is another tactic to delay them long enough that Teriana can enact her plan, because I cannot believe that the legions will undertake an aggressive campaign into an already starving country without the supplies sent to them by Celendor. Helene, in her quest for relevance, has provided us an avenue of delay.Negotiation.”

Malahi smiled. “You aim to set her to the task of negotiating an agreement with the Cel, because if they believe they can get what they want without invading, they’d be fools not to do so.”

Lydia gave a slight nod, relieved her friend so easily grasped her intention. “It was only a matter of time until they learned that Kitaryia and Lydia are one and the same, and Marcus would never believe I’d negotiate with him. But Helene is another matter. It makes sense that she’d give me up. Makes sense that she’d give Malahi’s gold up. Makes sense that she’d be ignorant as to exactly how much power the Empire will give her.” She tapped the letter against her palm again. “We allow Helene to carry on as queen while we enact our own strategies behind her back, none more critical than Teriana’s.”

All eyes went to Teriana, and she gave a tight nod. “Gather all the Maarin from every ship in the harbor. I’ll meet with my people tonight.”

Eight Maarin ships were already in Serlania’s harbor, and within the hour, the majority of their crews were crammed into a music hall that Seldrid owned. All of them answering the call of Triumvir Tesya, none yet aware that her mother was dead. If Teriana had called them herself, she suspected not a single soul would have shown up.

“I can’t come with you,” Lydia had said before she left. “Both Marcus and Rufina will have spies in Serlania, and if we are to make him believe Helene intends to negotiate in earnest, we must play our parts and I must remain confined. But Killian will arrange for soldiers to—”

“No soldiers. I’m not worried about my people hurting me,” Teriana had answered. “I’m worried that they’ll all turn their backs for all that I’ve done and that Reath will pay the price.”

Which perhaps made her a fool given that there was an order she be executed for treason, but it was hard to fear for her life when Lydia and Killian would be baiting Marcus with their own.

“Finn is working the crowd with Killian’s dog,” Bait said softly. “He says he will recognize many of the blighters, and dogs seem to have some sense that they are not right. But thus far, it seems everyone here is among the living.”

“Long may that last.” Drawing a deep breath, Teriana stepped out onto the stage. Scowls and angry glares greeted her, but she kept her face steady as she walked to the center and surveyed the crews before her. “Thank you all for gathering.”

“Where is Tesya?” Triumvir Vane demanded. “We aren’t interestedin what you have to say, Teriana. Only interested in how your mother is going to remedy your multitude of errors.”

Teriana’s chest tightened. “My mother is dead. Murdered in Celendrial by Legatus Hostus.”

Gasps tore from the lips of everyone in the room, because her mother had been beloved. Yet on the heels of her words, Sultan Kalin of Gamdesh entered the room, Astara at his side.