Page 28 of The Warlord’s Princess (Warlords of Tempest #3)

RAMSEY

I arrive in the caves, finding Grixis, Araelya, and Nori already waiting.

For long days, I have loathed what must be done. That I must be the bearer of such tragic news.

But both tribes deserve to hear it, so they know how dire the situation is.

Elena, Meg, and Asha join us, and a short time later, Ulof and Eddard.

She refuses to look at me, my Little Vaeyark, and I cannot say I blame her, for how she bared herself to me deserved more than my dismissal.

Scanning the room, her blue eyes widen in wonder, her cheeks flushing with the irresistible pink hue I so love.

Oh, how I have lost sleep from the desire to run my fingers through her gold-spun hair, which is now woven into a loose braid over her shoulder.

But she is not meant for me.

When her eyes find me, inadvertently, her smile fades, and her eyes seek the cave floor.

I am shamed.

Once everyone is seated, Grixis stands and looks at Asha. “I trust that what is said within these walls will not be repeated elsewhere.”

She nods.

He looks at me. “Fenrick is out scouting, and I will pass on all that is discussed.”

I close my eyes and exhale, willing myself to tell him the dreaded words he will never forgive me for.

“Well?” Grixis says in question.

I rise, looking over the gathered Tempest men and Penticari women, and say, “I have called both councils together because I believe each one deserves to learn this truth together.”

“Get on with it,” Grixis says, claiming his seat.

“Forgive me.”

Elena chuckles. “For calling us weak?”

She thinks this is a joke.

I wish it was.

“Truly, I wish not to say this, but if the women are to survive, we must return them to Penticar.”

Araelya gasps. “You can do that?”

“We can, if?—”

“Do not speak carelessly,” Grixis growls, his lips quivering as his chest rises and falls in short, angry bursts.

Murmurs rise from those gathered, but I speak more to Grixis than anyone else. “During my travels, I have learned something most grievous.”

“Are the Veriskans in our lands?” Grixis barks. “If so—why have you not told me sooner?”

“No, chieftain. Not that. It is worse.”

He takes a seat, his skin paling. “What could be worse than that?”

“I have found out that while the Penticari are most fertile, their bodies will not be able to bear our children.”

A hush falls over the gathered council members.

Finally, Grixis says, “But Elena?—”

“They can get pregnant. But will likely die during childbirth.”

A commotion erupts, and Elena’s fearful voice rises, her panicked words too chaotic to make out.

Grixis storms toward me, teeth bared, his face twisted in anger, stopping just an inch away from me. “Why would you speak such nonsense?”

“I know how much?—”

POW!

My head snaps to the side, the taste of blood filling my mouth.

POW!

Another blow lands on my cheek, but I block a third.

It is Ulof who pulls Grixis off of me, but even he is glaring in my direction. Perhaps it was wrong for me to tell them all at once, but I had to. I could not risk someone trying to silence the truth.

The room is full of shocked and angry faces, all staring at me.

“If I may speak, you will learn as I had what is to come.”

“How would you know anything about such deaths from just a simple day out in the forest?” Eddard snarls.

“When we were out in the greater forest, I learned much and more about Asha’s life, including that her own mother died in childbirth.

If a Penticari woman will sometimes succumb to death from birthing a baby from a Penticari man, what hope would they have of surviving the birth of a baby belonging to a man of Tempest? ”

Jaws drop, and worried eyes look to each other.

“That is most blasphemous,” Grixis says, though his voice has lost its edge.

“Yes,” Eddard agrees. “You have always detested the Penticari! And now you seek to manipulate us in a most underhanded way.”

“That is not true!” I argue.

“You, more than anyone, campaigned against them,” Ulof adds.

“And yet I cast a white stone and not a black.”

The room goes silent again.

“Lies!” Grixis finally roars, refinding his fury.

“Ask Caen, who gave me the rough side of his tongue for doing so.”

Grixis lunges toward me again, but Ulof holds him back, whispering things into his ear.

“Let me go!” Grixis growls, reaching for me.

“Clear your head,” Ulof urges.

“I swear to Greater Tempest and every outlying territory, you will be exiled until there is no more?—”

“Stop yelling!” Meg shouts. Out of nowhere, she places her small body between Grixis and me.

Grixis quiets.

Meg looks from Grixis to me, sneering. “Look at you, acting like children.”

Eddard leaps to his feet, gesturing at me. “He threatens?—”

“He’s threatened nothing! In fact, if you had listened to him, you would have heard that he’s concerned.” Her throat jumps when she swallows. “And maybe we should be too.”

The room quiets save for the beating of our rushing hearts.

Meg plants her hands on her hips and looks at each of us. “Sit down and behave!”

We obey, knowing one carelessly said word will lead to war.

The women look terrified, particularly Elena, whose hands are on her round belly.

“Eh-hem.” Nori clears her throat. “I would like to speak.”

Elena nods slowly. “Of all the people, it should be you.”

She gets up and paces in the center of the room for a solid minute before turning to Asha.

“I’m afraid I will have to say some things you may not like.”

“I already know that I’m weak,” Asha whisper-snaps.

“No, you are not. What I must speak of is a truth my family came upon that cost us dearly. It cost you dearly, too.”

Asha lifts her head, brow pinched. “What do you mean?”

Nori pivots and begins pacing again. “Back in Penticar, my family is known for two things: being socially awkward and ridiculously intelligent.”

Meg nods. “That’s the right of it.”

“Many second, third, and fourth sons serve other nobles, for a fee, and the daughters in my line are often highly sought after, as they provide their husbands with wise counsel.”

“Get on with it,” Meg says tersely.

“My grandfather served the king himself, giving him sound and solid advice over the years?—”

“Must we?” Asha interrupts.

“I’m sorry, Asha. I know we’re not supposed to apologize because that makes us weak, but in this case, I don’t care. I truly am sorry.”

Asha’s eyes well with tears.

“When the king took his first bride, my granddad advised against it because in taking her, he set aside a betrothal meant to gain us an ally. But the king wouldn’t listen, and we nearly went to war.”

Araelya cocks her head to the side. “I remember hearing about this. They called the woman the King’s Folly. They had a daughter…”

“With Penticar at the brink of an invasion, the king set his wife aside to take the originally intended bride. But that wasn’t enough for the slighted family.

They said that if the first wife remained alive, their marriage would always be questioned, and if the daughter were left alive, then succession would always be questioned. ”

Asha shakes her head sadly. “No…it wasn’t like that…”

“What happened?” Elena asks in a low voice.

“The king had his wife killed, but he could not bear for his daughter to suffer the same fate, so he sent her away, pretending she drowned to thwart a war.”

Asha shakes her head slowly from side to side. “No, that’s not what happened. My mother died giving birth to my brother…”

“That was a lie, said because they knew great houses would revolt if they learned what really happened. My granddad protested against it, and knew the king would eventually execute him, so he rode home in the middle of the night, leaving behind a note telling the king he’d keep his secret so long as his family came to no harm.

True to his word, he never told a soul, but he wrote down everything, and I was prone to reading. ”

Meg’s head snaps to Asha. “Wait…are you the daughter? The actual princess?”

The words land like a sharp slap to the face.

Asha, a princess?

How could this be possible?

Asha’s cheeks flush pink. “That’s not true—that’s not how my mother died?”

Nori looks down at the ground. “As I said, I’m sorry…”

Grixis’s voice rises. “If I may be so bold, what does all this mean?”

Nori pivots to look at him. “Occasionally, women die from childbirth, but it’s rare, and the case that Ramsey believed was true was not, because Asha was told a lie.”

“This is all very confusing,” Eddard says.

“I, too, am not sure what was all said,” agrees Ulof.

Nori addresses the room. “Because Tempest and Penticar are so different, it’s difficult to explain. Especially since Tempest values honor so strongly, and the Penticari do not. Ramsey made a reasonable and logical conclusion that was inaccurate because he didn’t understand the circumstance.”

“But they said they can return us home,” Araelya blurts.

“Are you sure you want that?” Meg asks with a raised brow.

Araelya lifts her chin, directing her gaze at Meg. “I at least want the option.”

“We’re not returning home,” Elena says. “So there’s no need to debate it.”

“But—” Araelya starts.

Grixis pounds his fist onto the table. “Enough talk about going home—this is your home!”

Araelya goes silent.

Grixis rises from his seat and goes to the center, where Nori is standing.

“If not for smart Nori, our bowels would have turned to broth.” Grixis speaks firmly, without a hint of anger. “Elena was wise to name her on the council.”

A few chuckle, but most stare at him, confused by the situation.

“As angry as I want to be at Ramsey,” he turns to glare at me. “I can see that he was worried about the Penticari, which is better than him loathing them.” He smiles, trying to make light of the situation, though I know his fury is still great.

“Asha?” Grixis says softly.

She looks up at him with red-rimmed, which breaks my heart.

“You have proven yourself strong, and if there were room enough on the council, I would recommend that you be on it.”

She sniffles, shaking her head. “No, it’s fine. I don’t need to be on a council.”

“Again, I must ask that you keep what was said here quiet.”

“Of course.”

“I reserve the right to brag that I am friends with a real and true princess,” Meg says haughtily.

Grixis sighs. “You may discuss Penticari politics as you like, but say nothing of our ability to bring you home or any worries you may have regarding,” he looks at Elena, “children.”

Elena gets up from her seat. “I think I’ve had enough talk and wish to return to the village.”

Grixis nods, and the women exit the cave.

Four sets of silver eyes glare at me.

“Why did you not speak with me first?” Grixis grinds.

“Because I knew how much you loved Elena, and I worried it would cloud your judgment.”

“Never again?—”

“There is more.” I swallow hard, knowing I have to tell him the whole truth. Things I did not say when the women were still present.

“Speak now and pray you do not cross me.”

Eddard chuckles, though his expression is nervous.

“I received a message in The Tomb.”

“What message do you speak of?”

“It was from the Great Princess Kasmina, who I was promised to before my exile.”

“How did she give you a message?” Grixis asks in a worried tone.

“It was input into our ship before we were exiled, and the data transferred to The Tomb, to be given to us after a milestone with the terraformer.”

“What did she say?”

I take a big breath. “At this point, our success is inevitable, and she should be arriving in a handful of years to claim the planet as hers.”

Grixis slowly walks over to his seat and falls into it. “Great Tempest…” he whispers.

Eddard pales, and Ulof also looks troubled, despite not being mated.

“I debated whether I should tell you, as I know how much you love Elena, and how much she loves you.”

“What will we do?” Eddard growls.

Grixis’s eyes scan to the table in front of him, hardening. “We got the terraformer running because we are men of Tempest, dedicated to our mission, because we honor Tempest above all.”

“But—” Eddard starts.

“No buts,” Grixis deadpans.

I want to argue with him, but I feel weak.

Without saying a word, Grixis gets up from his seat and exits the cave. Ulof and Eddard follow, their heads hung low. I sit and think for a time, wondering what to do next.

The women are staying. I was wrong in my assumption regarding their ability to survive a pregnancy, and because I was careless, I hurt Asha.

Who is, shockingly, a princess.

I should have known, for her ethereal beauty captivated me even when I thought her weak. It was one of the reasons I was so angered by her presence.

And truly, her title matters not, as I would crave her even if she was of the lowest seed.

She is my greatest love; my cruelest curse.

And in a handful of years, Princess Kasmina will be here.

It would be foolish of me to dwell on what I cannot have. Of the small Penticari woman who has proven herself to be strong.

Yet I cannot stop my heart from racing at the prospect of kissing her one more time. Of holding her. Of loving her.

And maybe, if brave Grixis can take such a risk, I can too.