Page 35 of The Warlord’s Princess (Warlords of Tempest #3)

RAMSEY

It is late when we meet, after the sun has gone down and the village is settled.

Grixis and Eddard are waiting for me in The Tomb, and to my surprise, Jacek was sent away.

“What is this about?” I ask, feeling tension as thick as the brisk season fog.

“Let us go to the communication room,” Grixis says. “So that you might show me the message that so worried you.”

Grixis and Eddard watch the message three times before turning to me, their faces rife with dismay.

It is Grixis who finally speaks. “I called you both here as we are the only three who have truly joined with the Penticari, blending our lives and homes.”

“There will be others—” I start.

“And when there are, they will join us here.”

“What is here?”

Grixis sucks in a breath and crosses his arms over his chest. “A council, of a sort. One different from the one meant to lead the tribe.”

“Why?”

He looks at the screen, his face tense, his teeth baring. “We cannot let this happen, but in order to stop it, there must be great sacrifice.”

My brow pinches. “But can we stop it?”

“That is why we are here. To mull over that question, as I have yet to find an answer.”

“We cannot do this alone,” Eddard insists.

“There is no other we can trust, for if some were to find out what I intend to do, anyone conspiring with me would be tried for treason.”

I nod as the implication of his words hit.

“What can we do?” I finally ask.

Grixis looks to Eddard, then back at me. “It is unclear, but we cannot let it get to a point where Tempest is alerted to our progress.”

“How could we stop that?” Eddard asks. “Is there a way we can turn off the alerts?”

Grixis looks down and closes his eyes for a long moment before looking back up at Eddard. “I think it best it never gets to that point.”

“You mean to stop the terraformer altogether?” I blurt, shocked by the audacity.

“What is the point of terraforming if we never intend for Tempest to come?”

“Because we could delay it,” I argue. “We could have it come decades later, after we have joined with the Penticari again and again, and our offspring are strong…” My words trail off as I realize how foolish they are, because with the engineering of the planet comes certain death for the Penticari, for what hope do we have of keeping them alive in the blistering cold? “I…I understand.”

“As do I,” Eddard whispers.

“Soon, others will join us, such as Elric and Dogan,” Grixis says.

Eddard nods. “And, in time, more.”

Grixis sighs. “One can hope.”

“Should we involve the Penticari?” I ask.

Grixis glares at me. “No—never, for if they knew…” He bows his head in shame.

Eddard looks at the screen, his nostrils flaring in contempt.

I, too, hate the sight of the princess.

“We need to encourage cohabitation,” Eddard says. “It worked for Ramsey and Asha, to the shock of us all.”

“Elena will not allow courtship to happen too fast,” Grixis argues.

“But if we can get more men—” Eddard begins.

I cut him off, saying, “It will not work in our favor if the men are not properly bonded to these women, which will not happen if they pair with just anyone.”

Grixis nods. “Think of what a disaster it would have been if someone had paired with Amber too quickly.”

Eddard and I grumble in agreement.

Grixis scratches his chin. “The Come Together Festival was a success, and we will soon have more.”

“And the festival celebrating Elena’s baby will surely encourage courtship,” Eddard says.

“It is good that we have something to work on,” I say.

“Caen, Brock, Haelden, and Orvell will probably never warm to the Penticari,” Grixis adds. “And one day, they may become our enemies.”

I mislike his words, but cannot deny them.

“Is that all?” Eddard asks. “As I can press on Meg to take the festivals seriously. She will encourage the women to be welcoming of the men.”

“Nori has become a problem,” Grixis says, seemingly out of nowhere.

“How so?” Eddard asks.

“She has seen the Pattern of Tempest, which I did not think was possible.”

Eddard’s eyes light in alarm. “Great Tempest…”

“She knew not what it was!” I argue.

“I fear she will find out quickly. And what would we say?”

Centuries ago, when the first of our seed arrived on Cryon 2-7-9, human life began in the way that it was meant to in order to ensure the planet was ready for us.

Before we were exiled here, others were sent before us, and with them, the pattern meant to force the evolution of the native species. Not the humans, but insects, animals, and any living thing we might need.

The pattern is but a small thing, working tirelessly to force adaptation.

Never in our wildest imaginations did we expect Nori to discover the pattern, and it would be foolish of us to believe that she will not eventually discover their nature.

In fact, she has already voiced suspicion.

“Enough, for now,” Grixis says, unable to hide the worry from his tone.

“What next?” Eddard asks.

“We wait until we have another.”

“But—”

“There is nothing to be done yet, except wait, as we are but three against thirty-five,” Grixis reasons.

“But many other men feel the same way as us,” Eddard says.

“While many of the men are enamored by the Penticari charms, most are not ready to forego their honor,” Grixis replies. “And some will surely face the sting of rejection.”

Eddard and I nod, and I am reminded of why Grixis was chosen as chieftain.

Grixis gestures to the door. “Go now, and say not what we have discussed.”

Before I leave, I take one last look at the screen. At Princess Kasmina’s face.

Her beauty was unparalleled until I met the Great Princess Asha. Now, I can hardly bear to look at her blue skin and mischievous silver eyes.

For there is only one woman in the entirety of the universe that holds my heart, and I will kill any man or woman who tries to take her from me.

The End