Page 6 of The Warlord’s Princess (Warlords of Tempest #3)

RAMSEY

Sometimes, the Penticari women surprise me, leaving me to ponder things they have said hours after the words are spoken.

I feel this now, long into the day after my night talk with Asha.

She has shamed me, making me realize I have forgotten what honor is.

At first, I had been insulted and wanted to scoff at her, because it seemed like she was trying to make honor more attainable to a lesser like herself.

Then the impact of what she had said hit me, and as her words tumbled around my mind, I realized it was I who was wrong. There is great honor in duty and none in the pride I had so clung to.

Since my exile, I have craved respect, thinking it would restore my honor. But now I realize that desire only served my vanity.

It is duty that should matter above all.

And my duty is to Tempest.

Walking through the village, I hear laughter where there was once none, and see once proud faces looking dreamily at the fruits from lower branches.

But there is nothing to be done about it, as a deal was struck, and to go back on it without good reason would be dishonorable.

A familiar voice catches my attention, and I look over and see Amber with Gaerth, who is holding a hide out to her. She argues with him, pushing it away, but he is pressing it at her insistently.

I feel bad for anyone who must train her, but less so for him, because he had been so keen on letting them stay.

Ulof emerges from between two houses, a short distance away. When he sees me, he jogs over and looks around to make sure no one else is nearby.

“The council is meeting at the caves to discuss your time away.” He leans forward, lowering his voice. “Amber has not been invited.”

“Good, I do not believe I can suffer another moment of her presence.”

He chuckles and walks off.

I grab strips of jerked meat and spiced fruit to tame my hunger. The Penticari women have their own tables they eat at, their poor construction not of our build.

Will they even last a season?

It matters not.

Eddard brings Meg a bowl of spiced stew, and when she pushes it away, he comments on her round thighs. The look on her face tells me she did not appreciate his comment.

These Penticari women are too temperamental with the truth for my liking.

Before she replies, I head toward the caves.

I mislike that we are to speak so freely with the Penticari around, but there is little that can be done about it now that we have joined.

Jacek nods to me when I enter. Many of the women cringe.

Their weakness knows no bounds.

I stand by my seat and scan the table, seeing: Grixis, Ulof, Fenrick, Jacek, Orvell, Elena, Nori, Araelya, and Kairi.

Meg and Eddard enter last.

Grixis begins with, “Jacek, Orvell, and Kairi, you are allowed to sit in on this council meeting as guests. Please, everyone, take your seat.”

The woman named Kairi stands in a daze, only snapping out of it when Elena speaks.

“Kairi, it’s come to my attention that Meg has told you a shocking truth regarding our kidnapping.”

Kairi turns to look at Elena, giving a slight nod.

Elena continues with, “Back on Penticar, Meg was about to be forced into a most unfortunate union. In order to avoid her fate, she hired a man to take her away without knowing that he and his friends would raid the preparation for the Age of Eligibility soirée.”

A few of the women gasp, and I find myself annoyed with their frail emotions.

“I’d considered keeping it to myself,” Kairi says, sneering at Meg. “I was terrified of upsetting things with the Tempest men, but after thinking on what we’ve been through, I had to tell you so that some justice might come of it.”

Penticari justice confuses me, for Meg was doing what she thought was necessary.

“And what would this justice you speak of look like?” Elena asks, which is admittedly a suitable reply given the situation.

Kairi shrugs, looking suddenly weak. “I…I don’t know. Women died—our friends died. We’ve endured countless hardships, and now we must…” She looks at the Tempest men, then down at her hands, which are folded on her lap. “I don’t even know how to begin making this right.”

Grixis rises from his seat and walks around the table to the girl, placing a hand on her small shoulder.

“Sometimes you are unaware of the blessings bestowed upon you. I understand your anger and why you feel Meg must pay, but let me tell you what would have happened had she not made her sour deal.”

My spine straightens, as I had not expected Grixis to reveal such a truth.

“Tragedy befell your people when you were taken by the slavers, but what you do not know is that if you had not been taken, you would have all surely perished.”

The women look at each other, confused.

“I…I don’t understand,” Kairi stutters.

“Your world is changing, and it will continue to until your kind can no longer survive the harsh conditions. Soon, the climate will grow colder and snowdrifts that were once small will triple in size. Then, as the seasons change, the cold season will grow longer and longer until eventually the snow no longer melts completely in the mud and hot season. Your food will dwindle and animals will die. Your people will die, as they are weak. But not you. We will keep you well.”

The room is silent as no one, even the men, did not expect Grixis to say what he had.

And while I am furious at Grixis for revealing a truth that should have remained hidden, I am no longer surprised. There is no point in fighting him, for he has already resigned himself to dishonor.

It is Araelya who speaks first.

“No!” She pounds her fist on the table. “That doesn’t make sense.”

Meg looks at Eddard, her expression stricken. “Is this what you meant when you said I’ve done my people more good than harm?”

“I should not have spoken about what was not mine to speak about,” Eddard says, “but I was desperate and did not know what to do.”

“Does this have to do with that place you took Nori, me, and Asha to?” Elena asks.

To my relief, Grixis huffs, “We will not speak of that in today’s meeting.”

“No!” Araelya shouts again, near panic. “You’re lying!”

“And why would we do that?” Grixis asks.

“Because you’re scared we’ll find a way off the island.” She looks to the other women. “Everything is going to be fine back in Penticar.”

“No, it’s not,” Nori replies.

Of all the Penticari, she seems to be the one most worthy of a mate, as she is most familiar with logic.

“Why is this happening?” Araelya asks, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Why is the world changing?”

“Because worlds change,” Grixis replies.

“Eddard, what’s going to happen to our families?” Meg’s voice trembles.

“They have years. Decades, even,” Eddard says.

Reclaiming his seat, Grixis continues. “Each of you must remain silent regarding what was revealed to you, and if you are not, the consequences will be dire.”

Elena, Nori, and Meg nod, though I see Meg is troubled and I wonder if it will affect her relationship with Eddard.

Araelya still struggles with the revelation, hiding her face in her hands. Kairi looks to be in shock.

“Do not take my threat lightly,” Grixis says. “The only reason I saw fit to tell any of you this was to alleviate Meg’s guilt. Her actions had consequences, but they also created opportunity, and her mistake has given your people life anew. Do you understand?”

The girls mumble in agreement.

“In the future, we will gather the women to discuss the impending changes to the climate, but there is no need to bring useless worry to them when they are still so new to our way of life,” Grixis adds.

“The ribbons,” Elena says. “We don’t have them in Penticar, and I’ve never experienced anything like them before coming to Melgrim.”

“Over time, they will become more frequent, leaving a lasting bite,” Grixis tells her.

“But you need not worry, as we are planning how best to shield you from them.” Grixis looks over at Kairi.

“I am going to have to ask you to step outside the cave until we are finished, as there are still matters to discuss.”

She leaves, keeping her head bowed as she steps out.

“Jacek, Orvell, I have allowed you to be here because you are aware of the situation with Meg in Outpost 2-2-7.”

“It seems that the council has grown remiss with their honor,” Orvell says, his eyes honed on Eddard.

“I have discussed the situation with Eddard and, in light of new information, have determined that his revelation to Meg regarding the command post was necessary and will go without punishment. I have also decided that Elena’s council must be given more knowledge. This will happen over time.”

“You have decided that on your own?” Orvell challenges.

“As is his right,” I say sharply, because while I do not agree with everything Grixis has said and done, with Veriskans nearby, it is best not to divide the tribe.

Grixis sighs in relief at my support.

“The tribe is supposed to vote on such issues,” Orvell insists.

“Except when matters are so urgent, there is not the time,” Grixis replies.

“And what, might I ask, is so urgent?”

“The Veriskan’s discovery of the women.”

Orvell’s cheeks turn dark blue with rage. “All because you sought to hide away Meg while she recovered?”

“It was I who encountered them,” I tell him.

“Encountered?”

“There were two stalking around the forest. They caught Amber’s scent, but could not locate her. Hopefully, they believe the scent was from the shipwreck and think that the women are now dead.”

After a long moment of silence, Grixis says, “Orvell, despite your misgivings, you have served us well in our exile, and I hope you will continue to do so.”

Orvell sucks in a long breath. “I may not agree with all of your decisions, but we do not have the luxury of debate with the Veriskans roaming the forest.”

“It is good that you do not let your temper get in the way of your good sense.”

“And how will we protect the women against the Veriskans?” Eddard interrupts. “How do we know if they already know about them?”

“Excuse me?” Elena scoffs. “Do you not see us here? Or are we not worthy of consideration? Who are these Veriskans? I’ve heard you speak of them before, but never in a way that suggested they were a threat.”

Ignoring Elena, Grixis says, “I will send scouts to the perimeter, then further, to the outskirts of their lands. Haelden and Brock are two that would do well away from the village for a time.”

“Who are these people?” Nori asks.

“They are dangerous,” Grixis says. “And if they knew you were here, they would raze the forest to find you, and once they did, there is no telling what they would do.”

“We’ve faced down scary blue men before,” Meg snickers.

I have to hand it to that one—she is bold.

“Leave this matter to us,” Grixis grumbles.

“If you won’t answer our questions, I think it would be good to end this meeting,” Elena says. “We’ll keep your secrets, though not happily.”

And again, I am surprised, for while Elena may not be strong, she does not lack in courage.

Grixis nods. “Of course.”

The women leave, and the men get up to follow them, but before I go, Grixis pulls me aside.

“Thank you for your support. I understand?—”

“I care not for your thanks, as I have a more pressing issue on my mind.”

He nods. “You are upset that Asha still lingers in your home.”

“Lingers? She acts as though it were her own!”

He claps a hand down on my shoulder. “You are frustrated, as you should be, but unless you are properly courting someone, there is nothing I can do.”

“Properly courting someone?”

“If a man is in courtship, it would be wrong of them to room with another.”

“I am in no courtship.”

“Then I am sorry, but you will have to endure Asha’s presence a while longer, for her weaves are most important, and without good reason, she will not be moved.”