Page 187 of Salt in the Seas
Danton sat back, his familiar grin putting Gaeren at ease even as Gaeren wondered if it should. “We’ve just been waiting for you to be on board.”
“I have one condition,” Gaeren said quickly, feeling his purpose spin wildly out of control. Was he playing into the Recreants’ hands?
Smits frowned and muttered something incoherent.
Even Danton’s eyes flashed with distrust. “Name it.”
“Mayvus is still alive and after Emeris. She wants power even morethan my father. When she comes for it, you’ll be tempted to let her take out the royal family.” He leaned forward earnestly. “But we need to work together to take her out first. That level of cooperation could even lend support to Enla giving authority over to the people.”
“Or it could weaken us before we go up against the king,” Smits said.
“You shouldn’t need to go up against the king if Enla takes his place and steps down,” Gaeren pointed out.
He and Smits stared at each other for a long moment, the other man’s glare making Gaeren’s hope drain as quickly as the mugs of ale in the room. It was time for his last boon.
“I’ve also promised the Southern Recreants that as a last resort, I’ll take my family to Lorvandas.”
Riveran choked on his ale. “You did—why did you do that?”
“To show my commitment to keeping my family from returning to the throne. To make sure I could keep Enla safe.”
Riveran’s eyes widened.
“Regardless,” Danton said, “I’d rather we get Enla to step down from the throne before we fight Mayvus. The Recreants will fight against someone threatening their democracy with more passion than they would fight against someone threatening the royal family.”
Gaeren flinched, knowing, thanks to his own men, it was true. “It sounds like she’s already reclaimed the fortress in the Myndren Mountains. I don’t know if we have time for that luxury.”
Danton shrugged. “Then I guess you’d better get started.”
CHAPTER 71
Gaeren stoodoutside the council room doors, Enla’s arm wrapped through his. He always needed a moment to collect himself before facing his parents, but this time he took even longer.
“You could just listen to the results of their deliberation,” Enla suggested.
He side-eyed her with a snort. “Do you see that happening in any of my future paths?”
When her expression glazed over, he squeezed her hand.
“I was joking. I don’t want you sifting anything. You know I can’t hold my tongue in our parents’ presence.”
“One of the many reasons why it was best for you to be out at sea.” Her smile held a maternal wisdom that made her seem far older. What could their friendship have been like if they’d grown up as siblings without so much weight to bear?
“You’re entering the room with me instead of with them, so I assume you’re in favor of my reckless plan.”
She sighed and looked away. “I agree our parents have gone too far. I want to rule with more justice and mercy than they have. I didn’t trust myself to do it before now. I need you to balance me out.”
He tried not to squirm at her words, wondering if she’d sifted the possibilities of him betraying her. Was it something she saw and thought too impossible?
“They’ll fight it,” he warned her. “They may have wanted you to rule before I left, but now they’ll say terrible things about your sanity. It will help my case if you show an ability to stay in the present tonight.”
“I’ll hold back my visions if you can hold back your sarcasm.” The smile she gave was nostalgically reminiscent of the many she’d teased him in childhood.
The guards opened the doors, forcing them to adopt identical serene expressions. They marched in and stood before the dais where their parents sat on their council room chairs overlooking everyone’s tables, and they bowed in tandem. Gaeren held his hands out to his mother, who took them with tears in her eyes.
“Your father only did what he thought was best for you,” she whispered. Gaeren hid his scowl, using the time to run his thumb along his mother’s wrists and palms. Outside of the rough scars he’d seen from their old brands, he saw and felt nothing new.
He did the same when he greeted his father, unable to decide if he was relieved they weren’t branded again or if he wished he’d been able to blame their treatment of him on Mayvus.
