Page 188 of Salt in the Seas
With the ceremonial greeting complete, Enla and Gaeren left the dais and took their seats at the table closest to the king and queen. Enla purposefully ignored her normal position beside her parents’ council room chairs, and Gaeren couldn’t help the pleasure rising in him at his parents’ shock.
Gaeren’s sadistic joy dampened slightly when his mother’s face crumpled, as if the slight had been a personal rejection.
As the council room filled with royal advisors and progenies, Gaeren avoided catching his uncle Danton’s gaze, unsure if he could keep the knowledge of the man’s ongoing betrayal off his face. Instead, he focused on Tobias, wondering if he was yet another Recreant disguised as a Loyalist.
When his mother had trouble regaining her composure, Tobias bent over, adding something to her tea. Gaeren frowned, still bothered by the so-called healer’s tonics but unsure why. If Tobias was a Recreant, wouldn’t he have killed the queen by now? And if he wasn’t, what could it be other than calming tonics?
One of the advisors stood, and Gaeren winced, remembering him for his uncanny ability to drone on with a single monotonous tone. “We gather today to discuss the veracity of claims made by Emeris Wyndren and company, as well as Gaeren Elanesse.” He stuttered a bit over Gaeren’s name as if he knew the person accused of treason could one day be in charge of his position in the palace.
The formal evaluation of the progenies’ reports verifying the truth of Emeris’ and Gaeren’s testimonies grew long and dull. As Gaeren’s mind wandered, he recited his planned speech, wondering how soon he could make it without being too disrespectful.
It wasn’t until Enla nudged him awake that he realized he’d dozed off.
“Despite acknowledging the truthfulness of all their words,” his father said, “it doesn’t seem to be in the best interest of the Vendaran people to engage in war alongside these Recreants.” The words felt final, making Gaeren realize he’d missed significantly more than he’d thought.
“And how many of these Recreants are Vendarans?” Gaeren called out.
The room stilled, and despite knowing he’d spoken out of turn, he felt confident his words were the exact right ones that needed to be said.
His father chuckled as if tolerating the questions of a child. “Every single one of them.”
“So you would let your people be taken under the control of a woman known for using blood magic—a woman who recently enslaved you with it?”
His father’s face took on a shade of pink that bordered purple, reminding Gaeren that not everyone in the room had been privy to that detail. But he held his ground, waiting for his mother’s calming noetic skills to permeate the room. He warded them off, unwilling to let the peace she might give silence his words.
“Those same Recreants prepare a war on us,” his father ground out. “I will protect and defend those who are loyal.”
Gaeren leaned forward, tapping his chin as if contemplating a new idea even though he’d planned out every word. “I thought it was ourrole to protect and defend all Vendarans, regardless of loyalty. Wouldn’t protecting and defending them allow us to potentially regain loyalty?”
The king frowned. “You would waste all the resources we’ve built on people who would reject Enla as queen. By doing that, you would be setting her up with minimal resources when it came time for her to take the throne.”
Gaeren stood and shook his head.
While Enla closed her eyes, as if pained by his actions, she didn’t move to stop him, and she knew exactly what he planned to do.
“No, Father,” Gaeren said, making several around the room stiffen at his lack of formality in the council room. “I would utilize the resources you’ve built to stand behind these people while Enla is on the throne, so they in turn will stand behind her, allowing them all to work together to rebuild those resources. It’s what Enla would choose to do too, which is why I’m invoking my right as throne warden to claim her rightful place on the throne.”
The gasps and murmurs spreading through the room were expected, and Gaeren didn’t drop his eyes from his father’s. It could have been the small boy inside him longing for approval, but he thought he saw a hint of pride or maybe relief in his father’s eyes before the king guffawed and turned to Uncle Danton.
“He spends all his time out at sea and then suddenly returns and expects us to step down from the throne.”
Uncle Danton shifted uncomfortably. “Technically, he is within his rights. You can agree and save face, or you can contest the decision and potentially create a third battlefront. I will defend you to your death, but I cannot speak for the other soldiers faced with that decision.”
The king scowled at his throne warden, and Gaeren winced on his uncle’s behalf.
But then his father turned that glare on Gaeren. “You expect me to step down now, when you’re showing signs of making decisions that will ruin our nation?”
“I expect you to stand down out of respect for the laws that have put you in your position of power.”
“Where were you last summer when we offered it freely? Instead,you show up now, knowing the risk of putting Enla on the throne in her condition. You’re her throne warden. You should be looking out for her interests.”
“What do you say to this, Enla?” their mother asked.
Enla’s eyes fluttered open, her gaze too unfocused to put Gaeren at ease. But then her voice rang out loud and clear. “I support his decision. With Gaeren by my side, I think it’s the right move for the Vendaran people. You have both served this country well, and you’ve raised us to do the same. It would be an honor to take that burden from your shoulders and bear it on ours.
“Let me take your place with Croft. Enjoy the remainder of your life without the sorrows of leadership. Go to teas and parties. Spend time with your grandchildren.” Her face reddened, making Gaeren wonder if there was some announcement he’d missed. “Spend the rest of your days free of the burdens of the crown. Spend the rest of your time in peace.”
“And if we refuse?” the king asked, his anger no more abated by Enla’s beautiful speech than by his wife’s calming noetic skills.
