Page 26 of Lies That Blemish
I askedElaine to tell Commander Ledger that we were entering into a one-week ceasefire with Imbria and to draft up an agreement and send it to Kohen to sign. Then I told her to get some sleep, as I was about to do. After about five hours of rack time, I showered quickly and met the admirals in the war room at Sky Reach for a meeting. The second I entered, the shouting began.
“What is with the ceasefire with Imbria!?” Commander Ledger demanded.
“We almost have them by the balls!” Admiral Caruso agreed.
Then, they all began shouting at once. I already had a headache.
“Quiet!” Elaine yelled, and everyone stopped speaking.
I sighed, knowing I couldn’t very well tell him I wanted to investigate reports of my own father trying to harm me. “I would like the people of Amersea to enjoy this reprieve, take some time to relish in the news of my engagement, and?—”
“Horseshit!” Commander Ledger shot. “You’ve wanted Badshah dead since day one of this war. Now it’s two months in, and I’m about to serve you his head on a silver platter. If you?—”
I reached out and grasped the sides of his jaw. “What did you just say to me?” I asked him.
His eyes widened so big I thought they might fall out of his head. He’d been disobedient and mocking for weeks now, and I was sick of it.
“Your job is to take my orders. You are temporarily relieved of duty, Commander. Go home for a week and enjoy your family.”
I released his face, and he staggered backward, stunned.
“Admiral Caruso will be acting commander until Commander Ledger returns in one week,” I told her and everyone else in the room.
She looked dumbfounded, but nodded.
Ledger went from shock to fury as he stormed from the room and slammed the door, his creature trailing behind him.
“Does anyone else have a problem following orders?” I asked.
“No, Empress,” came the resolute reply.
I left the room, unhappy with how I’d handled things. I didn’t want to be the leader who required blind loyalty, but too often, over the past two months, Ledger thought he controlled me and my decisions. He needed a slap on the hand.
Elaine stepped out of the war room, and I prepared myself for a lecture.
“Messenger got back a few hours ago while you were sleeping. Kohen signed the peace treaty. You have a week.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“You were too busy putting Commander Ledger on forced leave,” she said with a smirk.
I sighed. “I’m going to head to Riverine. Check on the girls.” I lowered my voice. “Did you have that stuff sent to the house from the storage unit?”
She nodded. “It should be there by the time you get there.”
“Want to come?” I asked her, gesturing to Liana.
She shook her head. “I have a few more things to deal with here. I’ll come check on you and the girls tomorrow?”
“Alright.” I slung my leg over Liana and took to the skies. By the time we made it to the house in Riverine, I was starving. I’d forgotten to eat breakfast after having slept in.
“Aisling!” Victory rushed out onto the lawn when she saw Liana land. I grinned, waving to the guard posted at the door as Victory leaped into my arms. Liana walked over to the forest behind the house, where I saw Valor’s new creature lying in the sun.
“Can you believe Val bonded a Talanagi? When can Virtue and I go? We want a dragon too!” Victory pouted.
I smiled at her. “When you’re nineteen, like everyone else.”
“No fair!” Virtue spat from the doorway. “Why should Valor get special treatment?”
