Page 78 of City of Snakes
No resentments.
They looked at each other. Fenris returned his gaze to me and said, “There is talk of unseating you.”
My blood went cold. “Unseating?”
“The people in Luz are receptive to my and Asterie’s presence since they’ve experienced how Source-wielders can help them,” Fen answered. “But the nobles outside the city have not witnessed it firsthand. Lord Haward is rousing support with surrounding regions that would rather see the Order be maintained, and now, with Emmerick’s backing, Bringham is leaning that way too.”
My friend would not send a dagger to harm me. He wouldn’t turn against me.
“You still have the Nadiars’ support, and Sheffield has sung your praises,” Asterie added. “We hold the majority. All isn’t lost, Sybilla—we’ll see this through, but we need to be cautious and not cause a stir.”
She squeezed my arm reassuringly.
“Not yet, at least. We don’t have the law on our side. Regulation still prohibits Source-wielders, prohibits any use of magic…They have a case for unseating you should we continue to use it in Luz.”
“Fuck that.” I pushed past them and burst through the double doors of the dining hall.I’d had enough of men deciding the fate of my Corridor.
Met with a bright sunlit room that would have been cheery if I wasn’t so pissed off, I squinted. The tall domed ceilings were painted with creatures of the sea, and a driftwood chandelier hung above a large pine table that had maps sprawled across it.
“Queen Sybilla.” Sheffield greeted me with a smile.
“One moment, I must address my former Constable,” I gritted through my teeth as I walked past Sheffield and straight to Emmerick. He stood on the far side of the room, speaking with Haward and Barden. They shouldn’t have even been involved in these proceedings.
Their backs were to me, and they faced a large window that overlooked a small sand beach below the sea cliffs.
“Look at me,” I growled. Emmerick turned to meet my gaze with a sigh.
Haward wore a smug expression that I wanted to slap from his face. “Cousin,” he greeted.
“Queen Wymark,” I corrected him with a pointed finger, but my eyes never left Emmerick’s.
When had the boy I’d once confided in become the man who now sided with those who opposed me?
Haward chuckled and whispered, “Not for long, I hear.”
It took every ounce of restraint not to shove him away from us. Instead, I found my mind reaching out to Haward—searching his infuriating thoughts.
Surely Caym had made Haward an envoy. It had to be him. But all I felt from my cousin was his usual greedy desire to see me fall, his envy and his insecurity.
Keeping my attention on Emmerick as my cousin continued to stand stone-still, I finally asked, “Why?” It came out in a whisper.
Emmerick shrugged. He looked too nonchalant, too unbothered.
My gaze narrowed.
“We decided that the Central Corridor needed a stronger ruler should the North Corridor remain its ally. And we will put one there through force, if necessary.”
“Are youhearingyourself, Em?” I spat back, my voice rising.
Emmerick seemed devoid of emotion.
This was not him.
He rested his hand on the sword I knew he’d named after me, and something inside me snapped. “You don’t mean this.”
In my despair, my mind slipped from Haward’s, and he finally surfaced, glancing around as though startled.
“We don’t all get the luxury of doing things for ourselves, Sybilla. My peoplerequirea more powerful Central ally, and I will have to compromise to obtain it.” Emmerick stared me dead in the eye as he spoke my own words back to me.
