Page 46 of Apple Boy

“Moving on,” Madame de Belamine interjected, her scholarly voice raised like a schoolmistress.

To Mortdel’s left, a well-built woman in her middle years sat curling her finger nervously around a strand of her wild red curly hair. There was something about her that tickled me and made me smile. Her pale freckled skin was flawlessly smooth and when she spoke her tone was light as a wisp as if she was terribly shy.

“Amber Silverrich, my lord. I too am glad you were not lost in the Wide”, she said, a scarlet blush rushing to color her cheeks.

“It is lovely to make your acquaintance Madam,” I said.

“Oh, you can call me Miss, or Mistress. You can call me Amber if you like?” She said in a surprisingly friendly tone for such a formal occasion. I nodded.

“Amber it is then.” Amber put a hand up to cover her mouth, and to my surprise, she giggled like a little girl. Her laughter affected me in a peculiar way, and I had to straighten my spine and fix my booted feet firmly to the mosaic floor to prevent me rushing to her and gathering her in an embrace. I had never felt such an attraction to a female before and knew some kind of glamour was at play here.

The final councilor sat forward with his elbows on the table, fingers steepled. His face was round, and platinum blond hair was cropped tight to his head, giving him the appearance of a grown-up baby, but it was his eyes that gave me a start for when he fixed them on me I saw they were violet. “Mahon Darkemore’s the name,” He said.

“You hail from the Pasturelands?” I asked, surprised to hear an accent so similar to Adam’s.

“Aye. My people are Serein born, but my parents migrated to Cattershawe. Are ye familiar with it?”

“No, but my companion is.” I thought it was past time to introduce Adam. “Madam Chairwoman, councilors. It is a pleasure to meet you all. My uncle is correct. I do have a tale to tell and have traveled a long way to tell it. I would not be here if it were not for a man I am now happy to call my companion, Master Adam Sewell. I met Adam in the Pasturelands town of Mallowick. He saved my life and assisted me in finding my way to Serein.” I turned to Adam and gave him a nod. He stood self-consciously, and bowed to the council, then sat back down. He appeared to want to melt into his chair.

“Lord Ivon, you may be seated.” Madame de Belamine ordered. “So. Lord Winter, please tell us how you come to be in Sereinwithout the Trojan Star?” My uncle reseated himself, and I began my long, arduous telling.

An hour later I was exhausted, and the scribe looked worn out and disheveled as if he had just penned a vast tome, which I supposed he had. The expressions on the faces of the councilors were of shock, distress, confusion, and barely concealed anger. My tale appeared to have taken them all by surprise as if they had not anticipated such a treacherous move by the Twin Kings. Therefore, I was sure they were involved in ordering a shipment of slaves. That act of cruelty was all down to the malice of the kings.

“What do you believe is the purpose of sending such a divisive cargo?” Madame De Belamine directed the question at me. I pondered for a moment and then said,

“During my time on the ship, I did not know that there were issues between the Kings and Serein. My uncle has informed me of the fact you ousted the king’s men from the council, and they reside in the city gaol, therefore weakening the Crowns hold on the city.”

“Aye, that is correct.”

“I spent a month at the kings court in Altea, and was informed by my father that they are to be respected, and feared in equal measure.”

“Brioc is wise,” Madam De Belamine said, sitting back in her chair and steepling her fingers.

“Indeed. I saw how fearsome the kings are for myself. All walk on eggshells at their court. Kristoff and Fabian are… difficult company and have a penchant for cruelty. I saw many times that they would happily create an uproar to get what they wanted.” I winced, hoping my comments were not seen as traitorous.

“After discussions with my companions,” I said, gesturing to Adam, Ivon, and the Lovebirds. “The only conclusion I can come to is that Osia is seeking to reinstate their hold on Serein, and they are willing to go to war to do it.”

All of the councilors sat pensive and silent, but I could tell their thought processes were galloping ahead with the significance and consequences of the king’s actions.

“If all you say is true and the ship contains a cargo of dead slaves then it appears that, yes, you are correct, events are underway to inflame tensions in the Empire.” Madam de Belamine agreed.

“I rather think that is an understatement, Madame Chair, don’t you?” Bowe Copperstone cut in. “We know all-too-well how duplicitous Kristoff and Fabian are. I believe Lord Winter, and I accept as true that the slavery treaty was purposely broken. When word of this gets out, there will be bloody murder!” He said.

“Then we cannot let word of that cursed cargo be revealed. Who else knows of this?” Fetherwin Rainster demanded.

“Only those of us in this chamber.” I offered meekly, terrified of the man.

“Good. This information must be contained.”

“I concur.” Bowe Copperstone interjected. “But I would also like to add that if the ship is located, it cannot be permitted into the port of Serein. If we allow it to dock we are culpable for the contents of that cargo hold. The Great Council of Serein is, after all, named on the ships manifest as the recipient of that cargo.” He pointed out.

“I shall increase the number of guards at the port, and at the east and west gates in case Osia has other tricks up their sleeves.” Marcus Mortdel declared, his fisted hands clenching and unclenching on the tabletop. His face was red with repressed rage, and he looked like he wanted to jump from his chair and fight Fabian and Kristoff with his bare hands.

“Do you have any word of our vessels Spirea and Trillium returning to port?” Ivon queried.

“No news as of yet,” Mortdel replied gravely. “They were laden with supplies for two weeks at sea, and so I would hope for a bird any day soon. But—“ He paused dramatically, “We must decide first and foremost how to deal with the Trojan Star if and when she approaches Serein.”

“Agreed.” Madame de Belamine said.