Fantasy of Fire (The Tainted Accords #3)(10)
He sniffs and looks away. “It doesn’t seem you do. You know everything about me, Willow. My family, my job, my ambitions. What about you? You met Crystal when fighting in the Outer Rings. You have a friend who you’d risk capture by the king’s watch for,” he says. He looks back at me with blazing eyes.
Hamish doesn’t know this “friend” was really my brother, Olandon. I’d raced from the Ire to save him from Jovan. Looking back, I wonder if I wasn’t just waiting for an excuse to return to the castle.
“Where were you born? Do you have siblings? What’s your favorite meal?”
He won’t be happy with a few vague answers. I remove my hand from his. I know I’ll just end up hurting him, so it’s better if I go. “I'm sorry things couldn’t be better between us. If my secrets only affected me, I’d tell you everything,” I say.
He watches with a cold expression as I strap myself back into the Soar. So much for spending time with a friend. It would’ve been nice to forget all the problems surrounding me, even for a couple of minutes.
I give a sad smile and drop off the side of the rock into open air.
*
I pace around the small, stone-circled fire pit while Isha makes the morning meal the next day. I’ve spent my life hiding this kind of emotion, but if Adox doesn’t agree, I’ve got nothing left to give. Isha and Cris exchange more than one glance at my jerky behavior.
I’ve just sat down, but I shoot to my feet when Adox lands. His face gives nothing away. It’s grim. But whether it’s because he’s planning to deliver bad news, or grim with fear about his decision to help, I can’t tell. I keep my breath shallow as he approaches, remembering to keep my hands loose.
I knew the consequences before, but as he approaches, it hits me how much hangs on his decision. How many people will die unnecessarily—how many of my friends and family will be slaughtered. And how the worlds will be forever changed if my mother gains rule of both Glacium and Osolis. So I’m grateful when Adox gives me his answer straightaway, in his direct manner and with four simple words.
“We are with you,” he says.
I release a shuddering breath. “Thank you.” I nod deeply. “I don’t think you understand how many people you have just saved.”
His lips regain their tightness. “If the Ire is found out, I hope you realize how many people I might have killed.”
Though I would never say the words out aloud, I did think he was incorrect about how his people would be treated afterwards. Maybe the thought was more a wish on how I wanted to be treated if my secret ever got out. I nod again. “I do.”
He gestures with an arm. “Then I imagine we should begin.”
We convene at the Meeting Island. Adox was busy planning before he came to Isha’s. The tent seems lighter than yesterday when I’d uncovered my face. Perhaps my relief is playing tricks on me. There are nearly thirty of the Ire gathered in the huge tent. Hamish is one of the Ire folk here, sitting and talking to a blonde woman from the Nursery Rock, whose name I forget. Adox also sent a scout the previous night to pinpoint the Solati’s current position.
Everyone fixes their eyes on Adox as we walk to the raised seat opposite the entrance. Adox stands in front of his cushioned chair, but doesn’t sit, while I hover awkwardly at his side, uncertain of Ire protocol.
He raises a hand and people begin to hush. Their words don’t vanish from their lips as they do when Jovan demands silence. Adox clears his throat and I see he’s nervous. I can imagine why. I doubt the information he’s about to impart will be well received.
“The people in this tent have been hand-selected for an important mission. A mission which will save many lives,” he begins. “Each of you were chosen because of your knowledge of the pathway between Osolis and Glacium, for your skill with Soaring and for your bravery.” I hold back a smile as I see his flattery is working on at least half of the audience. I tuck the trick away for future reference. A low murmuring starts after his words. He waits until it dies down to speak again.
“I know you’ve wondered at the tension between Willow and myself of late,” he says. A few people exchange glances. “Willow came to me three days ago and asked for my assistance in stopping the Solati army from reaching Glacium.” He barely gets the last word out before the gathering erupts. I keep my face expressionless as fingers are pointed in my direction. It takes me a moment to realize not everyone is protesting. Some are shouting agreement. A few hover between the two states. I feel eyes on me and look over at Hamish. His stare is fevered and an excited grin covers his face.
This time Adox enlists the help of the two large bodyguards always at his side to bring the assembly under control.
“But why should we help them? Who is she to ask this of us?” someone from the entrance shouts.
Adox glances at me, double-checking on the story we decided upon. “Willow has a position close to the king of Glacium,” he says. “Do not think I agreed to this with ease. Until an assurance of our safety was brokered, I refused. Willow has now been able to provide such a guarantee. If caught, which is a small risk, the Ire is assured of protection in return for their aid. With this oath, I have decided we will give aid. My conscious will not allow the slaughter of defenseless thousands,” he says. The majority of people are silent at his words. His speech was cleverly done.