Total pages in book: 362
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
“I will not engage.” His fingers drummed on the arm of the chair.
“That’s not what I’m worried about.” I forced my voice to level. “What if Kyn wants to engage?”
“I’ll back Ash and Lailah up,” Nektas decided. “With me and the draken loyal to Attes, he won’t be idiotic enough to come near Essaly.”
Hearing that was a relief, but I wasn’t sure about Kyn not being idiotic enough.
“There’s one more thing I didn’t get to,” Rhain added. “What you said about wanting those who have come to Lethe to have shelter?” He glanced between Ash and me, and then his chest rose with a deep breath. “I think it’s important that they hear that from you—both of you.”
“You mean like doing a public address?” I asked, my heart kicking against my ribs.
Rhain nodded.
My stomach twisted sharply at the mere thought of going before so many people. Walking the aisle during my coronation had been hard enough, knowing that everyone saw me.
“I can handle that,” Ash said, drawing my gaze.
“You can, of course.” Rhain paused. “But those who have come here have done so to see her. And they have done so at great risk.”
“And we are honored that they took that risk.” Ash’s tone had cooled. “I can convey that—”
“No,” I interrupted. My chest tightened even as my heart filled with warmth. I knew what Ash was doing. He’d likely picked up on my rising anxiety. He was protecting me. Seeking to ensure I didn’t get overwhelmed. While I was not the kind of person who gave speeches, and just thinking about it made me break into a too-hot sweat, I needed to get over myself. “We can convey that.”
“It’s not necessary for you to do this,” Ash insisted.
“But it is,” I said. “The people risked their lives to come here for us—”
“For you,” Nektas interjected, shifting Jadis higher on his chest. “No offense,” he said, directed at Ash.
“None taken,” Ash replied dryly.
“But sooner or later, they’ll start showing up here to see her,” Nektas continued.
Ash didn’t look thrilled with the prospect.
“Going before them and letting them know is the very least I can do, and I need to do this,” I added quickly, seeing his jaw harden. “Look, speaking and being all queenly in front of an entire city makes me want to barf.”
“Ew,” Bele muttered.
I ignored her. “But they need to see and hear me. If I can’t do that?” My face began to warm. “How will I be able to convince the Primals to support us or handle the ones that don’t?”
A muscle started ticking along Ash’s jaw as he held my gaze.
“She has a point,” Rhahar said.
Another moment passed with Ash’s gaze holding mine. “Are you sure?”
“I am.”
He exhaled heavily and then nodded. “Okay.”
I smiled at him. “Thank you.”
He gave me a small shake of his head, and I could tell that he was still concerned about me getting overwhelmed.
“When do you suggest we address the people?” I asked Rhain.
“I would say as soon as possible,” he said, looking between Ash and me.
Concern blossomed. “Are people worried they’re not welcome?”
“No,” Rhain was quick to assure me. “There is just some general nervousness. Many have been through a lot, and even those who were aware of you don’t entirely know what to expect.”
I nodded slowly, thinking it over. “Summoning the Primals is important, but I think assuring the people that they are safe and welcome here is a priority. It’s something I doubt Kolis would do.”
“You can count on that being correct,” Bele commented.
Ash shifted in his chair. “How long would it take for the City Hall to be secured and prepared for such an address?”
Theon looked at his sister. “What do you think? I’ll be in the Bonelands.”
After a moment, she said, “Tomorrow afternoon would be the earliest. It would be tight, but doable.”
I looked at Ash. “Can we postpone going to Vathi until the day after?”
“We can.”
My stomach twisted and dropped but I pushed past it. “Then we’ll address the people of Lethe tomorrow and then speak with Attes.”
“Sounds like we have a plan,” Ash said, glancing across the table at Rhain. “See to it.”
Exhaling slowly, I nodded as I looked around the table, hoping we—I—were making all the right decisions. I felt it was right when it came to prioritizing speaking with the people of Lethe, but everything else? Despite my instinct being more aligned with Bele’s strike-first mentality, I did believe that being cautious was the way to go.
But if I was wrong?
Blood would flow.
“It’s called the Valley of Blood,” Ash said. “The Red River used to run through here and, according to my father, was once as wide as an ocean. But long before I was even born, it began to thin out. What you’re seeing is the old riverbed.”
Seated astride Odin, my hand tightened around Ash’s arm. I could easily see where the valley, nestled between the city of Lethe and another sweeping wall of shadowstone, had gotten its name. The land, all but what appeared to be large, jagged outcroppings of shadowstone, was stained red. While that alone was shocking, it wasn’t what caused my lips to part. Nor was it the snowcapped mountains of Vathi that I could see in the distance. It was what occupied the crimson valley below.