Defiance (Rise of the Iliri Book 3) (22 page)

Chapter 24

"So what about this hunt you had, Your Majesty?" Otso asked.  "Weren't your Conglomerate friends supposed to protect you from harm?"

Dominik actually laughed in his face.  "I'd say it worked pretty well, Otso, unless you think me walking into a council meeting the same day as an attempt on my life, is a failure?"

"Good point, sire," Otso agreed.

"So what exactly happened?" Marcu asked, glancing at Sal, "And I'd like to hear it from the King."

Dom lifted his glass.  "Terric sent an envoy.  They arrived late last night and demanded to be seen.  The woman of the group made obvious advances at me, but the Ahnor made me aware that her skills were likely not those of the bedroom.  The grauori slept by my door last night for extra security.  This morning, Jayel..."  Dom glanced away, pausing for a moment.  Sal realized that the King had probably not experienced much death around him.  Bracing himself, he continued.  "Jayel asked me to take her hunting.  I notified the Kaisae, and we put together a small party, including most of the Terran envoy."

He lost his train of thought again, looking at the ground, so Marcu asked, "And?  What made them attack you, sire?"

When Dom rubbed at the bridge of his nose, Sal stood, taking his hand.  "It's ok, Your Majesty.  This is normal.  Breathe."

He looked down into her pale eyes, thanking her silently.  "I'm ok if I skip over it all, Sal.  It just happened so fast.  I don't know how you can do it."

"Practice, sire.  It gets easier," she assured him.

"She's not lying, sire," Ilija said behind her.  "I spilled my guts the entire day after, and anytime I thought about it for the next week.  You're doing good, Majesty."

Dom nodded, and took a few deep breaths before he could continue, but he refused to let go of Sal's hand.  "We saw a grauori caught in a bear trap.  I asked the Kaisae to release him – my way of thanking the grauori for their assistance guarding me, you know?  While she did that, it's like the Terrans began pulling away.  She released the wolf, but when she turned to come back to us, the supposed historian shot her with a crossbow he carried for game.  I don't know how you lived through that, Sal.  I thought it was a clean shot."

"My armor, sire.  It's a special polymer blend with almost microscopic links.  I'd never tested it against a bolt before."

"So," Dom went on, "that's when everything started to happen at once.  I tried to turn my horse and pull away when Sal yelled at me to get down.  I saw her running at me, then felt my shoulder go numb.  I fell off.  I think I knocked myself out, because when I came to, it was too quiet.  Sal came back shortly after, covered in blood," he glanced at her quickly, "and she refused to let me move."  Dominik shrugged, finally releasing his grip on Sal.  "The details of the fight, you'll have to get from them.  The physician said the bolt hit a nerve bundle and I likely landed on my head."

"Safest thing for you?" Cillian joked, lightening the mood.  "So what did he miss, Sal?"

She patted the King on the arm, moved back to her chair, and curled into it before speaking.  "The man claiming to be a historian moved like an assassin and had calluses from gripping a garrote, not a pen.  The woman referred to as the daughter, or Jayel, was the more skilled of them.  She was trained in Escea, most likely Rokish -"

"How do you know all that," Lord Piet interrupted.

"Her skin was dark, but she smelled of nutmeg.  Her square jaw and the style she wore her hair, both were typical in Rok.  From what little I saw of her combat abilities, such as how well she managed to hit her mark even with Jase's knife in her back – that's typical of their training.  They have a dislike for blades and prefer ranged weapons.  Most likely she also had a supply of poisons in her rooms."

Cillian nodded.  "She did."

"Jase engaged her, and I disarmed the historian.  Both assassins were killed in our attempts to render them harmless.  The older man tried to stop the stable hand from reaching the Palace and calling for help.  The grauori stopped him, and Jase tried to question him, but he was uncooperative."

"He had his throat ripped out, Sergeant," Lord Piet said looking at her.

"Yes, and I'm sure that's not all.  His life became forfeit the moment he tried to harm
my
king.  I gave Jase orders to extract information.  The only thing he was able to get from the man is that the Terric Empire considers Anglia a lost cause, and they seek to usurp her people as their own."

"Why weren't you there when they brought the King back?"  Otso wanted to know.

"I returned to the Palace to check on the status of the two Terran guards still here.  If it was my mission, I would have activated them shortly after we'd left, causing enough destruction to prevent assistance to the King.  Evidently, Terric was not that thoughtful, but Ilija's men had already detained them.  I had already seen the King and knew that his injuries, while extremely painful, were not life threatening.  I also knew that a meeting would be called, and I felt it would be in good taste to present myself with a bit less blood on me.  You have no idea how hard that is to get out of your hair, either." She smiled at the noble sweetly.

Cillian laughed.  "And white hair at that."

Sal shrugged, pretending innocence as she checked on Dom.  He was pale but seemed to be holding up well.  He caught her looking and smiled back, assuring her that he was still managing.

"I'm not sure if you all realize this," Cillian said softly to Marcu, Bjan, and Otso, "but Terric just sent a trio of assassins into our court and attempted to assassinate our king.  That's an act of outright war."

Dominik nodded behind him.  "I have reasons to believe that their complaints about the iliri are nothing more than a ruse for their intent to conquer the entire continent."

"What reasons are those?" Marcu asked.

"Elius Claudiu mentioned that the Emperor could improve our nation's prosperity, and that living together as a combined nation would benefit both of our people.  Things like that.  Jayel kept saying that she could help me restructure the country to be more modern – like the Empire."

Sal sighed and shook her head.

"I'll double his guard, Kaisae," Ilija whispered behind her.

"Why?" Otso asked, overhearing the comment.

"Because, Lord Aulis," Ilija replied, "there are only three reasons an assassin makes mistakes like that.  She wanted to give us a reason for war, which is the most likely, or she was only the distraction, which is too possible to overlook."

"Or?" Marcu asked

It was Sal who answered.  "They were scouts.  Worst case scenario?  Terric doesn't want an alliance; they want to take over your country.  They don't care if that's through marriage, assassination, or both.  Most likely, that envoy was sent here to determine just how big of an army Terric will need to crush Anglia against these mountains you love so much."

"Or," Ilija said softly, "they wanted to make sure the one moving toward us is big enough.  The envoy would be disposable." 

"I think you chose well, Sal," Dom told her.  "I'll have the queen's suite – it connects to mine – cleared, and we can move the grauori over?"

"I think that's probably the best, sire," she said as she reached out for Jase's mind. 
What's the status of the guards, killer?

They did na anticipate today's attack, but they were planning ta do somethan tomorrow.  The details differ, but both have feelings a the King's demise tomorrow.  Their minds are slippery, kitten, warped in ways that do na make sense ta me.  They feel they deserve somethan, and they despise me fer my pale skin – that much is clear.  The undertones are amusement at playing politics with such an archaic nation, and somethan 'bout the Anglians respecting 'em.  I can na put it inta words, but they are sure the Empire will be ruling Anglia soon.

"Jase says the guards are confident that Anglia will soon be under imperial rule," Sal mentioned causally to the King.

Both Dom and Ilija's heads snapped over to her but for different reasons.  Sal shrugged.  "How are your combat skills, sire?"

"Rusty.  I had some training in my youth, but nothing more than any country boy.  Why?"

"Because Anglia has two options.  Ride to war, or wait for war to come to us."

"Us?" Lord Piet quipped.

"Yes, Lord Piet.  Us.  I will stand here beside the King and am more than willing to give my life for him.  I doubt
you
could say the same.  Get your ego under control already and realize the severity of this situation."

Lord Piet glowered at her but nodded.

"Dom?" Sal tried again.  "I want you to book an hour each evening with Ilija and Hwa.  I'll have Jase stop in too when he can.  I need both of you," she said, glancing at Ilija, "able to at least defend yourselves."

Ilija dipped his head in understanding.  "Hwa's already given me praise, Kaisae.  I'm sure we can catch the King up quickly, although, I can't say as I've ever sparred with a noble before."

"Don't treat him as a noble that hour.  He's a private, and one that needs to learn fast."

"Yes, sir."

Dom cleared his throat and stood, pulling all eyes to him.  "I'm declaring war on Terric.  We will not seek them out, but I want the country mobilized and war-time spending in place.  I want to increase the military and give the Kaisae the tools she needs to prepare the country in advance.  This is not a request.  I will fill out the papers and have them here tomorrow.  Each of you will sign them, or you will be replaced."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Cillian answered.

"Is that wise?" Otso asked.  "Can we afford it?"

"We can't afford not to," Dominik told them.

The nobles all nodded in understanding.

"When that's done, try the Terran guards for attempted regicide.  I'm also sending a request to the Conglomerate, seeking aid.  I plan to suggest an alliance with them.  I believe that our Kaisae's actions have more than demonstrated the faith we can place in our neighbors.  We already have a treaty with Myrosica.  Sal, how would I get notice to Viraenova?"

Her eyes unfocused for a moment when she reached out to Jase again,
What do you know about Viraenova?

Na that much.  Why, kitten?

The King would like to make diplomatic moves toward them seeking an alliance.

Maast, ok.  They're heavily Iliran, but na accepting of outsiders.

Roo's voice broke in. 
I overheard, Kaisae.  Send the grauori.  We walk freely over the mountains.  We're welcome there.  Worau's pack owes you a favor.  If you choose, they'd do it.

Thank you, Roo.  That's what I needed.  Can you start arranging it?

I can try, Kaisae.  I can not promise she will listen to me, but I'm willing to try.

That's all I can ask, Roo.

Dom watched, aware she was focused on something else.  Sal gave him a reassuring smile and said, "I know a pack of grauori that can help you there.  Viraenova may choose to ignore you, but if you send Roo's old pack leader, they'll at least hear it."

"You can't send beasts to deliver an offer of alliance!"  Otso sputtered.

Sal laughed.  "You've never been to Viraenova have you?  It's a warped form of Iliran, the country's name.  It means new life.  Rumor says the populace is pale.  The grauori know it as a safe place.  Sending humans in there is a good way to meet with closed doors, but showing you respect all of your countrymen?  Who knows.  The Conglomerate has sent multiple ambassadors, and all have returned without being allowed through the gates."

Dom nodded.  "Can the grauori arrange it for me?"

"We can try, sire.  I am pretty sure they won't rise against you, at any rate."

"That's good at least.  Ok, Sal, get that started.  Is there anything else I can do to help our relationship with the grauori?  The Terrans didn't seem to know of their existence and completely accepted my stories about them."

"I'll ask the mutts, sire.  I suggest posting laws prohibiting the hunting of them as a start.  I know you've made it known, but grauori can read.  They slip through cities and towns more than most humans know."

"Good.  Cillian, get that in place and then this council is closed.  Thank you all for coming, and I will see you tomorrow.  I'm afraid my endurance is not what I would like," Dom admitted.