Rayne and his party had arrived back at the hotel just minutes after him and Eno, where they’d taken turns telling the events of their day. It had looked as if Rayne had to physically bite his tongue to keep from losing his temper at the news of the Safa encounter. Caelan had not been quite so restrained in hearing about their fight with Nanu and follow-up meeting with Yash.
But when the dust finally settled, they found themselves with two potential options—one of them clearly better than the other.
“I’m not arguing that it’s a good idea, or even a sane one,” Rayne replied tartly. He turned his head toward Eno, his lips pressed into a hard line as he drew in a harsh breath through his nose. “But I think we should at least discuss it if the High Luminance immediately turns down Caelan’s request for access to the city. In the blink of an eye, our two options could become one.”
Caelan reached up and unfastened the damn cloak he was still wearing. He’d been in the process of removing it when Drayce returned, and it had been completely forgotten when he heard they’d spoken to Yash after Drayce drank poison. The loss of the heavy fabric brought some relief to his tense shoulder muscles. He tossed it across Drayce’s face just to get his friend to bluster a bit as he turned his attention to Rayne.
“The agreement to stop moving KoD in Caspagir is nice, but I can’t say I trust any promises all that much, considering Yash and Kamal are engaged in illegal smuggling.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his black slacks and frowned. “I appreciate the idea of Zastrad being open to move trade and communication with Erya. But regicide? That’s what we’re talking about, Rayne. Killing a country leader we have never actually met? What if the High Luminance is a good leader? What if they’ve done a lot of positive things to care for their people?” Caelan tossed a hand into the air and shook his head. “Even if they haven’t, it’s not our place to dictate who gets to lead Zastrad.”
“Are you saying that you wouldn’t kill Emperor Naram Suen?” Drayce inquired.
Caelan huffed at the mention of the New Rosanthe leader. “Killing Suen has nothing to do with saving the people of New Rosanthe and everything to do with getting justice for the people of Erya.”
“And revenge for the murder of Queen Amara,” Eno grumbled.
Caelan didn’t reply. He wasn’t supposed to seek revenge. He was the King of Erya, and he needed to be above such petty things. But he wasn’t, and it was ridiculous to deny it. He closed his eyes and pushed away many of the ugly thoughts and feelings that swam to the surface at the mere mention of New Rosanthe and his mother’s death. He needed to think clearly and not act on emotion.
“The point is,” he started again when he was feeling a little calmer, “that Erya has no stake in the leadership of Zastrad. It is not our place to get involved in their political squabbles, even if they could benefit us down the road. We wouldn’t do anything to affect the leadership of Ilon or Caspagir. We won’t do anything to change the leadership of Zastrad.”
“Even if it is done in the name of protecting all of Thia?” Rayne quietly argued. “The Goddess of Life is the one directing you to the godstone and Nyx.”
Caelan was already shaking his head. “Is there anything that can’t be thrown under that logic?” Sliding his hand to the dagger sheath at his waist, he deftly withdrew the knife and pointed it at Eno’s chest. The razor-sharp silver edge caught the low light in the room and winked at him. “If Eno disagrees with our plan, I could kill him in the name of protecting Thia because he was trying to divert us from our course.”
Rayne flinched and straightened in his chair. His jade green eyes were wide behind his glasses and locked on the blade. He swallowed hard but didn’t speak.
“Our desperate situation is not lost on me, but we must be able to draw lines in the sand. We must hold to some belief, and for me, it’s that innocent life is still sacred. It must be protected.” He lowered the blade, tucking it away in the sheath again, a knot of tension already untangling in his stomach. “If we think that killing the High Luminance is our only option, we’re not trying hard enough to look for other solutions.”
His advisor immediately jumped to his feet and bowed low. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. I should have known this was an unthinkable option, and I never should have brought it before you.”
Caelan closed the last couple of feet between them and placed his hand on Rayne’s tense shoulder. He lightly squeezed the hard muscles there and pushed until Rayne straightened. “You’re doing your job. Examining all our options and angles. There may be a day where we must cross certain lines, and we need to feel free to discuss those things. If I’m to be tested during my reign, I’d rather first be tested by you.”