Immortal Sacrifice, page 12
She looked good, like a queen—a warrior queen—one who didn’t need a dragon’s protection. She was going to make Cassian eat his heart out. His betrayal was a festering sliver. It grew more painful the more she pondered. She contemplated turning around and locking herself in her apartment for the rest of the night. Xiao is right, my people need to see me. If the noise coming from the hall is any indication, I would say the entire settlement showed up tonight.
She arrived at the main doors of the banquet hall. Two of Scandronn’s guards stood at attention on each side. Their faces lit up as Zamara approached. They pulled the doors back to allow her entry.
She paused in the entryway and scanned the room for Cassian…
There, in the corner, Cassian’s well-defined arms sprawled across the back of a lavish sofa. His white tunic hugged his shoulders and hung open around his chest, displaying large tribal tattoos that ran the length of his torso, up his throat and along the buzzed sides of his skull. He rolled his sleeves to just below his elbows, drink in hand, feet kicked up on the low table in front of him. Beautiful women in gossamer wraps surrounded him. He looked like he didn’t have a care in the world… and he was staring right at her. They locked eyes. She quickly turned away. Her face heated and her heart skipped a beat. He totally just caught me looking for him… and he is still staring at me! She bit her bottom lip and forced herself to stand proud.
She continued looking over the crowd.
On the left side of the room there were rows of buffet-style bars, filled with every kind of food Zamara could ever imagine. Some, she hadn’t even seen before, like the little round balls covered in what she could only imagine was caramel sauce. She promised herself that she would try some of those later.
Witches rushed in and out of the kitchens behind them, refilling bowls of meat, sides, and salads. In front of the food bars, there were round dining tables sprinkled throughout the area. Down the middle of the room was a wide aisle bordered by potted plants and life-size sculptures of the High Council. The aisle led up to a dais with eight golden thrones. A long table, laden with food and drink, rested lengthwise in front of them. On the right side of the room there sat a bar, lounge chairs, and a dance-floor.
Cello bass and drum-beats pulsed against her body. They tickled her ear drums and resonated down her torso. Heat blasted her in the face. The energy of the room was enthralling. So many bodies milled about. The banquet hall was not small, but it was full. Her breath quickened. Packed. Like sardines. The entire settlement must be here.
“You clean up well, your Majesty.” The guard on the right bowed his head.
She could feel Cassian’s onyx gaze drilling holes into her still. She sauntered over to the guard and rested her hand on his chest. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek, smiled coyly, and said, “Thank you.”
Then she dropped her hand and went to search for a drink.
Zamara watched Scandronn whisk Xiao off to the dancefloor as she perched on her throne. Nevrine, Boss, and Red were seated with her. The two chairs on either side of Zamara, where Cassian and Rose should be, were empty. So much for them putting on a united front.
The music died down as the band took a break. With a heavy heart, she swirled her wine around in her glass and answered questions for the villagers.
“My queen,” A rotund blonde man with an impressive mustache bowed at the foot of the dais. “I know that we have the guard and the Magai, but there is a group of civilians that wish to fight in the coming war.”
Zamara smiled, “Who told you that there would be war?”
“Nobody,” Mustache cleared his throat, “My queen, we just assumed that since the princess was taken—”
Zamara held her hand up and dragged herself to her feet. Silence descended over the hall. “—I understand many of you were not alive during the Great Wars of the Reckoning.” Zamara raised her voice. “I do not blame any of you for wanting to avenge your princess. I do too, and we will, but trust me when I say, war is our absolute last resort.”
“Why?” A young man shouted from the back. “We have an army of magik wielders, the guard, a dragon, you… maybe we should go to war.”
His outburst got a small group of cheers to go up in the room.
Zamara sighed, “Just because we have the numbers does not mean we should use them. We have those things for the protection of our lands and our citizens. Tell me, who will protect our women, children, and elders if I take our army traipsing all over Karth and back? Even so, where would I take them? We have no idea where they have gone.”
“Tell me,” Cassian stood, opening his arms to the civilians surrounding them. “Who will lead our people if you take our army traipsing all over the realm and back? Why do you automatically assume that you are going to be on the front lines? Why are you always so quick to place yourself in harm’s way? You are a queen. You do not need to be at the head of the army. That is why you have generals. You are more valuable here, with your people, they need you more.”
Murmurs floated through the room. Some of them agreed with him. Zamara hissed, “I am queen and Captain General. You would do well to remember that. I am a leader. That is what I am doing, leading. Which means being on the front lines. I will ask nothing of my soldiers that I, myself, wouldn’t do. You know that.” She glared. How dare he try to manipulate me into staying here and using my people to do it! I will not allow him to control me like this.
“We could protect the citizens!” Dante yelled from the back of the room. Of course, those two would have a hand in this.
“There will be no more talk of war!” Cassian silenced the room. “We have seen what wars do to people, to societies, many of you have not. I have watched once great civilizations crumble into nothing more than piles of dust. War is expensive. The price is not worth paying. War means pain and death. More death than most can stomach. There is no glory in standing knee deep in the body parts and blood of your brothers and sisters.” He locked eyes with her. “Only a fool would wish for war.”
The price is not worth paying for my sister's life! Sideon was right. He needs to be put down. I need some air. Zamara set her goblet on the table with a little more force than she intended, not trying to cause a scene in front of her people, but still wanting Cassian to know she was angry with him, she stood and glared at him until he broke eye contact. Then she turned and wandered through a pair of glass-doors stationed behind their thrones, out to the gardens.
Zamara came to rest by a fire pit, searching for answers in the flames.
None of my people will ever take me seriously if Cassian must always interrupt and undermine me. She understood her people’s desire to fight. They can’t feel safe after losing Rose from within these very walls. If only I had a general direction. Something to tell them. Rose and Kain could be anywhere. Who is to say they are even in this realm? Then there is the fact that Cassian has been withholding information from me... She couldn’t get what Sideon said about Cassian not letting her save Rose out of her head.
Music poured through the open doors as the band started up again. She heard dry grass crunch on the side of the building. Footsteps? She rested her hand on the hilt of her dagger and silently wandered to their source.
She didn’t find anything. Still, she couldn’t shake this gut feeling that someone was there.
Zamara poked around in the trees a little more. Nothing. She sighed and turned around to head back.
Cassian came tearing around the corner. She bounced off his chest. Her fists clenched as she tried to skirt by him. He sidestepped and grabbed her shoulders, directing her away from escape. Zamara ground her teeth.
The only way to get him to leave me alone is to suffer through whatever it is he has to say. She leaned against the granite wall and crossed her arms.
“Zamara, please.” He placed his hands on either side of her head, caging her in. “Just—talk to me. I can’t stand this rift that’s growing between us. What can I do to make this better?”
“You destroyed our only hope of getting Rose back.” Zamara narrowed her eyes. “Short of bringing her back yourself, there is nothing you can do that will make us OK. As far as I’m concerned there is no us.” Her voice wavered.
She closed her burning eyes and took a deep breath. A traitorous tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.
Cassian gently wiped it off with the pad of his warm thumb. He cradled her face in his ginormous hands and touched his forehead to hers. “There will always be an us, Zamara. The Fates have spoken. Our destinies are intertwined. We can’t control that any more than we can control the sunrise or the tides.”
He doesn’t want to be with me. The only reason he is, is because of the damn bond.
Her eyes snapped open, and she pulled away. “Is that all I am to you? A burden the Fates tossed at your feet that you begrudgingly babysit?”
Cassian’s eyes widened. “What? No. That is not what I meant at—”
“—tell me something, Cassian. When—When was it you just up and decided that it was your job to protect me?”
“I…” Cassian frowned and his jaw muscles ticked, “…I already told you.”
“Refresh my memory.”
“It was your father’s dying wish.”
“You’re sticking with that story, are you?” Zamara raised her eyebrows. “What would you have to say for yourself if I told you I know? I know you are the one who found me when I was a baby. I know that I somehow bound you to me. I know that you have been lying to my face for centuries. What I don’t know, and I would like to, is why?”
She quirked an eyebrow. “Are you my enemy, Prince Drake?”
Cassian narrowed his eyes. “Who told you?”
Zamara snorted. His nerve. Who told you? That is what he has to say for himself!
She wanted to kill him all over again.
She smiled sweetly. “Your wife.”
Cassian’s nostrils flared. He made a choking sound in the back of his throat and gripped her shoulders. “Zamara—no—please, let me exp—”
She punched him in the nose. There was a satisfying crack. His head snapped and he stumbled backwards. Blood spurt all over the front of them both.
Zamara stomped into the banquet hall looking like she just committed a murder.
Cassian, only a few paces behind her, didn’t look any better.
She was over it. Coming to this dance was a stupid idea. Her hand hurt. I’m going back to my ship.
She wound through the crowd on her way to tell her council goodnight. She was here for longer than an hour. She fulfilled her duty to Xiao. Now she needed to be alone with her thoughts.
As Zamara approached her chair, the main doors to the banquet hall sprang open. Dense mist obscured the doorway and billowed in. Some of the townspeople shrieked. All of them moved away as if they were afraid of touching it.
Her council materialized around her, weapons drawn, ready to battle some invisible force.
Zamara didn’t draw her daggers. Somehow, she knew he was here before the doors even opened. He was a spark of hope in her chest, a flutter in her stomach. It’s my amulet. They brought them.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” Sideon sauntered down the aisle with his arms spread wide. “Have no fear, your hero is here.”
Merida treaded behind him with a scowl on her face. Women and men of all ages whispered, giggled and ogled the twins.
They paused in front of the dais. Sideon looked her and Cassian over with a smirk. “Trouble in paradise?”
“You.” Cassian pointed his sword at Sideon and bared his teeth. “You had no right to tell her—”
“—the truth?” Sideon barked a laugh. “From the looks of your face, I’d say she thinks otherwise.”
Cassian took a menacing step toward the twins.
Sideon’s stormy eyes crackled. He popped his knuckles, one by one. He is brave or stupid. Zamara didn’t know which… a little of both.
Zamara dug her nails into Cassian’s bicep and yanked him back. “If you touch him, I will have you thrown in the dungeon to rot. Stand. Down. Soldier.”
That is the only warning he is going to get. I will be damned if these two and their pissing match costs me Rose.
Zamara drew her Khannas and pointed them towards the two men, addressing them both. “Do I need to remind you boys whose house you are in? You will behave.”
Sideon gave a sweeping bow and grinned. “I am here to serve, my queen.”
A gust of whispers blew through the room.
“She is not your queen.” Cassian flared his nostrils and turned to Zamara. “Those are human niceties. I am bound by no such things. I am here only to protect. Even if it’s from yourself.” He turned to the guards, “Enough with this madness. Capture the pirates and lock them up.”
Madness?
…So, we are playing it like this are we…
He thinks he can just muscle us around without our magik.
…Then he is a fool…
He should have known better.
…He deserves this…
Zamara sighed, “Have it your way.” With a flick of her wrist, she sliced a gash in Cassian’s peck.
Cassian looked upon her with horror, then understanding, and finally, resignation.
Three.
Two.
One.
She smiled and blew him a kiss. “Goodnight sweet prince.”
His eyes rolled back into his head, and he fell over.
“While I have my daggers out,” Zamara yelled over the din in the room, “Does anyone else wish to challenge my position?” She looked around with her eyebrows raised. Not a single soul. She put on a show of twirling and sheathing her daggers. “Didn’t think so.”
She turned to Sideon. “What changed your mind?”
“Well, the note says if we want Ander back, we need to return what we stole. As much as I hate to say it, right now, we need you just as much as you need us. You are the only option we have.”
Zamara nodded to him. I will take what I can get.
She addressed the crowd. “The Western Isles are here to help us get my sister back. They are under my protection. If anything happens to them while they are inside our walls, the perpetrators will have me to deal with. They are our guests. You will all treat them as such. Enjoy the rest of your night.”
“A show of good faith.” She turned to Sideon, smiled, and gestured towards Cassian. “I put the beast down.” She sauntered over to him, grabbed the lapels of his jacket, raised up onto her toes, and growled in his ear. “I am nobody's puppet.”
A handful of guards hauled Cassian to his rooms, where he would stay, snoozing off the effects of the oil Helga rubbed on the end of Zamara’s daggers before coming down to the dance.
The oil, a concentrated decoction Helga left in her rooms while she was away, was the equivalent of ten of her sleep tonics. Leave it to the witches to take something basic and turn it into a weapon. Zamara smiled to herself. I really love those hags.
Cassian would be out for a while. Helga assured Zamara that she would see that Cassian didn’t wake until Zamara wanted him to.
It would give her the chance to hash a plan out with the twins. They could get a head start without him getting in the way.
“Still thinking about your pet, love?” Sideon drew her from her thoughts.
His smile was nothing short of dazzling. Why does he have to be so beautiful? She frowned at him and pretended her racing heart had nothing to do with his charm, proximity, dimples, perfect hair, or his obnoxious use of the word ‘love.’
Damn him. Zamara clicked her nails on the tabletop in the council’s chamber. She swiveled herself and faced Sideon. He lounged next to her in Cassian’s chair. “Where is it?”
“I’m sorry,” Sideon smirked. “Where is what?”
Zamara grit her teeth. I’m not playing these games. She wrapped her fist around the pommel of her Khanna. “You know what.”
“We didn’t bring it.” Merida said, “It was the only way we could ensure our safe passage. Otherwise, how are we to know you won’t kill us the second we hand it over?”
“Mer! Why must you always spoil the fun?” Sideon said.
“Fun?” Merida smacked him on the back of the head. “My Ceterus is missing. You can shove your fun. If you will not take this seriously, you can leave.”
That. Right there. Merida is the only one who will take this as seriously as me. Still, I could have sworn I felt my amulet earlier. It must be with them.
“I second that.” Zamara walked to the bar and poured everyone a drink. “Anyone who cannot take this seriously needs to leave, now. This is your only out. After this, for the ones who remain, know one thing. From here on out, we are a team. No past discrepancies matter. The slate is clean. The only thing that matters is bringing our people home.” She placed a drink in front of everyone.
Then she grabbed a knife and held it to her palm. “I, Zamara Morgaiathan, Queen of the Mystic Lake settlements, declare war upon Kain. Until we get our family back and exact justice upon those who would do us ill, I pledge myself to this mission, and to my team. With my blood,” Zamara cut her palm and squeezed her fist over the table, letting her blood flow into a ceramic bowl in the center, “for the mission. Until we succeed, or until death takes us all.”
She dumped her drink into the bowl.
Xiao drew her dagger to follow.
“Zamara.” Nevrine cut in. “Stop, you have no idea what you are doing.”
“I know exactly what I am doing.” Zamara snapped.
A blood oath. Unbreakable only in death. She was binding them together for the common good. Otherwise, she didn’t trust the Western Isles not to slit her throat the second she acquired the Akashi Stone. Breaking a blood oath was enough to damn one’s soul to the Neverworld. It would deter them all from trying to kill each other.
