Fantasy of Fire (The Tainted Accords #3)(25)

Jovan strides into the room with Roscoe and Drummond in tow. Drummond is unhappy.

“Be seated. There is much to discuss,” Jovan commands. I stay where I am, waiting to see where everyone else sits. I lean against the table and cross my arms, eager to convey confidence despite my uncertainty. Roscoe looks up and sees my predicament. He whispers in Jovan’s ear.

“Tatuma Olina, welcome. Please take a seat next to Roscoe,” he instructs. The man next to Roscoe splutters in outrage. I imagine Blaine’s eyes are glittering too. He’ll also be displaced. Jovan ignores his men, obviously in no doubt the men will obey his order, despite their fury.

“I’ve invited the Tatuma to join my advisory for the duration of her stay on Glacium,” he says. He looks around the room expectantly. But it appears they advisors have been struck into shocked silence.

Eventually one rouses himself enough to voice his opinion. “You’ve invited a Solati to join the council?” This unleashes the predictable torrent of complaints.

“She’ll run straight to the Tatum!”

Jovan sits back and lets them have their say. But one comment catches his attention.

“This is preposterous! What would your father think?” a red-cheeked man shouts.

The king stands, fists on the stone table before him. “Might I remind you, Yate, that I am king—not my father. I strive to do my best to his memory, but you will remember who holds the throne. The Tatuma has graciously agreed to help us. She’s the most informed of us all.” He sits back down and gestures me to his right. I plant my feet.

“With respect, King Jovan, I will be sitting here.” I point to the seat in front of me. The one directly opposite him. It had occurred to me I wanted to assert my position here. I wasn’t one of Jovan’s men. I was the Tatuma of Osolis. And though it was unlikely I could rule, if I did, this would make me the king’s equal. I would sit opposite him, instead of displacing his own men and creating bad will.

Jovan studies me in that quiet, dangerous way of his.

“As you wish.” He gives a slight bow and I take my seat, straight-backed in the hard chair.

“I’m about to tell you something that will be difficult to believe. But for those of you who saw the young boy fly into the food hall last week, perhaps it won’t overly stretch your imaginations,” Jovan begins. “Do not make comment until I finish.”

This ought to be interesting. I only wish Blaine wasn’t about to hear all of this.

“The Tatuma has discovered a race of people living among the isles of the Great Stairway. They call themselves the Ire. They’ve survived on the floating islands for many generations using flying contraptions, called Soars. The boy you saw knew the Tatuma and came to warn her. This is how we learned of the Tatum’s betrayal.” Several of the men look my way to see how I’m taking this comment. Don’t they realize I hate my mother? I take no offense to Jovan’s words.

He continues. “Olina returned to the Ire with the boy and managed to convince their leader … Arox?”

“Adox,” I correct him.

“Managed to convince Adox to help,” he says with a nod to me. “Over the last week the Ire have removed the supports on the pathway to Osolis.”

There are murmurs at this news. I can’t discern the overall feeling.

“The Tatuma will be receiving weekly updates from the Ire regarding the army’s progress. She’s negotiated what promises to be an advantageous alliance between Glacium and this new community,” he says. “Unfortunately, during the removal of these supports, we believe Cassius—the leader of the Solati army—sighted the Soars.” I notice he leaves out the part where Cassius is my uncle. I know many of the people in the room will realize this anyway.

“How convenient that the leader of the army found out about the Ire,” Drummond says dryly.

Jovan opens his mouth to respond, but I cut in. “Drummond, I can understand your misgivings. Perhaps it would help you to understand if I explain that another of the groups dropped one of the wooden supports they were meant to be destroying and it gave us away. The noise alerted the Solati to our presence. During our attempt to return to the Ire we were spotted. I recognize you have nothing but my word on this. But I hope my actions in forging an alliance between Glacium and the Ire will go some way in securing the probation of your judgment.” I take a shaking breath, grateful I got that all out without fumbling.

“I’m interested to hear what you promised this Adox in return for our alliance,” Blaine cuts in. The man next to him nods fervently.

I don’t try to conceal my dislike of him. “Blaine, how nice to see you’ve returned from exile.” My voice is dripping with politeness. “I simply promised, on behalf of the king, that we would protect the Ire from Osolis.”

“She says ‘we’ like she belongs here,” one whispers. I feel my face burn under the veil.

Jovan holds up a hand. “The problem of war is solved for now—though delayed, not ended. The Tatuma and I agree that the Tatum will not stop now she has shown her hand.”

“We need to attack while they’re not expecting it. Set fire to their world. That’s the sure way to finish this for good,” the man next to Blaine blusters. I’m so outraged I see red for half a second.

“Gerden, what do you think happens to ice when it melts?” Jovan asks quietly. I simmer in my seat. My hands are in tight fists. I uncurl them and place them flat on my thighs.