A Dawn of Onyx (The Sacred Stones, #1)(53)

Behind us was the exact spot where Bert had tried to assault me. Kane must have been in this very tent the night he heard my struggle. I shuddered, thinking of what might have happened had he not been there. Begrudging gratitude had blossomed inside me toward my training. Had I had a sword with me that night, and known how to wield it, I could have at least been able to fight back.

The tent was not at all what I expected upon entering. In the middle of the room sat a sizable textured map of Evendell, with various pieces representing each kingdom’s many battalions spread about. Leather chairs and furs in an array of sand and chocolate shades filled the rest of the space, as well as gothic lanterns and black taper candles that bathed the room in streaks of butterscotch light.

Men and women held copper chalices and ate cloverbread, chicken, and steak. Ginger, citrus, rum, and cloves wafted through the air, mingling with gardenia and lilac—the most common Onyx flowers, I’d discovered. The glowing lights made for a warm, pleasant ambience.

I realized, belatedly, that I was pressing my hands to my heart in awe, and… excitement.

Barney guided me over to Kane, sitting on a velvet throne. To his side was a man with dark skin and a strong jaw, whom I didn’t recognize.

“Lady Arwen, Your Majesty.”

Kane stood to greet me. Tonight, he was dressed as a true king—black robes, a few silver rings, hair slicked back, and a delicate crown of onyx branches encircling his head. He was breathtaking.

I swallowed any residual embarrassment at our almost kiss in my washroom yesterday, and greeted him with a simple curtsy. Kane examined me with a slow sweep from my boots to my black ribbon, a spark dancing in his eyes. I wondered if he noticed that I was dressed like one of them.

But his usual playfulness and charm were absent tonight. No flirtatious comments, no witty banter.

“I’m glad you could join us,” he said. “I’ll just be a minute. Please, sit.” He motioned to the plum velvet chair beside him before resuming a heated conversation with the man to his right.

I fought against the urge to look out at the small sea of nobles that filled the tent. Their eyes, curious but also territorial, bore into my back like the pointed ends of a hundred swords. Instead, I looked to my other side where my biggest fan, Griffin, sat. I wanted to ask him or Kane exactly what this was, but he, too, was entangled in a conversation I feared interrupting. I found myself wishing Barney was still here.

Staring at my hands, I turned my ears to the conversations around me. Kane was discussing the Opal territories’ peace treaty, but I could only pick up on a word here or there. The room was growing noisy and restless.

To my left, Griffin was engaged in a surprisingly jovial discussion with a beautiful blonde woman. It was fascinating to see Griffin laugh when he had always been so stoic around me. He actually had a warm and friendly smile when he chose to show it.

“Wild, right?”

I turned to Kane. “I think it’s the first time I’ve seen his teeth. Other than when he’s baring them at me, at least.”

Kane smirked, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Something was clearly on his mind tonight. “As I said, it’s not you, it’s me.”

I hummed my understanding but didn’t say more. Griffin and Kane might not have been brothers, but clearly, there was some deep-rooted, almost familial tension between them that I had no intention of getting involved in.

The commander in question stood, and the crowd of chattering dignitaries quieted, turning their attention to him. “Tonight’s forum is regarding the Opal territories,” he said. “Amber has been running soldiers through Opal’s Midnight Pass illegally. They’re getting to our men quicker because of it.”

My heart dropped into my stomach with a thud.

Oh, no.

My eyes flashed to Kane, but his were trained on his commander.

I wracked my brain for what I knew about the Midnight Pass, the treaty. This was information I had learned as a kid in childhood classes. Opal’s land was free and clear of any one ruler. It was a wild and rocky kingdom with many different groups and divisions. If I recalled correctly, decades ago the territories had collectively signed a peace treaty with the other eight kingdoms that declared them neutral in any wartime event.

Unfortunately, both Opal and Peridot were right in the middle of Amber and Onyx’s conflict. Soldiers from both sides had to go around via the Mineral Sea and the Quartz of Rose, both of which took much longer than just cutting a straight line through Opal.

My excitement at joining this forum had rapidly soured in my stomach, warping into grave concern. What would they do to the Amber soldiers? How ruthless would they be?

Or did they not care? Maybe it was Opal’s problem to deal with.

“Thank you all for joining us,” Griffin finished. “The forum is now open.”

Almost immediately a portly man with an impressive beard stood. “My King, I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again gladly. If Amber can break the territories’ rules with no consequences, so can we. Let’s get our men in there tonight. Even the playing field. There’s no time to discuss alternatives.”

The blonde woman sitting next to Griffin scoffed, standing up and facing Kane. Her eyes were pleading. “Your Majesty, with all due respect to Sir Phylip, Amber’s actions are not without consequence. My spies have heard that the territories are launching an attack on King Gareth any day now in retribution for using their land as a shortcut and going against the treaty. That will help our cause. Let us not end up on the receiving end of their fury, too.”