“There is more, I assume?” Although said with a slight scowl, I was impressed. The more we included taxes, tariffs, and travel restrictions to ships using our port, the more camouflaged the intent of self-protection issue became—the real reason for the treaty. Dire needed to forestall any invasion from Kondor until my father was fully recovered and we had time to prepare for war or an invasion.
“Unless you wish the verbiage changed to restrict all travel by those arriving from Kondor,” Lady Grace added.
I leaned forward, “And for all ships that have made a port of call in any Kondor port in the last year.”
Soren blurted out, “They won’t stand for that.”
I turned to him and in my coldest voice said. “Dire does not care.”
Soren shrank back as if struck by my fist. “Yes, Princess.”
“Also, I want more sanctions. Restrictions and limitations of goods shipped from Dire, as well as travel to Kondor by our citizens, for example.” They were incapable of speech at that moment. I decided to give them a positive stroke. “You will also add that any trade agreement may also open new markets for them in Angor and Palladium, as our existing treaties provide, but do not guarantee. However, being a friend of Dire is a valuable asset.”
They sat wordlessly.
I stood and held up the treaty they had worked so hard on and was now worthless. “I’ll take a good look at this, and in the meantime, you will modify it to meet those additional items we’ve discussed.”
They stood as one.
As they reached the door, I added, “In case you haven’t heard, the Gallant has turned south and is sailing to Vin and then on to Dagger. The storm has passed. We should be there in two days at most.”
It was clear the information was new to them since they’d been locked in their cabin of an office all day working on the treaty. It was also clear there was a new respect in their eyes and attitudes, at least it was new to me.
After they were gone, I thought about the meeting and tried to decide if I’d been fair, a bitch, or a strong woman with a tough mission. In the end, all three might have validity. I puffed my chest out like a baby bird after its first flight from the nest.
Later, while strolling the deck and watching the sea to the south to make sure the storms didn’t reappear, I missed Kendra terribly. Damon too, but not in the same way. Kendra and I were young women who could share experiences that a man wouldn’t understand—or if he did, I wouldn’t talk about them to him. It’s just life. He holds a separate place in my heart that Kendra will never share.
When I was finished walking, I went to the starboard railing near the stern of the ship, where the upper decks were supported by the wall with the door to the inside passage. There were at least three nearby places for someone to stand and be unobserved. As hoped, Will was at one of them, and I moved closer to him, but not too close. If anyone took notice, they would see two people on the same rail, but not standing together.
He looked out to sea, as I did. He spoke without turning his head, “I saw your three clerks leave your cabin. They were intent and didn’t seem too happy.”
“I think we came to an understanding and perhaps I gained a little respect.”
Will smiled, just the merest expression of approval and one I needed to confirm my actions. He continued to look off to the horizon. “No Wyverns in sight.”
That was odd. I’d expected to see many of them. The four mages had drawn their powers of magic from somewhere, and if there were no Wyverns, where did it come from? I didn’t know. We supposed that Essence is there in Wyverns, but in far smaller quantities than true-dragons. “Maybe they all flew away when the mages drowned, and the ships sank.”
“Maybe,” he said noncommittally.
The thing about Will was that while I thought I’d hired him, my father had first, and I didn’t know him well enough to tell when he knew the answers and when he didn’t. Not that I distrusted him. Just the opposite. However, he rarely shared more than the very basics of anything. He usually did when he had something important to say otherwise said nothing. “Okay, there are no Wyverns. What are you thinking?”
He ignored me for a time, as he gazed out to sea. Then, as if he’d gathered his thoughts about him, he faced me. “I’m an ‘appointed’ royal, not one by birth, as you know. I also live apart from the palaces and castles of Dire. I have my lands to oversee.”
“I know all that.” I was not rude but understanding. He was attempting to share something and prefaced it, so I’d understand.
“People talk to me, and around me, that won’t say anything if a royal is near. There is no need for proper speech or the rigid protocol. They understand I’m one of them, only elevated for my lifetime.”
“I assume that they’ve told you many things they wouldn’t share with a royal?”
“At times. I heard someone say that he once overheard mages talking. One said using Essence from Wyverns was like trying to chop down a hundred-year-old oak with a little knife intended to clean fingernails. It can be done but takes a while.”
“Then, how?”
“Essence in quantity only comes from true-dragons.” He made the statement with finality.
I gave him a moment to reconsider. When he didn’t, I added, “All this is new to me, but my information says there is only one true-dragon left in the world.”
Will said, “That would mean whoever controls that dragon controls the world of magic. All of it. From what I hear, that would be your servant, Kendra.”
That took me back, mostly because of what it inferred. It couldn’t be true because Kendra was my friend, my best friend, and I trusted her completely and without reservation. If what Will suggested held any truth, and it did, there must be a flaw in the other information. “It might be that there is another source for Essence.”
“If so, I haven’t even heard a rumor of it,” Will retorted as if he had heard all rumors and my suggestion was silly.
I fought down my temper and answered coolly, “Then consider this. If there is a secondary source of Essence or another manner of obtaining it that is controlled by the mages and sorceresses, do you think they might keep it a secret from the likes of us?”
He didn’t answer for a few beats, which made me believe he was considering my suggestions—even if not believing them. Finally, he said, “You know? There is something that has tickled at the back of my mind. I’ve always wondered why the mages are so public in their activities, but the sorceresses remain in the background, yet they are always nearby.”
“Meaning?”
“It just doesn’t fit with what I know of women. So, I’ll ask you. Does it appear that sorceresses intentionally downplay their powers? And if they do, why is that? Wouldn’t you think one here and there would stand out in her actions?”
Now it was my turn to consider his thoughts. After allowing it to meander around in the forefront of my convoluted thinking, I came to a few conclusions. “You have an interesting point to think about and may have put your finger on something important. However, any thoughts that Kendra may not be doing her best to support me are in error, if there are any. The idea of an alternate source of Essence is a possibility we should consider.”
“I appreciate your loyalty to your servant and want to assure you I had no such thoughts. We share a common problem. Neither of us knows enough about magic, the goals of the mages and sorceresses, or even dragons.”