“Wait for me upstairs,” Stefan said.
Thania nodded, and he reluctantly released her hand. She strutted away from him in that seductive, swaying walk of hers. “I’ll be waiting,” she said with one last look back at him as she reached the stairs.
Taking a deep breath, he headed downstairs. The night’s events made him suspect a few things about Galiana, but first he wanted to hear her explain why Ashishin were at his home. He touched his sword’s hilt. When he stepped into the training room, Galiana was waiting near its center apparently lost in thought.
“Shouldn’t you be outside keeping watch?”
“No need,” Galiana answered. “They won’t return.”
“How do you-.” Stefan stopped himself. “No, don’t answer. You have been playing both sides. You’re actually working with the Tribunal, aren’t you?”
“Yes and no,” she said.
“Explain.” For a moment, Stefan was tempted to unsheathe his sword and attack. The power it released earlier added to his confidence, but until he understood more, he figured it was best to act normal. Over the past year, Galiana had many chances to kill him if she wanted him dead. Added to that, not only had she given him the sword, but she’d also revealed Nerian’s plans since. What was the woman up to?
“I am using the Tribunal so our people can have a place of safety when this is all done, but I do not support Nerian or them.”
“And the Erastonians and the sha-”
“Do not be a fool,” Galiana snapped. “I had nothing to do with their assault.”
“Did the Tribunal?”
“I am not certain. There are several opposing factions within the Tribunal. One of which I am sure has a following of cultists who worship Amuni.”
Stefan raised an eyebrow. Ashishin who worshipped the god of shade? Streamean worship supported unity of the gods, and shade was an essence of the Streams, but did it include Amuni’s malevolence?
“I see the surprise on your face,” Galiana said. “I felt the same way. That faction is a well-kept secret. I happened to stumble across it myself in an obscure tome in the Iluminus. I believe they were the ones who attacked your home tonight. They suspect I took the sword, but then they think so of a few other people as well. They will chase down any lead no matter the risk.”
“The Erastonians know,” Stefan said. “They recognized the sword.”
Galiana’s shoulders slumped, and she shook her head. “That is the last thing we needed.”
“So what now?” Stefan asked. “I leave in the morning. Any special protection afforded to my family won’t go unnoticed.”
“We will manage,” Galiana said confidently. “Thania is stronger than anyone suspects. With a few well-placed wards, she will be fine. I doubt the Erastonians or any of theirs will come after her. My worry is for you.” She met his gaze. “One of the Ashishin was a plant by Nerian himself.”
“Are you sure?”
Galiana nodded.
“Let me guess. The one that escaped?”
“Yes.”
He scratched at his chin. “Do you think he knows about the sword?”
“No.”
“Then the attack on my home could have been Cerny’s doing. If so, chances are, things may we worse tomorrow.”
“How so?”
“Well, you are already aware of Cerny’s maneuvering. If he’s willing to act as he did tonight in Benez, starting tomorrow, I’ll be surrounded by several legions and a full cohort of Nerian’s Alzari. Some of them probably belong to Cerny.”
“Hmmm, that may be for the best,” Galiana said. “You will have protection from the Erastonians and I will be able to slip a few of mine among them to thwart anything Cerny or Nerian tries.”
“I still don’t think Nerian has anything to with all this. He was as upset as anyone was tonight. Cerny, on the other hand, wasn’t at the meeting.”
Lips pursed Galiana shook her head but said nothing. Over the past few months, they argued several times about the matter. Stefan agreed Nerian was a bit unstable, but he believed Cerny was directing the King’s actions. “So what’s your plan from here?”
“To sneak as many of our people as we can to safety over the next few years,” Galiana said. “Then bargain with the Tribunal for sanctuary in exchange for our help in defeating Nerian.”
Stefan nodded. Allowing Galiana to think he was completely on her side was better than the alternative. The night’s attack and Cerny’s absence cast little doubt that the Knight General was responsible, but until he was certain of the man’s influence on Nerian, he needed to keep his options open. ‘A good leader is adept in the art of deception.’
For the next hour, they decided on the best routes and methods to funnel people from the city, starting with the family members of his most loyal soldiers. This proved to be an agonizing process as Stefan realized he would lose many in this endeavor.
All their plans hinged on what the Tribunal would require in exchange for their help. Stefan put himself in their place. He would start by requesting easy access into Ostania. The problem there lay in the major ports closest to Granadia. With the Barrier Mountains blocking western Ostania, the closest harbors were in Felan. Not only had the Setian not been able to conquer or ally with the Felani, but the Felani secession from the Tribunal was still an area of contention. Sure, the Setian now controlled the Cardian ports, but those were thousands of miles east, past Felan. No smart captain risked sailing out into the Sea of Clouds in an effort to bypass the Felani coastline. Those who attempted to do so in the past never returned. He wished they could somehow gain Felani support. If wishes had wings.
“We could offer them total rule within the government,” Galiana said.
Stefan shook his head. “They will have that anyway. When the Granadians assume control, the rest of Ostania will abandon us. There’ll be civil unrest and the other kingdoms will marshal forces against us. We at least need the Felani. The Harnan would be a plus, but …” He let the words die.
“True,” Galiana said. “I believe I can convince the Felani that the only course of action left to them is to ally with the Tribunal and allow the Granadian forces to pass.”
“You do?” Stefan strode to a map hanging on the wall. He pointed out the capital of Felan. “Surrounded by the Barrier Mountains and the ocean, Felan Mark’s position is almost as impregnable as Harna and the City of Stone. In addition, since they’re within the Vallum of Light, they have little to fear from the shade. The only way I can picture them agreeing is if Nerian wins against the Erastonians.”
“By then it will be too late.” Galiana let out a frustrated breath. “I will see how soon I can put my idea into place after I speak to the Tribunal.”
They continued for a few minutes longer, rehashing what plans they had before they parted ways. Not wanting to wake any of the servants, Stefan let Galiana out the side entrance and headed upstairs.
Dim light from over a dozen candles suffused the bedroom in a warm glow. The sweet scent of bellflowers lit up the air. On the bed, in a diaphanous shift, lay Thania, her chest rising and falling expectantly, her hair spread in silky waves around her.
Trying his best to ignore her for the moment, but finding himself still sneaking a peek her way, he strode to the small bed in the corner where the children slept. He marveled at how much they resembled both him and his wife. My children. Without realizing, he found himself touching the pendant around his neck. It felt oddly warm. My children, he thought again. The words still seemed foreign, unbelievable as if murmured in a dream from which he would soon wake. He bent and gave each of them a tender kiss on the cheek.
“They’re beautiful, aren’t they?” Thania’s arms snaked around his waist.
“Yes, very much so. Just like their mother.”
Her face moved from where she’d snuggled against his back to rest on the side of his arm. “No. They look more like you. My features help to smooth them out a bit. Celina has your nose.”