the
chair at the base of the stairs. Saerileth retreated to the sofa, but she kept
her eyes on Ajalira. Ajalira stood behind and to the right of Kamen's chair.
“ Show in the Seranimesti delegation,” Kamen said in a loud, clear
voice. His order was repeated by a herald, and the guards obeyed.
The doors were
thrown open, and into the throne room strode two tall Ausir, their blond hair
long and straight and tied back, their eyes green like the Bay of Kartalon.
They wore white tabards with a red rose over their chain hauberks. Ausir
longswords hung from their belts. They approached the throne, removed their
helmets, and bowed their necks to Jahen.
“ We thank you for receiving us,” one said in Ausir, and Ajalira
simultaneously interpreted. “I am Tivanel Seranimesti, lord of my house. This
is my younger brother, Konas.” He looked over at Ajalira, his eyes full of
surprise.
What did he
think about the Sunjaa having their own Ausir interpreter? Impressed, no doubt.
“ You are most welcome to Arinport, Jewel of the Sunjaa nation,” Kamen
said, and Ajalira interpreted. He made no mention of Ajalira's presence. Let
the Ausir think what they would, but if nothing else, they would know that the
Sunjaa were ready for anything, always one move ahead of those who would
threaten them. “What can his divinity, King Jahen, do for you today?”
Tivanel's
eyebrows shot up, and he smirked as if the answer were obvious. Still, Kamen
would make him ask.
“ You know of our civil war?”
Kamen nodded.
“ And of the pretenders who would claim a throne they have no right to.”
“ You speak of the Kimereth and Losiengare factions.” Kamen placed his
hands on his knees and leaned slightly forward.
The corner of
Tivanel's mouth turned up. “We heard how you mastered those dogs and brought
them to heel. Let me extend to you my congratulations.”
“ Thank you,” Kamen said. “So, our knowledge of your civil war has
been established.”
Tivanel's smirk
vanished. “We seek an alliance. The Sunjaa are the mightiest race of Men, and
your navy is unmatched by any who sail the Aras Arlluvia.”
Including you , Kamen thought but did not say. “The Seranimesti are legends of the
sea.”
Tivanel placed
his right hand over his chest in acknowledgment of the praise. “With King
Jahen's support, we could bring a swift end to this destructive war and
reestablish peace.”
Kamen glanced
back at the boy-king, who sat gravely and listened with furrowed brow. Kamen
was so proud of him, and he knew Jahen would grow into a great King.
Tivanel
continued, drawing Kamen's attention back to him. “There would be no further disruption
to trade. The Sunjaa, along with all nations, might trade once again with the
northern cities, like Godswatch, or even our coastal city of Tendol.”
“ But,” Kamen said, “the Kimereth and Losiengare would not long honor
the peace I negotiated at the Dimadan if they learned that King Jahen had
pledged his ships to the Seranimesti cause. From what I know, none of you have
a rightful claim.”
“ We have the best claim,” Tivanel yelled, his voice a sharp bark. He
took a deep breath through his nose before he said anything more. “My kinsman,
Faloth, was best friend to Kiltarin, son of the God-King. He helped put
Kiltarin on the throne. And if that were not enough, we can go back to before
the founding of the Tamari nation.”
Ajalira stumbled
in her interpretation at that moment, her voice overcome with emotion. Kamen
turned in his chair to look at her.
“ Are you all right, my lady?” he whispered.
“ I am fine,” she said, and she quickly blinked away tears.
Kamen gave her
time to recover before he asked the Seranimesti lord to proceed giving his
reasons why the Sunjaa should support them. He wanted to banish the Ausir and
ask Ajalira what upset her so.
“ The greatest of all Tamari and founder of their nation, Ellon,”
Tivanel said, “was sword-brother and best friend with Faltari
chair at the base of the stairs. Saerileth retreated to the sofa, but she kept
her eyes on Ajalira. Ajalira stood behind and to the right of Kamen's chair.
“ Show in the Seranimesti delegation,” Kamen said in a loud, clear
voice. His order was repeated by a herald, and the guards obeyed.
The doors were
thrown open, and into the throne room strode two tall Ausir, their blond hair
long and straight and tied back, their eyes green like the Bay of Kartalon.
They wore white tabards with a red rose over their chain hauberks. Ausir
longswords hung from their belts. They approached the throne, removed their
helmets, and bowed their necks to Jahen.
“ We thank you for receiving us,” one said in Ausir, and Ajalira
simultaneously interpreted. “I am Tivanel Seranimesti, lord of my house. This
is my younger brother, Konas.” He looked over at Ajalira, his eyes full of
surprise.
What did he
think about the Sunjaa having their own Ausir interpreter? Impressed, no doubt.
“ You are most welcome to Arinport, Jewel of the Sunjaa nation,” Kamen
said, and Ajalira interpreted. He made no mention of Ajalira's presence. Let
the Ausir think what they would, but if nothing else, they would know that the
Sunjaa were ready for anything, always one move ahead of those who would
threaten them. “What can his divinity, King Jahen, do for you today?”
Tivanel's
eyebrows shot up, and he smirked as if the answer were obvious. Still, Kamen
would make him ask.
“ You know of our civil war?”
Kamen nodded.
“ And of the pretenders who would claim a throne they have no right to.”
“ You speak of the Kimereth and Losiengare factions.” Kamen placed his
hands on his knees and leaned slightly forward.
The corner of
Tivanel's mouth turned up. “We heard how you mastered those dogs and brought
them to heel. Let me extend to you my congratulations.”
“ Thank you,” Kamen said. “So, our knowledge of your civil war has
been established.”
Tivanel's smirk
vanished. “We seek an alliance. The Sunjaa are the mightiest race of Men, and
your navy is unmatched by any who sail the Aras Arlluvia.”
Including you , Kamen thought but did not say. “The Seranimesti are legends of the
sea.”
Tivanel placed
his right hand over his chest in acknowledgment of the praise. “With King
Jahen's support, we could bring a swift end to this destructive war and
reestablish peace.”
Kamen glanced
back at the boy-king, who sat gravely and listened with furrowed brow. Kamen
was so proud of him, and he knew Jahen would grow into a great King.
Tivanel
continued, drawing Kamen's attention back to him. “There would be no further disruption
to trade. The Sunjaa, along with all nations, might trade once again with the
northern cities, like Godswatch, or even our coastal city of Tendol.”
“ But,” Kamen said, “the Kimereth and Losiengare would not long honor
the peace I negotiated at the Dimadan if they learned that King Jahen had
pledged his ships to the Seranimesti cause. From what I know, none of you have
a rightful claim.”
“ We have the best claim,” Tivanel yelled, his voice a sharp bark. He
took a deep breath through his nose before he said anything more. “My kinsman,
Faloth, was best friend to Kiltarin, son of the God-King. He helped put
Kiltarin on the throne. And if that were not enough, we can go back to before
the founding of the Tamari nation.”
Ajalira stumbled
in her interpretation at that moment, her voice overcome with emotion. Kamen
turned in his chair to look at her.
“ Are you all right, my lady?” he whispered.
“ I am fine,” she said, and she quickly blinked away tears.
Kamen gave her
time to recover before he asked the Seranimesti lord to proceed giving his
reasons why the Sunjaa should support them. He wanted to banish the Ausir and
ask Ajalira what upset her so.
“ The greatest of all Tamari and founder of their nation, Ellon,”
Tivanel said, “was sword-brother and best friend with Faltari
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