ghost of Comar Hassad, one of his father’s men‐at‐arms slain in the coup, was just visible at the shadow’s edge. “We’re sworn to her protection, as we are to yours. Although,”
the spirit said with chagrin, “our ability to intervene is limited. I am sorry about your injury, my 81
Lord.”
“If it hadn’t been for a ghost’s warning, I might be one of you now. It was enough.”
Hassad’s ghost nodded. “Perhaps we serve best by being the eyes and ears of the palace. Not all those within Shekerishet are loyal. They serve only themselves.”
“You’ll look after Kiara, when I go to war?” Tris asked.
“She’ll bear the heir to the throne. We’re oath‐bound to protect both of them.” Hassad paused.
“Some of us can make ourselves seen to her. Seanna has been a handmaid to Mar‐golan’s queens for two hundred years. She can’t wait to meet your bride. And Ula has watched over the babes in the royal nursery for just as long, so she’s quite excited—it’s been a long time since there’s been a little one for her to fuss over.”
Tris chuckled. “I remember Ula‐. Father didn’t believe I could see her, but I think Mother understood. Ula would stand at the foot of my bed, and sometimes, if I listened very hard, I could hear her humming. When I was very little, I wasn’t afraid when Ula was there. And when I was older, Ula would wake me by jerking back the covers if Jared was coming so Kait and I could hide.”
Hassad smiled. “Ula died in the Great Plague. She was a nursemaid to King Hotten’s children.
When his youngest took sick, Ula wouldn’t leave him. She caught the plague from him. They died together, and the king buried Ula next to his son so they would always be together. Ever since then, she has watched over the heirs.”
Coalan stuck his head into the room. “The generals are ready.”
82
“Ban asked me to…accompany…you to your meeting,” Mikhail said.
“Not taking any chances, are you?”
“None of us are,” Mikhail replied.
De spite Mikhail’s company, two human guards joined them as they made their way down to the chamber where the generals waited. As they walked, Tris readied himself for the encounter. The pain medicine had begun to wear off, and his shoulder throbbed.
Meeting with the council of generals was one of the duties of kingship Tris liked least. Of all his counselors, the generals were consistently the most negative and the least cooperative. As Tris and his escort reached the war room, Mikhail stepped forward and opened the door. The vayasb moru bowed as Tris passed by.
“I’ll wait for you,” Mikhail said, closing the door behind Tris.
“Your Majesty!” General Senne greeted him, and the others rose and bowed. Tris had the strong feeling his arrival had interrupted an argument, and the set to Soterius’s jaw supported his intuition. Senne pulled back the chair at the head of the table for Tris, who hoped he didn’t look as much in need of a seat as he felt. The six men were solicitous with expressions of concern.
Tris noted that only one man remained on the fringe, less talkative than usual. Tov Harrtuck, Captain of the Guard, looked both conflicted and crestfallen.
“By your leave, Sire.” Harrtuck moved around the table toward Tris. The stocky man always looked like he had just come from a hard workout in the salle. Today, his dark hair was askew and even his usually well‐trimmed beard seemed disheveled‐. Harrtuck sank to one knee and offered his sheathed sword on his outstretched hands. “I failed to protect you,” Harrtuck said in a gravelly voice. “I offer you my sword and my commission.”
83
Ban Soterius looked ready to burst with anger. General Senne and General Palinn appeared uncomfortable. Tris glanced toward Tarq and Rallan. Both sat comfortably, and while their faces were impassive, the confidence of their posture told Tris all he needed to know.
Tris turned his attention to Harrtuck, who knelt
the spirit said with chagrin, “our ability to intervene is limited. I am sorry about your injury, my 81
Lord.”
“If it hadn’t been for a ghost’s warning, I might be one of you now. It was enough.”
Hassad’s ghost nodded. “Perhaps we serve best by being the eyes and ears of the palace. Not all those within Shekerishet are loyal. They serve only themselves.”
“You’ll look after Kiara, when I go to war?” Tris asked.
“She’ll bear the heir to the throne. We’re oath‐bound to protect both of them.” Hassad paused.
“Some of us can make ourselves seen to her. Seanna has been a handmaid to Mar‐golan’s queens for two hundred years. She can’t wait to meet your bride. And Ula has watched over the babes in the royal nursery for just as long, so she’s quite excited—it’s been a long time since there’s been a little one for her to fuss over.”
Tris chuckled. “I remember Ula‐. Father didn’t believe I could see her, but I think Mother understood. Ula would stand at the foot of my bed, and sometimes, if I listened very hard, I could hear her humming. When I was very little, I wasn’t afraid when Ula was there. And when I was older, Ula would wake me by jerking back the covers if Jared was coming so Kait and I could hide.”
Hassad smiled. “Ula died in the Great Plague. She was a nursemaid to King Hotten’s children.
When his youngest took sick, Ula wouldn’t leave him. She caught the plague from him. They died together, and the king buried Ula next to his son so they would always be together. Ever since then, she has watched over the heirs.”
Coalan stuck his head into the room. “The generals are ready.”
82
“Ban asked me to…accompany…you to your meeting,” Mikhail said.
“Not taking any chances, are you?”
“None of us are,” Mikhail replied.
De spite Mikhail’s company, two human guards joined them as they made their way down to the chamber where the generals waited. As they walked, Tris readied himself for the encounter. The pain medicine had begun to wear off, and his shoulder throbbed.
Meeting with the council of generals was one of the duties of kingship Tris liked least. Of all his counselors, the generals were consistently the most negative and the least cooperative. As Tris and his escort reached the war room, Mikhail stepped forward and opened the door. The vayasb moru bowed as Tris passed by.
“I’ll wait for you,” Mikhail said, closing the door behind Tris.
“Your Majesty!” General Senne greeted him, and the others rose and bowed. Tris had the strong feeling his arrival had interrupted an argument, and the set to Soterius’s jaw supported his intuition. Senne pulled back the chair at the head of the table for Tris, who hoped he didn’t look as much in need of a seat as he felt. The six men were solicitous with expressions of concern.
Tris noted that only one man remained on the fringe, less talkative than usual. Tov Harrtuck, Captain of the Guard, looked both conflicted and crestfallen.
“By your leave, Sire.” Harrtuck moved around the table toward Tris. The stocky man always looked like he had just come from a hard workout in the salle. Today, his dark hair was askew and even his usually well‐trimmed beard seemed disheveled‐. Harrtuck sank to one knee and offered his sheathed sword on his outstretched hands. “I failed to protect you,” Harrtuck said in a gravelly voice. “I offer you my sword and my commission.”
83
Ban Soterius looked ready to burst with anger. General Senne and General Palinn appeared uncomfortable. Tris glanced toward Tarq and Rallan. Both sat comfortably, and while their faces were impassive, the confidence of their posture told Tris all he needed to know.
Tris turned his attention to Harrtuck, who knelt
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