Freidlenburg.”
“That is preposterous.”
“We had hoped as much. But when word came that Prince Harrington and his new bride were to honeymoon in Freidlenburg, we knew Burchess was hiding something. Why else would such an isolated, barren village be chosen as a spot for your holiday? We had sent a request to King Gregory to allow us to investigate the area surrounding Freidlenburg, looking for any signs of our shipment, but we were denied, due to the royal newlyweds being in residence. We took this as a sign that King Gregory did not want us to come close to Freidlenburg, as a hundred soldiers were also now in residence. We knew whatever evidence was at Freidlenburg would be taken to the capital upon your departure. If we were to find proof, it had to be done while you were still there.”
“And so you attacked Freidlenburg and found nothing, but captured me instead. Now I know what you are asking of my father. You want him to admit that he brought destruction upon your shipments. No wonder he is not negotiating. He will not take blame when he has done nothing wrong.” Illianah felt like her mind had expanded and she was now akin to the greatest intellectuals on the continent. She finally understood the conflict. She could see how Deltegra would need to find someone to blame for their missing shipments, but putting the blame on her father was completely irrational. “You have sorely misjudged my father. He would never do anything to harm innocent men, nor would he do anything to destroy your treaty.”
Donovan let out a sour-sounding chuckle and paced away from her again. His hands were behind his back, his posture straight and proud. He did not look like a man who was being scolded for his errant thinking. When he turned back toward her, he looked confident. And smug. “You do not know King Gregory well, do you?”
“Of course I know him well. He is my father.” Illianah sat taller, wanting her posture to match Donovan’s. How dare he claim that Illianah was not close with her only family member? Her father was all she had. And likewise for him: she was all he had.
… And the kingdom of Burchess. The kingdom was his as well. He often affectionately referred to Burchess as his child. She tried to shrug away thoughts of the jealousy she often felt when her father referred to his kingdom with such great love.
“Let us review the history of relations between Burchess and Deltegra, just so we know we are speaking of the same King Gregory,” Donovan said. He was still pacing, like a scholar on the brink of making an earthshattering discovery.
It was driving her mad. She did not wish to be taught by Donovan. “I do not need a history lesson, thank you,” she said as she stood. She had planned on leaving the room to get away from his insults to her and her kingdom, but he quickly stepped toward her and grabbed her arm.
“Please hear me out, Illianah,” he said with soft persuasion.
His hand wrapped around her wrist, causing a burning sensation to travel up her arm and into her heart. But then he quickly removed his hand, as if he just remembered he should not be touching another man’s wife. Although his hand was now gone, she could still feel the ghostly imprint his touch had left behind. She still wanted to flee, but her legs seemed as if they had been charred and turned to stubble. She had no choice but to listen.
“Our great countries were at odds from the beginning, back when Deltegra was separated from your land and given to my grandfather four times removed. But as our rugged landscape was deemed uninhabitable and our people were declared backwards, a union between our countries was unnecessary, even though King Polard and King Lamont were once the closest of kin. We lived as enemies, yet neither kingdom posed a threat to the other. But that changed not long after our births, Illianah.”
She already knew this. When she was a toddling child, the great New Land had been discovered far across the
“That is preposterous.”
“We had hoped as much. But when word came that Prince Harrington and his new bride were to honeymoon in Freidlenburg, we knew Burchess was hiding something. Why else would such an isolated, barren village be chosen as a spot for your holiday? We had sent a request to King Gregory to allow us to investigate the area surrounding Freidlenburg, looking for any signs of our shipment, but we were denied, due to the royal newlyweds being in residence. We took this as a sign that King Gregory did not want us to come close to Freidlenburg, as a hundred soldiers were also now in residence. We knew whatever evidence was at Freidlenburg would be taken to the capital upon your departure. If we were to find proof, it had to be done while you were still there.”
“And so you attacked Freidlenburg and found nothing, but captured me instead. Now I know what you are asking of my father. You want him to admit that he brought destruction upon your shipments. No wonder he is not negotiating. He will not take blame when he has done nothing wrong.” Illianah felt like her mind had expanded and she was now akin to the greatest intellectuals on the continent. She finally understood the conflict. She could see how Deltegra would need to find someone to blame for their missing shipments, but putting the blame on her father was completely irrational. “You have sorely misjudged my father. He would never do anything to harm innocent men, nor would he do anything to destroy your treaty.”
Donovan let out a sour-sounding chuckle and paced away from her again. His hands were behind his back, his posture straight and proud. He did not look like a man who was being scolded for his errant thinking. When he turned back toward her, he looked confident. And smug. “You do not know King Gregory well, do you?”
“Of course I know him well. He is my father.” Illianah sat taller, wanting her posture to match Donovan’s. How dare he claim that Illianah was not close with her only family member? Her father was all she had. And likewise for him: she was all he had.
… And the kingdom of Burchess. The kingdom was his as well. He often affectionately referred to Burchess as his child. She tried to shrug away thoughts of the jealousy she often felt when her father referred to his kingdom with such great love.
“Let us review the history of relations between Burchess and Deltegra, just so we know we are speaking of the same King Gregory,” Donovan said. He was still pacing, like a scholar on the brink of making an earthshattering discovery.
It was driving her mad. She did not wish to be taught by Donovan. “I do not need a history lesson, thank you,” she said as she stood. She had planned on leaving the room to get away from his insults to her and her kingdom, but he quickly stepped toward her and grabbed her arm.
“Please hear me out, Illianah,” he said with soft persuasion.
His hand wrapped around her wrist, causing a burning sensation to travel up her arm and into her heart. But then he quickly removed his hand, as if he just remembered he should not be touching another man’s wife. Although his hand was now gone, she could still feel the ghostly imprint his touch had left behind. She still wanted to flee, but her legs seemed as if they had been charred and turned to stubble. She had no choice but to listen.
“Our great countries were at odds from the beginning, back when Deltegra was separated from your land and given to my grandfather four times removed. But as our rugged landscape was deemed uninhabitable and our people were declared backwards, a union between our countries was unnecessary, even though King Polard and King Lamont were once the closest of kin. We lived as enemies, yet neither kingdom posed a threat to the other. But that changed not long after our births, Illianah.”
She already knew this. When she was a toddling child, the great New Land had been discovered far across the
Similar Books
