The Court of the Camelia was eager to hear about the meeting, and most of them seemed to share Fox's suspicions.
"It just seems strange that they would sue for peace now," Lady Yang argued. "At the start of the fighting season, as opposed to the end of the last war? Beng Shai took over from his father then, if he wanted peace, why not ask then?"
"They had just lost," Lord Yin pointed out. "Perhaps their pride did not allow it."
"They can ask for more favorable terms now." Henri Colfax was named after his uncle and held himself like someone twice his age. "They finished paying the reparations a few months ago."
"Which is also a concern." Lord Wen, a pointy-faced little man, added. "How did they manage to pay it all off so quickly?"
"The tribes are far from poor," Chenzhou commented. "They may not collect gold, but they certainly have the material to earn it."
Lord Wen subsided with a frown and a final. "I still believe it is worth looking into."
"Perhaps." Lady Yang offered. One of her sons was married to one of Wen's daughters, so they often supported one another in these meetings.
"We'll keep that in mind. While this is a great opportunity, it is by no means a reason to set aside all our senses." Chenzhou was a skilled peacebroker, skillfully balancing the concerns of both sides.
It was a skill Eirian herself had never bothered to develop. Went against most of her personality and actual skills, but she was starting to appreciate it more and more.
"We'll increase the security here and the patrols for the villages. In the meantime, summon an experienced trader from each village. For this to work, the majority of traders will have to agree to the prices." Chenzhou rubbed his forehead, the headache already forming.
"I don't think we'd need a majority." Henri Colfax put in. "If we start with one from each village, others will follow when they see the business they're losing out on."
His sister, who accompanied him everywhere, nodded in agreement. "Their greed makes them predictable. And manageable, to an extent."
"We need to re-map the Bandri leadership, as well." Mingzhe leaned forward, hands clasped. "Beng Shai shouldn't have ended up in charge. How he did could go a long way to understanding what they're planning."
Chenzhou agreed. "The First Eye is making that a priority. As well as finding out what else was discussed at the conclave."
***
Given the upheaval of the day, Eirian retired to her rooms after dinner. Mingzhe was too stressed to focus on his magic, and Chenzhou's had left him exhausted and needing to catch up on sleep.
And something was happening with Ana that Eirian was staying far, far away from.
She had plenty of correspondence to catch up on, according to Marian.
It was stacked neatly on the table in her solar, and she poured a glass of wine after changing into a soft sleeping robe. She put off the temptation of the bath when she realized the stack was higher than anticipated and settled in after sparking a fire.
The first letters were from distant acquaintances from high society in the capital, reaching out now that they'd heard about the marriage and it hadn't suddenly gone up in flames.
She tossed them into the flames one by one.
There were two letters from her father, notifying her of his impending arrival and no doubt timed to arrive precisely when they did.
She burned them too.
There was a letter from Eric, responding to her request for information about the families of the Camelia with ties to the capital, which had some interesting information she'd need to dig into later.
The most recent letter was dated a day ago and had her on her feet.
Cousin,
Father has taken ill. Come immediately.
Yours,
Eric
***
Eirian burst in just as Chenzhou was climbing into bed. The flustered guards followed her in, startling Ana, who was preparing herself for sleep.
"What? What's wrong?" Her sudden arrival left Chenzhou frazzled as he rushed to her side.
"Did something happen?" Ana clutched her hairbrush in her hand, confused.
"The king is dying." It poured out of Eirian like a wave, and maybe there was a sob somewhere in there. She hadn't stopped to think before she'd rushed in, just the desperate, throbbing need to go, go, go.
"What?" Chenzhou sounded like he didn't believe her. Or he didn't believe what he'd heard.
The death of the king was one of the most destabilizing events a kingdom could suffer, and her aunt and uncle had done a very good job of hiding her uncle's deteriorating health over the years.
"He's ill. Eric says to come immediately. I have to go." She wanted to say goodbye.
She had to say goodbye.
More than her own father, her uncle and aunt had been her family growing up. Offering patience and attention that her father couldn't manage. She'd mourned Eric's siblings like they'd been her own.
She needed to check on Eric, who'd put on a brave face but be devastated inside. As much as he pretended to be stoic and unattached, he was his parents' youngest, and the attachment was true.
And he was very aware that he would become king as soon as his father died. Eirian knew a part of him had always doubted that it would happen, even after his siblings had died. It hadn't been a possibility for so long that even a few years wasn't long enough to change his thinking.
"It's too late to leave tonight." Chenzhou took her by the arms, made her sit on the end of the bed, and waved the guards out. "Summon Lord Rong and Lord Zhao."
They nodded and rushed out.
"I know the way." Eirian snapped, tried to stand, only for him to push her back down.
"Then you know it's to dangerous to travel at night." Chenzhou was infuriatingly calm. "We can leave at first light."
~ tbc