The Crown Breaker (Conquering Imoria's Magic Duology Book 1) by T. B. Wiese

Author:T. B. Wiese [Wiese, T. B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: T. B. Wiese
Published: 2022-08-29T16:00:00+00:00

15

I almost spill my coffee as I throw my head back and laugh. Runic relaxes as my laughter dies off, and I grin, topping up my cup. “Even if this cousin had left last week, he wouldn’t arrive for another month, at least.” I frown. “Which begs the question, how did he find out so quickly? How did the message arrive?”

“Sea bird.”

I tap my ring on the cup in thought. “Messenger sea birds are rare. Still, for word to get to him and then for him to respond and send this message … someone here is feeding him information.”

“It would seem so, your Majesty.”

I take a slow sip of coffee, thinking it through. Should I take the time to ferret out the person or persons in league with this cousin? Even if I found them and eliminated them, Rava’s cousin would still be able to get information on what is happening in Trislen. Information can always be bought. Everyone has a price. The real question is, will a resistance rise up in his name? Have they already started? Probably. It’s what I’d do.

“Keep a watch out for secret gatherings. Post a soldier at every messenger station.”

Runic’s brows furrow.

“Yes, every single one. I’m not going to make this easy for them. I want every message coming and going to be monitored.”

Privately owned messenger birds are becoming more common, but sea birds capable of traversing the eastern sea are very expensive and much rarer.

“Send word to the Shadow Lord. Don’t tell him the details, though he might already know.” I’m amazed at the information Kafir is able to scrape up. “Just have him look for more than the usual activity from overseas, or secret gatherings or rumblings of insurrection. Even if they’re not coming from Eshena, it’s good to know if people are thinking of rising against me.”

Runic nods. “If the cousin does follow through, how do you think he’ll try to invade?”

I rub the cup between my palms. “The eastern sea is vast and not easily crossed, especially at this time of year with the winter storms and ice flows. Then there’s the Varyen Desert. It’s the most direct route but getting an army across the scorching sand dunes that turn freezing at night is a feat very few have accomplished. Going through the mountains is … impossible.”

Runic frowns. “He could sail around.”

I tap my finger against the cup again, the metal of the ring clinking softly. “Even if he sailed all the way around the south of Imoria, that would add another month, figuring conservatively. Then he would have to find a place to dock, and with my new alliance with Erathan, I have every port along the entire western coastline of Imoria covered. I mean, he can try—”

“Alliance?”

I smirk, crossing an ankle over my knee. “King Erathan and I have signed an alliance.” Runic’s brows rise, showcasing the scar slicing his right eyebrow in half. “I won’t bore you with the details, but it works in our favor. Very much in our favor.

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