The Savage War by Esther Wallace

Author:Esther Wallace [Wallace, Esther]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
ISBN: 9781945847059
Publisher: Emerald Lake Books
Published: 2019-01-28T22:00:00+00:00

The next night, Arnacin jumped as the library’s door opened at midnight. As his gaze met Miro’s, the islander shot to his feet, his face pale. Miro himself only paused for a moment before moving over to some of the scrolls on a lower shelf. “Isn’t it a little late, Arnacin?” he asked, without looking again at the islander.

His gaze flicking briefly to the map he had been contemplating, Arnacin nervously inquired, “Is there anything I can do for you?”

“I’m just checking what Mira knows of a foreign kingdom’s resources.” The king’s voice trailed off as he held up one scroll, his gaze traveling down it. Looking over at the islander, he commented, “I would think research on your ship is less pressing than rest. With winter, you can’t apply anything, anyway.”

“I… I was…” licking his lips, Arnacin admitted, “I was studying Mira’s maps for any hint of the terrain of the mountains.”

Snapping the scroll closed, Miro retorted, “There is no reason to look for that. Mira has never entered them before, and never will again.”

“Your Majesty—” Arnacin began with a sigh, yet the king cut him off.

“Carpason did say you were discussing Miran spies with him. The answer is ‘no.’”

“We were not discussing Miran spies.”

“The answer is still ‘no.’ You of all people should understand why it cannot be otherwise. Did you not say yourself that the war started through lack of ‘honor’? Should Mira encroach on their territory, it will confirm their accusations.”

“With all due respect, Mira did just attack it.” As Miro’s eyes flashed, Arnacin dropped his gaze, whispering, “Your Majesty.”

“The edge only—to demonstrate that Mira could take it, but chooses not to. Sending scouts throughout their land is entirely different.”

“I am not Miran, Your Majesty. If I go, I doubt they will look on me as Mira.”

“If I allow it, it will be Mira and, regardless, they know which side you support.”

“I am for the lives of both. It is for that reason…” He paused, hoping for the least offensive way to phrase his next words, “that I cannot continue aiding Mira if the strategy remains the same as it is now.”

Taking a furious step toward the islander, Miro hissed, “So you are capable of breaking your word. You have no choice but to continue aiding Mira according to your oath, and the current strategy is the only alternative to your stated ‘dishonor.’”

“The current strategy is condemning one or the other side to death, whichever one out-brutes the other.”

“Then so be it,” Miro snapped. “Do you think their excited wrath will not condemn Mira should I listen to you and those you’ve convinced of your folly?”

“Then secretly send me up there alone and execute me after you win!” Arnacin snapped in sudden anger. “That way, no one can think you condoned dishonor.”

Miro had frozen, regarding the islander as if he had never seen him before. Softly, he muttered, “Perhaps I was wrong to suggest you would break your word. Regardless, such an act would be far

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