The Traitors We Are: Crown and Tide Book 1 by Michael Roberti

Author:Michael Roberti [Roberti, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Five20
Published: 2022-02-04T00:00:00+00:00

Not for a Lack of Trying—Emil

Never in his wildest dreams had Emil expected his engagement feast to be in the grand ballroom of his family's castle. He had always assumed it would have been in one of the lesser ballrooms. Even off-site completely at the family estate of his bride-to-be. As far as he knew, the possibility of hosting the feast in the Reach was not a viable option. Anyway, it would have been hard, if not impossible, to find a better venue than the one he currently stood in. A decent-sized manor could fit into this room and still have space for a modest garden with a servant's quarters. The room was cavernous yet still well lit. It was as if the room understood the depth of its history and importance. Tapestries portraying the most critical moments in his family's history covered the smooth stone walls of the hall. Emil turned and took them in one at a time.

There was Trestin's meeting with Endre Finlux in Parlas. Trestin's expulsion of Soldas from the Midlands. The building of the Keep itself. The Reach signing the treaty that made them an official part of Harfal. Emil noted they should take that one down before dinner. Even though it was a proud chapter of their history, not everyone would see it that way. Any sort of unpleasantness that they could avoid tonight must be accounted for. He mentally noted the tapestry. Then he shifted his gaze to the last, most spectacular work of art displayed in the room.

Hung above the raised stage was the most enormous tapestry in the hall. A work portraying the landing of Trestin at what was once called Cliowhithor and now was his Keep. Stitched into the fabric, Trestin stood, large as life, pointing further inland. Native Midlanders bowed to him in awe and reverential wonder. It was hard to believe without that particular event that he would not be marrying Merily Oberlan. Not only Trestin's landing but everything that had happened since. Yet, here he was supervising seating and decoration.

Much like the rest of his illustrious family history, everything about this feast was going to be beautiful and turn out perfectly. This could be a personal turning point for him as well. This was the day he would look back on and say, "that day was the day I became my own man, and I never had to worry about anything ever again."

"I hope this is to your standards, nephew." Emil turned and saw his uncle, Xavier Trestinsen, the king of Harfal, waiting on his answer. The king was his father's older brother, and the family resemblance was strong. The king had a longer beard than Alven's, a stately, flowing beard. A beard the king's advisers had assured him made him appear wise and benevolent.

Emil hoped to grow a similar beard when he approached his older years. Beards of a certain length bestowed a weighty gravitas to the face they grew on. On his uncle's royal head was the traditional blonde hair of the Trestinsens, and it was now peppered with gray and white.

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