Drawn in Ash by John W Otte

Author:John W Otte [John W. Otte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: John W. Otte
Published: 2022-08-02T00:00:00+00:00

37

Narius didn’t know what was more amusing: that Paine was so annoyed or that he couldn’t conceal it.

The vizier paced the length of the Amber Office, his back rigid, his hands jammed behind his back. Although his face was still calm, Narius could easily read the tension in his eyes and around his mouth.

“Bad enough the queen wore business attire, but to challenge Viara to a duel? And suggest the Dynasty needs to change? Thank the Gravedigger the nobility hasn’t called for her ouster and yours!” Paine punctuated his statement with a look in Narius’s direction.

Narius fought to keep from smiling. “Have any nobles complained?”

Paine winced. “No. In truth, the feedback I have received thus far indicates the nobles in attendance found the queen’s enthusiasm refreshing. If naive.”

That got his attention. “They actually said she was naive?”

“No. That’s my interpretation.”

Narius snorted. Figured. “And Challix’s?”

Another wince. “She appears to have fallen into the same delusion as the others. She was quite complimentary of your wife.”

In spite of the venom in those last two words, Narius couldn’t help but smile. Everys wasn’t his anything, appearances to the contrary. Well, he supposed they were partners. Friends maybe, although after their dinner he wasn’t sure she considered him that anymore. The memory of her anger caused his chest to ache. He shouldn’t have waited this long to apologize. Now it would appear insincere.

“It would seem you’re the only one who has a problem with her, old friend.”

Paine snorted. “I am hardly the only one. Have you listened to any of the prelate’s homilies of late? Virtually every message includes a condemnation of the queen, and while he doesn’t dare insult you directly, he has become more and more pointed in his criticism of you.”

“Really?”

“He says you are ignoring our founding principles by allying yourself with one of the Dynasty’s enemies—”

“The Siporans are no threat! They haven’t been for centuries!”

“—and that the Perfected Warrior would be ashamed of your actions as well. He is most insistent on that point.”

Narius frowned. “Since when have you cared for the Warrior’s dictates?”

Paine’s shoulders slumped, and he sat down in a chair across from the desk. “You know that I don’t. But there are many in the Dynasty who do. They listen to the prelate and they will be influenced by his views. And not just his. We still haven’t located Viscount Orsin, have we?”

No, they hadn’t. Narius’s hands spasmed into fists. Granted, the viscount’s attack had brought Everys and he closer together, but it galled him that Orsin was still free.

Narius’s comm terminal pinged, indicating a new message. He called it up, then spotted the informational tag. From Clarinda Gaines. Now what did she want?

Will sell propulsion units as requested regardless of title. Want to be part of your future.

He choked on a laugh. They had been trying to secure Gaines’s help for months... no, years, and Everys accomplished it in a matter of weeks? He swiveled the display around so Paine could read it. Maybe that would be enough to make the vizier smile.

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