Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles

Chapter Twenty-Eight: A Triumph of Evil

"All Slave Auctions must be run by auctioneers appointed by the Association of Slave Owners. Any auctioneer not authorized by the Association of Slave Owners will be taken into custody and sold in the next scheduled Slave Auction."

Hours after Nadia's lessons ended, Ivanna sat in front of Polaris's active grand fireplace in the drawing room deep in thought with a chalice of lona in her hands. There was much to contemplate and it all distracted her from enjoying her drink and admiring the fire. Polaris soon entered with a glass of bourbon and sat in the seat across from her.

"So," he began. The sudden utterance snapped Ivanna back into the room. "You have a plan to prepare the kingdom for Nadia's ethnicity."

Ivanna breathed deeply through her nose and then nodded solemnly. "Remember when the marquis mentioned that he was going to expose me to the kingdom and we weren't sure if he had a serious plan to do so?"

Concern showed on Polaris's face. "Yes..."

"Makiar found his plan," Ivanna said. "He will have two highly qualified people apply to work for me as servants. The moment I'm vulnerable, they're to use another set of Elvic cuffs to disarm my powers and take me to Aimonbay where he will hold me 'downstairs,' as his slaves like to put it. As soon as possible, he plans to gather all of Helvetica to the scaffold and force me under water in front of all who are present."

"Savages," said Polaris. "That's madness. What could possibly motivate him to do such a thing?"

Ivanna shrugged. "A few things come to mind, but I personally feel that his obsession with proving the existence of mermaids is motivation enough. I also feel as though he has a personal vendetta against me due to my history with his brother. There is also the fact that I managed to gain such a grand gift from the king and he can only get so much out of the queen in return for large favors."

"I see," said Polaris. "So, let's get to the part where this has something to do with your plan."

Ivanna swallowed hard and gazed deeply into the fire. "I'm considering letting him do it."

Pity showed on Polaris's face and the air in the room grew denser. "You could lose everything, Iva."

Ivanna breathed another deep, trembling breath. "I know. I'm trying to take comfort in the fact that my title is protected by law, so I cannot become a slave again. I've also built a grand reputation for myself with the subjects of Noelle. I've helped keep businesses alive and I supply many people with jobs. Perhaps... perhaps they'll remain loyal to me. If not out of gratitude, then for their own selfish purposes. It's a risk, I know, but we all must take risks for the good of our sovereign. I know you understand that more than most."

"Of course," said Polaris. "However, I don't understand why you must let Sir Rallian do this to you. Why wouldn't it be enough to simply share with people that you're part mermaid and let the word spread naturally?"

"What about those whose minds are completely closed off to the idea of the existence of mermaids?" Ivanna offered. "Yes, I do plan to tell those close to me before everything happens, however I don't believe that everyone will believe me. Despite the fact that his intensions are completely different than mine, when it comes to proving to everyone what I am, Sir Rallian's way is easiest in the fact that I only have to display myself once as a mermaid, rather than demonstrating it repeatedly each time I share the news with someone."

Ivanna could see in Polaris's eyes that he felt very worried for her. He drank a mouthful of his bourbon before he said, "How can I help?"

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