King of Blades (Blades #2)

Chapter 10

Jaimathan received the news he had been both dreading and praying against eleven days later. He was watching the mages train in the gently falling snow in the castle yard. They were working on the most destructive spells, and Master Shelton had brought them outside so the Great Hall wouldn't be damaged in any way. Jaimathan enjoyed watching them work, even though it made him miss his own powers even more. The ease with which these sorcerers used their magic was impressive.

Braith had been working with them, but had left when he'd received a magical summons from his father. Jaimathan tried not to be concerned. Arin contacted Braith on a daily basis to give an update on the situation in Algoma City. Usually there wasn't much of an update to give, other than that the supplies from Phelin had been smuggled in, and that people were restless and unhappy about the siege that had gone on for over two months now.

But when Braith returned, Jaimathan knew instantly that something had gone horribly wrong. He looked shaken, shocked, utterly pale in the drifting snow. In the space of only moments a hundred different horrible thoughts crossed Jaimathan's mind.

Then Braith dropped to one knee before him, fist to chest and head bowed.

"No," Jaimathan gasped. He stumbled back a step until he caught his heel in the fence of the practice arena. "How?" he demanded.

Braith rose slowly to his feet. "The Dyrain general asked to negotiate. They were as tired of the siege as we were. She agreed –"

"And he killed her?" Jaimathan could feel the anger boiling through him. "The coward."

"He admitted that the attack wasn't about capturing Algoma or even the city itself, but he was under orders not to leave without proof of victory. My father claims she sacrificed herself to save the city and all living within it."

"She trusted him? Why?"

Braith shook his head. "I don't know. My father says there is a lot of activity outside the walls though. They could very well be preparing to leave."

"Or renew the attack when our guard is down," Jaimathan spat.

"Or that."

Jaimathan started for the castle, walking so fast that Braith had to jog to keep up. "Did you tell Fae?"

"I came straight to you. And your mother's last wish was that you stay here to see things through here."

Jaimathan spun to face him. "How can I? I'm useless here. If I had been home I would have been able to stop her!"

Braith held his hands up and spoke calmly. "I'm only passing on what I was told. She wants you here. I swore an oath to her personally before we left to keep you here until whatever is coming is over."

With a snort, Jaimathan turned back for the castle. "So what am I supposed to do?" he demanded.

"Your father needs your formal permission to serve as regent. Unless you have someone else in mind to take the position."

"Of course it would be him," Jaimathan replied as he shoved through the heavy side door of the castle. At least he had learned his way around well enough not to get lost in his current state of distress.

Braith grabbed his shoulder to stop him. Jaimathan resisted the urge to shrug him off, instead letting Braith reason with him like he had for most of their lives.

"You should go back to your room. I'll bring Fae to you and we can speak to my father again."

Jaimathan sighed and nodded. "Thank you."

The grief hit him when he was alone, but he pushed it away long enough to speak to his father through Braith's communication crystal. For once he was glad that only sound could pass through the crystal and not images. He didn't want to see the expression his father had to be wearing.