A War Of Traitors( ARTK, Book 2)

Chapter 21

Janor 17th, 3329 A.G

As she stood on the balcony attached to her chambers- chambers that once belonged to Nara Ashhand's grandparents, Sana thought again of how everything she saw was hers. If she wished, she could seize the coin of each merchant, seize their carts and shops and homes- but she wouldn't.

Unlike the queen, she was a merciful ruler. At least- that's what she told herself.

She'd changed much about her chambers upon receiving them, ordering a new bed and closet be crafted- with rare gems and gold embossed straight into the frames. It'd taken just about all of the free coin House Tomhend had, but that made no matter. House Tomhend had blacksmiths that made a small amount of the tools House Ashhand traded, so they'd quickly made it back. Soon after- Sana had fed each and every commoner a meal fit for nobility to make up for her spending habits.

As it was midday, the square was alive with people. Those who could not farm their own food for whatever reason, or who's gardens hadn't done well in the past months- walked between merchant carts buying their food. Sana knew of plenty who simply did not have time to garden or didn't want to; the merchants themselves, blacksmiths, young mothers with many children. A few weeks back, she'd brought up the topic of making food the farmers grew free- paying them for it from House Tomhend's coin stockpiles, but Ammio had quickly shut the idea down. They would not have enough coin to maintain such an arrangement for even two months, she'd said.

House Tomhend was not a commanding house, and as such their coin reflected that. A commanding might be able to get away with blowing money, even on an expensive war- but House Tomhend could not. Not yet, at least- Helain had said.

Weeks later, Sana wondered if he'd changed his mind. Impatiently- she tapped her foot. She'd called for her advisors a long while ago, and they'd been bold enough to make her wait. She continued to watch her people below. Her head stable hand- Edun Dewgrove, shoveling horse shit. She thought again of how someone like him deserved a raise- but that he wouldn't need one if he agreed to what she'd been planning.

Sana finally heard footsteps behind her; distinct ones she'd grown to know over her months as a lady.

"You called for us?" Ammio was the first to speak. Ordinarily, Sana would have asked what took so long- but she was in a good mood.

"Yes. Come stand with me." She gestured to spots beside her on the balcony. "What do you see?"

"My lady?" Helain's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, making them appear even thicker. Sana hadn't thought such a thing was possible.

"I see my people. Innocents that- if neccesary, will take up weapons to defend their home and lady. I have been kind to them since the moment I ascended this position. I was kind even before that- helping to feed many of my fellow servant's children when food was scarce. That is what they know me for. They know the queen for murdering her grandparents." Sana shrugged.

"To be fair, her grandparents were not kind people. No one truly loved them. Even Ammio and I-"

"Yes, I suppose you're right. But then again- you are not a very kind man either, Helain- and none of them truly love you."

"Why have you called us here?" Helain asked, impatient. "I was at the blacksmith's, making sure we've met our numbers for the month. Had barely started counting when-"

"It's time." Sana interrupted. "I believe it is, at least."

Ammio and Helain immediately exchanged a look. The plan they'd been discussing for months was treason, and Nara would show no mercy if she discovered it too early. It couldn't be time. Not yet.

"My lady, nothing is in place yet. We haven't had time to find allies who would support this- or to weaken the queen from the inside out. It would be a horrible mistake to begin so soon-" Helain started.

"I don't believe so. The queen is already weakened. Thousands of her people are lost- and we didn't have to lift a finger. Now would be the perfect time to seize power." Sana insisted, a look on her face that reminded Ammio of the current queen. "The queen herself started out with a small army before going on to take three territories under her empire."

  "Yes.... But she also held and still holds control of nearly all coin for the second richest kingdom- territory in the world. It won't be too many years before her coin from the conquered territories starts to flow in. She does not and never will have a problem funding wars- but we will if we do this so soon." Ammio pleaded. "We are not ready-"

"We are because I say we are." Sana interrupted. "Nara Ashhand made me a leader. That is what I'm going to be. I will be known as the former servant who usurped an Ashhand- and soon."

"My lady House Tomhend may be loyal to you- but you have no one else and if their queen comes here-"

"Then I will kill her." Sana sighed. "Simple. It will have to happen anyways. I will make myself a queen in the same way Nara did. Now- another word and I'll have both of your tongues."

Sana went back to staring at her people below- though it lasted for only moments before she decided it was better to bring Edun into things sooner than later.

"Edun!" She called, shouting over others. "Edun!"

He frowned at the sound of his name. It was not often that someone acknowledged his existence, and when that happened it was ordinarily so he could tend to their horse.

  He set his shovel down and walked across the square so he could look at Sana. "My lady?"

  "Come up here." She commanded.

  "My lady I have not washed and am covered in horse shit-"

  "I've smelled worse." Sana shrugged. "Come up here."

  Though confused, he finally followed his lady's command. Less than a hundred moments later, guards let him into her chambers and he joined her and the advisors on her balcony.

  Sana smiled then. Edun wouldn't have to do much other than appear by her side. She'd learned a thing or two from Nara- and would be giving one of her subjects a power he'd come so close to holding once.

  "You almost became a king once, Edun." Sana cleared her throat. "How would you like to be one now?"