Artemis and Caspian: The Spy

Chapter Twenty Four

Artemis sat silently with her head hung as advisors talked over her. The council room felt emptier without the loud presence of the other Lords and Lady. Only the King and his new Queen remained out of all the great rulers. Kendra, Terrowin and Aileron were too involved in the war to attend any meetings abroad and it was Duke Deacon's brilliant idea to keep Allister put. He insisted a few weeks back that the young King stay in Meridan for his own safety after several forgotten letters mysteriously resurfaced from the front, inviting him to council meetings being held there. The witch still didn't like Deacon but she had to give the man credit where it was due. He was one hell of a manipulator.

"It's too dangerous!" She recalled him saying, fear lightly rippling through a practiced tone. "Look what happened to dear King Tristian when he went to Calatan. Your majesty, I would loathe to think of what could befall you if you attended these council meetings. For the sake of your people, you must stay here." The King, still primitive with concrete decision-making, had listened, and now here they were.

A general with tired eyes was rambling about the progress they were making in Calatan, trying their best to push Ceberus's army back. None of the news struck the young witch as bad but she couldn't help feeling the gaping hole of guilt that was opening in her stomach. She should have found a way to stop this war months ago. Sensing her frustration, Caspian placed a reassuring hand on her knee, haphazardly drawing small circles as he listened to the general talk.

Allister sat at the head of the table with his hands over his mouth, deep in thought. Beside him, Elena was nodding her head at the general's statements, a small quiver in her lower lip giving away her emotions under a practiced political gaze. To Allister's other side sat Duke Deacon with his piercing eyes that scanned the young King like a lion's prey.

Artemis didn't like how his eyes shifted back and forth from the King to the general speaking, coldly, calculating, like he formulating some kind of revenge deep inside his mind. The witch could see his gears turning. Every time he lay his eyes on her, she shivered. She hated the way he stared with eyes narrowed into slits like he was trying to figure out how she worked, like a machine that needed tinkering. His pupils reminded her of a snake waiting in the shallow brush to strike.

"How are the warriors?" Allister asked, snapping Artemis out of her blurry, dark thoughts. "Are they in good spirits?"

The general cleared his throat, Artemis could see the exhaustion in his soul as his shoulders slumped.

"As every week goes by your majesty," he sighed, letting the weight of the grief drag him down deeply, "The more and more casualties there are. Despite our progress, we have lost many lives."

There was a small squeak that reverberated across the council room as Queen Elena held a gloved hand over her mouth, subduing a gasp, but she couldn't stop a single teardrop that threatened to fall from the corner of her clear, wide eyes. The King placed a small, quick kiss on her temple before addressing the general.

"Thank you, General Rayden. Please go back to Calatan with my gratitude. Tell the troops that their King and country are proud to call them comrades. They are fighting for the good of us all. Create a list of warriors who have made outstanding achievements and bring it with you the next time you come. We will send honor metals as awards for their bravery. Refresh our troops on the evacuation signals. The better communication we have about catapults, the fewer casualties we'll have. With great technology comes great sacrifice. I want to limit the number of deaths on our side caused by them. Perhaps I can send more soldiers-"

Deacon cleared his throat loudly, getting the King's attention. When he turned his gaze, the Duke firmly shook his head no. Elena noticed the small gesture and narrowed her eyes at the duke. She didn't like how much he was asserting himself in Allister's daily decisions. The King was becoming too dependent on Deacon's insight. His controversial suggestions about the King's dealings with the war was having her question his value as the head advisor. Perhaps the man she once perceived as a gift had something else nefarious brewing below the surface. Either way, she'd keep her eye on him.