Soul Relenter (Soul Saga #3) (9 page)

“—h
ow did you convince her to aid you?” Mikah leaned over the table. “It is no secret she hates you with every fiber of her being.”

“I told her she would
be free, vindicated from her crimes, and accepted back—”

“—thank
you for including your advisors in this decision,” he said as he shook his head. “We know how much you value
our
opinion. I am delighted to know our queen has so much respect for the office by completely ignoring the electoral vote—good to know.”

Accacia caught Zyle by the arm and steadied him. He tried to rise from his seat but she held him firmly. “Step down,” she whispered. She hadn’t looked at
him once but she knew how her life partner would react to Mikah’s words. She appreciated his protection over her, but he needed to stop. The ambassadors had the right to speak freely.

The q
ueen released her hold on her soul mate and turned to Mikah. “I didn’t realize I needed your consent for every decision that I and Zyle make, and I apologize. I assumed the agreement of my fellow sovereign was enough. I haven’t lived among you for very long, nor have I grown accustomed to every law of the society.” Accacia immediately felt stupid for not realizing the obvious mistake. She thought Zyle’s support was all she needed. It wasn’t logical to have the voted opinions of the ambassadors for every decision. It was ludicrous.

Mikah
rolled his eyes at her words. “Yes, I’ve noticed.”

Zyle squeezed the
arm rest of his chair but didn’t react to his hurtful words. He knew Accacia didn’t want him to intervene. Accacia stumbled across her words before she continued forward. Her voice was calm, and contained no anger from his previous words. “If you would prefer to lock her up in the hull of the ship until the war is over we can vote on that. However, I think she should be utilized.”

Laura nodded. “It’s too late now,” she said. “We may as well use her. I just hope we don’t regret this.”

Mikah looked away from the queen. “So do I. I hope we don’t regret
all
of this.”

Accacia looked a
round at the ambassadors seated before her. She met the gaze of each advisor then looked away, meeting the face of the next one. “We won’t.”

Illan
ya pushed her tea cup away, finished with its contents. “So what do we do when we get there?”

Mikah
nodded. “Yes, what are your plans? What do we do first?”

“We will dock
in the harbor of Orgoom Forest,” Accacia said. “I am certain there will be enough accommodations for our ships on the shore. I know we will be safe in the borders of the trees.”

Zyle leaned forward. “If Orgoom Forest is already compromised, whether i
t’s burnt in flames or overrun by the king’s men, we will turn back immediately. If there is any threat to our people, we will abandon our kin to the Soul Binders. I will not risk out immortality; however, I find this unlikely. When we reach Orgoom Forest I will speak with the Nature Priest and begin the planning of the siege. I suspect he has more knowledge about the current events of the Continent than Accacia and I.”

“When will we
move toward the king?” Illana asked. Accacia knew she was anxious to avenge the death of her family. Accacia smiled at her, pleased she was determined to succeed in the endeavor. “Will the others be waiting for us?”

“I’m not certain,” Accacia answered truthfully. “But we will meet them shortly. The Nature Priest o
f those woods is a powerful man. He will be a great ally. Together we will meet with the uprising and then we will decide—”

“—s
o we are playing this by ear?” Mikah didn’t control the annoyance in his voice. He despised his queen more than ever. She had no idea what she was doing.

Zyle
felt his body snap under the interruption—the last one Mikah would make—and the anger flooded his veins. It didn’t matter that Accacia was his soul mate. His obvious disrespect was intolerable. Zyle couldn’t stand to hear the ambassador speak another word. He knew he would have been just as furious if he had addressed anyone this way, any of his ambassadors, or even himself. “No, we don’t know exactly what will transpire when we get there. Your expectations are ludicrous, Mikah.” Accacia closed her eyes at the sound of his voice. She knew he was too far gone. The power in his words reverberated through her mind and she could hear the silent threats slither from his words as he spoke. “How could she possibly know? You are so determined to see Accacia fail, to see this endeavor end in vain, and I am no longer tolerant of your disrespect and attitude. You are no longer the ambassador of education—
get
out
.”

The other ambassadors froze in their seat
s. No one had ever been dismissed from office before. Zyle’s eyes were wide with spitting fire and his voice was deep and powerful. He was more than angry—he was furious. Mikah remained glued to his seat, still processing his dismissal from the room. Accacia felt the heat emit from Zyle’s body, the inferno of uncontrolled rage seeping through his pores. She feared the fire would burn her.

Zyle rose from his chair and pointe
d to the doorway. “GET OUT, MIKAH!”

Mikah
got to his feet slowly and met the gaze of the king. His own anger was burning in his eyes.

Accacia pulled Zyle back into his chair. She rose from
her seat and marched to the head of the table. The queen pointed at Mikah’s chair. “Sit,” she commanded him. Avey fell into the chair. “I understand we’re all stressed, frightened, and scared—we would be stupid if we weren’t. We aren’t just fighting for our lives, but our immortality, and the lost souls of our kin. This mission is too important to be given nothing less than our complete devotion.” She stared at the ambassadors before her. Zyle met her gaze and listened to her intently. “We have already made the decision to sail to the Continent and destroy the Soul Binders—the time has passed for arguing. I’m not going to listen to it anymore. Now we need to focus on our success—not debate my ability as a ruler along with my partner, Zyle. If my decisions are despised so greatly, I will gladly step down from office. But that isn’t important right now. Let’s get through this—together.” Accacia straightened her shoulders and looked at her advisors. She hoped her words had caught their attention. “Can we agree on this?”

Mikah
stood from his chair. Zyle stared at him with a look of anger. If Mikah said anything hurtful to Accacia he would toss him overboard. “I apologize, Your Majesty. I beg for your forgiveness.” Zyle sighed in relief.

Accacia smiled at him. “It is forgotten.” She marched back to her chair and sat down
. “Let’s start over, shall we?”

The Canu

10

The waves pounded against the hull of the ship and woke Accacia from her slumber. She felt Zyle’s arm
around her waist and the heat emitting from his body. She didn’t open her eyes. She wasn’t ready to wake up. Accacia rolled closer to Zyle and felt his breath fall upon her face. She was about to fall asleep when she heard the shouts of distant voices. Accacia couldn’t discern their words.

Zy
le sighed as he opened his eyes. He heard the voices as well. “Good morning.” He rolled onto his back and looked at the ceiling. “I feel like I just went to sleep.”

Accacia s
at up and listened to the sound. They continued to shout from the deck and she felt worried by the loud voices overhead. She ignored Zyle’s words. “What’s happening?”

Zyle rose from the bed and dressed himself in the unif
orm of the king. He wore a long sleeve jacket that was a dark blue and a sash that reached from one shoulder to the opposite hip. He placed his armor over the attire and belted his sword to his hip. Accacia didn’t understand why he was wearing his formal clothes. “We are almost to the Continent—they must see it up ahead.”

Accacia felt her heart drop in her chest. She couldn’t believe they had alre
ady arrived. It hadn’t even been a month since they set sail. She feared sailing into the harbor of Orgoom Forest. As soon as she stepped on the deck of the wharf, Father Giloth would know she had returned. Aleco would know as well. She sat frozen stiff on the bed and her eyes expanded in fear.

“I suggest you wear formal attire
as well.” He looked at himself in the mirror and fixed his hair. He looked sharp for just waking up. “Don’t forget your sword, Accacia—I want you to carry it at all times.”

Accacia nodded. She got up and dressed herself in a long green dress and pinned matching earrings to her earlobes. Her hair was pulled up and sat in a bundle on her head. She looked at her reflection in the
mirror but didn’t see anything. All she could feel was the pounding of her heart. She felt it beat against her ribcage and she hoped it wouldn’t burst. What a horrible mess it would make. Zyle watched her for a moment, recognizing the alarm on her face. He knew her thoughts. Accacia looked away from the mirror and belted both swords to her waist; the one of the guild and the one bequeathed to her as a warrior. Zyle opened the door for her and she walked through.

They walked down the hallway and Zyle grabbed her hand.
“It will be alright, Accacia.” She nodded but said nothing. She was only moving because Zyle was pulling her forward. If he wasn’t there to guide her she would be lost. They ascended the stairs and reached the deck. The ambassadors leaned over the rail and looked out across the ocean. Accacia saw the distinguishable landmass before her and she could see the Lorunien Tree reach past the tops of the trees, stretching towards the sun in the sky. Orgoom Forest was directly before her. She was certain her heart had stopped. Accacia gasped at the sight and Zyle held her waist for support. The sight was unbelievable. The Asquithians had finally arrived to the Continent—they were here.

The boat slid in
to the docks of the harbor, their massive sails propelling them forward in the cove of Orgoom Forest. The hull of the ship glided through the waves until it reached the wharf and the Asquithian sailors climbed from the boat and tied the ship to the dock, securing its position in the water. The other sailboats followed behind, docking at the various points along the long wharf. Accacia couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t believe this was happening. She avoided thinking about this moment the entire journey, throwing herself into Zyle’s arms or practicing her blade with Laura on the deck of the ship, but now she couldn’t avoid it anymore. The moment was here—it had come.

Zyle kissed he
r head. “Don’t be frightened—I’m here.”

Accacia met his gaze. “Let me speak to him first. Please don’t interfere, Zyle.”

Zyle knew she was referring to Aleco. “I will do whatever you ask of me, Accacia.” He pulled the loose strand of dark hair from her eyes and tucked it behind her ear. “Take all the time you need. I know how hard this is for you—for him especially. I apologize for being so irrational before. That unacceptable behavior is over.”

Accacia hugged him. “Thank you,” she said into his ear. “I don’t deserve you. How can you be so accommodating?”

“It is very simple, Accacia. I’m your husband—he isn’t. I can only imagine how much pain he will experience at the news.” Zyle held her closer. “I pity him.”

Accacia nodded and pulled away. The sailors had pulled down a ramp, allowing for the passengers to depart the ship. They had been bo
arded up for the past few weeks. They all wanted to feel the earth below their feet. She walked away from Zyle and descended the wooden plank, reaching the long harbor at the end of the descent. When her feet touched the wharf she stopped. She recalled the last time she had stepped on the very same wooden pier. It was the day she had left her home, never to return. She took her first step forward and felt her lungs suck in the air of the forest. Accacia smelled the summer blossoms of the air and a hint of lilac, blending with the aroma of the bark of the trees. The slight breeze flew through her hair and she sighed at the touch. The forest was welcoming her home. She looked over her shoulder and saw Zyle standing on the ship, staring at her. She looked away and stepped forward, closer to the grounds of the forest. She knew the forest recognized her presence. She could feel the tension in the air and the vibrations of the forest tingle around her. The Lorunien Tree recognized her presence the moment she stepped from the boat. Accacia took a deep breath and waited—they would be here shortly.

“I think it’s our best option.” The Chief looked at Aleco, but the eyes of the Nature Priest were glued to the field diagram of Paso Robles on the wooden desk. Aleco felt the heat of the flames lick his back and the sweat trickle from his limbs. He tore the hooded jacket from his shoulders and placed it on the coat rack.

“I suppose it is as good as any.” He drank from his whiskey, emptying the contents before he set it down.
The Chief watched Aleco study the map once more. He didn’t understand why Aleco was taking so long to agree. It was their only choice of infiltration. “Yes, this will be the plan.”

The Chief nodded. “I was hopi
ng you would say that since it’s the only one we got.”

“Everything has to unfold perfectly, Nolan.” He refilled his glass and closed the decanter. “We can’t afford to come unprepared.”