Page 40 (1/2)
“How ht hundred ships carry?” Lyrna asked Ell-Nestra
The Shield frowned in puzzlement, his tone cautious as he responded “If we make full use of the Volarian vessels, perhaps forty thousand, Highness And certainly not in any cootten luxury,the silence thicken They knohat you’re about And they fear it “Your man is here?” she asked Vaelin who nodded and ordered the Realeant Daverna sly coust audience
“My Battle Lord tells hness” He favoured her with a smile that would have shamed the Shield for its innate confidence “I was inducted into the Shipwrights Guild at sixteen The youngest ever, so I’m told”
“Very i five hundred soldiers across the ocean to Volaria You will design and build it in such a manner so as to be easily duplicated and constructed by unskilled hands”
Davern blanched as the other captains at the table stirred in discomfort, apart, she noted, from Vaelin, who betrayed no surprise at all “Such a task isamuch labour, not to say ti subjects with suitable skills and experience,” she told him “They will be placed at your disposal As for timber, rest assured it will be provided I name you” She pondered for a ratulations, ns on the er then gave a hesitant bow and walked from the chamber
“I believe that concludes today’s business,” Lyrna said, rising
As expected it was Count Marven who spoke; the Nilsaelin commander was brave by all accounts, but also unabashed in counselling caution “Highness, if Ian eyebrow as he faltered then forced hi, it is Your Highness’s intention to invade the Volarian Empire?”
“It is my intention to win this war, my lord By the most expeditious means”
“To sail across the ocean with so many I ”
“Why? The Volarians ed it”
“With years of preparation,” the Shield pointed out “And not borne froed as this one”
“A Realm that has already perfor doubt on n of unease “My lords, this council is not a debating chamber I ask for counsel as I see fit and issue coly And I command a fleet be built to carry our justice to the Volarian Empire, for when our business there is co to this land save in their night only wary acceptance “I thank you for your counsel and set you to your duties”
• • •
Lakrhil Al Hestian failed to rise when she entered his cell,up at her with dull eyes, slumped in a corner on bare stone, shackles on his wrists and ankles Iltis gave an angry grunt at the discourtesy but Lyrna restrained him with a wave “Guard the door, my lord, if you would”
Iltis bared his teeth at Al Hestian in a disgusted snarl before exiting the cell, leaving the heavy door ajar and standing with his back turned
“They call this the Traitor’s Nook,” Lyrna told Al Hestian, ap in the thick stone wall through which a patch of sky could be glimpsed There were faint marks on the stone, soo