Word of Traitors_ Legacy of Dhakaan - Don Bassingthwaite [51]
Tariic looked back at the other heirs and at Geth. “Dagii’s troops will be a vanguard, moving swiftly to meet the threat presented by the Valenar. His loyalty to Darguun cannot be questioned. Does this satisfy you all?”
Ashi could see the heirs’ ears flick as they thought through the merits of the suggestion. One by one, they nodded. Tariic glanced at Geth. “And you, shava of Haruuc? You hold the throne in trust. Do you grant your approval?”
Geth’s expression was hard as he looked down at Dagii. The young warlord gave him back a slight nod. Geth looked up at Tariic and bared his teeth. “How can I refuse?”
Tariic met his bared teeth with a fierce smile, but didn’t bother to answer the question. There was, Ashi knew, no need to. Instead, he gestured for Iizan, Aguus, and Garaad to stand forward with him. “It is decided!” he said. “The reign of a new lhesh will begin with glory and war on Valenar as Haruuc wanted. The assembly of warlords is ended!”
The gathered warlords cheered again, some closing on Dagii to congratulate him, but most saluting the four heirs gathered on the dais. Ashi wondered if she was the only one to notice the old arbiter look to Geth for confirmation of Tariic’s words and to see the shifter nod like a weary fighter defeated in battle.
Ashi turned away and founded herself facing Esmyssa Entar ir’Korran once more. The Zil ambassador’s face pinched up into a smile. “Better to have Darguun and Valenar at each other’s throats than ours, at least,” she said. “If they want to break the Treaty of Thronehold, I don’t imagine the other nations of Khorvaire will rush to aid either of them.”
Ashi couldn’t hold back a snort. “And that’s what Haruuc really wanted.”
Esmyssa looked puzzled.
Ashi shook her head. “Never mind,” she said and stood up. “Please excuse me.”
She managed to spot Ekhaas before the hobgoblin left the gallery. Ekhaas and Senen Dhakaan were standing in a corner, arguing with quiet words. By the time Ashi reached the spot, the two duur’kala had separated and Ekhaas was on her own, glaring at Senen’s retreating back.
Ashi caught her arm. “What do we do now?”
Ekhaas’s amber eyes flickered to her, then went back to Senen. “Carry on as planned, I think,” she said, her voice hard.
“You think?” Ashi tried to keep her own voice both level and quiet. “Ekhaas, we’re losing Dagii. He’s going to be …” She stopped, following Ekhaas’s gaze after Senen. “What’s wrong?”
“Senen wants me to go with Dagii,” said Ekhaas. Her ears were back against her head. “She wants a representative of the Kech Volaar along. She wants a duur’kala to witness the great clash of hobgoblins and elves.”
Ashi’s hand fell away from Ekhaas’s arm. “No. She can’t.”
“Unfortunately, she can,” said Midian.
Ashi twisted around to find the gnome leaning against a chair.
Midian thrust out his jaw, tipped back his head, and said in an arrogant tone, “You serve the Kech Volaar and the memory of Dhakaan, daughter of the dirge. You will do as I say!”
It was a flawless imitation of Senen Dhakaan. “How long have you been listening?” Ekhaas asked.
“Long enough. Ashi’s right. This is bad timing.” He raised an eyebrow “But you look as tired as Geth and Dagii this morning and I don’t think they were just out seeing the city last night. Did you find—?”
Ekhaas flicked a finger to silence him, glanced around, then jerked her head toward the stairs leading down from the gallery. The antechamber outside the throne room was hardly less crowded when they reached it, but the envoys, ambassadors, and their various assistants who frequented the galleries were always listening for bits of information. The warlords who had flooded into the antechamber were thinking of nothing but war. Ekhaas found a momentarily quiet corner, beckoned them into it, and whispered, “We found an artificer who can make what we need—in five days.”
Midian wrinkled his nose. “Three days after the end of the games.