We had many Water Wielders with us now, some from the former kingdom, some new. However, Rhodes was still the strongest, even stronger than Delphine, the former queen. Which was why he taught those around him as much as he could, even though everybody was beyond exhausted.
Wyn and Rhodes butted heads more than not, but Wyn was becoming stronger under Rhodes’ tutelage, and I had to believe that we were all here for a reason. I didn’t want to think about what the outcome might be if that weren’t the case.
Easton joined me, sliding his arm around my waist, squeezing my hip for an instant before he let go.
I looked up at him and smiled. “Hi there,” I said.
“Hey.”
“So, what’s the plan?” I asked.
“We keep training. And when we feel the army is ready, we go to the Shadow realm.”
“I meant for the day, I was there when we came up with the major plan,” I said, my voice a little hollow.
“I don’t have plans for the day other than training and then going to sleep next to you.”
I smiled at him and leaned into his hold, needing his touch.
Others looked at us, glancing our way as if they didn’t know whether they were intruding or not. It didn’t matter. I kissed Easton’s chin and went back to training.
“The people need a leader,” Slavik said as he came over.
I raised a brow at the pirate king. “And are you trying to step into that role?”
Slavik threw his head back and laughed, his hair falling over his face. “No, not even a little. I like the spaces where I live. I used to call them the shadows, but I guess The Gray has taken that word from me, hasn’t he?”
“He’s taken many things.”
“But, as I said, the people need a leader. And we all know that it’s not me, it’s not someone from the Lumière, and it’s not you,” Slavik said softly.
“No, it’ll never be me. I’m their sacrificial lamb, and they all know it.”
“You don’t sound bitter about that,” he said softly.
“How can I be when I know it’s the truth.”
“I don’t think of you as a sacrificial lamb,” Slavik said softly. I looked over and frowned.
“No?”
“I think of you as the one to bring us together, the one who gives us a fighting chance. But during battle, and especially once this is all over, they’ll need more than hope. They’ll need a leader they can blame if things go south. That’s what leaders are for, after all. To make the hard decisions. To accept things even if they make mistakes. And to be a pawn and a scapegoat if the people aren’t happy.”
“That’s not the best way to think of royalty. Or any leader for that matter.”
“Call me bitter, but that’s why I’ve not always been on the side of the law.” Rhodes walked up and looked at Slavik.
“You told her?”
“Told me what?” I looked between them. “Since when are you friends?”
“We’re not,” they said simultaneously, and I held back a laugh.
Easton glared at my little group, and I tried to smile at him in reassurance, but I honestly had no idea what was going on.
“I was getting to it,” Slavik said, grinning.
“Well, since we’re all out here, we should make it happen.”
“Make what happen?” I asked, exasperated now.
“When this is all over, we can decide if there is succession of royalty or voting or if there’s anything left for someone to rule over. But for now, we need someone to lead.”
“It’s not me,” I said.
“No, but it’s someone you’re close to.” Both men looked at Easton. He glared at us, and I froze.
“He doesn’t want that mantle.”
“He already has it. These are his people. He’s already making decisions. We need a ruler. The people need someone to listen to, to issue the call of battle. And not just because they think they know who they’re following.”
I looked at Slavik, confused. “What do you mean?”
“Everyone’s following him as it is. Even us. But nobody knows who’s in charge of all of this. Is it Justise? The king’s bastard?”
“Watch your tone,” Rhodes said softly.
“I know you don’t like the word bastard, and for that, I’m sorry. But it’s the truth. Just like Luken.”
I froze, trying not to look like I knew anything about that. The truth of Luken’s father wasn’t something I was going to mention. Possibly ever.
“It’s not going to be me. It’s not going to be the pirate over here,” Rhodes said with a glare. “But morale is at a crucial point, at the precipice where it could lead to an army that prevails or one that goes into the shadows. The people might know who they’re following, but they need to see it. They need to see all of us over the weak that are The Gray’s forces.”
“And what does Easton have to say about this?” I asked.
“That’s the best part,” Slavik said. “We’re not going to tell him.”
“I don’t like this,” I said.
“I knew you wouldn’t, but you don’t have a choice.”
“Rhodes.”
“I’m just saying. The people need this, they need us, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
“Okay, here we go,” Slavik said. He puffed up his chest and sauntered towards Easton.
Easton gave me a look, and I winced, not knowing what would happen. Regardless of the outcome, I had a feeling that Easton wasn’t going to like it.
“Easton, you know there is something I forgot to do when I joined this little band of merry men.”
Easton frowned at Slavik.
“Shower?”
“Very funny,” Slavik said amidst the soft laughter filtering in the air around us.
As if they knew something important was going on, people had stopped what they were doing to watch the exchange.
Suddenly, Rosamond was at my side, her eyes unfocused as she saw into the future. Then, a smile played on her lips.
A smile had to be good, right?
Emory joined Rosamond, ready to catch her if the Seer fell, and I had to wonder what was going on between the two of them—though it wasn’t my place to ask. Especially not right now.
Rhodes moved to Easton’s side, standing a little behind Slavik, and just smiled.
“What is this about?” Easton asked again.
“It’s about what I should have done a long time ago,” Slavik said, his voice suddenly serious. He went down on one knee and bowed his head. “To my king. the King of the Maisons.”
Shock rippled through the armies, and my heart rate sped up, tears pricking the backs of my eyes.
Easton didn’t want this. Only, nobody else could lead right now. Perhaps Rhodes, but with so much going against him given what’d happened within the Lumière Kingdom, I didn’t think anyone would follow him in this moment.
I had hoped we would have time before we needed to make decisions, but perhaps Slavik was right. Maybe we would make other decisions once the war was over. Still, I didn’t know who would be left to call on when that time came.
“Slavik,” Easton whispered, just a bare breath on the wind that I wasn’t sure anyone but me had heard.