Born of Silence (74 page)

Darling scoffed. “Completely not true. I wouldn’t be here if not for you. I’d have died a long time ago and you know it.” He fell silent for a moment as he remembered all the times in his life Maris had been there for him… Like supporting his weight after they’d freed him from the Resistance. Visiting him in the hospital
after his suicide attempts and his uncle’s violence. Of Maris sitting with him for hours after Darling had buried his father…

Most of all, he remembered Maris braving his fury to return Zarya to his life.

For that alone, he owed Mari more than he could ever repay.

“At the absolute worst moments of my life, Mari, you’ve always come through for me. Always.” Just like now. His entire world was falling apart and spiraling out of control.

And instead of running from the suicide mission they were about to embark on, Maris was standing by his side. Ready for battle.

While life had done its best to drive him to his knees and break every part of him, Maris had been his sole support who never faltered or hesitated.

Maris pulled him into a tight hug. “We’re going to get our lady and bring her home, Darling. I promise you.”

Darling clung to Maris as all of his fears and emotions shredded him. It was a weakness he’d never allow anyone else to see. Tears swam in his eyes. “I can’t live without her, Mari,” he whispered. “I can’t. She has to be all right. The thought of anything else…”

Maris tightened his arms around him.

“I am so incredibly confused.”

Blinking away his tears, Darling burst out laughing at Drake’s befuddled exclamation from the opposite hallway. With a shake of his head to clear his vision, he leaned against Maris and met his brother’s fierce scowl. “Yes, little brother, I’m
that
confidently heterosexual that I can hug my best friend in public and not feel awkward while doing it.”

“Yeah, I can hug a guy, too. Just not nipple to nipple.” Drake shivered in revulsion. “That’s just a little too much bromancy for me, thank you very much.”

Laughing, Maris held his hand out to Drake who took it
without hesitation. He pulled Drake toward him, then hugged him with one arm while keeping their crossed hands trapped between their bodies so that their chests didn’t touch. “Don’t worry, Drake. Even nipple to nipple, you wouldn’t turn me on.”

His expression offended, Drake stepped back. “I don’t believe you for even a second, Mari. I ooze sexy animal magnetism.”

Darling rolled his eyes at Drake’s arrogance. “Excuse me, little brother? Not to tear down your epic ego or anything, but… Mari and I have gotten more women as gay men than you have ever gotten with all that oozing sexy animal whatever.”

Maris concurred, then stepped forward to whisper loudly. “And if it is oozing, sweetie, you really should see a doctor about it. I’m told they have medication for things like that nowadays.”

“Oh dear gods, what did I just walk in on?” Annalise pressed her hands to her ears and started singing out loud as she continued on her way down the hall, past them.

Maris gave Darling a lopsided grin. “I think we may have scarred her for life.”

Darling shrugged. “I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m pretty sure I ruined her years ago.” Grateful for the temporary break in the melancholia that had been his life since Zarya had been taken, he met Drake’s gaze. “Did you need something?”

“Yeah. I was coming to let you know that Giran has finally assembled the CDS in the south council hall. They’re waiting for you.”

Maris sighed. “Do you know what you’re going to say to them?” he asked Darling.

If he’d been his father, Darling would have had a prepared speech ready. Something profound, that would unify the people and build their confidence.

Unfortunately,
he
flew by the seat of his pants, and would rather speak from his heart.

“Not a clue.”

“Oh good.” Maris elbowed Drake. “You get the drinks and I’ll bring the snacks. This is going to be a great show.”

Darling wasn’t amused. He felt more like he was heading toward an execution.

Might as well get it over with.
Besides, whatever he said wouldn’t matter to more than half of them. They were going to hate him regardless. There was nothing he could do or say to sway them to his cause. With a deep breath, Darling changed course for the south hallway. Instead of going to his guard to rally them, he was now going to try and…

Not get politically assassinated in the media again.

It didn’t take him long to reach the south hall where everyone waited. Maris and Drake stayed at his back while his real royal guards opened the doors for his admittance. He was still getting used to them doing that, and treating him with respect and deference—something Harren had somehow miraculously induced. But it was hard to undo a lifetime of ridicule in just a few weeks. A part of him kept waiting for their contempt to kick in.

Just as he waited to hear it from the assembled gerents as he entered the chamber hall.

They remained quiet with only a few of them throwing belligerent glares toward him. Ignoring them, he descended the row of stairs to take his throne at the front of their seats. Maris moved to stand to his right while Drake stood on his left.

The gerents sat down after he did.

And still not a single sound could be heard. Not even the rustle of fabric.

Giran came down the main row that divided the room. He bowed low before Darling, then moved off to the side so as not to give Darling his back—an act of supreme reverence and respect.

Clearing his throat, he went to the podium to address the others. “I want to thank all of you for coming out so quickly.”

Darling would dispute two weeks as being quick, but he held his tongue. No need in being the first one to start the name-calling.
See what happens when they don’t fear you’ll blow them up? They take their sweet time with assembly.
Unlike the first time when he’d been able to get them together in only a few hours…

“As all of you know,” Giran continued, “we are being occupied by foreign soldiers, and many of us have family who are now in League custody as political hostages to guarantee our cooperation. Governor Cruel—”

“He’s the problem!”

“They wouldn’t be here if not for him!”

“I say we give him over to the League, then they’ll release our people.”

Giran held his hands up to silence the angry barrage. “
We
are the reason the League is here!” He shouted over them until they settled down. “The governor had nothing to do with this. He knew what would happen if we asked for their intervention, and he tried to stop us.
We
are the ones who invited them in without his consent or knowledge.”

He swept the crowd with a fierce scowl. “And I know no one in this room is stupid enough to really believe that all the League wants is Governor Cruel. In fact, it is my concrete conclusion that he is
the
only hope we have of getting our families back, ever—something he has graciously offered to do. For. Us. And I think we should listen to what it is he now proposes.”

A few people let out noises of disapproval, but those stopped as soon as the doors opened to admit what appeared to be the entire Caronese royal guard.

For a moment, Darling expected them to attack or arrest him. He’d never seen that many guards at once, except at state functions or during arms’ displays. And anytime more than two approached
him, he’d been seized and thrown to the ground, then hauled to wherever his uncle was waiting for him.

But they didn’t attack.

Instead, they came forward to sink to one knee before his throne, and respectfully bow their heads. Darling had an urge to turn around to see if Nykyrian or someone else was standing behind him. But his throne was pushed against the wall. There was no one there.

They really are kneeling to me.

What a mind freak that was…

High Commander Brenton rose to his feet and snapped to a military formal stance. “We are here, Your Majesty, to support whatever military action you wish to take.” He swept his arm out to indicate the men and women with him. “All of us have taken a new blood oath to lay down our lives in service for you. Long reign Emperor Darling Cruel!”

The soldiers with him let out a cry of support.

Yeah, the god Kere was definitely wearing snow gear today.

For them to call him emperor was the ultimate show of respect and support. It was a title reserved for only a small percentage of his family. And no Cruel in the last thousand years had been deemed worthy of it. Unlike governor which was an inherited title, emperor could only be conferred by a unanimous vote between the guard and the five leaders of the CDS.

Stunned to the core of his being, Darling looked over to Captain Harren. He was sure the captain was behind this. He had to be.

Ever since the captain, under Darling’s orders, had found that both Preskitt and Xheris had been viciously wounded by the assassins who’d attacked Darling, his attitude had changed. But for his following Darling’s orders, both men would have died. And since Xheris was his younger brother…

Harren had become a major advocate for Darling.

After the soldiers stood and took up positions inside the hall in support of him, Darling rose to his feet. It wasn’t until that moment that he realized he wasn’t in the robes of a governor. He was actually wearing his red-tinged black Sentella battlesuit. And he’d forgotten to put his tinted glasses on. If his eyes started jerking, they’d all know.

This wasn’t the smartest thing he’d ever done.

Saddest part? It wasn’t the dumbest thing he’d ever done either…

He could only imagine what he must look like dressed to kick the League’s ass with his governor’s harone still in his hair. His ancestors had to be rolling in their graves.

Oh well…

This was his reign… short though it might prove to be.

Clearing his throat, he braced himself for what he was sure would be a less than stellar reception.

Don’t get used to the title of emperor, boy. After this speech, they just might unanimously decide to yank it.

Even so, Darling stood strong before them. “Just a few minutes ago, we learned the location of where our people are being held. It’s taken longer than we’d hoped to find them, but nevertheless, we can now move forward with our plans.”

They started chattering around him. Some in support. Some…

Not so much.

Darling held his hand up to silence them. “I know most of you in this room truly believe I’m insane. The good new is, I am. But not for the reasons you think. A sane man would gladly sacrifice his people to the League and bargain with them so that he could stay in power no matter what. A sane man wouldn’t even begin to contemplate what I’m about to undertake.”

“What are you going to do?” someone shouted.

Darling glanced in the direction of that unknown voice. “Bring our people home.”

They laughed.

He ignored their ridicule. He was used to it, after all.

Once again, he silenced their protests. “I’m not asking any of you to risk anything.” He turned his attention to the royal guard. With Ryn and the Tavali backing the Sentella, he no longer needed them. “And that includes my soldiers. They’re free to stay home and protect our citizens from the invaders.”

To his shock, the majority of his guard protested the idea.

“Our job is to defend you, Emperor!”

“The emperor is the heart and soul of the Caronese people! He’s not a martyr to be sacrificed!”

Warmed by those shocking statements, Darling continued. “In the event I fail, I have a video that will be given to the League, telling them that I acted without knowledge or approval of the CDS. It renounces my titles, and names my brother Drake as my successor, with Ryn continuing on as Grand Counsel until Drake’s majority. I wanted all of you here so that I could personally assure you that the well-being of this empire is my greatest concern, and I would never do anything to jeopardize my people. The Caronese are my life. And by the gods, I will not tolerate anyone coming into my territory and kidnapping my people out of our government buildings for any reason, and then to hold them hostage…”

He would mention the Resistance, too, but he knew no one in this room cared that they’d been taken. Most were probably happy about it. And mentioning their capture might even alienate some of the CDS.

Darling saw the pain in Giran’s eyes as the gerent watched him. He was terrified for his son and well he should be. “The League has issued a command that I surrender governorship to them. If I do so, they will step in and replace me.”

A cheer of approval went up.

Yeah, now that was what he’d expected when he walked in…

Darling wanted to laugh at the morons.
I should step down.
That would teach them an invaluable lesson.

But unfortunately, he couldn’t do that to them.

Giran scowled at his “friends” and their mockery as they called for the guard to arrest Darling and hand him over to the League.

“Gerents?” he shouted. “Do you not understand what that would mean for us?”