Rain Of Fire - Book 3 of Infernal War Trilogy

Chapter 4

“No one really knows how.” said Jeorne. He was staring at the floor, as if he was in a deep thought. Trying to pull any memories he could remember out from the surface of his mind.

“See? This fool summoned Athalia and doesn’t even know how to send her back.” Lord Larva exclaimed. “There’s no point collaborating with this tyrant, just sign his execution, Your Grace. And, we can all figure this out on our own.”

“It must be really true. You use your stomach and not your wits.” Jeorne fires back.

“Because of you, I’ve lost a father and brothers fighting against you. I shall not insult their memories by fighting with you.”

“That’s enough, My Lord.” Elizabeth said, impatiently.

Lord Omar’s face was flushed red, tears were threatening to fall from his eyes. “No. You don’t understand, Your Grace!”

Elizabeth fell silent, and so did everyone. She could practically hear everyone breathing because of how silent it was right now in the council room. Tension filled the air.

“Our fathers and brothers laid their lives for your House against this man. I’m begging you not to let their death end for nothing.”

“I’m promising you, I won’t let that happen. Jeorne will pay for the sins he committed.” She said, looking at Jeorne in the eyes. He stared back at her, and she realized that he had accepted his fate.

“Your Grace, I had my men and other warlocks scout the area of Trentoi. The castle was empty, and the peasants houses were also empty.” The Lord Commander, Ser Daenilo said.

Empty house? Even the villages? She wonders. She rose from her chair, her chest was rising and falling. 

“What about the dead bodies? The people my uncle has--” Ser Daenilo cut her off.

“No. Your Grace, there was no dead body despite the stains of blood everywhere. Whoever killed those people made a pool of blood in Trentoi.” said Ser Daenilo.

Daemon was staring at Elizabeth, and all of the novices who witnessed how horrible it was to fight an opponent who was already dead. Jeorne shivered in fear.

“You know what happens when dead people start rising from its grave, Elizabeth.” Jeorne said. It was directed to her. “She’s starting to build her army.”

Elizabeth’s face has fallen into a deeper frown. The crease in her forehead folded in two while her brows furrowed. Breathing sharply.

“Nikolas summoned Sister Lysa to prepare a portal to Nister.” Her voice was heavy and sharp. Daemon could feel the uneasiness in her eyes, and it was followed by fear. “And, to Sandsteel.”

Everyone gasped. Lord Knightfell straightened up, and leaned against the edge of the table to get a proper hearing from Her Grace.

“What business do we have with the Sandsteelers, Your Grace? Your uncle, Lord Orwyn has betrayed you. You cannot go there, because the moment you step on Sandsteelers soil, they will not hesitate to kill you.” He said. Sweat was falling from his forehead, and he had gone pale. The handsome warrior feature he has is now gone. All Elizabeth could see is fear.

Lord Larva mirrors everyone’s fear with a mixture of confusion. With a man like him who lives by the fact. The idea of dead people rising sounded ridiculous, but despite that, he couldn’t help but feel the pressure and the fear of fighting an army who are already dead.

“I will be sending an envoy to Sandsteel and the other remaining kingdoms.” She said.

“And, who are you going to send?” Daemon inquires.

“My sister, Princess Rhaena.” She said in a firm voice.

“Your Grace!” Lord Larva raised his voice. He was looking at Rhaena with suspicious eyes. Rhaena was trying to hold back from grabbing her small dagger and plunge against his eyes just to suffice his annoyance towards the old man for always suspecting her.

Lord Knightfell was silent. But, his eyes were shifting from the Queen to the silver haired princess. As if he was calculating his own theories.

“The Princess is your Presumptive Heir, Lord Orwyn could use her against you.” The old man explained. He was out of breath. The moment Elizabeth announced that Rhaena would be her Envoy to the Sandsteelers, his heart nearly jumped from his chest.

“Uncle Orwyn could try, but my sister will never betray me.”

“Nikolas should come with me. In case, everything goes wrong we can portal back here.” Rhaena suggests.

The Queen nodded towards Nikolas for confirmation. “Daemon and I will leave for Nister today, and see what we can find.”

“Your Grace,” It was Lord Tony who had spoken. The disdain in him was clear.

Sometimes, Elizabeth wanted to ask herself why she gave these men a powerful seat when they didn't trust her with her decision and her own capacity as their Queen. Jehaerys was the only man who believed in her. Who tells her that she can do everything she wanted if she wanted to. He was the only man who boosts her confidence and her trust in herself.

“You’re not a soldier who should scout an area that could probably be filled--” He halted, as if he’s stopping himself from uttering this word. “With fallens.” He finally said it.

“So, you believed us, My Lord?”

“Seven knows, I don’t. Your Grace, but we shouldn’t take chances. You’re a Queen, you should let your soldiers do it for you. The Galapornean Queen must stay in Galapornea.”

Elizabeth wanted to roll her eyes because his misogynistic traits are showing again, and this makes her want to wield her sword against his neck for basically calling her weak.

“I can do it. Lord Wards and Ser Tyler will be with me. After all, I am the King of Nister. If there is anyone who knows Nister, it should be me.” Daemon said.

“You might be the King of Nister, Daemon. But you were brought up inside the castle, while I was brought up in a peasant’s household in muds. There are roads you don’t know that only peasants know.”