Chapter 37

As I stepinto the War Room, I look around, expecting my council. Instead, my brothers stand in the room. All of them, even Reeve.

He closes the distance between us in a few quick strides and embraces me. I throw my arms around him, returning his embrace.

It's been too long since I last saw him. At least a summer.

As we step back, I study his face, noting the new lines near his eyes, the set of his jaw. He looks older, more mature. But then again, so do I.

"What compelled you to leave Karra?" I ask.

"You needed me," he says simply. "And I'm here."

"Great." Jude grins as he continues. "Now that we're all here, the rebellion doesn't stand a chance—it's like they're bringing a quill to a sword fight."

"Or a boy to a council meeting," Aleksander says as he gives his brother a pointed look.

Jude folds his arms. "I am twenty-two, and I have been with more women in the last month than you have ever been with."

A smirk edges the corners of Aleksander's mouth. "That's because I'm selective. You will fuck anything that smiles at you."

I move to sit at the head of the table. "Are we talking about women or the rebellion?"

"Both?" Jude shrugs.

I shuffle the stack of parchment in front of me. "In that case, what happened with Arian?"

"Nothing." Jude yanks up his goblet and takes a quick drink of wine.

"She probably left him for an actual man," Aleksander says.

Slowly, Jude lowers the goblet and glares over the rim at his older brother. "What would you know? You have never been in a relationship longer than a minute."

A frown tugs at Reeve's mouth as he grabs a map of Sharhavva and places it on the table, allowing it to hit the wooden surface loud enough to draw our attention. "Are we going to talk about the rebellion or are we going to continue squabbling like children?"

"We are going to talk about the rebellion." I stand and point to the eastern district. "This is where Keel stirs the most trouble."

"Keel." Reeve frowns. "Wasn't he one of Jerrod's generals?"

Ah…Reeve, the third oldest, the one not forced to fight in all of Jerrod's wars. The one able to stay with our sister, Wrenley, in Karra, while Jerrod marched his armies against Hector.

Aleksander and I were never that blessed. We fought in every war, every battle—saw things no children should ever be allowed to see. I was only ten, and Aleksander was eight summers old when Jerrod made us ride next to him and sit on a ridge as a battle raged in the valley below.

He said it would make us men. It only made me hate him, and as I sat there, I vowed to not be like him when I became chieftain.

It's been over eighteen years since that day, yet it still brands my vision as if it were yesterday. Watching the dying. Hearing the screams. Marching with Jerrod as he ordered his men to ride into the village and kill everyone.

I exhale, shoving away memories of Jerrod and focus on Reeve's question. "Yes, Keel was one of Jerrod's generals," I say. "He's been sewing discord throughout the eastern district. He's trying to rally the people against us, claiming that the House of Crimson has failed to protect them from hardships."

Aleksander leans forward. "How do you propose we deal with him? We've already increased patrols, but he manages to slip through."

Reeve taps the map, his finger hovering over the eastern district. "We need to undermine his influence. Win back the people's trust. They need to see that their future is better with us than with a rebel like Keel."

I pick up a quill, rolling it between my fingers. "We start by stabilizing the grain shipments. Hunger stokes the fires of rebellion more than anything. If we can assure food security, we can dull the edge of Keel's rhetoric."

My gaze drops to the map of crimson territory. "We will bring grain from Dharhavva. It's the closest city, and I know they have plenty."

Jude's eyes light up. "Let's find out where Keel is holding his next meeting. Then, we will disrupt it and capture some of his lieutenants. If we can turn them, we can dismantle his network from the inside."

Aleksander, ever the skeptic, raises an eyebrow. "Turning rebels is a risky game. We could just as easily wind up with spies in our midst."

For several minutes, I weigh their words before speaking. "We will take the risk. Jude will lead the misinformation campaign. Reeve, you'll ensure the grain gets through. And Aleksander, your task is to root out the spies. Tighten our inner circle. No one enters my War Room without my express invitation."

Aleksander nods in consent. "Then, that leaves Asha and her silver armies to contend with."

"I've sent out my best scouts to locate the position of her forces," I say, my tone sharp with determination. "It's only a matter of time before we know their location." I press my palms flat against the surface of the table. "If Asha were wise, she would lay down her weapons and agree to peace, but diplomacy has never been her strong suit."

"Asha's fierce pride serves her as much as it blinds her," Reeve says. "She'll never seek peace unless it's wholly beneficial for her."

A muscle clenches in my jaw as I nod in agreement. "Then we must be one step ahead. This isn't about peace—it's about readiness. We need to be prepared to counter her next move."

Lines deepen near Jude's mouth as he frowns. "Are we really gearing up for a fight with Asha? I thought the priority was to squash Keel's rebellion."

"Consider it two fronts of the same war," I say. "Keel may be causing chaos now, but it's Asha who could strike the true killing blow. We deal with Keel swiftly, shore up our defenses, and make it clear to Asha that an attack on us would be a reckless gamble."

Aleksander rocks forward, allowing the front legs of the chair to hit the marble floor. "Then it's a show of force we need. Remind both Keel and Asha why House of Crimson remains unchallenged."

I nod, already thinking through the logistics. "Reeve, you will work with Widow Maker to strengthen the city's defense."

"And me?" Jude asks, eager for an assignment.

"You'll help Reeve," I say firmly. "Double the watch on the walls, triple it. I want every citizen to sleep soundly, knowing we are their unbreakable shield."

My brothers nod and leave the room.

I have no doubt each one of them will carry out my orders.

Every one of them has stood with me since Jerrod's death. This war will be no different. They will help me defeat our enemies, then I will reward them with land and coin.

Reeve might not care about such things, but Jude and Aleksander will be grateful for it.

I stand and move to the window, looking out over the courtyard below. Together, we will squash this rebellion, then we will fly the flag of peace in ways Jerrod never did.

He wanted death. I want life.

But I am willing to pull out a few weeds to allow room for growth.